Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Breeding habitat preferences of the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in the Dadia-Soufli National Park and its implications for management

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Wildlife Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Forested areas provide important breeding habitats for the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park, Northeastern Greece. We censused the birds in two forested habitat types using the point-count technique at 60 sites during the breeding season (from mid-April to mid-June) in 2001 and 2002. We sampled vegetation structure at the same sites by measuring horizontal (tree species and density in different size classes) and vertical (percentage canopy closure in dominant, intermediate, suppressed and shrub layer) characteristics within 0.04 ha circular plots centred on the established points. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were employed to examine the response of the turtledove′s presence to habitat differences between used and unused sites. The results of this study indicate that habitat structure influence the presence of the turtledove during the breeding season. Middle-aged forest stands particularly those dominated by pine trees with low percentage cover in understory are likely to be beneficial to breeding the turtledove population. A combination of multipurpose forestry operations allowing development of managed woodland in mosaics with other habitat types could provide high-quality habitats for a wide range of wildlife species including game and non-game species in the area. Silvicultural methods of maintaining appropriate breeding habitat for turtledove in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park (DLS NP), which are in conflict with commercial forestry, are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aubineau J, Boutin J-M (1998) L’impact des modalités de gestion du maillage bocager sur les colombidés (Columbidae) nicheurs dans l’ouest de la France. Gib Faun Sauv. Game Wildl 15:55–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakaloudis DE, Vlachos CG, Holloway G (1998a) Habitat use by Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus and their reptilian prey during the breeding season in Dadia Forest (North-eastern Greece). J Appl Ecol 35:821–828

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakaloudis DE, Vlachos CG, Nastis A, Holloway G (1998b) Distribution of raptors and reptiles in different habitat types in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex, north-eastern Greece. In: Waterhouse A, McEwan E (eds) Landscapes, livestock and livelihoods in European less favoured areas. SAC Auchincruive, Ayr, pp 63–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakaloudis DE, Vlachos CG, Papageorgiou NK, Holloway G (2001) Nest site habitat selected by short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli forest complex, north-eastern Greece. Ibis 143:391–401. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2001.tb04940.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe SH (2000) Bird Census Techniques. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bijlsma RG (1985) De broedbiologie van de Tortelduif Streptopelia turtur. Vogeljaar 33:225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne S, Aebischer N (2001) The role of agricultural intensification in the decline of the turtledove Streptopelia turtur. English Nature, Peterborough Research Project No. 421

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne S, Aebischer N (2003) Habitat use, foraging ecology and diet of turtledoves Streptopelia turtur in Britain. Ibis 145:572–582. doi:10.1046/j.1474-919X.2003.00185.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne S, Aebischer N (2004) Temporal changes in the breeding ecology of European Turtledoves Streptopelia turtur in Britain, and implications for conservation. Ibis 146:125–137. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2004.00235.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne S, Aebischer N, Yfantis G, Marchant J (2004) Habitat availability and use by turtledoves Streptopelia turtur between 1965 and 1995: an analysis of Common Bird Census data. Bird Study 51:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calladine J, Buner F, Aebischer NJ (1999) Temporal variations in the singing activity and the detection of turtledoves Streptopelia turtur: implications for surveys. Bird Study 46:74–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavallaro JI, Menke JW, Williams WA (1981) Use of discriminant analysis and other statistical methods in analyzing microhabitat utilization of Dusky-footed woodrats. In: Capen DE (ed) The use of multivariate statistics in studies of wildlife habitats. USDA Forest Service, Vermont, pp 222–231 GTR RM-87

    Google Scholar 

  • Dias S, Fontoura AP (1996) A dieta estival da rôla-brava (Streptopelia turtur) no sul de Portugal. Rev Flor 9:227–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Moreton BD (1987) Breeding bird populations of Kentish sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) coppice in relation to age and structure of the coppice. J Appl Ecol 24:13–27. doi:10.2307/2403784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Smith KW, Grice PV, Currie FA, Quine CP (2007) Habitat change and woodland birds in Britain: implications for management and future research. Ibis 149(Suppl. 2):261–268. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2007.00775.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillings S, Fuller RJ (1998) Changes in bird populations on sample lowland English farms in relation to loss of hedgerows and other non-crop habitats. Oecologia 116:120–127. doi:10.1007/s004420050570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grill A, Cleary DFR (2003) Diversity patterns in butterfly communities of the Greek nature reserve Dadia. Biol Conserv 114:427–436. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00070-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris E, Harris J (1997) Wildlife Conservation in Managed Woodlands and Forests, 2nd edn. Research Studies, Taunton

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath M, Borggreve C, Peet C (2000) European Bird Populations: Estimates and Trends. BirdLife International (Birdlife Conservation Series No 10), Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinsley SA, Bellamy PE (2000) The influence of hedge structure, management and landscape context on the value of hedgerows to birds: A review. J Wildl Manage 60:33–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinsley SA, Bellamy PE, Newton I, Sparks TH (1995) Habitat and landscape factors influencing the presence of individual breeding bird species in woodland fragments. J Avian Biol 26:94–104. doi:10.2307/3677057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holzwarth G (1971) Ornithologischer Sammelbericht für Baden-Württemberg. Anz Ornithol Gesell Bayern 10:174–182

    Google Scholar 

  • James FC, Shugart HH Jr (1970) A quantitative method of habitat description. Aubudon Field Notes 24:727–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Kati V, Sekercioglu CH (2006) Diversity, ecological structure, and conservation of the landbird community of Dadia reserve, Greece. Divers Distrib 12:620–629. doi:10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00288.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGarigal K, Cushman S, Stafford S (2000) Multivariate Statistics for Wildlife and Ecology Research. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison ML (1984) Influence of sample size on discriminant function analysis of habitat use by birds. J Field Ornithol 55:330–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Nankinov D (1994) The breeding biology of the Turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in Bulgaria. Gib Faun Sauv. Game Wildl 11:155–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Noon BR (1981) Techniques for sampling avian habitats. In: Capen DE (ed) The use of multivariate statistics in studies of wildlife habitats. USDA Forest Service, Vermont, pp 42–52 GTR RM-87

    Google Scholar 

  • Peiró V (1990) Aspectos de la reproducción de la tórtola común (Streptopelia turtur, L.) en Madrid. Mediterranea (Serie Biologia) 12:89–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Petty SJ (1998) Ecology and Conservation of Raptors in Forests. Forestry Commission Bulletin 118, London

  • Slabbekoorn H, de Kort S, ten Cate C (1999) Comparative analysis of perch-coo vocalizations in Streptopelia doves. Auk 116:737–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith DM, Larson BC, Kelty MJ, Ashton PMS (1997) The Practice of Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomaides C, Logothetis G, Karabatzakis T, Christoforidou G (2000) Monitoring of game species population trends and harvest in Greece, 1994–1997. Hellenic Hunters Confederation, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker GM, Heath MF (1994) Birds in Europe. Their Conservation Status. BirdLife Conservation, Cambridge Series No. 3

    Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice-Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Mr A. Vasileiou who helped with map constructions and R. Taylor, S. Alatzias, K. Bakaloudis, P. Goudiakas, E. Vlachou, E. Dalmari, T. Papadopoulos and D. Tsalagas who provided assistance in the field. The authors declare that the experiments comply with the Greek and EU laws.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. E. Bakaloudis.

Additional information

Communicated by E. Hadjisterkotis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bakaloudis, D.E., Vlachos, C.G., Chatzinikos, E. et al. Breeding habitat preferences of the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in the Dadia-Soufli National Park and its implications for management. Eur J Wildl Res 55, 597–602 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0287-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0287-y

Keywords

Navigation