Summary
In southern Norway from 1989 to 1996, the annual proportion of hens among Black Grouse killed by breeding Goshawks was not correlated with that of those shot in the previous autumn. The proportion of hens among Black Grouse killed by hawks was usually higher than that among Black Grouse shot, but in three out of four peak vole years, all with an early thaw, there was no such difference. In a stepwise regression model, both vole number (high or low), snow depth in spring and the proportion of hens among Black Grouse shot contributed significantly to explain the proportion of hens among Black Grouse killed by hawks. This was because predation on Black Grouse hens, but not that on cocks, was positively related to snow depth and negatively related to vole number. Vole populations peaked in post-mast years of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), possibly because the content of chemical defence compounds in Bilberry plants was low after a year with high seed production. Since the Bilberry is an important food plant for both voles and grouse, one possible explanation for the lower number of Black Grouse hens killed by hawks in peak vole years is higher food quality. If the ground is not covered by snow, the higher quality of Bilberry plants may reduce the time needed for foraging during egg formation and incubation, improve the body condition of the hens, and thus reduce their vulnerability to predation.
Zusammenfassung
In Südnorwegen ist die Fortpflanzungs- sowie die Überlebensrate von Rauhfußhühnern am höchsten in Jahren mit hohen Rötelmausdichten (Clethrionomys glareolus). Falls Rötelmauszyklen durch jährliche Fluktuationen im Nahrungsangebot verursacht werden, dann wird die günstigere Situation der Raufußhühner in Jahren mit hohen Rötelmausdichten vermutlich nicht nur durch eine Veränderung der Beutepräferenz von generellen Predatoren ausgelöst, sondern auch durch eine bessere körperliche Kondition und eine daraus resultierende geringere Anfälligkeit für Predation. Hennen sind vor allem im Frühjahr anfälliger für Predation durch den Habicht (Accipiter gentilis) als Hähne, da sie während der Zeit der Eientwicklung vermehrt auf Nahrungssuche sein müssen. Das jährliche Geschlechtsverhältnisse von Birkhühnern in Beuteresten an Habichtshorsten wurde in den Jahren 1989–96 mit dem Geschlechtsverhältnisse von Birkhühnern in der Jagdstrecke des vorhergehenden Herbstes verglichen. In den meisten Jahren war der Anteil an Birkhennen in Beuteresten des Habichts höher als in der korrespondierenden Jagdstrecke; allerdings gab es in drei von vier Jahren mit hohen Rötelmausdichten (alle diese Jahren hatten auch eine frühe Schneeschmelze) keine Unterschiede. Durch eine schrittweise Regressions wurde belegt, dass sowohl eine hohe als auch eine niedere Rötelmausdichte, die Schneetiefe im Frühjahr sowie der Anteil an Birkhennen in der Jagdstrecke signifikant zur Erklärung des Hennenanteils in der Habichtsnahrung beitragen. Dies ist dadurch erklärbar, dass Habichtspredation an Birkhennen, aber nicht an Birkhähnen, positiv mit der Schneetiefe und negativ mit der Rötelmausdichte korreliert ist. Rötelmausdichten waren besonders hoch in Jahren die auf Mastjahren der Heidelbeere (Vaccinium myrtillus) folgten, vermutlich weil der Gehalt an chemischen Abwehrstoffen in den Heidelbeerpflanzen durch die hohe Samenproduktion herabgesetzt war. Da die Heidelbeere sowohl für Rötelmäuse als auch für Rauhfußhiihner eine wichtige Nahrungsquelle darstellt, ist die verbesserte Nahrangsqualität eine mögliche Erklärung für den verringerten Anteil von Birkhennen in der Habichtsbeute. Wenn der Boden nicht mit Schnee bedeckt ist, wird vermutlich der Zeitaufwand der Birkhennen zur Nahrungssuche in der Periode der Eiproduktion und des Brütens durch die verbesserte Qualität der Heidelbeere herabgesetzt sowie ihre körperliche Kondition verbessert. Dadurch sinkt die Anfälligkeit von Birkhennen für Predation.
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Selås, V. Vulnerability of Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) hens to Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) predation in relation to vole cycles. J Ornithol 144, 186–196 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02465646
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02465646