Skip to main content

Does wild boar rooting affect livestock grazing areas in alpine grasslands?

European Journal of Wildlife Research volume 56, pages 765–770 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Interactions between traditional livestock management practices and wildlife activities are important in the conservation of many mountain ecosystems including the summer rangelands in the Spanish Central Pyrenees, where rooting by wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a large disturbance that can reduce the amount of area available to grazing livestock. This study explored the likely impact of wild boar rooting on Pyrenean grasslands. It quantified the extent of wild boar rooting in livestock grazing areas and determined whether wild boars selected or avoided areas depending on the type of livestock and stocking rates. Wild boar rooting affected 16% of livestock grazing area and occurred in sites that were grazed by cattle, rather than by sheep. In addition, a preference for areas that had intermediate stocking rates was found. The relationship between the increase in the number of wild boars and trends in livestock management suggests that the extent of wild boar rooting will increase especially in cattle grazing areas, and therefore, the area available for cattle grazing in Pyrenean mountain rangelands would decrease significantly.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Acevedo P, Escudero MA, Muñóz R, Gortázar C (2006) Factors affecting wild boar abundance across an environmental gradient in Spain. Acta Theriol 51(3):327–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Albon SD, Brewer MJ, O’Brien S, Nolan AJ, Cope D (2007) Quantifying the grazing impacts associated with different herbivores on rangelands. J Appl Ecol 44:1176–1187

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldezabal A (2001) El sistema de pastoreo del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido (Pirineo Central, Aragón). Publicaciones del Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón, Zaragoza

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldezabal A, Bas J, Fillat F, García González R, Garín I, Gómez-García D (1992) Utilización ganadera de los pastos supraforestales en el Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido. CSIC-ICONA, Jaca

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldezabal A, Garin I, García González R (1993) Fecal nitrogen content of summering ungulates in supraforestal pastures of Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. Pastos 23(1):101–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Alldredge JR, Griswold J (2006) Design and analysis of resource selection studies for categorical resource variables. J Wildl Manage 70(2):337–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Baubet E, Touzeau C, Brandt S (1997) Les lombriciens dans le régime alimentaire du sanglier (Sus scrofa L.) en montagne. Mammalia 61:371–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Baubet E, Ropert-Coudert Y, Brandt S (2003) Seasonal and annual variations in earthworm consumption by wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa L.). Wildl Res 30:179–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezkorowajnyj PG, Gordon AM, Mcbride RA (1993) The effect of cattle foot traffic on soil compaction in a silvo-pastoral system. Agrofor Syst 21:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman DMJS, McDonough L (1991) Feral pig (Sus scrofa) rooting in a monsoon forest-wetland transition, northern Australia. Wildl Res 18:761–765

    Google Scholar 

  • Bueno CG, Alados CL, Gómez-García D, Barrio IC, García González R (2009) Understanding the main factors in the extent and distribution of wild boar rooting on alpine grasslands. J Zool 279:195–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Calenge C, Maillard D, Fournier P, Fouque C (2004) Efficiency of spreading maize in the garrigues to reduce wild boar (Sus scrofa) damage to Mediterranean vineyard. Eur J Wildl Res 50(3):112–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Congalton RG, Green K (1999) Assessing the accuracy of remotely sensed data: Principles and practices. Lewis Publisher, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of the European Communities (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Official Journal L 206:7–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis P (2008) The effects of livestock grazing on foliar arthropods associated with bird diet in upland grasslands of Scotland. J Appl Ecol 45(1):279

    Google Scholar 

  • Dullinger S (2003) A resampling approach for evaluating effects of pasture abandonment on subalpine plant species diversity. J Veg Sci 14(2):243

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans DM, Redpath SM, Elston DA, Evans SA, Mitchell RJ, Dennis P (2006) To graze or not to graze? Sheep, voles, forestry and nature conservation in the British uplands. J Appl Ecol 43:499–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Fillat F, García-González R, Gómez D, Reiné R (2008) Pastos del Pirineo, p. 319. Madrid: Departamento de publicaciones - CSIC

  • Finn JA, Giller PS (2002) Experimental investigations of colonisation by north temperate dung beetles of different types of domestic herbivore dung. Appl Soil Ecol 20:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallo Orsi U, Sicuro B, Durio P, Canalis L, Mazzoni G, Serzotti E, Chiariglione D (1995) Where and when: the ecological parameters affecting wild boars choice while rooting in grassland in an alpine valley. Ibex J Mountain Ecology 3:160–164

    Google Scholar 

  • García González R, Hidalgo R, Montserrat P (1990) Pattern of livestock use in time and space in the summer ranges of the western Pyrenees: a case of study in the Aragon valley. Mt Res Dev 10(3):241–255

    Google Scholar 

  • García-González R, Alados CL, Bueno G, Fillat F, Gartzia M, Gómez D, Komac B, Marinas A, Saint-Jean N (2007) Valoración ecológica y productiva de los pastos supraforestales en el Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido. In: Ramirez L, Asensio B (eds) Proyectos de investigación en Parques Nacionales: 2003–2006. OAPN-MMA, Madrid, pp 105–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisser H, Reyer HU (2004) Efficacy of hunting, feeding and fencing to reduce crop damage by wild boars. J Wildl Manage 68(4):939–946

    Google Scholar 

  • Gortázar C, Herrero J, Villafuerte R, Marco J (2000) Historical examination of the status of large mammals in Aragon, Spain. Mammalia 64:411–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastie TJ, Tibshirani RJ (1990) Generalized additive models. Chapman & Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hector A, Schmid B, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulus PG, Finn JA, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Joshi J, Jumpponen A, Körner C, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O'Donovan G, Otway SJ, Pereira JS, Prinz A, Read DJ, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Spehn EM, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (1999) Plant diversity and productivity experiments in European grasslands. Science 286:1123–1127

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrero J, Irizar I, Laskurain NA, García-Serrano A, García González R (2005) Fruits and roots: wild boar foods during the cold season in the southwestern Pyrenees. Ital J Zool 72:49–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrero J, García-Serrano A, Couto S, Ortuño VM, García González R (2006) Diet of wild boar Sus scrofa L. and crop damage in an intensive agroecosystem. Eur J Wildl Res 52:245–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrero J, García-Serrano A, García González R (2008) Reproductive and demographic parameters in two Iberian wild boar Sus scrofa populations. Acta Theriol 53(4):355–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Hone J (2002) Feral pigs in Namadgi National Park, Australia: dynamics, impacts, and management. Biol Conserv 105:231–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuiters AT, Bruinderink GWTA, Lammerstsma DR (2005) Facilitate and competitive interactions between sympatric cattle, and wild boar in Dutch woodland pastures. Acta Theriol 50(2):241–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasanta-Martínez T, Vicente-Serrano SM, Cuadrat-Prats JM (2005) Mountain Mediterranean landscape evolution caused by the abandonment of traditional primary activities: a study of the Spanish Central Pyrenees. Applied Geography 25:47–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Luick R (1998) Ecological and socio-economic implications of livestock-keeping systems on extensive grasslands in south-western Germany. J Appl Ecol 35(6):979

    Google Scholar 

  • Manly BFJ, McDonald LL, Thomas DL, McDonald TL, Erikson WP (1993) Resource selection by animals: statistical design and analysis for field studies, 2nd edn. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Massei G, Genov P (2004) The environmental impact of wild boar. Galemys 16:135–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Meriggi A, Sacchi O (1992) Factors affecting damage by wild boars to cereal fields in Northern Italy. In: Spitz F, Janeau G, Gonzalez G, Aulagnier S (eds) Ongulés/Ungulates, vol 91. S.F.E.P.M.I.R.G.M., Paris Toulouse, pp 439–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikola J, Setälä H, Virkajärvi P, Saarvijärvi K, Ilmarinem K, Voigt W, Vestberg M (2009) Defoliation and patchy nutrient return drive grazing effects on plant and soil properties in a dairy cow pasture. Ecol Monogr 79(2):221–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Nogués-Bravo D (2006) Assessing the effect of environmental and anthropogenic factors on land-cover diversity in a Mediterranean mountain environment. Area 38(4):432–444

    Google Scholar 

  • Olff H, Ritchie ME (1998) Effects of herbivores on grasslands plant diversity. Trends Ecol Evol 13:261–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasche F, Armand M, Gouaux P, Lamaze T, Pornon A (2004) Are meadows with high ecological and patrimonial value endangered by heathland invasion in the French central Pyrenees? Biol Conserv 118:101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2008) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Schley L, Roper TJ (2003) Diet of wild boar Sus scrofa in Western Europe, with particular reference to consumption of agricultural crops. Mammal Rev 33(1):43–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Schley L, Dufrêne M, Krier A, Frantz AC (2008) Patterns of crop damage by wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Luxemburg over a 10-year period. Eur J Wildl Res 54:589–599

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebastià M-T, de Bello F, Puig L, Taull M (2008) Grazing as a factor structuring grasslands in the Pyrenees. Appl Veg Sci 11:215–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisdell CA (1982) Wild pigs: environmental pest or economical resource? Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicente-Serrano SM (2004) Analysis of spatial and temporal evolution of vegetation cover in the Spanish Central Pyrenees: role of human management. Environ Manage 34(6):802

    Google Scholar 

  • Welander J (2000a) Spatial and temporal dynamics of a disturbance regime: wild boar (Sus scrofa) rooting and its effects on plant species diversity. Doctoral dissertation, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Welander J (2000b) Spatial and temporal dynamics of wild boar (Sus scrofa) rooting in a mosaic landscape. J Zool 252:263–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson CJ (2004) Rooting damage to farmland in Dorset, southern England, caused by feral wild boar Sus scrofa. Mammal Rev 34:331–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuur AF, Ieno EN, Walker NJ, Saveliev AA, Smith GM (2009) Mixed effects models and extensions in ecology with R. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of OMPNP for the support and data provided. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Spanish Ministry of Environment (MAM 2484/2002-059/2002 and PN-MEC CGL2005-01131/BOS respectively), including a pre-doctoral fellowship to CGB. Earlier versions of the manuscript were considerably improved by S. Palacio, and B. MacWhirter improved the English version.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda Rgmto Galicia s/n, P.O. Box 64, Jaca, 22700, Huesca, Spain

    C. Guillermo Bueno, Ricardo García-González & Daniel Gómez-García

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Isabel C. Barrio

  3. Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, P.O. Box 202, 50080, Zaragoza, Spain

    Concepción L. Alados

Authors
  1. C. Guillermo Bueno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Isabel C. Barrio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ricardo García-González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Concepción L. Alados
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Daniel Gómez-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Guillermo Bueno.

Additional information

Communicated by C. Gortázar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bueno, C.G., Barrio, I.C., García-González, R. et al. Does wild boar rooting affect livestock grazing areas in alpine grasslands?. Eur J Wildl Res 56, 765–770 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-010-0372-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-010-0372-2

Keywords

  • Digging
  • Disturbance
  • Cattle
  • Sheep
  • Stocking rate
  • Sus scrofa