Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Viability and Management of an Endangered Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Metapopulation in the Jura Mountains, Western Switzerland

  • Published:
Biodiversity & Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The populations of Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the largest European grouse, have seriously declined during the last century over most of their distribution in western and central Europe. In the Jura mountains, the relict population is now isolated and critically endangered (about 500 breeding adults). We developed a simulation software (TetrasPool) that accounts for age and spatial structure as well as stochastic processes, to perform a viability analysis and explore management scenarios for this population, capitalizing on a 24 years-long series of field data. Simulations predict a marked decline and a significant extinction risk over the next century, largely due to environmental and demographic stochasticity (average values of life-history parameters would otherwise allow stability). Variances among scenarios mainly stem from uncertainties about the shape and intensity of density dependence. Uncertainty analyses suggest to focus conservation efforts on enhancing, not only adult survival (as often advocated for long-lived species), but also recruitment. The juvenile stage matters when local populations undergo extinctions, because it ensures connectivity and recolonization. Besides limiting human perturbations, a silvicultural strategy aimed at opening forest structure should improve the quality and surface of available patches, independent of their size and localization. Such measures are to be taken urgently, if the population is to be saved.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • H.R. Akçakaya J.L. Altwood (1997) ArticleTitleA habitat-based metapopulation model of the California Gnatcatcher Conserv. Biol. 11 422–434 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1997.96164.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H.R. Akçakaya B. Baur (1996) ArticleTitleEffects of population subdivision and catastrophes on the persistence of a land snail metapopulation Oecologia 105 475–483 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00330010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Angelstam (1986) ArticleTitlePredation on ground nesting birds’ nest in relation to predator densities and habitat edge Oikos 47 365–373 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3565450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Blair R. Bijlsma W. Hagemeijer (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds T. & A.D. Poyser London

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Both (1988) ArticleTitleExperimental evidence for density dependence of reproduction in great tit J. Anim. Ecol. 67 667–774 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00228.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Burgman S. Ferson H.R. Akçakaya (1993) Risk Assessment in Conservation Biology Chapman & Hall London

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Bustamante (1996) ArticleTitlePopulation viability analysis of captive and released Beared Vulture populations Conserv. Biol. 10 822–831 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10030822.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I.M. Cattadori S. Merler P.J. Hudson (2000) ArticleTitleSearching for mechanisms of synchrony in spatially structured gamebird populations J. Anim. Ecol. 69 620–638 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2656.2000.00421.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.T. Crouse L.B. Crowder H. Caswell (1987) ArticleTitleA stage-based population model for loggerhead sea turtles and implications for conservation Ecology 68 1412–1423 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1939225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dändliker G., Durand P., Naceur N. and Neet C. 1993. Contribution à l’étude et à la protection des grands tétras du Jura vaudois. In: Société vaudoise des Sciences naturelles (ed.), Le grand tétras Tetrao urogallus: statut et conservation des populations du Jura vaudois. Société vaudoise des Sciences naturelles, Le Brassus, Suisse, pp. 175–236.

  • I. Gjerde P. Wegge (1989) ArticleTitleSpacing pattern, habitat use and survival of capercaillie in a fragmented winter habitat Ornis Scand. 20 219–225 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3676916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. Gutiérrez C.D. Thomas J.L. Leon-Cortés (1999) ArticleTitleDispersal, distribution, patch network and metapopulation dynamics of the dingy skipper butterfly (Erynnis tages) Oecologia 121 506–517 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. Hanski (1991) Single-species metapopulations dynamics: concepts, models and observations I. Hanski (Eds) Metapopulation Dynamics Academic Press London 17–38

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Hanski A. Moilanen M. Gyllenberg (1996) ArticleTitleMinimum viable metapopulation size Am. Nat. 147 527–541 Occurrence Handle10.1086/285864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Höglund N. 1952. Capercaillie reproduction and climate. Pap. Game Res. 78–86.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameIUCN (1996) Red List of Threatened Animals IUCN Gland, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Koivisto (1963) ArticleTitleÜber den Ortwechsel der Geschlechter beim Auerhuhn nach Markierungergebnissen Volgelwarte 22 75–79

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Leclercq (1987a) Ecologie et dynamique des populations du grand tétras (Tetrao urogallus major L.) dans le Jura français Université de Bourgogne Dijon

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Leclercq (1987b) Influence des modes de gestion forestière passées sur la gestion actuelle et la structure des forêts de montagne ainsi que sur leurs peuplements en grand tétras Actes du Colloque Galliformes de montagne Gibier Faune Sauvage Grenoble, France 265–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Leclercq B. 1987c. Premières données sur la comparaison de la dynamique des populations de grand tétras (Tetrao urogallus) et de gélinotte des bois (Bonasa bonasia) d’un même massif forestier du Haut-Jura. In: Actes du Colloque Galliformes de montagne. Gibier Faune Sauvage, Grenoble, France, pp. 21–36.

  • E. Ménoni (1991) Ecologie et dynamique des populations du grand tétras dans les Pyrénées, avec des références spéciales à la biologie de la reproduction chez les poules: quelques applications à sa conservation Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Ménoni (1994) ArticleTitlePlan de restauration du grand tétras (Tetrao urogallus) en France Gibier Faune Sauvage 11 159–202

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Ménoni J.F. Brenot M. Catusse (1994) ArticleTitleGrand tétras et ski de fond Bull. mens. de l’ONC 190 12–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Montadert M. and Chamouton A. 1997. Statut des tétraonidés dans le massif jurassien. In: Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura (ed.), Secondes Rencontres Jurassiennes. Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura, Prénovel. France, pp. 73–95.

  • R. Moss J. Oswald (1985) ArticleTitlePopulation dynamics of Capercaillie in a North-east Scottish glen Ornis Scand. 16 229–238 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3676635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Moss J. Oswald D. Baines (2001) ArticleTitleClimate change and breeding success: decline of the capercaillie in Scotland J. Anim. Ecol. 70 47–61 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2656.2001.00473.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Moss D.N. Weir (1987) ArticleTitleDemography of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in north-east Scotland. II. Age and sex distribution Ornis Scand. 18 135–140 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3676848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N. Picozzi D.C. Catt R. Moss (1992) ArticleTitleEvaluation of capercaillie habitat J. Appl. Ecol. 29 751–762 Occurrence Handle10.2307/2404485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N. Picozzi R. Moss K. Kortland (1999) ArticleTitleDiet and survival of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus chicks in Scotland Wildlife Biol. 5 11–23

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Reed D.D. Murphy P.F. Brussard (1998) ArticleTitleEfficacy of population viability analysis Wildlife Soc. Bull. 26 244–251

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Sachot (2000) TetrasPool. Version 1.0.2 Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology, University of LausanneCH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Sachot (2002) Viabiliy and Management of an Endangered Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Metapopulation Faculté des sciences Université de LausanneSuisse

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Sachot N. Perrin C. Neet (2003) ArticleTitleWinter habitat selection by two sympatric forest grouse in western Switzerland: implications for conservation Biol. conserv. 112 373–382 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00334-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.-E. Saether S. Engen J.E. Swenson O. Bakke F. Sandegren (1998) ArticleTitleAssessing the viability of Scandinavian brown bearUrsus arctospopulations: the effects of uncertain parameter estimates Oikos 83 403–416 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3546856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Schifferli P. Géroudet R. Winkler (1980) Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de Suisse Station ornithologique suisse Sempach

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Schmid R. Luder B. Naef-Danzer R. Graf N. Zbinden (1998) Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de Suisse Station ornithologique suisse Sempach

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Segelbacher I. Storch (2002) ArticleTitleCapercaillie in the Alps: genetics evidence of metapopulation structure and population decline Mol. Ecol. 11 1669–1677 Occurrence Handle12207718 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-294X.2002.01565.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XnvVWhsbw%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. Sinclair (1989) Population regulation in animals J.M. Cherett (Eds) Ecol. Concepts Blackwell Scientific Publications Oxford 197–241

    Google Scholar 

  • T. Storaas P. Wegge (1984) High nest losses in capercaillie and black grouse in Norway T.W.I. Lovel P.J. Hudson (Eds) Third International Grouse Symposium C.I.C. World Pheasants Association York 481–492

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Storch (1991) ArticleTitleHabitat fragmentation, nest site selection, and nest predation risk in Capercaillie Ornis Scand. 22 213–217 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3676592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. Storch (1993) Habitat use and spacing of capercaillie in relation to forest fragmentation patterns Université Ludwig-Maximilian Munich

    Google Scholar 

  • I. Storch (1995) ArticleTitleAnnual home ranges and spacing patterns of capercaillie in central Europe J. Wildlife Manage. 59 392–400 Occurrence Handle10.2307/3808953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. Storch (2000) Grouse Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan WPA/Birdlife/SSC Grouse Specialist Group. IUCNGlandSwitzerland and the World Pheasant Associations, Reading UK

    Google Scholar 

  • R.W. Summer R.E. Green R. Proctor D. Dugan D. Lambie R. Moncrieff R. Moss D. Baines (2004) ArticleTitleAn experimental study of the effects of predation on the breeding productivity of capercaillie and black grouse J. Appl. Ecol. 41 513–525 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.0021-8901.2004.00891.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Trouvilliez J.M. Gaillard D. Allaine D. Pontier (1988) ArticleTitleStratégies démographiques et gestion des populations chez les oiseaux: particularités des Galliformes Gibier Faune Sauvage 5 27–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Wegge P., Gjerde I., Kastdalen J., Rolstad J. and Storaas T. 1990. Natural mortality and predation of adult capercaillie in south-east Norway. In: Proceeding of the International Symposium on Grouse, pp. 49–56.

  • P. Wegge B. Larsen T. Storaas (1981) Dispersion printanière d’une population de coqs de bruyère dans le sud-est de la Norvège C. Kempf (Eds) Actes du Colloque International Grand Tétras Union Nationale des Associations Ornithologiques Colmar, France 138–153

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M. Yearsley D. Fletcher C. Hunter (2003) ArticleTitleSensitivity analysis of equilibrium population size in a density-dependent model for Short-tailed Shearwaters Ecol. Model. 163 119–129 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(02)00416-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Sébastien Sachot & Nicolas Perrin

  2. Centre de Conservation de la Faune et de la Nature, Chemin du Marquisat 1, CH-1025, St-Sulpice, Switzerland

    Sébastien Sachot & Cornelis Neet

Authors
  1. Sébastien Sachot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicolas Perrin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cornelis Neet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sébastien Sachot.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sachot, S., Perrin, N. & Neet, C. Viability and Management of an Endangered Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Metapopulation in the Jura Mountains, Western Switzerland. Biodivers Conserv 15, 2017–2032 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0771-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0771-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation