Abstract
We investigated three possible causes of territory desertion among Bonelli's eagles Hieraaetus fasciatus in Murcia (southeastern Spain): low demographic parameters, low habitat quality and competition with Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos. From 1983 to 1997, we surveyed a Bonelli's eagle population. Abandoned and occupied territories were compared to find differences in demographic parameters (flight rate, productivity and mortality) or habitat characteristics. Mortality was significantly higher in abandoned territories. Abandoned territories also had larger areas of forest and extensive agriculture, while occupied territories had more shrublands. Competition with Golden eagles was not a determinant of territorial abandonement but interacted with human persecution of the species. Management implications are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arroyo B. and GarzaV. 1995. Factores de regresión del Águila perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en España, I Congreso Internacional de Rapaces del Holártico. Resumenes, Mérida.
Blanco J.C. and Gonzalez J.L. (eds) 1992. Libro Rojo de los Vertebrados de España. Ministerio de Agricultura, ICONA, Madrid.
Bourski O.V. and Forsmeier W. 2000. Does interspecific competition affect territorial distribution of birds? A long term study on Siberian Phylloscopus warblers. Oikos 88: 341-350.
Carrete M., Sánchez-Zapata J.A. and Calvo J.F. 2000. Breeding densities and habitat attributes: Golden Eagle in Southeastern Spain. Journal of Raptor Research 34: 48-52.
Carrete M., Sánchez-Zapata J.A., Martínez J.E. and Calvo J.F. 2002. A territorial occupancy model of a Bonelli's Eagle population: management implications. Oryx (in press).
Cheylan G. 1981. Sur le role determinant de l'alimentation dans le succes de reproduction de l'Aigle de Bonelli Hieraaetus fasciatus en Provence. Rapaces Mediterranés I: 95-99.
Cramp S. and Simmons K.E.L. (eds) 1980. The Birds of theWestern PalearticVol. 2. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo J., Elliott A. and Sargatal J. (eds) 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Donázar J.A., Ceballos O. and Fernández C. 1989. Factors influencing the distribution and abundance of seven cliff-nesting raptors: a multivariate study. In: Meyburg B.U. and Chancellor R.D. (eds), Raptors in the Modern World. WWGBP, Berlin, London, Paris.
Donázar J.A., Hiraldo F. and Bustamante J. 1993. Factors influencing nest site selection, breeding density and breeding success in the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Journal of Applied Ecology 30: 504-514.
Eastman J.R. 1992. IDRISI 4.0., Worcester, Massachusetts.
Esteve M.A. and Calvo J.F. 2000. Conservación de la naturaleza y biodiversidad en la Región de Murcia. In: Calvo J.F., Esteve M.A. and López F. (eds) Biodiversidad. Contribución a su conocimiento y conservación en la Región de Murcia, Universidad de Murcia, Instituto del Agua y del Medio Ambiente, Murcia.
Fernández C. and Insausti J.A. 1990. Golden eagles take up territories abandoned by Bonelli's eagles. Journal of Raptor Research 24: 124-125.
Fernández C. and Donázar J.A. 1991. Griffon vultures Gyps fulvus occupying eyres of other cliff-nesting raptors. Bird Study 38: 42-44.
Ferrer M. 1992. Tendidos eléctricos y conservación de aves en España. Ardeola 39: 23-27.
Ferrer M. and Hiraldo F. 1992. Man-induced sex-biased mortality in the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Biological Conservation 60: 57-60.
Ferrer M. and Donázar J.A. 1996. Density-dependent fecundity by habitat heterogeneity in an increasing population of Spanish Imperial Eagles. Ecology 77: 69-74.
Forero M.G., Donázar J.A., Blas J. and Hiraldo F. 1999. Causes and consequences of territory change and breeding dispersal distance in the Blach kite. Ecology 80: 1298-1310.
Forslund P. and Pärt T. 1995. Age and reproduction in birds. Hypotheses and tests. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 10: 374-378.
Fuller M.R. and Mosher J.A. 1987. Raptor survey techniques. In: Pendleton B.A.G., Millsap B.A., Cline K.W. and Bird D.M. (eds), Raptor Management Techniques Manual. National Wildlife Federation, USA, Scientific and Technical Series No. 10.
Garza V. and Arroyo B. 1996. Situación del Águila perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en España. In: Muntaner J. and Mayol J. (eds), Biología y conservación de las Rapaces Mediterráneas. SEO/ Birdlife, Madrid, Monograph no. 4.
Gil-Sánchez J.M., Molino Garrido F. and Valenzuela Serrano G. 1994. Parámetros reproductivos y alimentación del Águila real Aquila chrysaetos y del Águila perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en la provincia de Granada. Aeqypius 12: 47-51.
Gil-Sánchez J.M., Molino Garrido F. and Valenzuela Serrano G. 1996. Selección de hábitat de nidificación por el Águila perdicera (Hieraaetus fasciatus) en Granada. Ardeola 43: 189-197.
Gil-Sánchez J.M. 1999. Solapamiento de hábitat de nidificación y coexistencia entre el Águila-Azor perdicera (Hieraaetus fasciatus) y el Halcón peregrino (Falco peregrinus) en un área de simpatría. Ardeola 46: 31-38.
González L.M., Bustamante J. and Hiraldo F. 1990. Factors influencing the present distribution of the Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti. Biological Conservation 51: 311-319.
Janss G.E.F. 2000. Avian mortality from power lines: a morphological approach of a species-specific mortality. Biological Conservation 95: 353-359.
Jordano P. 1981. Relaciones interespecíficas y coexistencia entre el Águila real Aquila chrysaetos y el Águila perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en Sierra Morena Central. Ardeola 28: 67-88.
Korpimäki E.M. 1993. Does nest-hole quality, poor breeding success or food depletion drive the breeding dispersal of Tengmalm's owls? Journal of Animal Ecology 62: 606-613.
Lande R. 1988. Demographic model of the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina). Oecologia 75: 601-607.
MAPA 1985. Mapa de Cultivos y Aprovechamientos de la provincia de Murcia. Direccion General de Produccion Agraria, Murcia.
Mertz D.B. 1971. The mathematical demography of the California condor population. American Naturalist 105: 437-453.
Moreno S. and Villafuerte R. 1995. Traditional management of shrubland for the conservation of rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and their predators in Doñana National Park, Spain. Biological Conservation 73: 81-85.
Morrison M.L. 1992. Wildlife-Habitat Relationships: Concepts and Applications. The University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin.
Nager R.G., Johnson A.R., Boy V., Rendon-Martos M., Calderón J. and Cézilly F. 1996. Temporal and spatial variation in dispersal in the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus). Oecologia 107: 204-211.
Newton I. 1979. Population Ecology of Raptors. T. and S.D. Poyser, Berkhamsted, UK.
Newton I. 1998. Population Limitations in Birds. Academic Press, London.
Ontiveros D. and Pleguezuelos J.M. 2000. Influence of prey densities in the distribution and breeding success of Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus): management implications. Biological Conservation 93: 19-25.
Palomares F. and Delibes M. 1997. Predation upon European rabbits and their use of open and closed patches in Mediterranean habitats. Oikos 80: 407-410.
Parellada X. 1984. Variació del plumatge i identificació de l'aliga cuabarrada Hieraaetus fasciatus fasciatus. Rapinyires Mediterranis II: 70-79.
Real J. 1991. L'aliga perdiguera Hieraaetus fasciatus a Catalunya: status, ecologyía trófica, biología reproductora i demografía, Ph.D. Thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
Real J. and Mañosa S. 1996. Estatus, demografía y conservación del Águila perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en el Mediterráneo. In: Muntaner J. and Mayol J. (eds), Biología y conservación de las Rapaces Mediterráneas. SEO/ Birdlife, Madrid, Monograph no. 4.
Real J. and Mañosa S. 1997. Demography and conservation of Western European Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus populations. Biological Conservation 79: 59-66.
Real J., Mañosa S. and Codina J. 1997. Post-nestling dependence period in the Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus. Ornis Fennica 75: 129-137.
Real J., Grande J.M., Mañosa S. and Sánchez-Zapata J.A. 2001. Causes of death in different areas for Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) in Spain. Bird Study 48: 221-228.
Rico L., Sánchez-Zapata J.A., Izquierdo A., García J.R., Morán S. and Rico D. 1999. Tendencias recientes en las poblaciones del Águila real Aquila chrysaetos y el Águila-Azor perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus en la provincia de Valencia. Ardeola 46: 235-238.
Rocamora G. 1994. Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus. In: Tucker G.M. and Heath M.F. (eds), Birds in Europe, their Conservation Status. Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK.
Sánchez-Zapata J.A. (coord) (1997) Plan de Recuperación del Aguila perdicera en la Región de Murcia, Ambiental S.L., Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente, Murcia.
Sánchez-Zapata J.A., Sánchez M.A., Calvo J.F. and Esteve M.A. 1995. Ecología de las aves de presa en la Region de Murcia. Cuadernos de Ecología y Medioambiente, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia.
Sánchez-Zapata J.A., Calvo J.F., Carrete M. and Martínez J.E. 2000. Age and breeding success of a Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos population in Southeastern Spain. Bird Study 47: 235-237.
Sokal R.R. and Rolhf F.J. 1969. Biometry. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, California.
Steenhof K., Kochert M.N. and McDonald T.L. 1997. Interactive effects of prey and weather on Golden eagle reproduction. Journal of Animal Ecology 66: 350-362.
Wiklund C.G. 1996. Determinants of dispersal in breeding Merlins Falco columbarius. Ecology 77: 1920-1927.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carrete, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J.A., Martínez, J.E. et al. Factors influencing the decline of a Bonelli's eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus population in southeastern Spain: demography, habitat or competition?. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 975–985 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015856924451
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015856924451