Investigation Wintering And Breeding Habitat Selection by Asiatic Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii ) In Central Steppe of Iran

Authors: S. Aghainajafi Zadeh, M.R. Hemami., F. Heydari

Abstract:

Asiatic Houbara ( Chlamydotis macqueenii ) is a flagship and vulnerable species. In-situ conservation of this threatened species demands for knowledge of its habitat selection. The aim of this study was to determine habitat variables influencing birds wintering and breeding selection in semi- arid central Iran. Habitat features of the detected nest and pellet sites were compared with paired and random plots by quantifying a number of habitat variables. In wintering habitat use at micro scale houbara selected sites where vegetation cover was significantly lower compard to control sites( p< 0.001). Areas with low number of larger plant species (p=0.03) that were not too close to a vegetation patch(p<0.001) were selected for breeding habitat.

Keywords: Asiatic houbara bustard, Habitat selection, Nest, pellet.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1327903

References:

[1] Combreau, O., and Smith, T.R, ÔÇÿÔÇÿSummer habitat selection by houbara bustard introduced in central Saudi Arabia--. Arid Environment. J., vol. 36, pp.140-160, 1997.
[2] Hingrat, Y., Ysnel, F., Saint- jamle, M., Lecuziat, J., Beranger, P.M and Lacroix, F, ÔÇÿÔÇÿAssessing habitat and resource availability for an endangered bird species in eastern Morrocco--. Biodiversity and Conservation. J., vol. 16, pp. 597-620, 2007.
[3] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN. http://www.redlist.org. 2008.
[4] Launay, F., Roshier, D., Loughland, R and Aspinall, S. J, ÔÇÿÔÇÿ Habitat use by houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) in the arid shrubland in the United Arab Emirates--. Arid Environment. J., vol. 35, pp.111-121, 1997.
[5] Mian, A, ÔÇÿÔÇÿA contribution to the biology of houbara: some evidence of breeding in Baluchistan (Published Conference Proceedings style)," in Proc. 5th Zoology conf, Pakistan, 2001, pp. 267-269.
[6] Mian, A, ÔÇÿÔÇÿHoubara in Baluchistan: 1984-85. Ecological studies (published World wildlife fund Pakistan newsletter)--, vol. 5, pp. 4-6. 1986.
[7] Mian, A, ÔÇÿÔÇÿOn biology of houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) in Balochistan, Pkistan: animal populations sharing habitat--, Biological Science. J., vol. 3, pp. 782-796, 2003.
[8] Osborne, P.E., Launay, F and Gliddon, D, ÔÇÿÔÇÿWintering habitat use by Houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis undulata) in Abu Dhabi and implication for management--, Biological Conservation. j., vol. 81, pp. 51-56, 1997.
[9] Yang, W.K., Qiao, J.F., Combreau, O., Gao, X.Y and zhang, W.Q, ÔÇÿÔÇÿBreeding habitat selection by the houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis macqueenii) in Morii, Xinjiang, China--. Zoological Studies. J., vol. 42, pp. 470-475, 2003.