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Status of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) subpopulation in Klana region, Delnice – central Croatia

Negative trend of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) population on Croatian habitats over the last two decades of twentieth century has resulted with National Protection Act (NN 43/95) which declared capercaillie as the endangered species. First protection measure included hunting moratorium, which had to be followed with other interventions for improving habitat quality and controlling the predators. This research was focused on the capercaillie subpopulation in the central region of Croatia, on twelve micro localities in area approximately 5 500 ha wide. During the period of seven years (1998-2004) counting of adult individuals of both sex was done, distribution of leks were noted, and nesting grounds were recorded. Decrease of lekking activities as well as continuous decline of adult males was recorded through research period, with the peak in year 2003 when lekking activities were not recorded. The factors that influence capercaillie population stability (human influence-intensive forest management, traffic disturbance, tourism, poaching ; habitat degradation, climate changes and prey-predator relation) were studied with aim to asses base line monitor data. Collected information will be incorporated in a comprehensive concept for capercaillie conservation.

capercaillie; habitat quality; population dynamics; Croatia

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