engleski

Influence of Landscape and Dry Pasture Characteristics on Two Lark Species in Krka National Park in Croatia

Definition of sustainable grassland uses in protected areas is one of the most delicate tasks for conservationists. Dry Mediterranean grasslands in the Krka National Park in Croatia are important bird areas supporting some of the Croatian rarest breeding birds. Calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) are two of those species. Main goal of our research was to describe what types of dry grasslands those two species inhabits and which landscape and field variables affect their densities. Research has been done on 6 localities that represent typical pastures in different phases of succession as consequence of pasture abandonment. Habitat structure research was done on 82 points on which 2 grassland bird species breeding territories were mapped. Phase of succession was described as density of different scrub and trees species. Presence of stone-walls, scrub coverage and trees were taken as a measure of grasslands fragmentation. Calandra lark showed strong correlation with large, open and non-fragmented pastures, without trees and stone-walls. Greater Short-toed Lark showed the same preference for treeless habitats even though were less sensitive to habitat fragmentation. The amount of bare ground was correlated with absence of those two species on otherwise suitable habitats.

grassland management; protected area; Melanocorypha calandra; Calandrella brachydactyla; succession

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