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

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.

Authors:

• S. Aghainajafi Zadeh
• M.R. Hemami.
• F. Heydari

Keywords:

• Asiatic houbara bustard
• Habitat selection
• Nest
• pellet.

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.