NDLI: Microclimate and microhabitat selection by the Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) during summer

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Visini, Linda Perllet, Claire Agnès Desmet, Jean François Korner Nievergelt, Fränzi Jenni, Lukas
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	The Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica)—which is adapted to arctic and alpine environments—is suspected to be vulnerable to climate warming, but direct evidence is limited. Microclimates within a landscape may allow species to exist in regions where the general climate appears to be unsuitable for them. We therefore investigated the diversity of microclimates in alpine habitats used by the Alpine Rock Ptarmigan in summer, and we examined whether Alpine Rock Ptarmigan select places with a microclimate that facilitates heat dissipation during summer days. The study was done in the Haute-Savoie (northern French Alps), where ptarmigan have been equipped with radio transmitters, thus allowing direct observations. We measured the three microclimate variables which determine the thermal environment of an animal: ambient temperature (ground and air temperature), which defines the temperature gradients between the animal and the environment; wind speed, which determines convection; and solar radiation, which determines radiation uptake. Additional measurements at four contrasting microtopographic sites at five locations and at two random sites in July and August showed that the typical habitat of the Alpine Rock Ptarmigan offered a wide variety of microclimates over very short distances, particularly on hot summer days. Compared with control sites at 5 m and 30 m, Alpine Rock Ptarmigan selected places with a particular microtopography and microclimate: slightly cooler places in the shade that were protected from the wind; often small, north-facing depressions with a medium amount of rocks and diverse ground cover. The places selected by ptarmigan during hot summer days conformed well to the requirements of both heat dissipation and predator avoidance, and also offered food. Mikroklima und Mikrohabitatwahl beim Alpenschneehuhn ( Lagopus muta helvetica ) im Sommer Das Alpenschneehuhn (Lagopus muta helvetica) ist an arktische und alpine Lebensräume angepasst. Deshalb wird es als empfindlich gegenüber den Auswirkungen der Klimaerwärmung betrachtet, doch sind direkte Nachweise selten. Mikroklimas in speziellen Habitaten können es Arten erlauben, in Gebieten vorzukommen, deren generelles Klima ungeeignet ist. Wir untersuchten die Vielfalt der Mikroklimas in den alpinen Habitaten des Alpenschneehuhns im Sommer und prüften, ob das Alpenschneehuhn an Sommertagen Plätze aufsucht, die eine gute Wärmeableitung ermöglichen. Die Studie fand in den französischen Alpen der Haute-Savoie statt, wo besenderte Vögel direkte Beobachtungen ermöglichten. Wir maßen die drei Mikroklimavariablen, die die thermische Umgebung des Vogels bestimmen: (a) Luft- und Bodentemperatur, die den thermischen Gradienten zwischen Tier und Umgebung bestimmen, (b) Windgeschwindigkeit, die die Konvektion bestimmt und (c) Sonneneinstrahlung. Zusätzliche Messungen an vier kontrastierenden mikrotopographischen Orten und an zufällig ausgewählten Orten ergaben, dass typische Habitate des Alpenschneehuhns eine grosse Vielfalt von Mikroklimas über kurze Distanzen bieten, vor allem an warmen Sommertagen. Die Alpenschneehühner suchten Plätze auf, die sich durch eine besondere Mikrotopographie und eine spezielles Mikroklima gegenüber Kontrollplätzen in 5 m und 30 m Distanz auszeichneten: etwas kühlere Plätze im Schatten und windgeschützt, oft in kleinen Mulden, die gegen Norden geöffnet waren, an Orten mit einer vielfältigen Bodenbedeckung mit Felsbrocken. Solche Plätze ermöglichen nicht nur eine gute Wärmeableitung, sondern sind auch ausgezeichnet zur Feindvermeidung und bieten Nahrung.
Starting Page	407
Ending Page	417
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISSN	21937192
Journal	Journal für Ornithologie
Volume Number	156
Issue Number	2
e-ISSN	21937206
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2014-11-23
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Alpine microclimate Fine-scale habitat selection Lagopus muta helvetica Thermoregulation Heat dissipation Microtopography Zoology Animal Ecology Evolutionary Biology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Spring densities and calling activities of Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) in the Austrian Alps

Variable decline of Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) in Switzerland between regions and sites

Habitat selection by Alpine Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica in the Italian Alps

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) breeding habitat use in northern Sweden

Habitat at the mountain tops: how long can Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) survive rapid climate change in the Swiss Alps? A multi-scale approach

Breeding habitat selection of sympatric White-tailed, Rock and Willow Ptarmigan in the southern Yukon Territory, Canada

Habitat selection by breeding rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica males in the western Italian Alps

Spring density and summer habitat use of alpine rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica in the southeastern Alps

The relationship between parasites and spleen and bursa mass in the Icelandic Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta

Microclimate and microhabitat selection by the Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) during summer

Similar Documents

Spring densities and calling activities of Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) in the Austrian Alps

Variable decline of Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) in Switzerland between regions and sites

Habitat selection by Alpine Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica in the Italian Alps

Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) breeding habitat use in northern Sweden

Habitat at the mountain tops: how long can Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) survive rapid climate change in the Swiss Alps? A multi-scale approach

Breeding habitat selection of sympatric White-tailed, Rock and Willow Ptarmigan in the southern Yukon Territory, Canada

Habitat selection by breeding rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica males in the western Italian Alps

Spring density and summer habitat use of alpine rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica in the southeastern Alps

The relationship between parasites and spleen and bursa mass in the Icelandic Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta

Microclimate and microhabitat selection by the Alpine Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) during summer