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<p>Limited post-release movements are crucial for the success of conservation programs involving translocation. While exploring their new habitat is imperative, excessive dispersals can undermine these efforts. In this study, we examined the short-term (60&#xa0;days) and long-term (14&#xa0;months) post-release movements of 43 Black Grouse (<i>Lyrurus tetrix</i>) that were translocated to the Hautes Fagnes (Belgium) in 2018–2019 and 2022 to evaluate their acclimation in the context of a population reinforcement. Our findings revealed significant individual variability in the extent of movements, yet mobile individuals exhibited a consistent trend: they engaged in exploratory movements for a period of 10–20&#xa0;days after release. No discernible sex-related disparities in exploration distance were observed between years; however, the timeframe for reaching the farthest distance from the release point varied across years. After this exploratory period, the birds returned and settled in the target area (the moorland and peatland habitats of the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve), but this could be reinforced by the isolated situation of the target area, other moorland and peatland areas being beyond the observed range of our birds' explorations (maximum 22&#xa0;km). The translocated Black Grouse settled in the central part of the reserve, despite a large available surface of moorlands and peatlands around, coinciding with the presence of other individuals and currently active leks in this sector. In both sexes, the exploratory period was followed by alternating periods of low mobility during summer and winter, and high mobility in autumn and spring. This mobility pattern aligns with typical behaviour observed in this species and is notably connected with periods of activity on leks in spring and autumn and a distinct restricted spatial behaviour during the winter. These findings suggest effective acclimation of the translocated grouse, contingent on other factors such as good survival rates and successful breeding.</p>

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A spatial and temporal analysis of post-release behaviour in translocated Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) using GPS telemetry

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月2日

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  • Johann Delcourt,
  • Justine Dewilde,
  • Dylan Delvaux,
  • Didier Vangeluwe,
  • Pascal Poncin

摘要

Limited post-release movements are crucial for the success of conservation programs involving translocation. While exploring their new habitat is imperative, excessive dispersals can undermine these efforts. In this study, we examined the short-term (60 days) and long-term (14 months) post-release movements of 43 Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) that were translocated to the Hautes Fagnes (Belgium) in 2018–2019 and 2022 to evaluate their acclimation in the context of a population reinforcement. Our findings revealed significant individual variability in the extent of movements, yet mobile individuals exhibited a consistent trend: they engaged in exploratory movements for a period of 10–20 days after release. No discernible sex-related disparities in exploration distance were observed between years; however, the timeframe for reaching the farthest distance from the release point varied across years. After this exploratory period, the birds returned and settled in the target area (the moorland and peatland habitats of the Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve), but this could be reinforced by the isolated situation of the target area, other moorland and peatland areas being beyond the observed range of our birds' explorations (maximum 22 km). The translocated Black Grouse settled in the central part of the reserve, despite a large available surface of moorlands and peatlands around, coinciding with the presence of other individuals and currently active leks in this sector. In both sexes, the exploratory period was followed by alternating periods of low mobility during summer and winter, and high mobility in autumn and spring. This mobility pattern aligns with typical behaviour observed in this species and is notably connected with periods of activity on leks in spring and autumn and a distinct restricted spatial behaviour during the winter. These findings suggest effective acclimation of the translocated grouse, contingent on other factors such as good survival rates and successful breeding.