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Recreation shapes a “landscape of fear” for a threatened forest bird species in Central Europe

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Abstract

Predators can create a “landscape of fear” that influences the spatial distribution of their prey. Understanding whether human activity similarly affects the distribution of species beyond habitat suitability is crucial but difficult to assess for conservation managers. Here, we assessed the effect of recreation and forestry activity on a threatened forest-dwelling umbrella species, the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). We followed the citizen science approach on the landscape scale in the Bohemian Forest. We analyzed species data non-invasively collected through intensive fieldwork by volunteers and assessed human activity in the entire study area by analyzing expert questionnaires. The study area extends over 119,000 ha and harbors one of the largest relict populations of this grouse species in Central European low mountain ranges. Our statistical models revealed a negative impact of recreational activities on the intensity of habitat use of the birds within suitable habitats, thereby pointing toward a landscape of fear. The influence of forestry activity, in contrast, was not clear. In comparison to existing regional tourism impact studies, we were able to elevate the examination to the landscape scale. Our results underlined the relevance of recreation in limiting the species’ habitat on an entire landscape and allow us to conclude that habitat managers should set aside well-defined zones without recreational activities to preserve the refuge of this umbrella species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the numerous non-professional ornithologists, rangers, foresters, hunters, and enthusiasts on both sides of the border for their countless hours in the field reporting observations and collecting samples, and for completing questionnaires. Special thanks goes to Y. Tiede, S. Michl, G. Fischl, C. Heuck, C. Budach, J. Stastny, I. Möller, K.H. Schindlatz, and J. Macher, who intensively supported fieldwork and data processing. We thank W. Scherzinger and R. Palme for general support. B. Schröder, A. Zeileis, T. Hothorn and T.B. Mueller provided valuable advice for statistical analysis. M. Teuscher provided raw data from previous Capercaillie habitat surveys. We thank R.F. Graf and one anonymous referee for helpful comments that considerably helped to improve a previous version of this manuscript. Karen A. Brune thankfully revised the language.

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  1. Tomáš Lorenc

    Present address: , Loretská 869, 34101, Horažd’ovice, Czech Republic

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Straße 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany

    Sascha Rösner & Jörg Müller

  2. Department of Ecology – Animal Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 8, 35043, Marburg, Germany

    Sascha Rösner

  3. 3171 Monticello Pl. #103, Orlando, FL, 32835, USA

    Emily Mussard-Forster

  4. Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area, Sušická 399, 34192, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic

    Tomáš Lorenc

  5. Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Jörg Müller

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  1. Sascha Rösner
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Correspondence to Sascha Rösner.

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Rösner, S., Mussard-Forster, E., Lorenc, T. et al. Recreation shapes a “landscape of fear” for a threatened forest bird species in Central Europe. Landscape Ecol 29, 55–66 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-013-9964-z

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