Influence of prey availability on the movement pattern of breeding saker falcons(Falco cherrug)in Mongolia  

作　　者：Batbayar Bold Md.Lutfor Rahman Gankhuyag Purev-Ochir Amarsaikhan Saruul Xiangjiang Zhan Andrew Dixon 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology,Institute of Zoology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China [2]University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China [3]Wildlife Science and Conservation Center of Mongolia,Ulaanbaatar 14230,Mongolia [4]Cardiff University-Institute of Zoology Joint Laboratory for Biocomplexity Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China [5]Mongolian Bird Conservation Center,Ulaanbaatar 14200,Mongolia [6]International Wildlife Consultants Ltd.,PO Box 19,Carmarthen,Wales,UK [7]Mohamed Bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund,Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2024年第6期810-820,共11页动物学报（英文版）

基　　金：funded by and undertaken on behalf of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi(EAD)under a memorandum of understanding with Mongolia’s Ministry of Environment and Green Development(MEGD);supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31930013,32361133559);the Third Xinjiang Scientifc Expedition Program(grant no.2022xjkk0801);the CASTWAS President’s Fellowship Programme(BB).

摘　　要：As an apex predator in arid steppe,saker falcon plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance.Understanding their movement patterns concerning conspecific competition and prey availability is important for their conservation.We aim to understand how movement pattern of breeding saker falcons relates to prey availability.Twelve adult sakers were tracked during the breeding seasons,using satellite transmitters.Throughout the breeding season,sakers exhibited territorial behavior,with minimal overlap in range use among neighboring conspecifics.Males occupied larger areas(mean=2,397 ha,median=1,221 ha),compared to females(mean=1,241 ha,median=554 ha),and it remained consistent throughout breeding season.Female home range size increased notably during a late nestling stage and post-fledging dependence periods,indicating release from brooding constraints.Notably,we found a negative relationship between male home range size and prey availability.In high rodent density areas,males occupied smaller areas(mean=1,135 ha,median=1,034 ha),contrasting with low rodent density areas(mean=6,815 ha,median=6,516 ha).However,no significant relationship was observed between female home range size and prey availability.We also noted instances of nest abandonment and early dispersal behavior in some females,potentially influenced by a handicapping effect of tagging.Our findings offer valuable insight into how prey availability shapes saker falcon space use and defines their spatial requirements for successful breeding.This knowledge is crucial for the conservation and management of globally endangered saker falcons,informing targeted habitat protection and resource management strategies.

关 键 词：birds of prey distance from the nest home range prey availability TERRITORY tagging effect 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]