Relative value of riparian woodlands in landscapes with different forest cover for medium-sized Iberian carnivores

Authors
Citation
E. Virgos, Relative value of riparian woodlands in landscapes with different forest cover for medium-sized Iberian carnivores, BIODIVERS C, 10(7), 2001, pp. 1039-1049
Citations number
40
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
ISSN journal
0960-3115 → ACNP
Volume
10
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1039 - 1049
Database
ISI
SICI code
0960-3115(200107)10:7<1039:RVORWI>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
This study analyses the role of riparian woodland in the conservation of fi ve common carnivore species as compared with other non-riparian habitats ac cording to woodland cover on the landscape scale (> 60, 20-35 and < 15% on 20 x 20-km surface area). I hypothesised that the importance of riparian wo odlands in carnivore conservation on the regional scale would be greater in landscapes with low forest cover than in those with intermediate or high f orest cover. To test this hypothesis, in each landscape type I sampled five riparian forests and 10-15 non-riparian habitats and recorded species rich ness and frequency of occurrence (number of sampled sites with species pres ence/total sampled sites) in both habitat types. The presence of (or use by ) species at each particular sampling site was recorded using sign-surveys (search for scats and badger dens). The relative importance of riparian and non-riparian habitats in each landscape type was analysed by comparing spe cies richness and frequency of occurrence for each species. Comparison of s pecies richness and frequency of occurrence between landscape types indicat e that riparian woodlands are important habitats in all landscape contexts. However, in accordance with the initial hypothesis, riparian woodlands are essential for carnivore conservation in the most deforested areas. Any agr icultural or development policy should take into account the need to mainta in and preserve riparian woodlands in landscapes, especially in intensively cultivated landscapes.