Effective Variables in Nest Site Selection by Crested Lark (Galeridacristata) in Marvar Area, Yazd Province

Subject Areas : Environmental Risk Analysis

Sharzad Nazemi ¹ (Department of Environment, Maybod Branch, Islamic Azad University, Maybod , Iran)
Shirin Aghanajafizadeh ² (Department of Environment, Maybod Branch, Islamic Azad University, Maybod , Iran)

Received: 2017-02-09 Accepted : 2017-05-27 Published : 2021-09-23

Keywords: Yazd province, Habitat selection, Marvar Hunting Stop Area, Crested lark,

Abstract :

Background and Purposes: Nesting areas by Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) were studied in 10000 hectares of Marvar hunting stop area in Yazd Province in 1394. Material and Methodology: Habitat variables such as plant species, height, and plant cover percentage, as well as distance to the closest plant patches, water resources, fields, roads and the number of terrestrial insect dens in the presence areas were measured and compared with those of the absence areas.Results: The results showed that the mean of total vegetation percentage around the nests; the percentage of Artemisia sp vegetation, and its height; the percentage and height of Astragalus sp,peganum sp vegetation; the percentage and height of Alhagi sp vegetation; and the mean number of terrestrial insect dens were meaningfully higher in the presence points than those of the control areas (P<0.05). Furthermore, the distance to the nearest water source in the nesting areas was meaningfully lower than that in the control areas (P<0.001). This bird selects the points with high vegetation and higher number of insect dens near water for nesting. Logistic Regression test showed that the vegetation was the most important influencing parameter in nest-site selection by crested lark in the study area.Discussion and Conclusion: Higher vegetation in the camouflage of the bird and a high number of insect cavities and proximity to water sources help the bird to survive longer. 

References:

• منصوری ، جمشید. راهنمای صحرایی پرندگان ایران. چاپ اول. تهران : انتشارات کتاب فرزانه؛1379. 517 صفحه.


• گلشکن ، مهدی. بررسی گونه چکاوک در شهر تهران. پایان نامه کارشناسی محیط زیست، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی ، واحد تهران ،1378 ؛صفحات 50 تا 57.


• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014.Crested Lark.pdf.1p/ information in:http://www. Iucnredlist.org.


• Khaleghizadeh, A.Tatafi, G., Youzbashi, M .Aghabeigi, F ., 2005.Autumn Diet of the Crested Lark (Galeridacristata) in Iran. Journal of Zoology in the Middle East, vol:35,pp 106.


• Erdos,A., 2009. Nest-site selection and breeding ecology of Sky LarksAlaudaarvensisin Hungarian farmland. Bird Study,vol:56,pp 259–263.


• Hartley, P., Notes on the breeding biology of the Crested Lark. British Birds, vol:12, pp142-144.


• Shkedy, A., Yehoshua, , Safriel, U.,1992. Nest predation and nestling growth rate of two lark species in the Negev Desert, Israel.Ibis,vol: 134, pp 268–272.


• Orbán, Z., 2004. Nest construction and roosting behaviour of a Crested Lark Galeridacristatapopulation nesting on flat roofs in Hungary – Ornis Hung, vol: 14, pp1-13.


• Schon, , 2011. Long-lived sustainable microhabitat structures in arable ecosystems, and Skylarks (Alaudaarvensis).Noture conservation,vol: 23, pp143–147.


• Mallord,w., Dolman,P., Brown, A. Sutherland, W., 2007 . Nest-site characteristics of Woodlarks Lullulaarborea breeding on heathlands in southern England: are there consequences for nest survival and productivity?, Bird Studyvol: 54, pp307–314.


• Morgado, R., Beja, P., Reino, L., Gordinho, L., Delgado, A., Borralho, R., Moreira ,F .,2010.Calandra Lark habitat selection: strong fragmentation effects in a grassland specialist, ActaOecologic,vol :36.pp 63-73.


• Kamp,G.,2012. Niche separation of Larks (Alaudidae ) and agricultural change on thedrylands of the former soviet union .agriculture, ecosystems &environment,vol: 155,pp 41-49.


• Lusk, L., kamp. G., Fred, G.,  Samuel, F., 2003. Lark sparrow (Chondestesgrammacus) nest-site selection and success in a mixed-grass prairie the auk,vol:120, pp120–129.


• Morales, M .,Guerrero,,Oñate, J., Meléndez, L.,2012.Inter-specific association and habitat use in a farmland passerine assemblage.Ecological Research,vol: 27,pp691-700.


• بی نام ، احمد. اطلس طبیعت یزد. چاپ اول. یزد : انتشار اداره کل حفاظت محیط زیست یزد؛ 80 صفحه.


• زارع ، مهدی. شناسنامه منطقه شکار ممنوع مرور. پایان نامه کارشناسی محیط زیست، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد میبد ، 1388 ؛ صفحات 5 الی 10 .


• یزدی ، مهدیه. ارزیابی منطقه شکار ممنوع مرور برای ارتقا به منطقه حفاظت شده. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد محیط زیست. دانشگاه آزاد واحد علوم و تحقیقات.1389 ؛  صفحات 5 تا 20.