Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The field biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) was studied in Malakand division, which is an important range of its distribution in Pakistan. The abundance of the species at different altitudes was studied using both transect trails of various lengths and point counts at certain spots. The...

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Autores principales:	Ullah Atta, Khan Khurshaid
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Sciendo 2021
Materias:	alectoris chukar population dynamics nesting ecological factors pakistan Ecology QH540-549.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/187571c12c2d42468984e59b00aa56ce
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:187571c12c2d42468984e59b00aa56ce2021-12-05T14:11:09ZPopulation density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan2061-958810.2478/orhu-2021-0019https://doaj.org/article/187571c12c2d42468984e59b00aa56ce2021-12-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2021-0019https://doaj.org/toc/2061-9588The field biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) was studied in Malakand division, which is an important range of its distribution in Pakistan. The abundance of the species at different altitudes was studied using both transect trails of various lengths and point counts at certain spots. The average monthly population density was estimated to be 1.448±0.466 birds/ha. The population density in August, September, and October 2020 was significantly (P<0.05) higher, as compared to the rest of the months. Chukar Partridge sightings were the lowest in December, with mean±SD = 0.996±0.147 birds/ha and the highest in October 2.333±0.202 birds/ hae in all the study sites. At each study site, maximum activity habitats were marked and selected for breeding ecology study. Data was collected on breeding time, nest site selection, nest size, incubation period, and hatching success. The breeding season in this species starts in February, with the peak months being March and April, when calls are frequently heard. The frequency of calls varied from 0.15 to 0.3 per minute. Throughout the breeding season, twelve nests were observed using binoculars and camera traps from a distance to avoid disturbance, wherever possible and without disrupting the species. Nesting sites were mostly on slopes under the eaves of Dodonea viscosa, Calotropis procera and Zizyphus oxyphylla. Dry leaves of Poa annua, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, small twigs of bushes, and downy feathers were used as nesting materials. The average diameter of nest (n=12) was 25.43±3.4 (mean±SD) cm. Overall, the mean clutch size was 94.5±30.187 egg/nest with an incubation period of 22–24 days. The hatching success rate was 82% with 315 successfully hatched chicks, while the fledging rate was 83% (265 fledged out of 315 hatched in, n=42 nests).Ullah AttaKhan KhurshaidSciendoarticlealectoris chukarpopulation dynamicsnestingecological factorspakistanEcologyQH540-549.5ENOrnis Hungarica, Vol 29, Iss 2, Pp 59-70 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	alectoris chukar population dynamics nesting ecological factors pakistan Ecology QH540-549.5
spellingShingle	alectoris chukar population dynamics nesting ecological factors pakistan Ecology QH540-549.5 Ullah Atta Khan Khurshaid Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
description	The field biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) was studied in Malakand division, which is an important range of its distribution in Pakistan. The abundance of the species at different altitudes was studied using both transect trails of various lengths and point counts at certain spots. The average monthly population density was estimated to be 1.448±0.466 birds/ha. The population density in August, September, and October 2020 was significantly (P<0.05) higher, as compared to the rest of the months. Chukar Partridge sightings were the lowest in December, with mean±SD = 0.996±0.147 birds/ha and the highest in October 2.333±0.202 birds/ hae in all the study sites. At each study site, maximum activity habitats were marked and selected for breeding ecology study. Data was collected on breeding time, nest site selection, nest size, incubation period, and hatching success. The breeding season in this species starts in February, with the peak months being March and April, when calls are frequently heard. The frequency of calls varied from 0.15 to 0.3 per minute. Throughout the breeding season, twelve nests were observed using binoculars and camera traps from a distance to avoid disturbance, wherever possible and without disrupting the species. Nesting sites were mostly on slopes under the eaves of Dodonea viscosa, Calotropis procera and Zizyphus oxyphylla. Dry leaves of Poa annua, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, small twigs of bushes, and downy feathers were used as nesting materials. The average diameter of nest (n=12) was 25.43±3.4 (mean±SD) cm. Overall, the mean clutch size was 94.5±30.187 egg/nest with an incubation period of 22–24 days. The hatching success rate was 82% with 315 successfully hatched chicks, while the fledging rate was 83% (265 fledged out of 315 hatched in, n=42 nests).
format	article
author	Ullah Atta Khan Khurshaid
author_facet	Ullah Atta Khan Khurshaid
author_sort	Ullah Atta
title	Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_short	Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_full	Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_fullStr	Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed	Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_sort	population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of chukar partridge (alectoris chukar) in malakand division, khyber pakhtunkhwa, pakistan
publisher	Sciendo
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/187571c12c2d42468984e59b00aa56ce
work_keys_str_mv	AT ullahatta populationdensityhabitatpreferenceandbreedingbiologyofchukarpartridgealectorischukarinmalakanddivisionkhyberpakhtunkhwapakistan AT khankhurshaid populationdensityhabitatpreferenceandbreedingbiologyofchukarpartridgealectorischukarinmalakanddivisionkhyberpakhtunkhwapakistan
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Population density, habitat preference, and breeding biology of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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