Spatial distribution of display sites of Grey Peacock-pheasant in relation to micro-habitat and predators during the breeding season

Journal article

Authors/Editors

TOMMASO SAVINI

Strategic Research Themes

No matching items found.

Publication Details

Author list: Thunhikorn S., Grainger M.J., McGowan P.J.K., Savini T.

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.

Publication year: 2018

Volume number: 9

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 2053-7166

eISSN: 2053-7166

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047370063&doi=10.1186%2fs40657-018-0107-8&partnerID=40&md5=b87432578451bf69d05f1f24d18fd5da

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

View in Web of Science | View on publisher site | View citing articles in Web of Science

Abstract

Background: The destruction and fragmentation of forest in Southeast Asia is accelerating biodiversity loss, resulting in a range of management and conservation actions. For some species, a detailed understanding of microhabitat selection is critical for this, especially in the breeding season. Methods: To understand the factors that explain how specific habitats are used by the Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) in the breeding season, we used camera trapping and microhabitat sampling to assess the microhabitat selection of males. We also looked at their interaction with predators in an area of 1200 mื1200 m at the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, between January and May 2013. Results: We show that display scrapes are situated on flatter open areas with small saplings and some vines, typified by low horizontal understory density. We hypothesise that this allows a trade-off between courtship display and the avoidance of predators. Our study showed that the position of Grey Peacock-pheasant display scrapes regularly overlapped with predators within the same microhabitat. We hypothesise that the species' behavioural responses to temporal variation in predation risk allows them to avoid most predators. Conclusions: Particular microhabitats are required for Grey Peacock-pheasant display. They avoid predators at these places by being active when predators are not. ฉ 2018 The Author(s).

Keywords

Display scrape, Polyplectron bicalcaratum, Predator-prey, Species accumulation