Chapter 12
Concept for the Monitoring
of Climate Induced Impacts on Rock
Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Triglav
National Park, Slovenia
Tina Petras
12.1 Introduction to the Case Study
Part of the main management goals for the alpine ecosystem in Triglav National
Park (TNP) are the (1) preservation of a representative portion of high mountain
grasslands and pastures, (2) prevention the disturbances in the living environment
of the species, (3) establish a network of habitats connection which will enable the
preservation of grassland ecosystems and (4) maintaining viable population of
mountain species. To monitor effects of climate change key indicators that correspond to these aims and relate to climate change have been chosen.
In the following paper, the case study on the population monitoring of rock
ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in TNP is presented. Rock ptarmigan is considered an
indicator species for the extreme alpine environment with good response to human
impacts.
To understand the population dynamics of a species with regard to environmental and/or human impacts, long-term surveys are essential. With monitoring indicators it is possible to evaluate management strategies. For the appropriate
conservation of viable species populations, aspects of the environment, distribution,
biotic interactions, morphology, physiology, demography, behaviour, genetics and
human impacts should be addressed in the monitoring programme (Primack 2006).
However, monitoring alone produces no information on the causes and consequences of particular conditions in ecosystems and for population’s dynamics.
Therefore, it should be complemented by scientific research (Alexander 2008) on
key environmental factors and the population biology of key species.
The rock ptarmigan is an arctic-alpine grouse species (Fig. 12.1) widespread
throughout the northern Eurasia and North America (Storch 2007). It inhabits opened
habitats, in Alps above the tree-line, mainly between 1,700 and 2,400 m a.s.l.
T. Petras (*)
Triglavski narodni park, Ljubljanska cesta 27, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
e-mail: tina.petras@gmail.com
S. Rannow and M. Neubert (eds.), Managing Protected Areas in Central
and Eastern Europe Under Climate Change, Advances in Global Change Research 58,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7960-0_12, © The Author(s) 2014
185
Concept for the Monitoring
of Climate Induced Impacts on Rock
Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Triglav
National Park, Slovenia
Tina Petras
12.1 Introduction to the Case Study
Part of the main management goals for the alpine ecosystem in Triglav National
Park (TNP) are the (1) preservation of a representative portion of high mountain
grasslands and pastures, (2) prevention the disturbances in the living environment
of the species, (3) establish a network of habitats connection which will enable the
preservation of grassland ecosystems and (4) maintaining viable population of
mountain species. To monitor effects of climate change key indicators that correspond to these aims and relate to climate change have been chosen.
In the following paper, the case study on the population monitoring of rock
ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in TNP is presented. Rock ptarmigan is considered an
indicator species for the extreme alpine environment with good response to human
impacts.
To understand the population dynamics of a species with regard to environmental and/or human impacts, long-term surveys are essential. With monitoring indicators it is possible to evaluate management strategies. For the appropriate
conservation of viable species populations, aspects of the environment, distribution,
biotic interactions, morphology, physiology, demography, behaviour, genetics and
human impacts should be addressed in the monitoring programme (Primack 2006).
However, monitoring alone produces no information on the causes and consequences of particular conditions in ecosystems and for population’s dynamics.
Therefore, it should be complemented by scientific research (Alexander 2008) on
key environmental factors and the population biology of key species.
The rock ptarmigan is an arctic-alpine grouse species (Fig. 12.1) widespread
throughout the northern Eurasia and North America (Storch 2007). It inhabits opened
habitats, in Alps above the tree-line, mainly between 1,700 and 2,400 m a.s.l.
T. Petras (*)
Triglavski narodni park, Ljubljanska cesta 27, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
e-mail: tina.petras@gmail.com
S. Rannow and M. Neubert (eds.), Managing Protected Areas in Central
and Eastern Europe Under Climate Change, Advances in Global Change Research 58,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7960-0_12, © The Author(s) 2014
185