Kämpfer-Lauenstein, A. 1997: Habitat selection of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia and natural dynamics in different central European woodland associations. - Wildl. Biol. 3: 289.
In western Europe, where hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia occupy coppiced deciduous woods, populations are endangered or already extinct, probably because the coppicing system is being abandoned. In central Europe, such as in the Bavarian forest, where they occupy native forests, populations are still stable. From 1992 to 1995, 30 hazel grouse were radio-marked in the 'Bayerischer Wald' National Park to examine preferred habitat structures of this species in primary habitat and natural dynamics in different woodland associations. The 'Aufichtenwald' (alluvial spruce forest) was dominated by Picea and Betula. Other species (e.g. Fagus, Abies and Acer) were absent due to too wet and cold weather conditions. Dense vegetation structures, bogs and large windthrows were typical, where hazel grouse had a relatively high density (2.8 males /100 ha). In winter they preferred middle-aged dense stands, in which they mostly used birch catkins. In summer, open structures such as old stands, bogs and windthrows, with a well developed Vaccinium spp. layer, were most important. The 'Bergmischwald' (montane mixed forest) was a mixed deciduous/conifer woodland, dominated by Fagus, Abies, Picea and Acer mixed with Sorbus and other deciduous tree species. Hazel grouse had a lower density (1.5 males /100 ha) in this habitat. In winter, they preferred middle-aged mixed stands of 30-60 years with high proportions (up to 10%) of Betula, Sorbus, and Populus, or young succession stages 20-30 years old, dominated by Betula, Salix, and Populus. In summer, open areas such as trails, rocky boulder fields, windthrows, gaps caused by beetle infestations, and old growth forests were mostly used. Of this area, 70-80% was dominated by low structured, middle-aged stages unsuitable for hazel grouse. The 'Bergfichtenwald' (montane spruce forest) was situated above 1,200 m a.s.l., where it was too cold for firs and beeches. Its structure was similar to that of the alluvial spruce forest but the only deciduous tree present was Sorbus representing less than 2%. The density of hazel grouse was low (0.7 males /100 ha) and habitats remain unchanged over long periods.
Key words: Bonasa bonasia, coppice management, Germany, habitat selection, hazel grouse, population densities
Andreas Kämpfer-Lauenstein, Institut für Wildbiologie und Jagdkunde der Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany