<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>In this study, we identified the key mortality causes of eggs, juveniles and adults of the Great Bustard (<italic>Otis tarda</italic>) and quantified the relative importance of those, based on systematic data collection that have been carried out during the period between 2005 and 2014 at the Upper-Kiskunság region in Central Hungary. Rate of mortality regarding juveniles and adults was 39.71% caused by anthropogenic factors. Within the anthropogenic factors leading to mortality, collision was represented by 81.48% of fatalities, whereas mowing/hay making represented by 18.52%. Hay making/mowing was the factor leading to unsuccessful breeding attempt with the strongest negative effect on the breeding success of the investigated population of the Great Bustard, as it was represented by 50.96% of all known mortality cases. Chemical treatment had the factor with the second strongest effect, as it was represented by 12.33% of all known mortality cases. The rate of unsuccessful breeding (hatching) caused by particular activities (hay making/mowing, tillage, harvesting) varied between 68.42% and 75.00%. It was the disturbance by passers-by which led to the highest portion of unsuccessful breeding with 83.33% unsuccessful nests.</p>
</abstract>

In this study, we identified the key mortality causes of eggs, juveniles and adults of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) and quantified the relative importance of those, based on systematic data collection that have been carried out during the period between 2005 and 2014 at the Upper-Kiskunság region in Central Hungary. Rate of mortality regarding juveniles and adults was 39.71% caused by anthropogenic factors. Within the anthropogenic factors leading to mortality, collision was represented by 81.48% of fatalities, whereas mowing/hay making represented by 18.52%. Hay making/mowing was the factor leading to unsuccessful breeding attempt with the strongest negative effect on the breeding success of the investigated population of the Great Bustard, as it was represented by 50.96% of all known mortality cases. Chemical treatment had the factor with the second strongest effect, as it was represented by 12.33% of all known mortality cases. The rate of unsuccessful breeding (hatching) caused by particular activities (hay making/mowing, tillage, harvesting) varied between 68.42% and 75.00%. It was the disturbance by passers-by which led to the highest portion of unsuccessful breeding with 83.33% unsuccessful nests.

Key Mortality Causes of the Great Bustard (<italic>Otis Tarda</italic>) in Central Hungary: An Analysis of Known Fatalities

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Key Mortality Causes of the Great Bustard () in Central Hungary: An Analysis of Known Fatalities

In this study, we identified the key mortality causes of eggs, juveniles and adults of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) and quantified the relative importance of...

Key Mortality Causes of the Great Bustard (Otis Tarda) in Central Hungary: An Analysis of Known Fatalities

Published Online: Feb 28, 2015

Page range: 32 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2014-0016

Keywords
Great Bustard, mortality factors, collision with cables, mowing, anthropogenic disturbance

© 2014 Csaba Vad´sz and Miklós Lór´nt

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Key Mortality Causes of the Great Bustard (Otis Tarda) in Central Hungary: An Analysis of Known Fatalities

Published Online: Feb 28, 2015

Page range: 32 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2014-0016

KeywordsGreat Bustard, mortality factors, collision with cables, mowing, anthropogenic disturbance

© 2014 Csaba Vad´sz and Miklós Lór´nt

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Great Bustard, mortality factors, collision with cables, mowing, anthropogenic disturbance