Free ranging European bison in Borecka Forest

• Autorzy: Krasinski Z. A. , Krasinska M.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

This paper presents the history, herd structure, distribution and habitat preference of the free ranging herd of European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Borecka Forest, north-east Poland. Herd numbers fluctuated between 48 and 71 individuals from 1976 - 1991 through population regulation by sport shooting and removal of culls. During the snow free period the bison were distributed in a 8700 ha part of the forest area with an actual density of 6 - 8 individuals per 1000 ha. The coefficient of birth was 18.2% on average and the mortality coefficient was 4.3%. The structure of the population varied because animals were introduced, and removed by hunting. The average size of mixed groups was 11.0 ± 10.6 individuals and the groups of bulls averaged 1.44 ± 0.6 animals. Solitary bulls comprisoed 68.5% of observations. Mixed groups formed one large aggregation around supplemental feeding sites in winter; adult bulls wandered separately. Bison preferred deciduous forests (96.7% of all forest observations) especially stands older than 20 years (87.5%) and occasionally thickets (12.5%). To a large degree they used open areas as feeding grounds (37%) although they preferred the forest (63%), We compared the basic data of the European bison's ecology in Borecka and Białowieża Forests and found that group type, size, and spatial structure were characteristic features of this species. The bison showed similar population trends in different environments of lowland forests but their use of forest types varied according to diversity and food abundance.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

ecology; bison; habitat; Borecka Forest; history; Poland; European bison; Bison bonasus; distribution; herd structure; Bialowieza National Park

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Theriologica
• Rocznik: 1992
• Tom: 37
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.301-317,fig.

Twórcy

autor

Krasinski Z. A.

• Polish Academy of Sciences, 17-230 Bialowieza, Poland

autor

Krasinska M.

Bibliografia

• Bojanus H. L. 1827. De uro nostrate eiusque sceleto commentatio. Nova Acta phys.-med. Acad. Caes. Leopold. -Carol. Nat. Curios. 23: 413 -478. Bonnae.
• Dzięciołowski R.M. 1991. Ecological niches of five big ungulates in a forest tract. Folia Forestalia Polonica. Series A - Forestry 33 : 56 - 70.
• Krasińska M., Caboń-Raczyńska K. and Krasiński Z. A. 1987. Strategy of habitat utilization by European bison in the Białowieża Forest. Acta theriol. 32: 147 - 202.
• Krasińska M. and Krasiński Z. A. 1991. Strategie der Benuzung des Habitats von Bullen der Wisente im Urwald von Białowieża. Seevfigel, Zeitschrift Verein Jordsand, Hamburg 12: 63 - 66.
• Krasiński Z. A. 1978. Dynamics and structure of the European bison population in the Białowieża Primeval Forest. Acta theriol. 23: 13 - 48.
• Krasiński Z. A. 1986. Reserve breeding of European bison in Borecka Forest. Parki nar. Rez. przyr. 7: 73 - 79. [In Polish with English summary]
• Ortwein L. 1960. Żubry w Puszczy Boreckiej. Chrońmy Przyr. ojcz. 16, 5: 17 - 20.
• Polakowski B. 1961: Zespoły leśne Puszczy Boreckiej ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem leśnictwa Walisko i Lipowo. Studia Soc. scient. Toruniensis. 5:1- 146.Free ranging European bison
• Pucek Z., Bobek B., Labudzki L., Milkowski L., Morow K. and Tomek A. 1975. Estimates of density and number of ungulates. Pol. ecol. Stud. 1: 121 - 136.
• Pucek Z. 1989. Die Rettung des Wisentes. Probleme der Verhaltung einer Art. [In: Die Illusion der Arche Noach. E. Schneider, H. Oetke and H. Gross, eds]. Echo Verlag Göttingen: 249 - 268.
• Senger J. 1983. [Territory, numbers and behaviur of free-ranging European bison in Borecka Forest], MTheses, Warsaw Agricultural University, Warszawa: 1 - 56.