Habitat scarcity forms an ecological trap for the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) within a central European agricultural landscape

This study examines the habitat selection of grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and the effect of habitat type within partridge home ranges on nest site choice and nest success. Data were collected via radio-tracking in three different areas in the Czech Republic between 2002 and 2010. Compositional analysis was performed on 12 habitat types and uncultivated habitats (such as ruderals, field margins and game refuges) were selected the most during the pre-nesting and nesting periods. Grey partridges tended to nest in uncultivated habitats and avoided nesting in dominant cereal monocultures. We tested six variables that may determine nest site choice and success. Of these, the study area, proportion of selected habitat and habitat diversity (expressed by the Simpson's diversity index) significantly affected nest placement in uncultivated habitats. Despite this, the lowest nest failure rate was observed in the predominant cereal habitat. Our findings suggest a possible ecological trap for partridges throughout our study areas. Due to the lack of uncultivated habitats, partridges favoured nesting in habitats with a higher predation risk. Conservation managers should increase the proportion of uncultivated areas and promote habitat diversity for partridge populations in central Europe.