Spatial patterns of distribution of Bonelli`s Eagles Hieraaetus fasciatus

Full article

Published:

Volume 48(2), December 2001. Pages 175-181.

Language:

Spanish

Original title:

Distribución espacial del Águila-azor Perdicera Hieraaetus fasciatus

Keywords:

Aquila chrysaetos, Bonelli’s Eagle, Golden Eagle, Hieraaetus fasciatus, spatial patterns of distribution.

Abstract:

We analized the spatial pattern of distribution of the populations of two cliff-nesting eagles, the Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus and the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos in Murcia, southeastern Spain. We applied two complementary methods, the G-test and a graphical analysis, to detect the spacing between conspecific breeding pairs and between both species. Golden Eagles followed a regular pattern (Table 1; Fig. 2), while Bonelli's Eagles aggregated in two principal reproductive cores, with a random spacing within them (Table 1; Fig. 1). The distribution of both species considered together did not differ from a random pattern (Table 1; Fig. 3). Intraspecific territoriality has been shown to be associated with regular patterns of distribution in a large variety of species, such as happens with Golden Eagles in the study area. On the other side, the spatial pattern observed among Bonelli's Eagle pairs seems to be associated with direct human persecution. When considering both species together, the random pattern obtained could be a consequence of a low breeding density of both species.