hrvatski

Forest succession as a possible factor on chamois population density: Biokovo Mountain as case stud

In this research, we aimed to assess the influence of forest succession on the density of Balkan chamois population on Mt Biokovo. To calculate the percentage of forest cover increase, we analysed forest vegetation coverage from two periods (1968 and 2016). In 1968, 18% of the analyzed area was covered with forest/shrub, while in 2016 50% of the area was covered. We propose an average forest/shrub progressiveness of 0.66% per year on Mt Biokovo. Since there are various anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic factors that may affect population, it is hard to draw firm conclusions about the importance of forest succession on the changing chamois density trends. Further research based on feeding ecology in relation to existing habitat conditions should be conducted.

Balkan chamois, population density, Mountain Biokovo, vegetation succession

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