Geographical and seasonal patterns of mortality in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus populations.

Abstract

Corpses of red grouse Lagopus lagoplls scoticus were collected monthly from 10 1-km² study areas on managed grouse moorland for a period of 10 years. Six of the study areas were located in Scotland and four in Northern England. A greater number of corpses were found on the Scottish study areas than on the English and compositional analysis identified the relative importance of death through parasitism in England. Stoat Mustela erminea kills were more prevalent in England but fox Vulpes vulpes and large raptors were more important in Scotland. Predators were more abundant in Scotland and frequency of sightings positively correlated with number of kills between study areas. There was a seasonal peak in mortality in spring.