Effect of grazing and habitat destruction by large mammals on bird assemblages in relation to forest structure.

The proposal objective is to analyze effect of grazing and destruction of forest habitats by game (red and roe deer, wild boar) on vegetation structure and impact of these processes on bird assemblages. The research will be conducted in 10 selected game preserves and control sites in Slovakia that will represent an population density gradient of game species and thus the gradient of habitat destruction. Bird assemblages will be censused by the circular plot method with fixed radius that suitable for population density estimates and territory mapping. Comparison of changes in habitat structure, bird territories and assemblages between plots with intensive grazing and controls will lead to detection of the variables that are probably responsible for changes in bird assemblages.