HUMAN-RELATED DISTURBANCE RISK AND DISTANCE TO COVER AFFECT USE OF MONTANE PASTURES BY PYRENEAN CHAMOIS

The influence of a hiking trail and the edge of a surrounding beech fo rest on the diurnal habitat use patterns of the Pyrenean chamois (Rupi capra pyrenaica) was studied within montane pastures of a protected ar ea during a mild winter. Habitat selection significantly increased as the distance from these two landscape features increased, a greater ra nge of variation being found for the trail. Then to test their combine d influence, seven non-overlapping sectors were delineated. Not surpri singly the most avoided sector was less than 100 m from both the trail and the forest. By contrast, the most selected part was located betwe en 200 and 300 m From the trail and over 100 m from the forest, where the mean group size peaked at 18. Nevertheless, the negative influence of the edge of the beech forest was counterbalanced when Pyrenean cha mois were at a distance greater than 300 m from the trail, the number of groups there being the highest. Human-related disturbance risk requ ire people on foot to remain on established hiking trails because Pyre nean chamois might perceive their activities as predictable and thus m ore acceptable.