%0 Research article
%T Changes in landscape-scale habitat selection of capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in managed north-boreal forest
%A Miettinen, Janne
%A Helle, Pekka
%A Nikula, Ari
%A Niemelä, Pekka
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.182
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/182
%X We studied changes in habitat selection of capercaillie in northern  Finnish boreal forests at two spatial scales during two time periods,  1989–1992 and 2000–2003. We studied capercaillie densities and their  changes between the study periods in relation to the landscape class  proportions within 3-km buffer zones around the wildlife triangle center  points. Furthermore, we compared the landscape class proportions in  800-meter buffer zones around capercaillie wildlife triangle count  observations and around the counted wildlife triangle transects using  t-tests and compositional analysis. At the local population scale (3 km)  the change in adult density between the study periods was associated  positively with the proportion of young thinning stands in 2003 and  reversely with the mature stand (1992 and 2003) and clear-cut (1992)  proportions. Capercaillie juvenile and pooled densities during 2000–2003  were positively associated with the advanced thinning stand proportion  in 2003. At the capercaillie home range scale (800 m) habitats were rich  in mature stands during 1989–1992 in relation to available habitats,  but not during 2000–2003 when young thinning stands were more abundant  in relation to available habitats. Relatively young managed forests can  be suitable for capercaillie, but mature managed forests as capercaillie  habitats may have deteriorated between the study periods. Spatial  planning may help to form suitable areas that are large enough for the  species, but the highest potential may lay in the forest stand scale,  where increased cover on the ground could promote the habitat quality.