Dominik Thiel Swiss Ornithological Institute, CH Title Winter tourism evokes behavioural changes and physiological stress in the endangered capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Abstract Human disturbance is a significant factor to be considered in nature conservation efforts. Recreational activities are considered to be a possible reason for the significant population decline of the endangered capercaillie, although this has never been investigated. The level of stress hormone metabolites in droppings and the spacing behaviour of radio-tracked capercaillie were measured to investigate physiological and behavioral responses to winter tourism. Capercaillie in areas with high winter recreation intensities exhibited longer flushing distances and higher stress hormone levels than birds in undisturbed sites. During the ski season, capercaillie preferred undisturbed forest patches, while they used the habitats more evenly before the start of the ski season. These behavioural and physiological responses to winter recreation have a high potential to negatively affect capercaillie fitness. By establishing officially declared wildlife refuges by prohibiting human access and by implementing restrictions for recreationists to stay on-trail in capercaillie core areas, the situation for the capercaillie may be improved. CV 2003-2006 PhD thesis "How susceptible are Capercaillie to human disturbances - endocrinological and space behavioural stress responses to anthropogenic disturbances" in the group of Dr. Lukas Jenni (Swiss Ornithological Institute) and Prof. Bernhard Schmid (Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich) Summer 2002 Scientific work in the group of Prof. Kathy Martin (breeding success of woodpecker species and of white-tailed ptarmigan), Department of Forestry, University of Vancouver/Canada 2002 Diploma thesis (= master thesis) "Effects of forest size and forest fragmentation on artificial ground nests in two regions of the Swiss Alps". Supervisor: Dr. Kurt Bollmann (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL) and Prof. Heinz-Ulrich Reyer (Institute of Zoology, University of Zurich) 2001 Research assistant in the Swiss National Parc (activity pattern of chamois Rupicapra rupicapra and enzymatical taxidermy of ungulates for long-time preservation) Research interests General interests conservation biology, ornithology and ecology of alpine and arctic habitats Specific interests disturbance biology, predator-prey interactions and grouse biology Selected recent publications Thiel, D., Ménoni, E., Brenot, J.-F., and Jenni, L. (in press) Effects of recreation and hunting on flushing distance of capercaillie. Journal of Wildlife Management. Thiel, D., Unger, C., Kéry, M., and Jenni, L. (in press) Selection of night roosts in winter by capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in Central Europe. Wildlife Biology. Thiel, D., Jenni-Eiermann, S., and Palme, R. (2005) Measuring corticosterone metabolites in droppings of Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1046: 96-108. pdf Thiel, D., Ehrenbold, S., und Roth, T. (2005) Grosse Wintergruppen und Winterbalz beim Auerhuhn Tetrao urogallus. Ornith. Beob. 102: 44-46. Thiel, D. (2004) How susceptible are Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) to human disturbances? - A new PhD project. Grouse News 26: 8-9. Thiel, D. (2003) Der Einfluss von Waldgrösse und Waldfragmentierung auf die Prädationsrate künstlicher Bodennester in zwei Auerhuhngebieten der Schweizer Alpen. Ornith. Beob. 100: 89-90. Kerth, G., Almasi, B., Ribi, N., Thiel, D. , Lüpold, S. (2003) Social interactions among wild female Bechstein's bats (Myotis bechsteinii) living in a maternity colony. Acta ethol. 5: 107-114. Thiel, D. (2002) Effects of forest size and forest fragmentation on predation rate of artificial ground nests in two regions of the Swiss Alps. Grouse News 23: 4-5. Institution address Dominik Thiel Swiss Ornithological Institute CH-6204 Sempach Tel.: ++41 (0)41 462 97 67 dominik.thiel@vogelwarte.ch http://www.unizh.ch/uwinst/index.php?site=homepages/dthiel