Grouse, Rock Partridge and their habitat
Turning from one area to another of our Alps, the profound changes that the environment has undergone by man leap to the eye: opening roads and ski slopes, residential settlements, ski lifts, mass tourism, have inevitably caused irreparable damage. And among those who suffer the consequences, in the foreground, the Alpine fauna.
Observing the world of the living, what is most striking is the admirable harmony between them and the environment that surrounds them; it seems that every organism has reached the maximum perfection to live where it lives, such is the correspondence between the morphological and physiological characteristics and the conditions of its external world.
In this regard, it is known that each animal species, due to its characteristics and needs, is present only in a well-defined geographical region (dispersion area); within it, however, it establishes itself exclusively in those physical environments that are suitable for it: they represent its habitat.
On the inhabited areas of grouse and rock partridge we find in many texts statements so absolute and simplistic that we believe we must proceed with great caution. The surface occupied by the Alps is limited, but the physical Alpine environments present such peculiarities that it would be a humorous affair to state the generalities of the habitat of the five species in definitive words. However, we need to make some points:
1. Altitude and climate influence the choice of habitat but do not absolutely determine it.
2. Tall, low, bare or wooded, it is chosen if deemed necessary for the species in that territory, and becomes habitual due to the "stock" that has established itself there and that has done so precisely by adapting to its conditions.
3. The altimetric distribution bands of each of the five species vary according to the physical environments and regions considered.
Starting from the bottom up we can find: Francolin-black grouse, grouse, rock partridge, ptarmigan. In another environment, on the other hand: rock partridge, grouse-grouse, black grouse, ptarmigan, rock partridge. With the dash between two species I intended to represent their coexistence at the same elevation level and in the same environment conforming to both.
With specific tests I have tried to establish, so to speak, a common denominator within the limits of which all individuals of each species are included:
Today, on the innermost massifs of the Alpine chain, where the game was forced to take refuge due to a complex of factors subsequently examined, the environment suitable for hosting the species gradually named must have the characteristics of the soil and the associations of flora allowed. from the various elements listed, if not totally at least in large part. I suppose that this "common denominator" is the following, assuming that the different association of plants, due as we have said to the various geological nature and climate, constitutes precisely the character of the habitat: the biotope.
Rock partridge of the Alps
Dry, stony slopes, possibly at midday, on steep slopes or with cliffs, covered by ghingola, oat bronzina, alpine bluegrass, various fescue and other grasses, with sparse spots or bushes. They must exist in the area: blueberries (black and blue), rhododendrons (ferrugineo and shaggy), raspberry, cranberry, bear grapes, juniper, dwarf juniper, some pirus, farinaccio, rowan, green alder, beech, pinomugo, various willows (herbaceous, lapponic, reticulated). Water is not essential. The vertical displacement varies from 200 to 2.300 m in zones A (black locust, chestnut, oak, hornbeam), B (oak, hornbeam, pine, beech), C (hornbeam, pine, beech, silver and red firs, spears), D (pine, beech, silver and red firs, spears), E (spears, green alder, mountain pine, Swiss stone pine), F (from the upper limit of the arboreal vegetation to the lower limit of the snow there is what is used to call the "alpine region ".
Mountain Francolin
Woods of various essences (and the more they are changeable the more they seem to be accepted) or dense thickets with open glades and the soil is not dry. Sometimes the banks or the gravels of rivers covered with vegetation are frequented. They must exist in the surrounding: bramble, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, bearberry, farinaccio, rowan, birch, hornbeam, beech, fir, spears, pine, stone pine, green alder, hazel. Water is welcome and humidity is required. The vertical displacement varies from 300 to 2.000 m. in zones B, C, D, E.
Ptarmigan
The altitude ranges of residence vary considerably according to the seasons: normally higher on the central-western massifs of the Alpine chain, less so on the eastern massifs. Ground debris, basal to bare rock, with different orientation are preferred. They must exist in the surrounding: rhododendrons, dwarf azaleas, blueberries, various anemones, various willows, green alder, heather, various legumes and grasses in short lawns. Water is desired. The vertical displacement in spring-summer ranges from 1.800 to 3.000 m, autumn-winter from 1.100 to 2.300 m in zones E, F.
Black grouse
Wet and cool slopes in summer, sunny in winter, of the innermost alpine massifs: with green alder, mountain pine, spears, spruce, stone pine. They must exist in the surrounding: rhododendrons, blueberries, bear grapes, raspberry, rowan, beech, birch, various willows, various grasses. Water is not essential and yet at times, territories with abundant running or stagnant waters are occupied. The vertical displacement varies from 700 to 2200 m in zones C, D, E.
Grouse
Slopes with different orientation, in steep or very steep slopes, covered by: white or red firs, larch, beech, sometimes mountain pine; with: blueberries, grasses and various herbs, strawberry, raspberry, farinaccio, rowan, willows, birch, hornbeam. Water is not essential: The location varies from 400 to 2000 in zones C, D.