02147nas a2200157 4500008004100000245007500041210006800116260001200184300001200196490000700208520162800215653000901843100002201852700001601874856009901890 2004 eng d00aGriffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) distribution and density in Crete0 aGriffon vulture iGyps fulvusi distribution and density in Crete c2004/// a341-3540 v503 aGriffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) distribution and local density during 1996-2002 as well as the main characteristics of the species activity sites in Crete are described. Total area of occurrence has been estimated at 7000 km2 (85% of the island). 5500 km 2 (67%) accounted for its vital range, namely breeding and foraging, with spatial and temporal differences in correspondence to transhumant livestock. In total 68 activity sites were detected: (a) 34 colonies, of which 62% on average were occupied by laying pairs in any one year; (b) six deserted colonies; and (c) 17 summer and 11 winter roosts. Most of the sites were found in southwest and northeast Crete on rocks of calcareous substrate. The species nesting and roosting sites were found on dolomitic and platy limestone cliffs, respectively. Mean altitude of activity sites was 650 m (SD = 442 m, range = 120-1900 m), whereas mean altitude of active colonies was 453 m (SD = 225 m, range = 120-1100 m). Cliffs were on average 182 m high (range = 40-540 m) facing southeast with a significant directionality for active colonies (southeast) and summer roosts (northwest). The distribution of activity sites was clumped, while the nearest neighboring distance was 6.2 km (range = 900 m-22.5 km). The spacing of active colonies was random with a tendency towards aggregation. The mean nearest distance between active colonies was 11 km (range = 9.1-13.3 km) and their average density for the species vital range was one active colony per 262 km2. The latter figure implied that each breeding group had a foraging range at a radius of ca. 9 km from the colony's cliff.10aAves1 aXirouchakis, S.M.1 aMylonas, M. uhttps://icgf.myspecies.info/content/griffon-vulture-gyps-fulvus-distribution-and-density-crete01851nas a2200217 4500008004100000245009000041210006900131260001200200300001200212490000700224520117300231653000901404653001301413653001001426653002001436653001601456653001501472100002201487700001601509856010801525 2005 eng d00aSelection of breeding cliffs by Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in Crete (Greece)0 aSelection of breeding cliffs by Griffon Vultures iGyps fulvus ii c2005/// a155-1610 v403 aA multivariate analysis was carried out in order to investigate the most influential habitat variables and related features in the selection of breeding cliffs by the Griffon Vulture in Crete. The species was found nesting in mid-altitude areas, close to stock-raising units, on high limestone cliffs, which were also well protected against the prevailing winds of the island. A principal components analysis, which explained 53% of the total variance of the variables examined, differentiated Griffon Vulture colonies in relation to their isolation from other colonies, accessibility to humans and proximity to food resources. In addition, a stepwise discriminant function analysis between breeding and random cliffs included the height of the cliff, its substratum, the altitude, and the distance to the stock breeding unit in a model that successfully classified 97.1% of the nesting and 88.2% of the random cliffs. In comparison to continental regions the Griffon Vulture colonies in Crete were located on higher cliffs but at a lower altitude. This fact should be attributed to the species nesting on steep coastal cliffs close to the livestock's wintering areas.10aAves10abreeding10aCrete10aGriffon Vulture10agyps fulvus10aNest sites1 aXirouchakis, S.M.1 aMylonas, M. uhttps://icgf.myspecies.info/content/selection-breeding-cliffs-griffon-vultures-gyps-fulvus-crete-greece02226nas a2200217 4500008004100000245008900041210006900130260001200199300001200211490000700223520153300230653000901763653002101772653001001793653001601803653002001819653002501839100002201864700001601886856010601902 2005 eng d00aStatus and structure of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population in Crete0 aStatus and structure of the griffon vulture iGyps fulvusi popula c2005/// a223-2310 v513 aGriffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) population surveys were conducted during 1996-2002 in the island of Crete (Greece) to document population status and structure. Fieldwork was carried out during the breeding period when birds could be monitored in their colonies. Total population size was estimated at 379 individuals (range = 341-417) with adult birds comprising 63%. The breeding population was estimated at 141 pairs, which were distributed on an average in 23 colonies per year (range = 16-30) while the mean number of breeding pairs that laid eggs was 98 (range= 64-126). Crete thus supports the largest insular population of the species in the world and hosts 70-80% of the breeding population of the species in Greece. Population density was estimated at 6.9 individuals/100 km2, 2.6 breeding pairs/100 km2 and 1.8 nesting pairs/100 km2. The average home range of an occupied colony (i.e., breeding group) was estimated at ca. 204 km2 producing a theoretical foraging range of 8 km radius around the breeding cliff. No trends in the total number of individuals and breeding pairs appeared to exist, although significant differences in population size of individual colonies occurred between the years. The majority of the population was concentrated in small-sized colonies, which showed a low occupancy rate. The number of abandoned sites and the colonization of new ones could represent a shift of breeding pairs to alternative colonies provoked by local food abundance and conspesific attraction. © Springer-Verlag 2005.10aAves10aColony occupancy10aCrete10agyps fulvus10apopulation size10aPopulation structure1 aXirouchakis, S.M.1 aMylonas, M. uhttps://icgf.myspecies.info/content/status-and-structure-griffon-vulture-gyps-fulvus-population-crete