Preliminary Spatial Assessment of the Relationship Between Artificial Releases and the Current Distribution of the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix L.) in Hungary
Keywords:
Perdix perdix, reintroduction, GIS, wildlife management, Hungary, spatial analysisAbstract
The Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix L.) has suffered a long-term decline across Europe, with population reinforcement through captive-bred releases becoming a widespread management tool. In Hungary, the ecological role and spatial consequences of such practices remain insufficiently documented. This study presents a preliminary spatial assessment of the relationship between artificial release sites and the present distribution of P. perdix. Locations of past and recent releases were georeferenced and compared with verified occurrence records from the Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület (MME – Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society). Spatial overlay and basic density analyses in QGIS revealed a notable geographic overlap between release areas and recent observations. A moderate positive correlation between the two datasets suggests that artificial releases may considerably shape the current pattern of free-ranging populations. These findings, while preliminary, highlight the need for more detailed temporal and ecological analyses to clarify the contribution of reintroduced individuals to the persistence of wild populations. The results provide a foundation for future quantitative studies and management evaluation in Hungarian agricultural landscapes.
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