BIOTRANS objectives were centred in carrying out an in depth study on the breeding parameters and habitat selection of ground nesting threatened steppe birds for which basic ecological information was lacking in SW Iberia. Main research results attained:
- Over 60 birds tagged over a period of 2 years. This represents the basis on a long-term monitoring that is continued with the Protocol with Junta de Extremadura
- Estimated the breeding parameters for the three species were calculated, and the results showed extreamly low breeding success.
- Determined the winter habitat selection of the Stone Curlew
- Modelled the probability of occurrence of both species of Sandgrouse at very high spatial and temporal resolution for the La Serena region
- Modelled at the scale of the Iberian Peninsula the probability of occurrence of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse
- Developed a novel methodology to estimate presence / absence of ponds as small as 10m every 15 dias over the course of large areas such as La Serena or Baixo Alenetjo
