FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Environmental monitoring and assessment2023; 195(9); 1033; doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-11605-y

Habitat use by semi-feral Konik horses on wetlands-three-year GPS study.

Abstract: Free-ranging grazers are increasingly being introduced to areas of high natural value, such as wetlands. There is also growing attention that has been paid to the historical role of herbivores in shaping ecosystems and landscapes. Even though studies on the grazing of free-range horses were carried out in different regions and climates, still little is known about their habitat selection on heterogeneous marshy areas in the temperate region of Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat use by contemporary Konik horses during the growing season on the basis of three-year GPS data for a semi-feral herd kept on wetlands. Almost 68% of the occurrence of Konik horses were in open habitats. The assessment of habitat selection by the horses confirmed their strong preferences for grasslands on mid-forest dunes and forest avoidance. Konik horses somewhat preferred mowed fen meadows, but the animals displayed differences in the selection of habitat, probably depending on its humidity and weather conditions in a given year which may limit the role of grazing in protecting these communities. Horses need different habitats in wetlands such as fen meadows, forest, and grasslands on the mineral hills. This should be taken into consideration for landscape management in areas where the introduction of wild or semi-wild horse populations is planned.
© 2023. The Author(s).
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-08-11 PubMed ID: 37563498PubMed Central: PMC10415426DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11605-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper focuses on investigating the habitat preference of semi-feral Konik horses in wetlands over a period of three years using GPS data. The findings are expected to contribute to the planning and implementation of landscape management where the introduction of wild or semi-wild horse populations are planned.

Objective of the study

  • The main objective of the study was to understand the habitat use by Konik horses during the growing season, based on three-year GPS data for a semi-feral herd kept in wetlands.

Study method

  • The researchers seems to have used GPS data collected over three years to study the behavior of a herd of semi-feral Konik horses in a wetland environment.

Key findings

  • Nearly 68% of the time, Konik horses were observed in open habitats. They showed a preference for grasslands on mid-forest dunes and tended to avoid forests.
  • Although they somewhat preferred mowed fen meadows, the preference differed, likely due to varying humidity and weather conditions during each year of the study, which could limit the significance of grazing in protecting these communities.

Implications of the study

  • The findings suggest that Konik horses need a variety of habitats within wetlands, including fen meadows, forests, and grasslands on mineral hills.
  • The results of this study should be considered in planning landscape management in areas where the introduction of wild or semi-wild horse populations is intended. The conservation management of such areas should provide a variety of habitats to meet the behavioral needs of these horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Anna C, Martyna P, Marcin S, Dawid W. (2023). Habitat use by semi-feral Konik horses on wetlands-three-year GPS study. Environ Monit Assess, 195(9), 1033. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11605-y

Publication

Environmental monitoring and assessment
ISSN: 1573-2959
NlmUniqueID: 8508350
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 195
Issue: 9
Pages: 1033

Researcher Affiliations

Anna, Chodkiewicz
  • Institute of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159 Nowoursynowska Str, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland. anna_chodkiewicz@sggw.edu.pl.
Martyna, Prończuk
  • Institute of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159 Nowoursynowska Str, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Marcin, Studnicki
  • Institute of Agriculture, Department of Biometry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 159 Nowoursynowska Str, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Dawid, Wójcik
  • , Biebrza National Park, Osowiec-Twierdza 8, 19-110, Goniądz, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Ecosystem
  • Wetlands
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Equidae
  • Europe

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

References

This article includes 74 references
  1. Auer U, Kelemen Z, Engl V, Jenner F. Activity time budgets – a potential tool to monitor equine welfare?. Animals 2021;11(3):850.
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030850pmc: PMC8002676pubmed: 33802908google scholar: lookup
  2. Berezowski T, Wassen M, Szatyłowicz J, Chormański J, Ignar S, Batelaan O, Okruszko T. Wetlands in flux: looking for the drivers in a central European case. Wetlands Ecology and Management 2018;26:849–863.
    doi: 10.1007/s11273-018-9613-zgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Berger A, Scheibe K-M, Eichhorn K, Scheibe A, Streich J. Diurnal and ultradian rhythms of behaviour in a mare group of Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), measured through one year under semi-reserve conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 1999;64:1–17.
    doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00026-Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. Boyd LE, Carbonaro DA, Houpt KA. The 24-hour time budget of Przewalski horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 1988;21:5–17.
    doi: 10.1016/0168-1591(88)90098-6google scholar: lookup
  5. Chodkiewicz A, Stypiński P. Diet preferences of Konik horses in disadvantaged areas: a case study from Biebrza National Park. Grassland Science in Europe 2011;16:326–328.
  6. Chodkiewicz A, Stypiński P. Preferencje pokarmowe koników polskich wypasanych w Biebrzańskim Parku Narodowym. Woda Środowisko Obszary Wiejskie 2011;11(2):33–42.
  7. Chodkiewicz A, Stypiński P, Studnicki M, Borawska-Jarmułowicz B. The influence of Konik horses grazing and meteorological conditions on wetland communities. Agriculture 2023;13(2):325.
    doi: 10.3390/agriculture13020325google scholar: lookup
  8. Collins GH, Petersen SL, Carr CA, Pielstick L. Testing VHF/GPS collar design and safety in the study of free-roaming horses. PLOS One 2014;9(9):e103189.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103189pmc: PMC4157739pubmed: 25198704google scholar: lookup
  9. Cosyns E, Degezelle T, Demeulenaere E, Hoffman M. Feeding ecology of Konik horses and donkeys in Belgian coastal dunes and its implication for nature management. Belgian Journal of Zoology 2001;131(2):111–118.
  10. Crane KK, Smith MA, Reynolds D. Habitat selection patterns of feral horses in southcentral Wyoming. Journal of Range Management 1997;50(4):374–380.
    doi: 10.2307/4003303google scholar: lookup
  11. Cromsigt JPGM, Kemp YJM, Rodriguez E, Kivit H. Rewilding Europe’s large grazer community: how functionally diverse are the diets of European bison, cattle, and horses?. Restoration Ecology 2018;26(5):891–899.
    doi: 10.1111/rec.12661google scholar: lookup
  12. Doboszewski P, Doktór D, Jaworski Z, Kalski R, Kułakowska G, Łojek J, Płąchocki D, Ryś A, Tylkowska A, Zbyryt A, Górecka-Bruzda A. Konik polski horses as a mean of biodiversity maintenance in post-agricultural and forest areas: an overview of Polish experiences. Animals Science Papers and Reports 2017;35(4):333–347.
  13. Duncan P. Determinants of the use of habitat by horses in a Mediterranean wetland. Journal of Animal Ecology 1983;52(1):93–109.
    doi: 10.2307/4590google scholar: lookup
  14. Duncan P. Time-budget of Carmague horses. III. Environmental influences. Behaviour 1985;92:188–208.
  15. Duncan P. Horses and grasses. Springer; 1992.
  16. Duncan P, Cowtan P. An unusual choice of habitat helps Camargue horses to avoid blood-sucking horse flies. Behavioral Biology 1980;5:55–60.
  17. Fleurance G, Duncan P, Mallevaud B. Daily intake and the selection of feeding sites by horses in heterogeneous wet grasslands. Animal Research 2001;50:149–156.
    doi: 10.1051/animres:2001123google scholar: lookup
  18. Fløjgaard C, Brunbjerg AK, Andersen DK, Dlaby L, Lehmann LJ, Bruun HH, Ejrnæs R. Nibble, cut, stomp and burn: biodiversity effects of disturbances in fen grassland. Applied Vegetation Science 2021;25:e12666.
    doi: 10.1111/avsc.12666google scholar: lookup
  19. . Forest Data Bank. 2023.
  20. . Geoportal. 2021.
  21. Gilhaous K, Hölzel N. Seasonal variations of fodder quality and availability as constraints for stocking rates in year-round grazing schemes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2016;234:5–15.
    doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.03.013google scholar: lookup
  22. Górecka A, Jezierski T. Protective behaviour of Konik horses in response to insect harassment. Animal Welfare 2007;16:281–283.
    doi: 10.1017/S0962728600031523google scholar: lookup
  23. Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworski Z, Jaworska J, Siemieniuch M. Welfare of free-roaming horses: 70 years of experience with Konik polski breeding in Poland. Animals 2020;10(6):1094.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10061094pmc: PMC7341202pubmed: 32599935google scholar: lookup
  24. Górniak A. Klimat i termika wód powierzchniowych Kotliny Biebrzańskiej. In: Banaszuk H, editor. Kotlina Biebrzańska i Biebrzański Park Narodowy. Aktualny Stan, Walory, Zagrożenia i Potrzeby Czynnej Ochrony Środowiska. 1. Wydawnictwo Ekonomia i Środowisko; 2004. pp. 345–362.
  25. Grönemann C, Martin H, Richter T, Hempel E, Solmsen E-H, Buschmann O, Grüntjens T, Bathen M, Klose M, Schuette P. Horses and wolves. A contribution to coexistence. OER Commons 2015.
  26. Grygoruk M, Biereżnej-Bazille U, Mazgajski M, Sienkiewicz J. Climate-induced challenges for wetlands: revealing the background for the adaptive ecosystem management in the Biebrza Valley, Poland. In: Rannow S, Neubert M, editors. Managing Protected Areas in Central and Eastern Europe under Climate Change. 1. Springer; 2014. pp. 209–249.
  27. Gudmundsson O, Dyrmundsson OR. Horse grazing under cold and wet conditions: a review. Livestock Production Science 1994;40:57–63.
    doi: 10.1016/0301-6226(94)90265-8google scholar: lookup
  28. Hampson BA, de Laat MA, Mills PC, Pollitt CC. Distance travelled by feral horses in ‘outback’ Australia. Equine Veterinary Journal 2010;42(38):582–586.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00203.xpubmed: 21059064google scholar: lookup
  29. Hampson BA, Morton JM, Mills PC, Trotter MG, Lamb DW, Pollit CC. Monitoring distances travelled by horses using GPS tracking collars. Veterinary Journal 2010;88(5):176–181.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2010.00564.xpubmed: 20529024google scholar: lookup
  30. . Hunting Law Act. Ustawa z dnia 13 października 1995 r. – Prawo łowieckie (Dz. U. z 2020 r., poz. 1683, ze zm.) Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry; 1995.
  31. . IMGW Data (2018; 2019; 2020) Public data of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW), Poland. OER Commons 2021.
  32. Jacobs J. Quantitative measurements of food selection. Oecologia 1974;14:413–417.
    doi: 10.1007/BF00384581pubmed: 28308662google scholar: lookup
  33. Jaworski Z, Golonka M. Terytorializm koników polskich utrzymywanych w systemie rezerwatowym. Zeszyty Naukowe. Przegląd Hodowlany 2003;68(5):11–19.
  34. Jędrzejewski W, Jędrzejewska B, Okarma H, Schmidt K, Zub K, Musiani M. Prey selection and predation by wolves in Białowieża primeval forest, Poland. Journal of Mammalogy 2000;81(1):197–212.
    doi: 10.1644/1545-1542(2000)081<0197:PSAPBW>2.0.CO;2google scholar: lookup
  35. Jędrzejewski W, Niedziałkowska M, Hayward MW, Goszczyński J, Jędrzejewska B, Borowik T, Bartoń KA, Nowak S, Harmuszkiewicz J, Juszczyk A, Kałamarz T, Kloch A, Koniuch J, Kotiuk K, Mysłajek RW, Nędzyńska M, Olczyk A, Teleon M, Wojtulewicz M. Prey choice and diet of wolves related to ungulate communities and wolf subpopulations in Poland. Journal of Mammalogy 2012;93(6):1480–1492.
    doi: 10.1644/10-MAMM-A-132.1google scholar: lookup
  36. Jędrzejewski W, Niedziałkowska M, Nowak S, Jędrzejewska B. Habitat variables associated with wolf (Canis lupus) distribution and abundance in northern Poland. Diversity and Distribution 2004;10:225–233.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1366-9516.2004.00073.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  37. Jezierski T, Jaworski Z. Das Polnische Konik. Westarp Science Fachverlag; 2008.
  38. Joyce CB. Ecological consequences and restoration potential of abandoned wet grasslands. Ecological Engineering 2014;66:91–102.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.05.008google scholar: lookup
  39. Kaczensky P, Ganbaatar O, von Wehrden H, Enksaikhan N, Lkhagvasuren D, Walzer C. Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) Re-introduction in the Great Gobi B strictly protected area: from species to ecosystem conservation. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 2007;5(1-2):13–18.
    doi: 10.22353/mjbs.2007.05.03pmc: PMC3207201pubmed: 22064815google scholar: lookup
  40. Kaweck MM, Severson JP, Launchbaugh KL. Impacts of wild horses, cattle and wildlife on riparian areas in Idaho. Rangelands 2018;40(2):45–52.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rala.2018.03.001google scholar: lookup
  41. Keiper RR, Berger J. Refuge-seeking and pest avoidance by feral horses in desert and island environments. Applied Animal Ethology 1982;9:111–120.
    doi: 10.1016/0304-3762(82)90187-0google scholar: lookup
  42. Kerekes V, Ozogány K, Sándor I, Vegvari Z, Czető C, Nyírő B, Szabados T, Széles L, Barta Z. Analysis of habitat use, activity, and body condition scores of Przewalski’s horses in Hortobagy National Park, Hungary. Nature Conservation Research 2019;4(Suppl. 2):31–40.
    doi: 10.24189/ncr.2019.029google scholar: lookup
  43. King SRB. Home range and habitat use of free-ranging Przewalski horses at Hustai National Park, Mongolia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2002;78:101–113.
    doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00087-4google scholar: lookup
  44. Klich D. Similarities in foraging patterns of wisent, red deer and various breeds of European primitive horses. European Bison Conservation Newsletter 2015;8:41–52.
  45. Kownacki M, Sasimowski E, Budzynski M, Jezierski T, Kapron M, Jelen B, Jaworka M, Dziedzic R, Seweryn A, Słomka Z. Observation of the 24-hour rhythm of natural behaviour of Polish primitive horse bred for conservation of genetic resources in a forest reserve. Genetica Polonica 1978;19:61–77.
  46. Kulik M, Warda M, Leśniewska P. Monitoring the diversity of psammophilous grassland communities in the Kózki Nature Reserve under grazing and non-grazing conditions. Journal of Water and Land Development 2013;19(VII–XII):59–67.
    doi: 10.2478/jwld-2013-0017google scholar: lookup
  47. Lagos L, Fagúndez J. Changes in management shape the spatial ecology of wild ponies in relation to habitat conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 2022;32:319–339.
    doi: 10.1007/s10531-022-02504-8google scholar: lookup
  48. Linklater WL, Cameron EZ, Stafford KJ, Veltman CJ. Social and spatial structure and range use by Kaimanawa wild horses (Equus caballus: Equidae). New Zealand Journal of Ecology 2000;24(2):139–152.
  49. Linnartz L, Meissner R. Rewilding horses in Europe: background and guidelines – a living document. Rewilding Europe. OER Commons 2014.
  50. Loucougaray G, Bonis A, Bouzillé J-B. Effects of grazing by horses and/or cattle on the diversity of coastal grasslands in western France. Biological Conservation 2004;116:59–71.
    doi: 10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00177-0google scholar: lookup
  51. Lovász L, Fages A, Amrhein V. Konik, Tarpan, European wild horse: an origin story with conservation implications. Global Ecology and Conservation 2021;32:e01911.
    doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01911google scholar: lookup
  52. Łojek J, Burzyńska K, Laskowski M. Activity of herds of Konik Polski horses free ranging in Biebrza National Park. Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW 2009;46:269–279.
  53. Magnusson B, Magnusson SH. Studies in the grazing of a grained lowland fen in Iceland. II. Plant preferences of horses during summer. Icelandic Agricultural Sciences 1990;4:109–124.
  54. McCort WD. Behavior of feral horses and ponies. Journal of Animal Science 1984;58(2):493–499.
    doi: 10.2527/jas1984.582493xgoogle scholar: lookup
  55. Menard C, Duncan P, Fleurance G, Georges J, Lila M. Comparative foraging and nutrition of horses and cattle in European wetlands. Journal of Applied Ecology 2002;39:120–133.
    doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00693.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  56. Miller R. Seasonal movements and home ranges of feral horse bands in Wyoming’s Red Desert. Journal of Range Management 1983;36(2):199–201.
    doi: 10.2307/3898162google scholar: lookup
  57. Naundrup PJ, Svenning JC. A geographic assessment of the global scope for rewilding with wild-living horses (Equus ferus). PloS One 2015;10(7):e0132359.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132359pmc: PMC4503665pubmed: 26177104google scholar: lookup
  58. Navarro LM, Pereira HM. Rewilding abandoned landscapes in Europe. Ecosystem 2012;15:900–912.
    doi: 10.1007/s10021-012-9558-7google scholar: lookup
  59. PHBA - Polish Horse Breeders Association. A breeding programme for the Polish Konik horses. OER Commons 2020.
  60. Pikuła R, Zaborski D, Grzesiak W, Smugała M. Locomotor activity analysis based on habitat, season and time of the day in Polish Konik horses from reserve breeding using the Global Positioning System (GPS). Indian Journal of Animal Research 2019;54(4):494–498.
    doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-1072google scholar: lookup
  61. Prończuk M, Chodkiewicz A, Stypiński P. Time budget of Konik horses in different nature conservation areas - two case studies. Grassland Science in Europe 2020;25:330–332.
  62. Putman RJ, Pratt RM, Edwards PJ. Food and feeding behaviour of cattle and ponies in the New Forest, Hampshire. Journal of Applied Ecology 1987;24:369–380.
    doi: 10.2307/2403881google scholar: lookup
  63. . Regulation of the Ministry of the Environment. Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 16 kwietnia 2019 r.w sprawie szczegółowych warunków szacowania szkód w uprawach i płodach rolnych (Dz.U. z 2019 r., poz. 776) Ministry of the Environment Warsaw; 2019.
  64. Reķe A, Zariņa A, Rūsiņa S. Landscape of semi-wild large herbivores in the specially protected nature territories of Latvia. Journal Folia Geographica 2019;XVII:60–69.
    doi: 10.22364/fg.16.8google scholar: lookup
  65. Reķe A, Zariņa A, Vinogradovs I. Management of semi-wild large herbivores’ grazing sites in Latvia. Environment. Technologies. Resources. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference 2019;1:241–244.
    doi: 10.17770/etr2019vol1.4082google scholar: lookup
  66. Rook AJ, Dumont B, Isselstein J, Osoro K, Wallis De Vries MF. Matching type of livestock to desired biodiversity outcomes in pastures – a review. Biological Conservation 2004;119:137–150.
    doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2003.11.010google scholar: lookup
  67. Scasta JD, Beck JL, Angwin CJ. Meta-analysis of diet composition and potential conflict of wild horses with livestock and wild ungulates on western rangelands of North America. Rangeland Ecology & Management 2016;69:310–318.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rama.2016.01.001google scholar: lookup
  68. Shingu Y, Kondo S, Hata H. Differences in grazing behaviour of horses and cattle at the feeding station scale on woodland pasture. Journal of Animal Science 2010;81:384–392.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2010.00748pubmed: 20597897google scholar: lookup
  69. Sienkiewicz–Paderewska D, Paderewski J, Suwara I, Kwasowski W. Fen grassland vegetation under different land uses (Biebrza National Park, Poland). Global Ecology and Conservation 2020;23:e01188.
    doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01188google scholar: lookup
  70. Stammel B, Kiehl K, Pfadenhauer J. Alternative management on fens: Response variation to grazing and mowing. Applied Vegetation Science 2003;6:245–254.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1654-109X.2003.tb00585.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  71. Vera FWM, Bakker ES, Olff H. Large herbivores: missing partners of western European light-demanding tree and shrub species?. In: Danell R, Bergström R, Duncan P, Pastor J, editors. Large herbivore ecology, ecosystem dynamics and conservation (1st ed., pp 203–231) Cambridge University Press; 2006.
  72. Verhoeven JTA. Wetlands in Europe: perspectives for restoration of a lost paradise. Ecological Engineering 2014;66:5–9.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.03.006google scholar: lookup
  73. Vulink T. Hungry herds: management of temperate lowland wetlands by grazing. Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, Directoraat-Generaal Rijkswaterstaat, Directie IJsselmeergebied; 2001.
  74. Wiśniewski S, Marszałek M, Fabjański K, Wiśniewska M. Koncepcja Programowo-przestrzenna Renaturyzacji Sieci Hydrograficznej rzek Jerzgni i Ełku w Rejonie Basenu Środkowego Biebrzańskiego Parku Narodowego. OER Commons 2001.

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.