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Home / Equine Research Bank / Environ Monit Assess / Habitat use by semi-feral Konik horses on wetlands-three-yea...
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).
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Publication Date: 2023-08-11 PubMed ID: 37563498PubMed Central: PMC10415426DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11605-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

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