Effects of necklace radio transmitters on survival and breeding success of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus.

Abstract

The effects of necklace radio transmitters on survival and breeding success of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus in southern and central Scotland during 1991-1994 were assessed. Recovery rates of birds with 15-g dummy radio transmitters did not differ from those of control birds marked with wing tags only. Clutch size and hatching success did not differ between female grouse equipped with functioning radio transmitters and an independent sample of control birds. It appears that necklace radio transmitters had no measurable effect on survival and breeding success of red grouse in our study areas, although the power of the statistical tests was low.