Nahrungsangebot für Auerhuhnküken – Phänologie und Verteilung der Lepidoptera-Larven

Food supply for capercaillie chicks – phenology and distribution of the Lepidoptera larvae According to Scandinavian literature, Lepidoptera larvae are particularly important for the rearing of capercaillie chicks. For Central European habitats, we lack detailed information on invertebrate food availability as a function of habitat conditions and season. Using the sweep-net sampling technique, we examined the phenology and spatial distribution of larvae in forest stands with bilberry vegetation in dependence of the canopy cover and the duration of sunshine. The availability of Lepidoptera larvae was highest in mid of June and decreased to almost zero in July. The abundance and biomass of Lepidoptera larvae was lower at sunny (sunshine duration 4–10 h) and open locations (canopy cover 0–30%) than at shady places (sunshine duration 0–3 h) with intermediate canopy cover (35–60%). These results lead to the conclusion that forests with an intermediate canopy cover provide better foraging habitat for capercaill...