Altitudinal shifts of Alpine grouse in the Veglia-Devero Natural Park, western Italian Alps

Alpine grouse are particularly vulnerable to climate and land-use changes. Average elevation of rock ptarmigan, dwelling the open areas above the treeline in the Alpe Devero, increased by 7.8 m/yr from 1996 to 2015, while the population decreased by 50%. In the same period, the forest dwelling black grouse population in Veglia-Devero did not show such a marked decrease, and the observed variations in the Veglia district (increase in average elevation, contraction of altitudinal range) can be explained in terms of change in population density. Spatial patterns of studied populations are discussed in relation to climate and treeline upward shift.