Available online
Description
This programme investigates the numbers of red grouse on Scottish heather moors.
This programme investigates the numbers of red grouse on Scottish heather moors.
| Module code and title: | S323, Ecology |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S323; 07 |
| First transmission date: | 14-05-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:30:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Neil Cleminson |
| Contributors: | Robert Moss; Peggy Varley; Adam Watson |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Aggression; Ecological investigations; Economics; Food chain; Grouse moors; Heather shoots; Kerloch Moor; Scottish heather moors; Territory size |
| Footage description: | Shots of a cock grouse being held by A. Watson He points out the animal's features. Shots of a Scottish heather moor with grouse being hunted with guns and dogs. Peggy Varley provides the commentary. Adam Watson, on the moor, explains the background of his study which was to determine the factors which affect grouse population on heather moors. More shots of the moors. Shots of trained dogs pointing out grouse nest for Watson's study. Watson provides the commentary. Watson continues by explaining what aspects of grouse activity were studied. Shots of grouse being captured marked and released by Roy Parr. Commentary by Watson explains how the birds are tracked after marking. Watson lists the three main conclusions arrived at by his team after a 3 year study. Shots of grouse being hunted with guns and dogs. Watson discusses the reasons his team found for the decline in grouse population on the Scottish moors. Shots of heather moors being burned and shots of a moor after cattle had grazed there. Shots of the Nature Conservancy Mountain and Moor Research Station in Kincardineshire. Commentary by Watson explains further experiments which investigated the selection, by grouse, of heather with high nutrient quality and how this affected their numbers through differences in their aggression and territory size. Robert Moss explains the components and means of measuring aggressive behaviour of grouse in wild and captive birds. He discusses his studies into grouse nutrition. Shots of birds being studied in the wild and in captivity. Commentary by Peggy Varley explains how grouse select heather tips for their diet because of the higher nutrient value. She explains that this appears to affect their aggressive behaviour. Robert Moss continues to explain his studies. Shots of grouse displaying aggressive behaviour in the wild and in captivity. Robert Moss discusses his theory that the quality of the egg varies with the nutrient intake of the grouse hen. He claims that this helps to determine the aggressiveness and therefore territory size of the next generation of cocks and with it control of the population. Shots of grouse eggs and chicks. Shots of grouse on the moors. Commentary by Peggy Varley sums up the programme. Adam Watson discusses his personal view of the nature of research in grouse behaviour. Robert Moss gives his justification for this research. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71306 |
| Production number: | 00525_1124 |
| Videofinder number: | 1031 |
| Available to public: | no |
