1
|
Palmero S, Smith AF, Kudrenko S, Gahbauer M, Dachs D, Weingarth‐Dachs K, Kashpei I, Shamovich D, Vyshnevskiy D, Borsuk O, Korepanova K, Bashta A, Zhuravchak R, Fenchuk V, Heurich M. Shining a light on elusive lynx: Density estimation of three Eurasian lynx populations in Ukraine and Belarus. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10688. [PMID: 37953989 PMCID: PMC10636425 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eurasian lynx is a large carnivore widely distributed across Eurasia. However, our understanding of population status is heterogeneous across their range, with some populations isolated that are at risk of reduced genetic variation and a complete lack of information about others. In many European countries, Eurasian lynx are monitored through demographic studies crucial for their conservation and management. Even so, there are only rough and fragmented population assessments from Ukraine and Belarus, despite strict protection in both countries and their importance for lynx connectivity across Europe. We monitored lynx from October 2020 to March 2021 and used camera trapping in combination with spatial capture-recapture (SCR) methods in a Bayesian framework to provide the first SCR density estimation of three lynx populations across Ukraine and Belarus, including the Ukrainian Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, southern Belarus and the Ukrainian Carpathians. Our density estimates varied within our study areas ranging from 0.45 to 1.54 individuals/100 km2. This work provides a substantial scientific component to the overall understanding of lynx conservation for a region where only broad information is available and opens the doors for further large-scale monitoring and trend assessments. The crucial information we provide can greatly enhance the range-wide assessments of the status of this protected species. We also discuss the implications for Eurasian lynx conservation, despite the geopolitical realities impacting species monitoring in the region. Our work serves as a baseline, not only for future conservation interventions but also to evaluate the effects of disturbance and threats to these protected populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Palmero
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | - Adam F. Smith
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
- The Frankfurt Zoological SocietyFrankfurtGermany
| | - Svitlana Kudrenko
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
- The Frankfurt Zoological SocietyFrankfurtGermany
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental HealthUniversity of South‐Eastern NorwayBøNorway
| | - Martin Gahbauer
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Oleksandr Borsuk
- Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere ReserveIvankivUkraine
| | | | - Andriy‐Taras Bashta
- Institute of Ecology of the CarpathiansNational Academy of Sciences of UkraineLvivUkraine
- Skolivski Beskydy National ParkSkoleUkraine
| | | | | | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal ManagementBavarian Forest National ParkGrafenauGermany
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and BiotechnologyInland Norway University of Applied SciencesEvenstadNorway
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Assessing Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) Demographics to Monitor Wildlife Diseases: A Spotlight on Echinococcus multilocularis. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010060. [PMID: 36678408 PMCID: PMC9862526 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of red fox population density is considered relevant to the surveillance of zoonotic agents vectored by this species. However, density is difficult to estimate reliably, since the ecological plasticity and elusive behavior of this carnivore hinder classic methods of inference. In this study, red fox population density was estimated using a non-invasive molecular spatial capture-recapture (SCR) approach in two study areas: one in a known hotspot of the zoonotic cestode Echinococcus multilocularis, and another naïve to the parasite. Parasitological investigations on collected samples confirmed the presence of the parasite exclusively in the former area; the SCR results indicated a higher fox population density in the control area than in the hotspot, suggesting either that the relationship between fox density and parasite prevalence is not linear and/or the existence of other latent factors supporting the parasitic cycle in the known focus. In addition, fox spotlight count data for the two study areas were used to estimate the index of kilometric abundance (IKA). Although this method is cheaper and less time-consuming than SCR, IKA values were the highest in the areas with the lower molecular SCR density estimates, confirming that IKA should be regarded as a relative index only.
Collapse
|
3
|
Review of puma density estimates reveals sources of bias and variation, and the need for standardization. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
|
4
|
Big spots in a small population: Analyzing characteristics and temporality of coat patterns in Croatian lynx population. ZOOL ANZ 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
5
|
Iosif R, Popescu VD, Ungureanu L, Șerban C, Dyck MA, Promberger-Fürpass B. Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) faces population declines in the western part of its range, and its ecological requirements are poorly understood in the eastern part of its range. The Romanian Carpathians harbor an intact large carnivore community, in which lynx co-occur with bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), and humans (Homo sapiens), with which they potentially compete for ungulate prey. We provide a science-based estimate of lynx density and habitat use, combining non-invasive monitoring techniques (camera trapping) with spatially explicit capture-recapture models (SECR) in the Southern Carpathians of Romania. We sampled 59 and 76 trap stations during two monitoring sessions (winter and autumn), identified at least 30 individuals, from which we reconstructed encounter histories for 23 individuals. SECR modeling resulted in similar density estimates between winter and autumn (1.6 ± 0.39 SE and 1.7 ± 0.38 SE lynx/100 km2, respectively), but the cumulative number of lynx detected reached the asymptote faster during autumn, suggesting that monitoring prior to the mating season is preferable. Density varied within and across sessions with topography (slope), percent forest cover, and landscape heterogeneity (i.e., agricultural mosaic). Density hotspots shifted between low-altitude agricultural mosaic during winter and more rugged, mid-altitude forest stands during autumn. Estimated densities of lynx in the Romanian Carpathians are higher than those reported in the Alps or Slovak Carpathians, highlighting the importance of this population as a source both for natural recolonization and recent reintroduction programs. When used in an SECR framework, camera trapping is an efficient method for assessing spatial and temporal variation in lynx population density in the remote Romanian Carpathians. We recommend this methodology for improving lynx population estimates and to monitor lynx population trends nationwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Iosif
- Foundation Conservation Carpathia, 27 Calea Feldioarei, 500471 Brașov, Romania
| | - Viorel D Popescu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, 107 Irvine Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, 1 N. Bălcescu, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Liviu Ungureanu
- Foundation Conservation Carpathia, 27 Calea Feldioarei, 500471 Brașov, Romania
| | - Călin Șerban
- Foundation Conservation Carpathia, 27 Calea Feldioarei, 500471 Brașov, Romania
| | - Marissa A Dyck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, 107 Irvine Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Assessing the performance of open-source, semi-automated pattern recognition software for harbour seal (P. v. vitulina) photo ID. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00165-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
7
|
Palmero S, Belotti E, Bufka L, Gahbauer M, Heibl C, Premier J, Weingarth-Dachs K, Heurich M. Demography of a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population within a strictly protected area in Central Europe. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19868. [PMID: 34615965 PMCID: PMC8494906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99337-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Large carnivores promote crucial ecosystem processes but are increasingly threatened by human persecution and habitat destruction. Successful conservation of this guild requires information on long-term population dynamics obtained through demographic surveys. We used camera traps to monitor Eurasian lynx between 2009 and 2018 in a strictly protected area in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem, located in the core of the distribution of the Bohemian-Bavarian-Austrian lynx population. Thereby, we estimated sex-specific demographic parameters using spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models. Over 48,677 trap nights, we detected 65 unique lynx individuals. Density increased from 0.69 to 1.33 and from 1.09 to 2.35 individuals/100 km2 for open and closed population SCR models, respectively, with corresponding positive population growth rates (mean = 1.06). Estimated yearly sex-specific survival probabilities for the entire monitoring period were high (females 82%, males 90%) and per capita recruitment rate was low (females 12%, males 9%), indicating a low yearly population turnover. We ascertained an average number of recruits of 1.97 and a generation time of 2.64 years when considering resident reproducing females. We confirmed that reproduction in the study area took place successfully every year. Despite the overall increase in local lynx densities, the number of detected family groups remained constant throughout the study period. These results indicated that the strictly protected study area acts as a source for the multi-use landscapes in its surroundings. In this first open population SCR study on lynx, we provide sex-specific demographic parameters that are fundamental information for lynx management in the study area as well as in similar contexts Europe-wide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Palmero
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Elisa Belotti
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 1176, 16521, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Research and Nature Protection, Šumava National Park Administration, Sušická 399, 34192, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
| | - Luděk Bufka
- Department of Research and Nature Protection, Šumava National Park Administration, Sušická 399, 34192, Kašperské Hory, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Gahbauer
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Christoph Heibl
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
- Plant Biodiversity Research, Technische Universitӓt München, Emil-Ramann Straße 2, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Joe Premier
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirsten Weingarth-Dachs
- Plant Biodiversity Research, Technische Universitӓt München, Emil-Ramann Straße 2, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
- Inland Norway University of Applied Science Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hofmeester TR, Thorsen NH, Cromsigt JPGM, Kindberg J, Andrén H, Linnell JDC, Odden J. Effects of camera‐trap placement and number on detection of members of a mammalian assemblage. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tim R. Hofmeester
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå SE‐90183 Sweden
| | - Neri H. Thorsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Sognsveien 68 Oslo NO‐0855 Norway
| | - Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå SE‐90183 Sweden
- Department of Zoology Centre for African Conservation Ecology Nelson Mandela University Port Elizabeth 6031 South Africa
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development Environmental Sciences Utrecht University Utrecht 3548 The Netherlands
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå SE‐90183 Sweden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research PO Box 5685 Torgard Trondheim NO‐7485 Norway
| | - Henrik Andrén
- Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Grimsö Wildlife Research Station RiddarhyttanSE‐73993 Sweden
| | - John D. C. Linnell
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research PO Box 5685 Torgard Trondheim NO‐7485 Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Koppang NO‐2480 Norway
| | - John Odden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Sognsveien 68 Oslo NO‐0855 Norway
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Duľa M, Bojda M, Chabanne DBH, Drengubiak P, Hrdý Ľ, Krojerová-Prokešová J, Kubala J, Labuda J, Marčáková L, Oliveira T, Smolko P, Váňa M, Kutal M. Multi-seasonal systematic camera-trapping reveals fluctuating densities and high turnover rates of Carpathian lynx on the western edge of its native range. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9236. [PMID: 33927232 PMCID: PMC8085240 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88348-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Camera-trapping and capture-recapture models are the most widely used tools for estimating densities of wild felids that have unique coat patterns, such as Eurasian lynx. However, studies dealing with this species are predominantly on a short-term basis and our knowledge of temporal trends and population persistence is still scarce. By using systematic camera-trapping and spatial capture-recapture models, we estimated lynx densities and evaluated density fluctuations, apparent survival, transition rate and individual's turnover during five consecutive seasons at three different sites situated in the Czech-Slovak-Polish borderland at the periphery of the Western Carpathians. Our density estimates vary between 0.26 and 1.85 lynx/100 km2 suitable habitat and represent the lowest and the highest lynx densities reported from the Carpathians. We recorded 1.5-4.1-fold changes in asynchronous fluctuated densities among all study sites and seasons. Furthermore, we detected high individual's turnover (on average 46.3 ± 8.06% in all independent lynx and 37.6 ± 4.22% in adults) as well as low persistence of adults (only 3 out of 29 individuals detected in all seasons). The overall apparent survival rate was 0.63 ± 0.055 and overall transition rate between sites was 0.03 ± 0.019. Transition rate of males was significantly higher than in females, suggesting male-biased dispersal and female philopatry. Fluctuating densities and high turnover rates, in combination with documented lynx mortality, indicate that the population in our region faces several human-induced mortalities, such as poaching or lynx-vehicle collisions. These factors might restrict population growth and limit the dispersion of lynx to other subsequent areas, thus undermining the favourable conservation status of the Carpathian population. Moreover, our study demonstrates that long-term camera-trapping surveys are needed for evaluation of population trends and for reliable estimates of demographic parameters of wild territorial felids, and can be further used for establishing successful management and conservation measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Duľa
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Bojda
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Delphine B H Chabanne
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.,Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Drengubiak
- Kysuce Protected Landscape Area Administration, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, U Tomali č. 1511, 022 01, Čadca, Slovakia
| | - Ľuboslav Hrdý
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Kubala
- Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01, Zvolen, Slovakia.,DIANA - Carpathian Wildlife Research, Mládežnícka 47, 974 04, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Jiří Labuda
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Leona Marčáková
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Teresa Oliveira
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Peter Smolko
- Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01, Zvolen, Slovakia.,DIANA - Carpathian Wildlife Research, Mládežnícka 47, 974 04, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Martin Váňa
- Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kutal
- Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, Olomouc Branch, Dolní náměstí 38, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gil-Sánchez JM, Antorán-Pilar E. Camera-trapping for abundance estimation of otters in seasonal rivers: a field evaluation. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01409-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|