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Reshamwala HS, Bhattacharya A, Khan S, Shrotriya S, Lyngdoh SB, Goyal SP, Kanagaraj R, Habib B. Modeling Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Distribution of Wooly Wolf (Canis lupus chanco). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.815621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Central Asian wolves form a cohort within the wolf-dog clade known as the wooly wolf (Canis lupus chanco). These wolves are poorly studied and their current extent and distribution remain unknown. Apex predators already existing at higher elevations like wooly wolves can be severely affected by climate change because of the absence of suitable refuge. Concomitantly, in the era of Anthropocene, the change in land use land cover (LULC) is rapidly increasing. Even the most adaptable species occurring in human-dominated landscapes may fail to survive under the combined impact of both climate change and human pressure. We collected 3,776 presence locations of the wooly wolf across its range from published literature and compiled 39 predictor variables for species distribution modeling, which included anthropogenic factors, climatic, vegetation, and topographic features. We predicted the change in their distribution under different anthropogenic factors, climate change, and land-use land-cover change scenarios. Wolf showed affinity toward areas with low to moderately warm temperatures and higher precipitations. It showed negative relationships with forests and farmlands. Our future projections showed an expansion of wolf distribution and habitat suitability under the combined effects of future climate and LULC change. Myanmar and Russia had the introduction of high and medium suitability areas for the wooly wolf in future scenarios. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan showed the consistent loss in high suitability areas while Mongolia and Bhutan had the largest gain in high suitability areas. The study holds great significance for the protection and management of this species and also provides opportunities to explore the impact on associated species.
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Bhattacharjee A, Sadadev BM, Karmacharya DK, Baral R, Pérez‐García JM, Giménez Casalduero A, Sánchez‐Zapata JA, Anadón JD. Local ecological knowledge and education drive farmers' contrasting perceptions of scavengers and their function in Nepal. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biology, Queens College City University of New York Queens NY USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
| | | | | | - Rishi Baral
- National Trust for Nature Conservation Annapurna Conservation Area Project Pokhara Nepal
| | | | | | | | - José D. Anadón
- Department of Biology, Queens College City University of New York Queens NY USA
- Biology Doctoral Program, Graduate Center City University of New York New York NY USA
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Thapa K, Schmitt N, Pradhan NMB, Acharya HR, Rayamajhi S. No silver bullet? Snow leopard prey selection in Mt. Kangchenjunga, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16413-16425. [PMID: 34938445 PMCID: PMC8668728 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the impact of domestic and wild prey availability on snow leopard prey preference in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area of eastern Nepal-a region where small domestic livestock are absent and small wild ungulate prey are present. We took a comprehensive approach that combined fecal genetic sampling, macro- and microscopic analyses of snow leopard diets, and direct observation of blue sheep and livestock in the KCA. Out of the collected 88 putative snow leopard scat samples from 140 transects (290 km) in 27 (4 × 4 km2) sampling grid cells, 73 (83%) were confirmed to be from snow leopard. The genetic analysis accounted for 19 individual snow leopards (10 males and 9 females), with a mean population size estimate of 24 (95% CI: 19-29) and an average density of 3.9 snow leopards/100 km2 within 609 km2. The total available prey biomass of blue sheep and yak was estimated at 355,236 kg (505 kg yak/km2 and 78 kg blue sheep/km2). From the available prey biomass, we estimated snow leopards consumed 7% annually, which comprised wild prey (49%), domestic livestock (45%), and 6% unidentified items. The estimated 47,736 kg blue sheep biomass gives a snow leopard-to-blue sheep ratio of 1:59 on a weight basis. The high preference of snow leopard to domestic livestock appears to be influenced by a much smaller available biomass of wild prey than in other regions of Nepal (e.g., 78 kg/km2 in the KCA compared with a range of 200-300 kg/km2 in other regions of Nepal). Along with livestock insurance scheme improvement, there needs to be a focus on improved livestock guarding, predator-proof corrals as well as engaging and educating local people to be citizen scientists on the importance of snow leopard conservation, involving them in long-term monitoring programs and promotion of ecotourism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Thapa
- Tribhuvan University, Institute of ForestryKritipurNepal
| | - Natalie Schmitt
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical SciencesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | | | - Hem Raj Acharya
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife ConservationKathmanduNepal
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Pandey BP, Thami SM, Shrestha R, Chalise MK. On the occurrence of the Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus, L. 1758 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal; its existence confirmed through sign and visual evidence in Rolwaling Valley. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.6216.13.8.18967-18974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus L., a top predator of the Third Pole, is proposed to be of a distinct wolf lineage (C. himalayensis) relative to the Holarctic Grey Wolf as described by mtDNA analyses. A biodiversity survey organized by the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) has captured images of wolves in three different regions, and the study team has observed wolf scats in five additional regions above the tree line in Rolwaling Valley. Further, interviews with local herders provided evidence of wolf depredation of livestock in the area. The Rolwaling Valley in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area was the study area which was divided into 12, 4 x 4 km (16 km2) grid cells, each supplied with one camera trap operated continuously from June to November 2019 (only 6 out of 12 cameras functioned for the duration of our study). Wolf detections were recorded by camera traps from Yalung Pass (4,956 m), Tsho-Rolpa glacial Lake (4,536 m) and the Dudhkunda ridgeline (5,091 m). The photo capture rate index (PCRI) for wolves was 0.71. Our study reports the first photographic evidence of the Himalayan Wolf in the Rolwaling Valley.
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Roder S, Biollaz F, Mettaz S, Zimmermann F, Manz R, Kéry M, Vignali S, Fumagalli L, Arlettaz R, Braunisch V. Deer density drives habitat use of establishing wolves in the Western European Alps. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Roder
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - François Biollaz
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Mettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | | | - Ralph Manz
- KORACarnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management Muri Switzerland
| | - Marc Kéry
- Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach Switzerland
| | - Sergio Vignali
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach Switzerland
| | - Veronika Braunisch
- Division of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution University of Bern Bern Switzerland
- Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg Freiburg Germany
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Kusi N, Sillero‐Zubiri C, Macdonald DW, Johnson PJ, Werhahn G. Perspectives of traditional Himalayan communities on fostering coexistence with Himalayan wolf and snow leopard. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Kusi
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney UK
- Resources Himalaya Foundation Lalitpur Nepal
| | - Claudio Sillero‐Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney UK
- IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group Oxford UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney UK
| | - Paul J. Johnson
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney UK
| | - Geraldine Werhahn
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of Oxford, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Tubney UK
- IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group Oxford UK
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Kabir M, Hameed S, Ali H, Bosso L, Din JU, Bischof R, Redpath S, Nawaz MA. Habitat suitability and movement corridors of grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Northern Pakistan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187027. [PMID: 29121089 PMCID: PMC5679527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat suitability models are useful to understand species distribution and to guide management and conservation strategies. The grey wolf (Canis lupus) has been extirpated from most of its historic range in Pakistan primarily due to its impact on livestock and livelihoods. We used non-invasive survey data from camera traps and genetic sampling to develop a habitat suitability model for C. lupus in northern Pakistan and to explore the extent of connectivity among populations. We detected suitable habitat of grey wolf using a maximum entropy approach (Maxent ver. 3.4.0) and identified suitable movement corridors using the Circuitscape 4.0 tool. Our model showed high levels of predictive performances, as seen from the values of area under curve (0.971±0.002) and true skill statistics (0.886±0.021). The main predictors for habitat suitability for C. lupus were distances to road, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and distance to river. The model predicted ca. 23,129 km2 of suitable areas for wolf in Pakistan, with much of suitable habitat in remote and inaccessible areas that appeared to be well connected through vulnerable movement corridors. These movement corridors suggest that potentially the wolf range can expand in Pakistan's Northern Areas. However, managing protected areas with stringent restrictions is challenging in northern Pakistan, in part due to heavy dependence of people on natural resources. The habitat suitability map provided by this study can inform future management strategies by helping authorities to identify key conservation areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Kabir
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shoaib Hameed
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hussain Ali
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Luciano Bosso
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Universita n. 100, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Jaffar Ud Din
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Steve Redpath
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Ali Nawaz
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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Conservation implications for the Himalayan wolf Canis (lupus) himalayensis based on observations of packs and home sites in Nepal. ORYX 2017. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605317001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWe provide insights into pack composition and den site parameters of the Himalayan wolf Canis (lupus) himalayensis based on observations of free-ranging wolves in three study areas in Nepal. We combine this with a social survey of the local Buddhist communities regarding human–carnivore conflict, to draw inferences for conservation practice in the Nepalese Himalayas. We recorded eight wolf packs (with an average composition of two adults and three pups), and found five home sites in high-altitude shrubland patches within alpine grasslands at 4,270–4,940 m altitude. There was a spatial–temporal overlap of wolf home sites and livestock herding during spring and summer, which facilitated human–wolf conflict. The litters of three out of five wolf packs found in Dolpa during 2016 were killed by local people in the same year. In Nepal compensation is offered for depredation by snow leopards Panthera uncia, with associated lowering of negative attitudes, but not for depredation by wolves. We recommend the implementation of financial and educational conservation schemes for all conflict-causing carnivores across the Himalayan regions of Nepal.
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Canu A, Mattioli L, Santini A, Apollonio M, Scandura M. ‘Video-scats’: combining camera trapping and non-invasive genotyping to assess individual identity and hybrid status in gray wolf. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Canu
- A. Canu, M. Apollonio and M. Scandura , Dept. of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources, Univ. of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, IT-07100 Sassari, Italy. AC also at: C.I.R.Se.M.A.F. Firenze, Italy
| | - Luca Mattioli
- L. Mattioli, Regione Toscana, Settore Attività Faunistico Venatoria, Pesca Dilettantistica, Pesca in Mare, Arezzo, Italy
| | | | - Marco Apollonio
- A. Canu, M. Apollonio and M. Scandura , Dept. of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources, Univ. of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, IT-07100 Sassari, Italy. AC also at: C.I.R.Se.M.A.F. Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Scandura
- A. Canu, M. Apollonio and M. Scandura , Dept. of Science for Nature and Environmental Resources, Univ. of Sassari, Via Muroni 25, IT-07100 Sassari, Italy. AC also at: C.I.R.Se.M.A.F. Firenze, Italy
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