1
|
Marucco F, Boiani MV, Dupont P, Milleret C, Avanzinelli E, Pilgrim K, Schwartz MK, von Hardenberg A, Perrone DS, Friard OP, Menzano A, Bisi F, Fattori U, Tomasella M, Calderola S, Carolfi S, Ferrari P, Chioso C, Truc F, Bombieri G, Pedrotti L, Righetti D, Acutis PL, Guglielmo F, Hauffe HC, Rossi C, Caniglia R, Aragno P, La Morgia V, Genovesi P, Bischof R. A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14132. [PMID: 37259636 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The wolf (Canis lupus) is among the most controversial of wildlife species. Abundance estimates are required to inform public debate and policy decisions, but obtaining them at biologically relevant scales is challenging. We developed a system for comprehensive population estimation across the Italian alpine region (100,000 km2 ), involving 1513 trained operators representing 160 institutions. This extensive network allowed for coordinated genetic sample collection and landscape-level spatial capture-recapture analyses that transcended administrative boundaries to produce the first estimates of key parameters for wolf population status assessment. Wolf abundance was estimated at 952 individuals (95% credible interval 816-1120) and 135 reproductive units (i.e., packs) (95% credible interval 112-165). We also estimated that mature individuals accounted for 33-45% of the entire population. The monitoring effort was spatially estimated thereby overcoming an important limitation of citizen science data. This is an important approach for promoting wolf-human coexistence based on wolf abundance monitoring and an endorsement of large-scale harmonized conservation practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Marucco
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Maria V Boiani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Chester, Chester, UK
| | - Pierre Dupont
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Cyril Milleret
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Elisa Avanzinelli
- Centro Grandi Carnivori, Ente di Gestione Aree Protette Alpi Marittime, Valdieri, Italy
| | - Kristine Pilgrim
- USDA National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Michael K Schwartz
- USDA National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Achaz von Hardenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Chester, Chester, UK
| | | | - Olivier P Friard
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Arianna Menzano
- Centro Grandi Carnivori, Ente di Gestione Aree Protette Alpi Marittime, Valdieri, Italy
| | - Francesco Bisi
- Environmental Analysis and Management Unit, Guido Tosi Research Group, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Umberto Fattori
- Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Osservatorio Biodiversità, Trieste, Italy
| | - Michela Tomasella
- Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia, Osservatorio Biodiversità, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sonia Calderola
- Regione del Veneto, Direzione Agroambiente, Programmazione e Gestione ittica e faunistico-venatoria, Venezia, Italy
| | - Sabrina Carolfi
- Regione Liguria, Settore Politiche della Natura e delle aree Interne, Protette e Marine, Parchi e Biodiversità - Settore Fauna Selvatica, Caccia e Vigilanza Venatoria, Genoa, Italy
| | - Piero Ferrari
- Regione Liguria, Settore Politiche della Natura e delle aree Interne, Protette e Marine, Parchi e Biodiversità - Settore Fauna Selvatica, Caccia e Vigilanza Venatoria, Genoa, Italy
| | - Christian Chioso
- Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta - Flora e fauna - Ufficio per la fauna selvatica e ittica, Quart, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Truc
- Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta - Flora e fauna - Ufficio per la fauna selvatica e ittica, Quart, Italy
| | - Giulia Bombieri
- MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento, Conservation Biology Section, Trento, Italy
| | - Luca Pedrotti
- ERSAF - Direzione Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, Sondrio, Italy
| | - Davide Righetti
- Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Ripartizione Foreste, Ufficio Caccia e Pesca, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Pierluigi L Acutis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte. Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Genetics Laboratory, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Guglielmo
- Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta, Biodiversità, sostenibilità e aree naturali protette, Museo regionale di Scienze naturali Efisio Noussan, Saint-Christophe, Italy
| | - Heidi C Hauffe
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione E. Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Chiara Rossi
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione E. Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Wildlife Coordination Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Aragno
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Wildlife Coordination Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina La Morgia
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Wildlife Coordination Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Genovesi
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Wildlife Coordination Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| |
Collapse
|