scholarly journals A decade of systematic camera trapping in two strictly protected areas reveals the demography of a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in Central Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Palmero ◽  
Elisa Belotti ◽  
Luděk Bufka ◽  
Martin Gahbauer ◽  
Christoph Heibl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Demographic Parameters ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Closed Population ◽  
Open Population ◽  
Population Turnover

Abstract Large carnivores are crucial for ecosystems but are increasingly threatened by human persecution and habitat destruction. Successful conservation of this guild requires information on long-term population dynamics through the demographic surveys. We camera trapped Eurasian lynx between 2009 and 2018 in two strictly protected areas in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem, estimating sex-specific demographic parameters using spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models as well as the relative abundance index of its prey species and a mesopredator seeking potential drivers of lynx population dynamics. Over 48 677 trap nights, we detected 65 lynx individuals. Density increased to 1.31 and 2.39 individuals/100 km2 for open and closed population SCR models, respectively, with positive population growth rates. Survival rates were high (females 83%, males 88%) and per capita recruitment was low (females 13%, males 9%), indicating a low yearly population turnover. Reproductive parameters showed successful reproduction. Our results reveal the importance of the study area as host to a saturated population and key source for the potential lynx metapopulation. The observed increasing lynx number is most likely represented by dispersing individuals due to reduced mortality outside the protected areas as the number of reproducing females inside remained constant. In what is the first open population SCR study on lynx, we provide demographic parameters contributing to the development of model-based population viability forecasting and inform lynx management in the study area as well as in similar contexts.

scholarly journals Demography of a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population within a strictly protected area in Central Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Palmero ◽  
Elisa Belotti ◽  
Luděk Bufka ◽  
Martin Gahbauer ◽  
Christoph Heibl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Recruitment Rate ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Demographic Parameters ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Closed Population ◽  
Open Population ◽  
Population Turnover

AbstractLarge 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.

Survival rates and causes of mortality in Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in multi-use landscapes

2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Andrén ◽  
John D.C. Linnell ◽  
Olof Liberg ◽  
Reidar Andersen ◽  
Anna Danell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rates ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Causes Of Mortality

Persistence of giants: population dynamics of the limpet Scutellastra laticostata on rocky shores in Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 646 ◽  
pp. 79-92
Author(s):  
RE Scheibling ◽  
R Black
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Decadal Time Scale

Population dynamics and life history traits of the ‘giant’ limpet Scutellastra laticostata on intertidal limestone platforms at Rottnest Island, Western Australia, were recorded by interannual (January/February) monitoring of limpet density and size structure, and relocation of marked individuals, at 3 locations over periods of 13-16 yr between 1993 and 2020. Limpet densities ranged from 4 to 9 ind. m-2 on wave-swept seaward margins of platforms at 2 locations and on a rocky notch at the landward margin of the platform at a third. Juvenile recruits (25-55 mm shell length) were present each year, usually at low densities (<1 m-2), but localized pulses of recruitment occurred in some years. Annual survival rates of marked limpets varied among sites and cohorts, ranging from 0.42 yr-1 at the notch to 0.79 and 0.87 yr-1 on the platforms. A mass mortality of limpets on the platforms occurred in 2003, likely mediated by thermal stress during daytime low tides, coincident with high air temperatures and calm seas. Juveniles grew rapidly to adult size within 2 yr. Asymptotic size (L∞, von Bertalanffy growth model) ranged from 89 to 97 mm, and maximum size from 100 to 113 mm, on platforms. Growth rate and maximum size were lower on the notch. Our empirical observations and simulation models suggest that these populations are relatively stable on a decadal time scale. The frequency and magnitude of recruitment pulses and high rate of adult survival provide considerable inertia, enabling persistence of these populations in the face of sporadic climatic extremes.

Long-term population dynamics of the red deer and European roe deer at the protected and not-protected areas in Mountain Crimea

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
V. N. Shmagol' ◽  
V. L. Yarysh ◽  
S. P. Ivanov ◽  
V. I. Maltsev
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Population Number ◽  
The Impact

<p>The long-term population dynamics of the red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em> L.) and European roe deer (<em>Capreolus</em> <em>capreolus</em> L.) at the mountain and forest zone of Crimea during 1980-2017 is presented. Fluctuations in numbers of both species are cyclical and partly synchronous. Period of oscillations in the population of red deer is about 25 years, the average duration of the oscillation period of number of roe deer is 12.3 years. During the fluctuations in the number the increasing and fall in population number of the red deer had been as 26-47 %, and roe deer – as 22-34 %. Basing on the dada obtained we have assumed that together with large-scale cycles of fluctuations in population number of both red deer and roe deer the short cycles of fluctuations in the number of these species with period from 3.5 to 7.5 years take place. Significant differences of the parameters of cyclical fluctuations in the number of roe deer at some sites of the Mountainous Crimea: breaches of synchronicity, as well as significant differences in the duration of cycles are revealed. The greatest deviations from the average values of parameters of long-term dynamics of the number of roe deer in Crimea are noted for groups of this species at two protected areas. At the Crimean Nature Reserve the cycle time of fluctuations of the numbers of roe deer was 18 years. At the Karadag Nature Reserve since 1976 we can see an exponential growth in number of roe deer that is continued up to the present time. By 2016 the number of roe deer reached 750 individuals at a density of 437 animals per 1 thousand ha. Peculiarity of dynamics of number of roe deer at some sites proves the existence in the mountain forest of Crimea several relatively isolated groups of deer. We assumed that "island" location of the Crimean populations of red deer and European roe deer, their relatively little number and influence of permanent extreme factors of both natural and anthropogenic origination have contributed to a mechanism of survival of these populations. The elements of such a mechanism include the following features of long-term dynamics of the population: the reduction in the period of cyclic population fluctuations, while maintaining their amplitude and the appearance of additional small cycles, providing more flexible response of the population to the impact of both negative and positive environmental factors. From the totality of the weather conditions for the Crimean population of roe deer the recurring periods of increases and downs in the annual precipitation amount may have relevance. There was a trend of increase in the roe deer population during periods of increasing annual precipitation.</p>

scholarly journals In situ feeding as a new management tool to conserve orphaned Eurasian lynx (lynx lynx)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe Premier ◽  
Martin Gahbauer ◽  
Franz Leibl ◽  
Marco Heurich
Keyword(s):  
Management Tool ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
In Situ Feeding

scholarly journals Conservation of snow leopards: spill-over benefits for other carnivores?

Oryx ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine S. Alexander ◽  
Jeremy J. Cusack ◽  
Chen Pengju ◽  
Shi Kun ◽  
Philip Riordan
Keyword(s):  
Red Fox ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Snow Leopard ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Cuon Alpinus ◽  
Sign Surveys ◽  
Snow Leopards

AbstractIn high-altitude settings of Central Asia the Endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia has been recognized as a potential umbrella species. As a first step in assessing the potential benefits of snow leopard conservation for other carnivores, we sought a better understanding of the presence of other carnivores in areas occupied by snow leopards in China's Qilianshan National Nature Reserve. We used camera-trap and sign surveys to examine whether other carnivores were using the same travel routes as snow leopards at two spatial scales. We also considered temporal interactions between species. Our results confirm that other carnivores, including the red fox Vulpes vulpes, grey wolf Canis lupus, Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx and dhole Cuon alpinus, occur along snow leopard travel routes, albeit with low detection rates. Even at the smaller scale of our camera trap survey all five carnivores (snow leopard, lynx, wolf, red fox and dhole) were observed. Kernel density estimates suggested a high degree of temporal overlap between the snow leopard and the fox, and the snow leopard and the lynx, as indicated by high overlap coefficient estimates. There is an opportunity to consider protective measures at the local scale that would benefit various species simultaneously. However, it should also be recognized that snow leopard conservation efforts could exacerbate human–wildlife conflicts through their protective effect on other carnivore species.

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