Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians
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 arc...
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2022
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/103/2/415/43326888/gyab157.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 2024-06-09T07:45:19+00:00 Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians Iosif, Ruben Popescu, Viorel D Ungureanu, Liviu Șerban, Călin Dyck, Marissa A Promberger-Fürpass, Barbara Goheen, Jacob OAK Foundation Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/103/2/415/43326888/gyab157.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model Journal of Mammalogy volume 103, issue 2, page 415-424 ISSN 0022-2372 1545-1542 journal-article 2022 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 2024-05-10T13:16:29Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Ursus arctos Lynx Lynx lynx lynx Oxford University Press Journal of Mammalogy 103 2 415 424 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press |
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croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
description |
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. |
author2 |
Goheen, Jacob OAK Foundation Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Iosif, Ruben Popescu, Viorel D Ungureanu, Liviu Șerban, Călin Dyck, Marissa A Promberger-Fürpass, Barbara |
spellingShingle |
Iosif, Ruben Popescu, Viorel D Ungureanu, Liviu Șerban, Călin Dyck, Marissa A Promberger-Fürpass, Barbara Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
author_facet |
Iosif, Ruben Popescu, Viorel D Ungureanu, Liviu Șerban, Călin Dyck, Marissa A Promberger-Fürpass, Barbara |
author_sort |
Iosif, Ruben |
title |
Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
title_short |
Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
title_full |
Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
title_fullStr |
Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
title_full_unstemmed |
Eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of Europe’s strongholds, the Romanian Carpathians |
title_sort |
eurasian lynx density and habitat use in one of europe’s strongholds, the romanian carpathians |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/103/2/415/43326888/gyab157.pdf |
genre |
Canis lupus Ursus arctos Lynx Lynx lynx lynx |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Ursus arctos Lynx Lynx lynx lynx |
op_source |
Journal of Mammalogy volume 103, issue 2, page 415-424 ISSN 0022-2372 1545-1542 |
op_rights |
https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab157 |
container_title |
Journal of Mammalogy |
container_volume |
103 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
415 |
op_container_end_page |
424 |
_version_ |
1801374603994464256 |