Data from: Protection status, human disturbance, snow cover and trapping drive density of a declining wolverine population in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

• Main Author: Barrueto, Mirjam
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2022
• Subjects: spatial capture-recapture; Gulo gulo; occupancy; integrated population model; Camera; wolverine; Protected Areas; population trend
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7195908

Protected areas are important in species conservation, but high rates of human-caused mortality outside their borders and increasing popularity for recreation can negatively affect wildlife populations. We quantified wolverine ( Gulo gulo ) population trends from 2011 to 2020 in >14 000 km2 protected and non-protected habitat in southwestern Canada. We conducted wolverine and multi-species surveys using non-invasive DNA and remote camera-based methods. We developed Bayesian integrated models combining spatial capture-recapture data of marked and unmarked individuals with occupancy data. Wolverine density and occupancy declined by 39 percent, with an annual population growth rate of 0.925. Density within protected areas was 3 times higher than outside and declined between 2011 (3.6 wolverines/1000 km2) and 2020 (2.1 wolverines/1000 km2). Wolverine density and detection probability increased with snow cover and decreased near development. Detection probability also decreased with human recreational activity. The annual harvest rate of 13% was above the maximum sustainable rate. We conclude that humans negatively affected the population through direct mortality, sub-lethal effects and habitat impacts. Our study exemplifies the need to monitor population trends for species at risk – within and between protected areas - as steep declines can occur unnoticed if key conservation concerns are not identified and addressed. Funding provided by: Parks Canada Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100014612 Award Number: Funding provided by: Montana State University Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009501 Award Number: Funding provided by: Woodcock-Muñoz Foundation Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100003530 Award Number: Funding provided by: Wilburforce Foundation Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100001393 Award Number: Funding provided by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Crossref Funder Registry ID: ...