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

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.

Humans rather than Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) shape ungulate browsing patterns in a temperate forest

“…This conclusion is in line with other studies in which the effects of humans were shown to outweigh those of large carnivores (Ciuti et al, 2012;Muhly et al, 2011;Proffitt et al, 2009). Our results accordingly indicate that, despite a high abundance of lynx in the study area (Palmero et al, 2021), the risk posed by this large ambush predator, unlike that posed by human activities, did not cascade down to measurable differences in browsing intensity.…”

“…The main tree species within the Bavarian Forest are Norway spruce ( Picea abies ), silver fir ( Abies alba ) and, European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), with rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia ), sycamore maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus ), and birch ( Betula pendula , Betula pubescens ; Bayerische Staatsforsten, 2018; Cailleret et al, 2014) also present in abundance. Lynx is the main predator species in the area, with 1–2 lynx/100 km 2 in the BFNP (Heurich et al, 2015; Palmero et al, 2021). In 2015, a wolf pair became established in the area and in 2017, the first wolf pack since 1846 was confirmed.…”

Human disturbance is the most limiting factor driving habitat selection of a large carnivore throughout Continental Europe

“…Protecting these vital habitat patches is important to maintain healthy lynx populations, and to provide offspring that might populate neighbouring habitat patches (Palmero et al, 2021). Isolation can lead to genetic drift and potentially inbreeding effects (Bull et al, 2016), so it is important that habitat is not degraded further.…”

Olfactory cues of large carnivores modify red deer behavior and browsing intensity

“…The Eurasian lynx was eradicated from the area in 1848 but reintroduced in the 1970s ( Wölfl et al 2001 ). Currently, the population is considered to be stable, with an estimated density of approximately 1–2 lynx/100 km 2 ( Heurich et al 2015 ; Palmero et al 2020 ). In recent years, wolves have been recolonizing the area.…”