Combining human acceptance and habitat suitability in a unified socio‐ecological suitability model: a case study of the wolf in Switzerland

Abstract

Article type: Standard 23Word count: 8,600 24 Number of tables: 4 25Number of references: 67 26 27 2 Abstract 28 1. Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are key threats to the long-term persistence of 29 carnivores, which are also susceptible to direct persecution by people. Integrating natural and 30 social science methods to examine how habitat configuration/quality and human-predator 31 relations may interact in space and time to effect carnivore populations within human-32 dominated landscapes will help prioritise conservation investment and action effectively. 33 2. We propose a socio-ecological modelling framework to evaluate drivers of carnivore decline 34 in landscapes where predators and people coexist. By collecting social and ecological data at 35 the same spatial scale, candidate models can be used to quantify and tease apart the relative 36 importance of different threats. 37 3. We apply our methodological framework to an empirical case study, the threatened guiña 38 (Leopardus guigna) in the temperate forest ecoregion of southern Chile, to illustrate its use. 39Existing literature suggests that the species is declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation and 40 persecution in response to livestock predation. Data used in modelling were derived from four 41 seasons of camera-trap surveys, remote-sensed images and household questionnaires. 42 4. Occupancy dynamics were explained by habitat configuration/quality covariates rather than by 43 human-predator relations. Guiñas can tolerate a high degree of habitat loss (>80% within a 44 home range). They are primarily impacted by fragmentation and land subdivision (larger farms 45 being divided into smaller ones). Ten percent of surveyed farmers (N=233) reported illegally 46 killing the species over the past decade. 47 5. Synthesis and applications. By integrating ecological and social data into a single modelling 48 framework, our study demonstrates the value of an interdisciplinary approach to assessing the 49 potential threats to a carnivore. It has allowed us to tease apart effectively the relative 50 importance of different potential extinction pressures, make informed conservation 51 recommendations and prioritise where future interventions should be targeted. Specifically for 52 the guiña, we have identified that human-dominated landscapes with large intensive farms can 53 be of conservation value, as long as an appropriate network of habitat patches are maintained 54 3 within the matrix. Conservation efforts to secure the long-term persistence of the species should 55 focus on reducing habitat fragmentation, rather than human persecution in our study system. 56

African Wild Dog Dispersal and Implications for Management

“…For instance, 1 pack was poisoned by placing poisoned water at the entrance of the den. Our data thus shows the importance of considering human acceptance when assessing large carnivore movements and recolonization processes across human‐dominated landscapes (Behr et al 2017) and highlights the need to work alongside local communities to mitigate conflicts and increase acceptance beyond the boundaries of protected areas.…”

Wolvenplan Vlaanderen

“…Opinies evolueren ook mee met gebeurtenissen die zich voordoen. Enkele studies laten zien dat een ogenschijnlijk neutrale houding snel kan omslaan naar een negatieve als gevolg van één enkele negatieve gebeurtenis (Behr et al 2017, Heberlein & Ericsson 2008. In een Europees rapport (Linnell 2013) wordt gesteld dat conflicten over de terugkeer van grote roofdieren (zoals de wolf) het hevigst zijn in streken waar de dieren al lang verdwenen zijn.…”

Integrated spatial analysis for human–wildlife coexistence in the American West

“…Inclusion of multi-level drivers of social processes and human behavior in spatial analysis and conservation planning represents a tremendous opportunity to improve outcomes for both wildlife and humans in shared landscapes (Lischka et al 2018). A growing body of work has demonstrated novel ways to spatially integrate social and ecological factors that can better inform decision making for human-wildlife coexistence under changing conditions (Bryan et al 2011, Behr et al 2017, Williamson et al 2018. Here, we build on that foundation to underscore the utility of integrating social factors into traditional spatial analysis to promote human-wildlife coexistence in the American West.…”