Habitat availability is not limiting the distribution of the Bohemian–Bavarian lynxLynx lynxpopulation

Abstract

A population of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx was established by reintroductions in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in the 1970s and 1980s. The most recent information on the population status indicates that the distribution has stagnated since the late 1990s, for unknown reasons. We assessed the availability of suitable habitat along the Austrian–German–Czech border, and hypothesized that the Bohemian–Bavarian lynx population is not in equilibrium with habitat suitability. Based on global positioning system data from 10 radio-collared lynx, we used a maximum entropy approach to model suitable habitat. Variables reflecting anthropogenic influence contributed most to the model and were negatively associated with the occurrence of lynx. We evaluated the model prediction using independent records of lynx from monitoring in Bavaria, Germany. Using our habitat approach we estimated the area of potential habitat, based on a mean annual home range of 445 km2 for males and 122 km2 for females. Our results indicated there were 12,415 km2 of suitable habitat, distributed among 13 patches, for a potential population of c. 142 (93–160) resident lynx. We assessed connectivity via least-cost paths and found that all suitable patches could be reached by the lynx. A comparison with the current distribution of lynx, however, confirms that a significant proportion of suitable habitat is not occupied, which indicates that the distribution is limited by factors other than habitat, with illegal killing being the most likely cause. Our study provides crucial information for the development of a conservation strategy and regional planning for the Bohemian–Bavarian lynx population.

Habitat metrics based on multi‐temporal Landsat imagery for mapping large mammal habitat

“…To reduce spatial auto‐correlation, we randomly selected one location per day and individual for each dataset (Magg et al. ; Holloway and Miller ). The size of our final presence datasets used for building habitat models ranged from ca.…”

Habitat selection by Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is primarily driven by avoidance of human activity during day and prey availability during night

“…As in other regions, humans also pose the greatest threat to the local population of Eurasian lynx in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem, a protected landscape comprised of the Bavarian Forest National Park in Germany and the Šumava National Park in the Czech Republic. Both inspections of lynx found dead and opinion surveys of local hunters underline that, apart from occasional collisions with vehicles, poaching represents the main cause of lynx mortality in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem (Červený, Koubek, & Bufka, ; Wölfl et al., ) which is also indicated by modeling approaches (Müller et al., ; Magg et al., ; Heurich et al, unpublished data). This is of special concern as the long‐term viability of the local reintroduced lynx population depends on survival within the human‐modified landscape around the protected areas (Belotti et al., ; for more details about the study population, see Wölfl et al., ).…”

The effect of reintroductions on the genetic variability in Eurasian lynx populations: the cases of Bohemian–Bavarian and Vosges–Palatinian populations

“…Although our BB samples all originated from the Bavarian side of the BB ecosystem, we believe that our results are valid for the population as a whole, given that there is no barrier to dispersal (Magg et al 2015). The measures of diversity for this population (Table 1; Fig.…”

“…However, to determine which of these other Carpathian populations would be most suitable to supplement BB and VP requires further study. For BB, additional measures (including releases) to reinstate and maintain connectivity to neighbouring populations would also be highly beneficial (Müller et al 2014;Magg et al 2015).…”

“…Lynx of the BB population fare no better, and their 'endangered' status (Arx et al 2004) is merited. Suitable habitat connecting BB to neighbouring populations (Carpathian) is available and ought to be maintained and enhanced to promote the influx of diversity into the BB population (Magg et al 2015).…”