Patterns and determinants of dispersal in grey wolves (Canis lupus)

Abstract

Dispersal is a key demographic process involving three stages: emigration, transience and settlement; each of which is influenced by individual, social and environmental determinants. An integrated understanding of species dispersal is essential for demographic modelling and conservation planning. Here, we review the dispersal patterns and determinants documented in the scientific literature for the grey wolf (Canis lupus) across its distribution range. We showed a surprisingly high variability within and among study areas on all dispersal parameters – dispersal rate, direction, distance, duration and success. We found that such large variability is due to multiple individual, social and environmental determinants, but also due to previously overlooked methodological research issues. We revealed a potential non‐linear relationship between dispersal rate and population density, with dispersal rate higher at both ends of the gradient of population density. We found that human‐caused mortality reduces distance, duration and success of dispersal events. Furthermore, dispersers avoid interaction with humans, and highly exposed areas like agricultural lands hamper population connectivity in many cases. We identified numerous methodological research problems that make it difficult to obtain robust estimates of dispersal parameters and robust inferences on dispersal patterns and their determinants. In particular, analyses where confounding factors were not accounted for led to substantial knowledge gaps on all aspects of dispersal in an otherwise much‐studied species. Our understanding of wolf biology and management would significantly benefit if wolf dispersal studies reported the results and possible factors affecting wolf dispersal more transparently.

Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Mammals of Southern Italy

“…Wolves in rural environments may have high probability to be in contact with Toxoplasma -infected prey, such as wild boars, the wolf’s main prey in the Italian Apennines (e.g., [ 40 ]). However, this result must be taken cautiously due to the very small sample size available and the typically large home ranges shown by resident wolves, spanning over territories well over 100 km 2 across many habitat types, or even more dispersing individuals, moving over up to thousands of km [ 41 ]. Classifying such highly opportunistic and mobile predators according to the land use of the area where they died may have little ecological meaning.…”

Large carnivore range expansion in Iberia in relation to different scenarios of permeability of human‐dominated landscapes

“…highways, fences) can constitute major barriers to dispersal (Barrientos et al, 2021). In addition, human pressure in landscapes through which carnivores have to disperse is essential in determining whether or not dispersal is successful (Cimatti et al, 2021; Morales‐González et al, 2022; Tucker et al, 2018). With human pressure, we here collectively refer to human activities that can increase the mortality of large carnivores, such as hunting, the prevalence of livestock husbandry or shepherding, road traffic, institutional factors such as legal frameworks (e.g.…”

Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda

“…Usually the dispersal distance increases with home range and body size but other factors also influence this process [ 19 ]. For instance life history traits, social and environmental factors affect the dispersal distance which varies across species and even within members of the same species [ 19 – 21 ]. While this is true, the landscape structure strongly influences the dispersal ability of animals [ 14 ].…”

“…While this is true, the landscape structure strongly influences the dispersal ability of animals [ 14 ]. Animals residing in disturbed and fragmented habitats may experience high risk and avoid interactions with humans [ 20 , 21 ]. Such movement is important in maintaining genetic diversity and minimizing inbreeding depression at the population level [ 20 , 22 ].…”