Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians
Abstract Understanding how large carnivores utilize space is crucial for management planning in human-dominated landscape and enhances the accuracy of population size estimates. However, Eurasian lynx display a large inter-population variation in the size of home ranges across their European range w...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71800-w |
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| author | Jakub Kubala Johannes Signer Slavomír Finďo Martin Duľa Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová Robert W. Mysłajek Sabina Nowak Jozef Bučko Michaela Skuban Miroslav Kutal Michal Bojda Jiří Labuda Michał Figura Miroslava Barančeková Miloslav Homolka Petr Koubek Marián Slamka Branislav Tám Michal Belák Tomáš Iľko Beňadik Machciník Peter Klinga Maroš Sedliak Rudolf Kropil Peter Smolko |
| author_facet | Jakub Kubala Johannes Signer Slavomír Finďo Martin Duľa Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová Robert W. Mysłajek Sabina Nowak Jozef Bučko Michaela Skuban Miroslav Kutal Michal Bojda Jiří Labuda Michał Figura Miroslava Barančeková Miloslav Homolka Petr Koubek Marián Slamka Branislav Tám Michal Belák Tomáš Iľko Beňadik Machciník Peter Klinga Maroš Sedliak Rudolf Kropil Peter Smolko |
| author_sort | Jakub Kubala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding how large carnivores utilize space is crucial for management planning in human-dominated landscape and enhances the accuracy of population size estimates. However, Eurasian lynx display a large inter-population variation in the size of home ranges across their European range which makes extrapolation to broader areas of a species distribution problematic. This study evaluates variations in home range size for 35 Eurasian lynx in the Western Carpathians during 2011–2022 based on GPS telemetry and explains how intrinsic and environmental factors shape lynx spatial behaviour when facing anthropogenic pressure. The average annual home range size of lynx ranged from 283 (± 42 SE) to 360 (± 60 SE) km2 for males and from 148 (± 50 SE) to 190 (± 70 SE) km2 for females, depending on home range estimator (95% MCP, KDE and AKDE). Females with kittens had smaller annual and summer home ranges compared to non-reproducing females and subadults had smaller home ranges compared to adults. Lynx home range size was explained by availability of roe deer, except for summer, when alternative prey was likely available. We also found clear evidence of human-induced changes in lynx home range size, in particular, forest cover significantly decreased the home range size of male lynx during summer while road density led to an expansion of both annual and summer lynx home ranges. Lynx exhibited consistent fidelity to their home ranges throughout consecutive seasons, showing no seasonal variations. Strong territoriality was observed among competing males maintaining relatively low home range overlaps and considerable distances between centres of activity. The most pronounced tendency for association was observed between males and females, maintaining relatively close proximity year-round. The insights into lynx spatial requirements provided by our study will greatly enhance the accuracy of population size estimates and effectiveness of mitigation measures across the Western Carpathians. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68cd57f78682445d972bd6bf62095e8f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-68cd57f78682445d972bd6bf62095e8f2024-12-22T12:26:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-09-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-71800-wFactors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western CarpathiansJakub Kubala0Johannes Signer1Slavomír Finďo2Martin Duľa3Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová4Robert W. Mysłajek5Sabina Nowak6Jozef Bučko7Michaela Skuban8Miroslav Kutal9Michal Bojda10Jiří Labuda11Michał Figura12Miroslava Barančeková13Miloslav Homolka14Petr Koubek15Marián Slamka16Branislav Tám17Michal Belák18Tomáš Iľko19Beňadik Machciník20Peter Klinga21Maroš Sedliak22Rudolf Kropil23Peter Smolko24Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in ZvolenWildlife Science, Faculty of Forest Science and Forest Ecology, University of GoettingenState Nature Conservancy of the Slovak RepublicDepartment of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in BrnoInstitute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of SciencesDepartment of Ecology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of WarsawDepartment of Ecology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of WarsawNational Forest Centre, Forest Research InstituteCarpathian Wildlife SocietyDepartment of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in BrnoDepartment of Ecology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of WarsawInstitute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of SciencesNational Forest Centre, Forest Research InstituteNational Zoological Garden BojniceNational Zoological Garden BojniceMuránska Planina National Park with Headquarters in RevúcaState Nature Conservancy of Slovak RepublicDepartment of Phytology, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in ZvolenNational Forest Centre, Forest Research InstituteDepartment of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in ZvolenDepartment of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in ZvolenAbstract Understanding how large carnivores utilize space is crucial for management planning in human-dominated landscape and enhances the accuracy of population size estimates. However, Eurasian lynx display a large inter-population variation in the size of home ranges across their European range which makes extrapolation to broader areas of a species distribution problematic. This study evaluates variations in home range size for 35 Eurasian lynx in the Western Carpathians during 2011–2022 based on GPS telemetry and explains how intrinsic and environmental factors shape lynx spatial behaviour when facing anthropogenic pressure. The average annual home range size of lynx ranged from 283 (± 42 SE) to 360 (± 60 SE) km2 for males and from 148 (± 50 SE) to 190 (± 70 SE) km2 for females, depending on home range estimator (95% MCP, KDE and AKDE). Females with kittens had smaller annual and summer home ranges compared to non-reproducing females and subadults had smaller home ranges compared to adults. Lynx home range size was explained by availability of roe deer, except for summer, when alternative prey was likely available. We also found clear evidence of human-induced changes in lynx home range size, in particular, forest cover significantly decreased the home range size of male lynx during summer while road density led to an expansion of both annual and summer lynx home ranges. Lynx exhibited consistent fidelity to their home ranges throughout consecutive seasons, showing no seasonal variations. Strong territoriality was observed among competing males maintaining relatively low home range overlaps and considerable distances between centres of activity. The most pronounced tendency for association was observed between males and females, maintaining relatively close proximity year-round. The insights into lynx spatial requirements provided by our study will greatly enhance the accuracy of population size estimates and effectiveness of mitigation measures across the Western Carpathians.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71800-wHome rangeGPS telemetryLarge carnivoreTemperate forests |
| spellingShingle | Jakub Kubala Johannes Signer Slavomír Finďo Martin Duľa Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová Robert W. Mysłajek Sabina Nowak Jozef Bučko Michaela Skuban Miroslav Kutal Michal Bojda Jiří Labuda Michał Figura Miroslava Barančeková Miloslav Homolka Petr Koubek Marián Slamka Branislav Tám Michal Belák Tomáš Iľko Beňadik Machciník Peter Klinga Maroš Sedliak Rudolf Kropil Peter Smolko Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians Scientific Reports Home range GPS telemetry Large carnivore Temperate forests |
| title | Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians |
| title_full | Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians |
| title_fullStr | Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians |
| title_short | Factors shaping home ranges of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Western Carpathians |
| title_sort | factors shaping home ranges of eurasian lynx lynx lynx in the western carpathians |
| topic | Home range GPS telemetry Large carnivore Temperate forests |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71800-w |
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