Using questionnaire surveys and occupancy modelling to identify conservation priorities for the Critically Endangered Balkan lynx Lynx lynx balcanicus
2020
Melovski, Dime | von Arx, Manuela | Avukatov, Vasko | Breitenmoser-Würsten, Christine | Đurović, Marina | Elezi, Rafet | Gimenez, Olivier | Hoxha, Bledi | Hristovski, Slavcho | Ivanov, Gjorgje | Karamanlidis, Alexandros | Lanz, Tabea | Mersini, Kujtim | Perović, Aleksandar | Ramadani, Azem | Sanaja, Bardh | Sanaja, Parsim | Schwaderer, Gabriel | Spangenberg, Annette | Stojanov, Aleksandar | Trajçe, Aleksandër | Breitenmoser, Urs | Macedonian Ecological Society [North Macedonia] | Projets de gestion coordonnés pour la protection et la gestion des carnivores en Suisse (KORA) | Auteur indépendant | Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE) ; Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 (UPVM)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE) ; Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [Occitanie])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro - Montpellier SupAgro ; Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro) | Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) | EuroNatur Foundation | The questionnaire surveys were carried out within the framework of the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme funded by the MAVA foundation, Switzerland. All research activities were carried out under the research permits 11-10190/2/20.11.2009, 11-2186/2/19.02.2010 and 11-546/2/29.01.2013 issued by the Macedonian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning; and protocol number 2777/22.12.2009 of the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration, Directorate of Nature Protection Policies.
International audience
Afficher plus [+] Moins [-]anglais. With an estimated < 50 adult individuals remaining, the Critically Endangered Balkan lynx Lynx lynx balcanicus is one of the rarest, most threatened and least-studied large carnivores. To identify priority conservation areas and actions for the subspecies, during 2006–2014 we conducted 1,374 questionnaire surveys throughout the potential range of the Balkan lynx to (1) evaluate human–lynx interactions and identify potential threats, and (2) determine the probability of site use in 207 grid cells through occupancy modelling. Human–lynx interactions were related mainly to poaching of lynx, and damage to livestock by lynx. Poaching was intense throughout the potential range of the subspecies, apparently having affected 50–100% of the total estimated extant population. Damage to livestock was recorded only in relation to sheep, mainly in the southern part of the lynx's potential range. Occupancy modelling indicated 108 grid cells with high probability of site use, which was affected mainly by increased terrain ruggedness and reduced forest cover. Based on the combined results of our study we identified five priority areas for conservation, as well as in situ habitat protection, community participation in the conservation of the subspecies, and the improvement and implementation of the existing legal framework as the priority conservation actions for the Balkan lynx.
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