Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction

We analyse the spatial and temporal variation in non-natural mortality during a 40-year period of strong contraction of the geographic range of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which shrank from 40,600 to 22,300 km2 . We recorded 1258 lynx deaths, an average of 31.5 losses per year over the study p...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rodríguez, Alejandro, Delibes, M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2004
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/41349
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/41349
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Extinction
Game management
Land use
Lynx pardinus
Non-natural mortality
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spelling Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contractionRodríguez, AlejandroDelibes, M.ExtinctionGame managementLand useLynx pardinusNon-natural mortalityWe analyse the spatial and temporal variation in non-natural mortality during a 40-year period of strong contraction of the geographic range of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which shrank from 40,600 to 22,300 km2 . We recorded 1258 lynx deaths, an average of 31.5 losses per year over the study period. Given the reduced lynx population size, especially later in the period (around 1100 individuals), this level of non-natural mortality may have contributed significantly to the quick decline of the Iberian lynx. Non-natural mortality was not spatially correlated with, and probably did not shape the pattern of, relative abundance of lynx across its core range, but may have reduced its absolute density. Lynx losses were caused mainly by traps set not only for predator control but also for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the lynx’s staple food. We did not find evidence that non-natural mortality was higher in small lynx populations through edge effects. The highest mortality levels were recorded in regions where small game was a valuable economic resource compared with other activities. Mortality decreased throughout the period because of changes in the prevailing game regimes rather than because of legal protection. The Iberian lynx is now critically endangered and effective pro- tection should be urgently enforced, especially in small game estates, which are environmentally favourable for rabbits but risky for lynx due to predator control. Lynx reintroductions would be better attempted in traditional rabbit hunting areas. Some big game estates where small game is not exploited and predators are not controlled may be good candidates for lynx reintroduction too, provided that habitat is managed towards a suitable interspersion of woody cover and grassland.Peer reviewedElsevier201120112004info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501http://hdl.handle.net/10261/41349reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Ingléshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2003.07.018info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:digital.csic.es:10261/413492026-05-22T06:33:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
title Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
spellingShingle Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
Rodríguez, Alejandro
Extinction
Game management
Land use
Lynx pardinus
Non-natural mortality
title_short Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
title_full Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
title_fullStr Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
title_full_unstemmed Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
title_sort Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Rodríguez, Alejandro
Delibes, M.
author Rodríguez, Alejandro
author_facet Rodríguez, Alejandro
Delibes, M.
author_role author
author2 Delibes, M.
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Extinction
Game management
Land use
Lynx pardinus
Non-natural mortality
topic Extinction
Game management
Land use
Lynx pardinus
Non-natural mortality
description We analyse the spatial and temporal variation in non-natural mortality during a 40-year period of strong contraction of the geographic range of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which shrank from 40,600 to 22,300 km2 . We recorded 1258 lynx deaths, an average of 31.5 losses per year over the study period. Given the reduced lynx population size, especially later in the period (around 1100 individuals), this level of non-natural mortality may have contributed significantly to the quick decline of the Iberian lynx. Non-natural mortality was not spatially correlated with, and probably did not shape the pattern of, relative abundance of lynx across its core range, but may have reduced its absolute density. Lynx losses were caused mainly by traps set not only for predator control but also for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the lynx’s staple food. We did not find evidence that non-natural mortality was higher in small lynx populations through edge effects. The highest mortality levels were recorded in regions where small game was a valuable economic resource compared with other activities. Mortality decreased throughout the period because of changes in the prevailing game regimes rather than because of legal protection. The Iberian lynx is now critically endangered and effective pro- tection should be urgently enforced, especially in small game estates, which are environmentally favourable for rabbits but risky for lynx due to predator control. Lynx reintroductions would be better attempted in traditional rabbit hunting areas. Some big game estates where small game is not exploited and predators are not controlled may be good candidates for lynx reintroduction too, provided that habitat is managed towards a suitable interspersion of woody cover and grassland.
publishDate 2004
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2004
2011
2011
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10261/41349
url http://hdl.handle.net/10261/41349
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2003.07.018
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
instname_str Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
reponame_str DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
collection DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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