Demographic performance review of a reintroduction project: Iberian lynx in Extremadura
Reintroduction is a widely used management tool for restoring wildlife populations, with the goal of creating functional and self-sustaining populations. Evaluating the success or failure of such programmes requires a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the reintroduced population.The Iberian...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) |
| Repositorio: | Docta Complutense |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/125675 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/125675 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | 636.09 Demographic monitoring Demographic performance review Iberian lynx integratedpopulation model (IPM) Lynx pardinus population viability analysis (PVA) Reintroduction Roadkill Veterinaria 3109 Ciencias Veterinarias |
| Sumario: | Reintroduction is a widely used management tool for restoring wildlife populations, with the goal of creating functional and self-sustaining populations. Evaluating the success or failure of such programmes requires a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the reintroduced population.The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), an iconic conservation flagship species, illustrates the value of reintroduction initiatives. On the brink of extinction 25 years ago, this species has now recovered thanks to intensive conservation management. However, the demography underlying the dynamics of the reintroduced Iberian lynx populations is poorly known, which hinders future management decisions.Using data from camera trapping and radio-tagging, we reviewed the reintroduced population in Extremadura, Spain (2014–2024), using an integrated population model (IPM). We conducted both retrospective and prospective analyses to identify the demographic drivers of population growth and evaluate management scenarios using IPM-based population viability analysis (PVA).In 2024, 10 years after the reintroduction began, the Extremadura population was estimated at 164 individuals (95% CRI: 141–189), including 28 breeding females. Female population size was regulated by density-dependence, driven by subadult dispersal leading to increased roadkill mortality. During the early stages of the reintroduction programme, variation in population structure was the main driver of changes in growth rate. However, as the population increased, adult survival and recruitment became the dominant contributors to population dynamics. Meanwhile, female breeding propensity and litter size remained stable, having limited effects on growth rate variability. PVA projections suggest that the lynx population will stabilize around 32 breeding females within the next 15 years. To increase the stationary population size, it is necessary to improve habitats to increase the number of breeding territories and reduce roadkill mortality.Synthesis and applications. Demographic performance reviews are essential for understanding the drivers of population growth and for evaluating the outcomes of reintroduction initiatives. IPMs as exemplified by our Iberian lynx case study provide a powerful and flexible framework for quantifying reintroduction performance and addressing key research and management questions. By using insights from demography, conservation practitioners can better guide effective management strategies and ensure the long-term viability of restored populations. |
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