Trans-Boundary Edge Effects in the Western Carpathians: The Influence of Hunting on Large Carnivore Occupancy.

Miroslav Kutal,Guillaume Chapron,José Vicente López-Bao,Martin Váňa,Josef Suchomel

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168292

Miroslav Kutal, Guillaume Chapron + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168292

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Abstract

The conservation and management of wolves Canis lupus in the periphery of their distribution is challenging. Edges of wolf distribution are characterized by very few and intermittent occurrences of individuals, which are modulated by multiple factors affecting the overall population such as human-caused mortality, management targets and food availability. The knowledge of population dynamics in the edges becomes crucial when hunting takes place nearby the edges, which may preclude population expansion. Here, using as example the occurrence of wolves in the Beskydy Mountains (Czech-Slovak border), which are the edge distribution of the wolf and Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx populations in the West Carpathians, we explored how food availability and hunting in the Slovakian core area affected the dynamics of wolves in the edges of this population. During 2003–2012, we monitored large carnivore occurrence by snow-tracking surveys and tested potential differences in the occurrence of these species in Beskydy Mountains and potential mechanisms behind detected patterns. Despite the proximity to the core area, with several wolf reproductions being confirmed at least in recent years, the wolf was a very rare species in Beskydy and was recorded 14 times less often than the lynx. The expected abundance of wolves in the Beskydy Mountains was inversely related to prey availability in the Slovakian core area. Wolf hunting the year before influenced the expected abundance of wolves in Beskydy area. We discuss how different life histories and legal status of both species probably account for most of the observed difference of occurrence at range margins.

Highlights

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed a recovery of large carnivores throughout humandominated Europe [1]
Even though Beskydy was close to the Slovakian core area, with several wolf reproductions being confirmed at least in recent years (Fig 1), wolves were very rarely detected in the Beskydy area during the study period
The lynx population in Besykydy has been stable since the 1980s [33,35] and the species is fully protected in Slovakia. Both life history and legal status of species are probably accounted for in the observed difference of occurrence between these two species. For those carnivore populations listed in Annex V of the EU Habitats Directive and with annual hunting quotas, sustainable management and robust monitoring is an essential requirement [76], as well as the integration of undesirable side effects of hunting in large carnivore strategies [77]

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few decades, we have witnessed a recovery of large carnivores throughout humandominated Europe [1]. Out of the ten wolf (Canis lupus) populations currently recognized in the old continent, almost all populations show a stable or increasing trend [1]. Trans-Boundary Edge Effects in the Carpathians: The Influence of Hunting on Carnivore Occupancy (http://www.outdoorconservation.eu/) to MK, the International Visegrad Fund (21110037: http:// visegradfund.org/) to MK, an internal grant (18/ 2013) of the Mendel University Brno Mendelu.cz/) to MK, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: (JCI-2012-13066: www.mineco.gob.es) to JVLB, and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

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