| 1. |
- Andren, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Large carnivore expansion in Europe is associated with human population density and land cover changes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Diversity and Distributions. - : Wiley. - 1366-9516 .- 1472-4642. ; 27, s. 602-617
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The recent recovery of large carnivores in Europe has been explained as resulting from a decrease in human persecution driven by widespread rural land abandonment, paralleled by forest cover increase and the consequent increase in availability of shelter and prey. We investigated whether land cover and human population density changes are related to the relative probability of occurrence of three European large carnivores: the grey wolf (Canis lupus), the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and the brown bear (Ursus arctos).Location: Europe, west of 64 degrees longitude.Methods: We fitted multi-temporal species distribution models using >50,000 occurrence points with time series of land cover, landscape configuration, protected areas, hunting regulations and human population density covering a 24-year period (1992-2015). Within the temporal window considered, we then predicted changes in habitat suitability for large carnivores throughout Europe.Results: Between 1992 and 2015, the habitat suitability for the three species increased in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, North-West Iberian Peninsula and Northern Scandinavia, but showed mixed trends in Western and Southern Europe. These trends were primarily associated with increases in forest cover and decreases in human population density, and, additionally, with decreases in the cover of mosaics of cropland and natural vegetation.Main conclusions: Recent land cover and human population changes appear to have altered the habitat suitability pattern for large carnivores in Europe, whereas protection level did not play a role. While projected changes largely match the observed recovery of large carnivore populations, we found mismatches with the recent expansion of wolves in Central and Southern Europe, where factors not included in our models may have played a dominant role. This suggests that large carnivores' co-existence with humans in European landscapes is not limited by habitat availability, but other factors such as favourable human tolerance and policy.
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| 2. |
- Andren, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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No Allee effect detected during the natural recolonization by a large carnivore despite low growth rate
- 2022
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Ingår i: Ecosphere. - : Wiley. - 2150-8925 .- 2150-8925. ; 13:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) have recently naturally recolonized southern Sweden. The first documented reproduction of lynx in recent times occurred in 2003, and the population increased from 2 to 48 family groups (the unit of measurement in Swedish monitoring) during its first 18 years (2003/2004–2020/2021). We did not detect any Allee effect, that is, lower growth rate at low population density, during the recolonization of southern Sweden, although our population simulations revealed a non-negligible (30%) chance that population observed development could include an Allee effect. The probable absence of an Allee effect was likely because colonizing females did not lack mating partners, as a larger number of wide-ranging males were established in the area before documented reproduction took place. Despite the absence of an Allee effect, the growth rate during recolonization was lower in southern Sweden (λ = 1.20) than in central Sweden (λ = 1.29). We have no evidence of higher mortality, including that from poaching, or lower reproduction in southern Sweden could explain the lower growth rate. Instead, we suggest that the lower growth rate during the recolonization of southern Sweden was explained by fewer immigrants arriving from central Sweden due to areas of less suitable habitat between central and southern Sweden, partially preventing immigration southward. From a conservation point of view, it is positive that this small population could recover without being negatively influenced by an Allee effect, as small populations with an Allee effect experience lower viability than those without.
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| 3. |
- Andren, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Season rather than habitat affects lynx survival and risk of mortality in the human-dominated landscape of southern Sweden
- 2022
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Ingår i: Wildlife Biology. - : Wiley. - 0909-6396 .- 1903-220X. ; 2022
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Landscapes are mosaics of habitat associated with different risks and resources, including human activities, which can affect individual survival in wildlife. Different relationships between habitat characteristics and human-caused and natural mortality can result in attractive sinks. We used individual-based data from 97 Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx monitored for 160 exposure-years to link adult survival and the risk of mortality to home range habitat characteristics in the human-dominated landscape of southern Sweden. Human-caused mortality (i.e. legal hunting, poaching and vehicle accidents) dominated mortality causes (24 out of 37 deaths). We did not detect any strong effects of habitat characterises explaining the variation in mortality risk in lynx. Although the density of roe deer affects several aspects of lynx ecology, we could not detect any effects of roe deer density on lynx survival, probably because roe deer density was sufficiently high in our study area. Instead, seasonal variation was the main factor influencing mortality in lynx. Mortality was highest during the hunting season for lynx (16 February-31 March), as well as during autumn and winter, probably because lynx poaching occurs opportunistically during the hunting season for moose and roe deer. We did not find any indication that human activity created attractive sinks for lynx, since there were no contrasting patterns between human-caused and natural mortality in terms of habitat characteristics. One explanation for the limited influence of the home range characteristics may be that lynx in our study died from multiple causes. Therefore, it is less likely that one or a few habitat characteristics could explain the risk of mortality at the home range scale. There is strong evidence that lynx can coexist with humans in multi-use and human-dominated landscapes, even without large protected areas, if the management regimes are favourable.
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| 4. |
- Hemmingmoore, Heather, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating habitat suitability and connectivity for a recolonizing large carnivore
- 2020
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 242
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The conservation of wide-ranging species presents challenges in a world of intensified human land use, forcing animals to occupy and recolonize human-modified landscapes. Although identifying suitable habitat and ensuring connectivity are important in supporting natural recolonization, these actions are rarely validated due to difficulties in monitoring such events. In Sweden, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is now recolonizing its former range, after centuries of persecution. We investigated resource selection based on telemetry data from 108 lynx monitored over 20 years. We assessed the differences between the established population in central Sweden and the recolonizing population in southern Sweden, and between established and dispersing individuals. We found that models based on central Sweden successfully identified core habitat patches for establishment in southern Sweden, validated after recolonization. We also found that lynx selected for higher habitat suitability during the recolonization phase, and that dispersing individuals were less selective than established lynx. Using cost-distance analysis, we assessed connectivity between central and southern Sweden, and found that landscape permeability was higher when based on dispersing lynx compared to established lynx. Altogether, our findings suggest that when landscapes are sufficiently similar between source and recolonization areas, resource selection information from an established population can be useful for managers seeking to facilitate recolonization of wide-ranging species. We recommend more frequent use of validation during and after recolonization events, to improve our common understanding of habitat suitability and connectivity modeling, and therefore to enable more active management of recolonization events.
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| 5. |
- Hemmingmoore, Heather, et al.
(författare)
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Lynx gene flow in Fennoscandia : estimation of gene flow within the Fennoscandian lynx population
- 2024
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study assesses the connectivity and gene flow between Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) populations in Finland and Scandinavia for the purpose of providing data for the evaluation of favorable conservation status for the European Union Habitats Directive. Using tissue samples from deceased lynx in Fennoscandia, i.e., Sweden, Norway, and Finland, collected between 2019 and 2022, we genotyped these samples using 91 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A separate data set was used for validation, consisting of 73 samples from Scandinavia collected between 2010 and 2015 that were RAD sequenced and genotyped using 881 SNPs. We assessed genetic structure within all of Fennoscandia, as well as genetic differentiation and recent gene flow between Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway) and Finland. We also estimated individual relatedness to identify first order relatives, or immediate family members, for the purpose of assessing contemporary connectivity. The results suggest distinct genetic differentiation between the Scandinavian and Finnish lynx populations, with migration rates of approximately eight migrants per generation in either direction, which is comparably low but likely sufficient to prevent complete genetic isolation. These findings have significant implications for lynx conservation strategies under the European Habitats Directive. They underscore the importance of maintaining genetic diversity and facilitating connectivity between transboundary populations, highlighting the need for collaborative management approaches between Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
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| 6. |
- Raatikainen, Kaisa J., et al.
(författare)
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Pathways towards a sustainable future envisioned by early-career conservation researchers
- 2021
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Ingår i: CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2578-4854. ; 3:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Scientists have warned decision-makers about the severe consequences of the global environmental crisis since the 1970s. Yet ecological degradation continues and little has been done to address climate change. We investigated early-career conservation researchers' (ECR) perspectives on, and prioritization of, actions furthering sustainability. We conducted a survey (n = 67) and an interactive workshop (n = 35) for ECR attendees of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). Building on these data and discussions, we identified ongoing and forthcoming advances in conservation science. These include increased transdisciplinarity, science communication, advocacy in conservation, and adoption of a transformation-oriented social-ecological systems approach to research. The respondents and participants had diverse perspectives on how to achieve sustainability. Reformist actions were emphasized as paving the way for more radical changes in the economic system and societal values linked to the environment and inequality. Our findings suggest that achieving sustainability requires a strategy that (1) incorporates the multiplicity of people's views, (2) places a greater value on nature, and (3) encourages systemic transformation across political, social, educational, and economic realms on multiple levels. We introduce a framework for ECRs to inspire their research and practice within conservation science to achieve real change in protecting biological diversity.
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