A potential habitat network for the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in Scotland

Abstract

1. The severe and early destruction and fragmentation of woodland habitats due to human activities is thought to have been a leading factor in the extirpation from Britain of several large, forest-dependent mammal species, such as the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx. However, during the 20th century, Scotland in particular has experienced rapid, large-scale reafforestation. In order to assess if this reafforestation has been sufficient to permit the potential restoration of extirpated forest mammal species with large spatial requirements, a Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis of potential habitat of one species, the Eurasian lynx, was performed for the Scottish mainland. 2.A rule-based analysis, incorporating data and expert opinion from Switzerland, an environmentally similar area where lynx now occur, was used to identify patches of suitable lynx habitat in Scotland. A connectivity analysis was used to investigate whether and how these patches are connected to form larger interconnected networks of potential lynx habitat that would allow lynx to sufficiently interact with one another to form a single interbreeding population. 3. Scotland has over 20 000 km 2 of suitable lynx habitat split into two main networks of interconnected patches: the Highlands (c. 15 000 km 2 ) and the Southern Uplands (c. 5000 km 2 ). A further 800 km 2 of potential habitat, contiguous with the Southern Uplands lynx habitat network, lies across the border in England. Although connectivity between the Highlands and Southern Uplands networks is currently weak, the implementation of measures to mitigate the barrier effects of busy roads in central Scotland could facilitate the movement of lynx between the two areas. 4. Based on the availability of prey resources, Scotland could support around 400 adult and subadult lynx in the Highlands and around 50 in the Southern Uplands. A Scottish population of this size would be the fourth largest lynx population in Europe considering current population estimates.

Understanding Attitudes Towards Native Wildlife and Biodiversity in the UK: The Role of Zoos

“…There may be concerns that although the reintroduction of carnivores may benefit biodiversity under appropriate conditions, it becomes more problematic in human-modified landscapes such as the ones in most of the UK (Linnell et al 2005). However, Scotland in particular has experienced large-scale reforestation accompanied by an increase in populations of woodland deer, which resulted in large connected areas of suitable habitat for many native carnivores, such as pine marten and for a viable populations of lynx 2 (Wilson 2004;Hetherington 2008;Hetherington, Miller, Macleod & Gorman 2008,). At the moment, herbivory has a high impact on the economy and on the biodiversity of the area, which studies suggest can be much improved by the reintroduction of the lynx.…”

Common stories of reintroduction: A discourse analysis of documents supporting animal reintroductions to Scotland

“…Fourth, as with the beaver, there was a general awareness of the role played by the proponents' documents in the step-wise process stipulated by the IUCN-guidelines; cross-references to other documents in the discourse and suggestions for the next steps gave the undertaking a formal and urgent character (Hetherington and Gorman, 2007;Hetherington et al, 2008).…”

Municipal and regional habitat connectivity planning

“…This analysis provides planners and managers with information on locations of likely human impacts to landscape connectivity, unrestricted by corridor identification. Appropriate actions such as restoration or construction of underpasses can be pursued in these locations to ameliorate the impacts from these types of human development (Hetherington, Miller, Macleod, & Gorman, 2008).…”