Exploratory and territorial behavior in a reintroduced population of Iberian lynx

Abstract

In reintroduction projects, an analysis of dispersal, exploratory movements and territorial behavior of the species concerned offers valuable information on the adaptive management of threatened species and provides a basis for the management of future reintroductions. This is the case of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) an endemic and endangered species reintroduced in Extremadura (Spain) in 2014. We analysed spatial data from 32 individuals just after their reintroduction. Our findings show exploratory movements sufficient to colonise and connect population nuclei within a radius of about 50 km of the reintroduction area. No significant differences were found in the exploratory movements capacity or in any directionality of males and females. Our results showed an effect of sex on the sizes of the territories established, as well as an inverse relationship between them and the time elapsed since release. No effects of rabbit abundance and lynx density on the size of territories are occurring during the early stages of reintroduction. On average, the territories of reintroduced individuals were less stable than those previously described in natural populations. Findings indicate that the reintroduced population has successfully been established but it takes more than 5 years to stabilize the territories in the area. Exploratory movements of reintroduced lynx can be large and in any direction, even when there is still a lot of high quality habitat available, which should be taken into account when reintroducing species, especially terrestrial carnivores.

Insights into the spatial ecology of severely injured free‐living felids: Iberian lynx, bobcat, and snow leopard

“…The female Iberian lynx showed signs of adaptation to her injury as observed from body condition scores during the 20-day time lapse recorded by camera traps. Home-range estimates from this female are larger than those previously described for the species and sex (Rueda et al, 2021), probably because she was still in a dispersal phase during the first months after release. This also emphasizes…”

“…This is in accordance with findings from museum specimens where lynxes with amputated limbs were able to hunt successfully (Garcia‐Perea, 2000) and, to a lesser extent, with an experimental release of an Iberian lynx rehabilitated with a fracture of the proximal left femur epiphysis (Rodríguez et al., 1995). The observed differences in pre‐ and post‐injury spatial use may be due to the physical impediment, but we cannot rule out the effects of an unstable initial territory at reintroduction, since it may take several years to stabilize home ranges during the first years of a lynx reintroduction program (Rueda et al., 2021). The difference may also have been due to the lack of long‐term monitoring resulting in fewer relocations that led to lower estimates or due to the effect of the supplemental feeding station used in the first few weeks (López‐Bao et al., 2008).…”

“…Once released, we monitored the animal via camera traps and using telemetry performed 1–3 days per week. Locations were obtained by triangulation using a 3‐element Yagi antenna (RA‐23, Telonics, Mesa, AZ) and hand‐held radio telemetry receiver (ICOM America, Kirkland, WA) (see Rueda et al., 2021).…”

Evaluation of the genetic viability of metapopulation scenarios for the Iberian lynx

“…In addition, theoretical estimates of connectivity predict a very low probability of connection between most subpopulations (Saura et al ., 2014). However, recent findings suggest that the migration rate of the Iberian lynx has been underestimated and that a regular flow of individuals can be maintained between subpopulations up to 50 km apart, or even more (Rueda et al ., 2021). In addition, the expansion of these subpopulations and the creation of new ones, together with the creation of corridors and stepping stone subpopulations planned in the LIFE “Lynxconnect” project, are expected to increase connectivity in the near future.…”

Assessment of Eurasian lynx reintroduction success and mortality risk in north-west Poland

“…All the analyses were performed for the data as of 30 September 2021, as the reintroduction project is being continued. We hypothesized that traffic collisions were the main mortality factor 29 . Data on post-release migration and spatial distribution, as well as reproductive success will be published in a separate paper.…”