IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Zimmermann, F.; Molinari-Jobin, A.; Breitenmoser-Wrsten, C.; Breitenmoser, U. | |
| Estimation of Lynx (_Lynx lynx_) Densities in the Swiss Alps Using Photographic Capture-Recapture Sampling | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Large carnivores are conflict species and their conservation in human dominated landscapes is generally management dependent. Taking sensible management decisions requires efficient monitoring providing reliable estimates of the population size within a short time. Automatic camera trapping using capture-recapture statistics have been used successfully to estimate densities of carnivores with individually distinctive markings. We applied this methodology for Eurasian lynx during winter in three areas in the Swiss Alps: a long-term reference area of 550 km2, a 760 km2 area of intermediate size, and in a large area of 965 km2. Thirty seven, 54 and 62 trap sites with two opposing cameras at each site were sampled in these areas, respectively. The model Mh fitted the capture history data well and resulted in an estimated density (D(SED)) of 1.53 (0.22), 1.26 (0.20) and 1.44 (0.18) independent lynx/100 km2, respectively. Our results show that camera trapping can be applied even at low densities if the study design is carefully adapted to the habitat and the species' land tenure system. However, caution is required when extrapolating densities across areas of similar habitat as abundance can vary across ranges and scales. |
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