Long‐term changes in habitat selection and prey spectrum in a reintroduced Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in Switzerland. Issue 2 (22nd February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagl, Daniela; Breitenmoser, Urs; Hackländer, Klaus; Ryser, Andreas; Zimmermann, Fridolin; Signer, Sven; Haller, Heinrich; Breitenmoser‐Würsten, Christine; Vogt, Kristina
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 12:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-22
• Subjects: Eurasian lynx -- habitat selection -- prey spectrum -- resource selection function -- VHF/GPS telemetry; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8614
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: When wild‐caught Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ) from the Slovak Carpathian Mountains were reintroduced to Central Switzerland in the early 1970s and spread through the north‐western Swiss Alps (NWA), they faced a largely unfamiliar landscape with strongly fragmented forests, high elevations, and intense human land use. For more than 30 years, radio‐collared lynx have been monitored during three different project periods (in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s). Our study explored, how lynx over generations have learned to adjust to the alpine environment. We predicted that (1) lynx nowadays select more strongly for open habitats, higher elevations, and steep slopes compared to the early stages of recolonization and that (2) consequently, there were significant changes in the Eurasian lynx' prey spectrum. To test our predictions, we analyzed telemetry data (VHF, GPS) of 13 adult resident lynx in the NWA over 35 years, using Resource Selection Functions. Furthermore, we compared kills recorded from different individuals inhabiting the same region during three project periods. In general, lynx preferred forested areas, but over the years, they avoided open habitat less. Compared to the early stage of the recolonization, lynx in the most recent project period selected for higher elevations and the proportion of chamois in their prey spectrum surmounted that of roe deer. Potential driving factors for the observed changes could be increasing tolerance to human presence, intraspecific competition, or fitness benefits through exploitation of new resources. Long‐term studies like ours provide important insight into how animals can respond to sudden environmental changes, e.g., in the course of translocations into new areas or anthropogenic alterations of their habitats. Abstract : Our study explored, whether reintroduced Eurasian lynx to the north‐western Swiss Alps, over generations have learned to adjust to the Alpine environment. Compared to the early period of recolonization, lynx nowadays selected for higher elevations and avoided open habitats less. The proportion of Alpine chamois in lynx prey spectrum surmounted that of roe deer. Driving factors for the observed changes could be increasing tolerance to human presence, intraspecific competition or fitness benefits through exploitation of new resources.