Population in the Slovak Carpathian Mountains

Monitoring protocol for the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in the Slovak Carpathian Mountains A1. Assessment and selection of sites and lynx for live-capture from the Carpathian source population in Slovakia D1. Monitoring the effects of lynx removal for translocations on the source populations Authors: Kubala J. Smolko P. Klinga P. Tám B. & Kropil R. September 2018 Report for the implementation of action A1 and D1 Realized in the frame of action A1: Assessment and selection of sites and lynx for live-capture from the Carpathian source population in Slovakia Authors: Kubala J. Smolko P. Klinga P. Tám B. & Kropil R. Content 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….5 2. Objectives and attributes……………………………………………………………….7 3. Survey areas…………………………………………………………………………....7 4. Aims and principles of monitoring……………………………………………………11 5. What will be monitored?................................................................................................11 6. Monitoring network…………………………………………………………………...14 7. Passive monitoring: Collecting a chance (opportunistic information)………………..14 8. Active monitoring: Systematic surveys and monitoring system………………………15 8.1. Snow tracking………………………………………………………………………...15 8.2. Opportunistic and standardized collection of samples for genetic analysis…………..16 8.3. Camera trapping………………………………………………………………….......16 8.3.1. Opportunistic camera trapping……………………………………………………17 8.3.2. Deterministic camera trapping………………………………………………….....18 8.4. Captures and GPS/GSM telemetry…………………………………………………...20 9. Survey, monitoring and capture time-frame…………………………………………..22 References…………………………………………………………………………………….23 Foreword The purpose of this protocol is to provide detailed information about the objectives, attributes, sampling design and data management necessary for the implementation of the actions A1 and D1 within the LIFE LYNX - LIFE16 NAT/SI/000634 Together with the protocol on the A2 action in the Romanian Carpathians - Gazzola et al. (2018) it is required by the need to ensure a technical framework for the LIFE Lynx project team. 1. Introduction The population of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Carpathian Mountains is considered to be one of the best preserved and largest in Europe (Kaczensky et al. 2013). It was the source of lynx for several reintroduction projects between the 1970s and the 1990s (Breitenmoser et al. 2000, Breitenmoser & Breitenmoser-Würsten 2008, Linnell et al. 2009). In total, there were approximately 172 – 177 lynxes translocated within these programmes and released in 8 European countries (Breitenmoser & Breitenmoser Würsten 2008, Linnell et al. 2009). Many of the translocated animals came from Slovakia (Kubala et al. 2017). The lynx captures were realized simultaneously with the legal hunting of this species. The average proportion of captured lynxes presented nearly 10 – 18% of all hunted animals (Hell & Slamečka 1996) and the actual translocations had no negative influence upon the lynx demography in the source population (Hell & Slamečka 1996, Hell et al. 2004, Smolko et al. 2018). On the contrary, the cooperation among the forestry, hunting and conservation communities alongside with the management of official reintroduction programmes in the Slovak Carpathians are regarded to be an excellent international model for sustainable international conservation of lynx in Europe (Breitenmoser & Breitenmoser Würsten 2008, Kubala et al. 2017). Several reintroduced populations were prospering in the initial phase of the programme. Nevertheless, the positive population trend has stopped or it is even being considered negative (Skrbinšek et al. 2011, Sindičić et al. 2013, Boitani et al. 2015). These problems originate mainly in the low number of released source animals captured during a short period of time, which consequently caused the inbreeding, which is being the major threat for long-term survival of reintroduced populations (Breitenmoser-Würsten & Obexer-Ruff 2003, 2015, Skrbinšek et al. 2011, Sindičić et al. 2013). The solution to this compelling problem lies in the reinitiation of programmes supporting the reintroduced populations as well as their reinforcing by other animals from the source population in the Slovak Carpathians (Breitenmoser 2011, Sindičić et al. 2013, Boitani et al. 2015; action C1). However, following the IUCN directions (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the source population. must be monitored prior to any kind of intervention (action C1). At the same time, the population must be evaluated with the emphasis on the number of individual animals and their population trend, genetic diversity and health status (von Arx et al. 2009, IUCN 2013; actions A1, D1). Based on these data, it is consequently possible to evaluate whether the source population within an area of interest corresponds to the “favourable status” of lynx as a species of European importance (Kropil 2005) and whether it is suitable for captures of individual animals without any negative 5 impacts on the source population (Smolko et al 2018; actions C1, D1). Only then it is possible to implement the trapping and reintroduction in the Central and Western Europe (Breitenmoser et al. 2000, Boitani et al. 2015, Smolko et al. 2018). This procedure also corresponds with the goals approved in a Management Plan for the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Slovakia (Antal et al. 2016), the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC from 21st May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (hereafter “habitats directive“) as well as in the Key Actions for Large Carnivore Populations in Europe (Boitani et al. 2015). During the last two decades, lynx conservation and evaluation of its status in Slovakia was based solely on the so called “expert opinions”, while relevant scientific data about lynx population were not available (Hell & Slamečka 1996, Kubala et al. 2017). Therefore, the status of lynx population in Slovakia was defined as unfavourable-inadequate in the official report about habitats and species of European importance (Černecký et al. 2014). On the other side, the Green Report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 reports 1,739 lynxes living in Slovakia, which is being considered by many hunters as an “overpopulation” (MPRV 2016). However, our previous research clearly proved that lynx statistics provided by hunters are strongly biased by 6 to 7-fold overestimation (Kubala et al. 2017). This overestimation is likely caused by multiple counts of the same lynx individuals within several hunting grounds, because average area of hunting ground in Slovakia is much smaller (26.6 km2) than the spatial requirements of lynx (150–300 km2; Breitenmoser-Würsten et al. 2007). This fact is unfortunately being ignored on a long-term basis by the state administration and consequently leads to the presentation of vague and misleading information when describing the status and lynx population trend at local and national levels (Kubala et al. 2017, Smolko et al. 2018). The lack of a scientific basis when reporting and interpreting data on large carnivores subsequently leads to conflicts such as illegal hunting. Therefore, a regular monitoring is crucial to ensure an effective conservation management of the species based on information on the population status as well as its temporal and spacial variation and trends. Systematic robust monitoring will also provide information on the effects of lynx removal on the source population (action D1) and ensure that the population in Slovak Carpathians is not threatened. At the same time, achieved results will benefit designing future reinforcement and reintroduction programs for other endangered lynx populations in Europe, as well as other species that face similar conservation challenges. 6 2. Objectives and attributes Our main goals within the LIFE LYNX project are: 1) to collect data and information important to identify the most suitable areas and micro- locations (action A1) for live-capture of lynx in Slovak Carpathians (action C1). 2) to determine the lynx population size in the survey areas (action A1) during the whole project period. The population size estimated before, during, and after capture periods will be crucial to evaluate the effects of lynx removal on the local population in the Slovakia (action D1). 3. Survey areas Three survey areas are identified for the project, the Volovské vrchy Mountains, the Vepor Mountains and the Vtáčnik Mountains (Fig. 1). These survey areas are selected on the basis of previous monitoring results from neighbouring areas (Muránska Planina NP and Štrážov Mountains PLA) indicating a viable lynx populations with densities 0.97 (± 0.25) lynx/100 km2 of suitable biotop and 1.47 ± 0.37 lynx/100 km2 of suitable biotop (Smolko et al. 2018, Kubala et al. in prep). Figure 1. Three survey areas in the Slovak Carpathians. 1. the Volovské vrchy Mts., 2. the Vepor Mts. and 3. the Vtáčnik Mts. with potential trapping/capture sites within the Veport Mts. 7 The survey area Vepor Mountains (Fig. 2) are situated in central Slovakia, sub-province of Inner Western Carpathians, in the region of Banská Bystrica. The area of 870 km2 is considerably rugged and reach 1,439 m a.s.l (Fabova hoľa) on its highest point. Vepor Mts. belong to slightly cold climatic areas. The average temperatures range from -6 ° C to 16 ° C. Majority of the survey area is covered by forests, mainly deciduous and mixed forests of maples, beeches, hornbeams and the spruce stands at higher elevations. Figure 2. The

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