Zimmermann, F., Molinari-Jobin, A., Ryser, A., Breitenmoser-Würsten, Ch., Pesenti, E., and Breitenmoser, U
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Zimmermann, F., Molinari-Jobin, A., Ryser, A., Breitenmoser-Würsten, Ch., Pesenti, E., and Breitenmoser, U. (2011). Status and distribution of the lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Swiss Alps 2005-2009. Acta Biologica Slovenica 54(2): 73-80. Keywords: 8CH/Alps/distribution/Eurasian lynx/lynx/Lynx lynx/presence/status/trend Abstract: We evaluated the status of lynx in the Swiss Alps for the period 2005-2009. Even though the number of lynx presence signs remained almost stable between the present (2,068 signs) and previous pentad (2,091), there was a 7.6% increase in the area occupied by the 5-km circular buffers around the confirmed lynx signs of presence over the five years period (12,637 km2). The north-western Swiss Alps (VI) remained the compartment with the highest number of chance observations. It was followed by compartments central Switzerland west (III) and north-eastern Switzerland (II). These sub-populations acted as source in the current pentad, as signs of reproduction were reported almost every year. The translocation to »north-eastern Switzerland« is still the only significant contribution to the spatial increase of the lynx range in the last 10 years in the Swiss Alps. The small and vulnerable north-eastern Swiss lynx sub-population plays an important role for the Alpine population. There is hope that in the future this sub- population could act as stepping stone to the eastern Alps and together with individuals dispersing from the central Switzerland west (III) sub-population would enable to found a new sub-population in central Switzerland east (IV). The status of the sub-population in the Valais (VII) is less clear. As only few signs of reproduction and mortalities were reported over the pentad, it acted more as sink than a source population. From the few signs of lynx presence reported in the remaining compartments (Grisons V, central Switzerland east IV and Ticino VIII) we concluded that only a few single lynx that did not yet establish the typical social organisation occur there. An occupancy-based population estimate from a parallel study resulted in about 111 (SE = 10) independent lynx for the period. ACTA BIOLOGICA SLOVENICA LJUBLJANA 2011 Vol. 54, [t. 2: 73–80 Status and distribution of the lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Swiss Alps 2005–2009 Status in razširjenost risa (Lynx lynx) v Švicarskih Alpah 2005–2009 *aFridolin Zimmermann, aAnja Molinari-Jobin, aAndreas Ryser, aChristine Breitenmoser-Würsten, aElias Pesenti, bUrs Breitenmoser aKORA,Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, Switzerland Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, Switzerland bInstitute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland *correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: We evaluated the status of lynx in the Swiss Alps for the period 2005–2009. Even though the number of lynx presence signs remained almost stable between the present (2,068 signs) and previous pentad (2,091), there was a 7.6% increase in the area occupied by the 5-km circular buffers around the confirmed lynx signs of presence over the five years period (12,637 km2). The north-western Swiss Alps (VI) remained the compartment with the highest number of chance observations. It was followed by compartments central Switzerland west (III) and north-eastern Switzerland (II). These sub-populations acted as source in the current pentad, as signs of reproduction were reported almost every year. The translocation to »north-eastern Switzerland« is still the only significant contribution to the spatial increase of the lynx range in the last 10 years in the Swiss Alps. The small and vulnerable north-eastern Swiss lynx sub-population plays an important role for the Alpine population. There is hope that in the future this sub-population could act as stepping stone to the eastern Alps and together with individuals dispersing from the central Switzerland west (III) sub-population would enable to found a new sub-population in central Switzerland east (IV). The status of the sub-population in the Valais (VII) is less clear. As only few signs of reproduction and mortalities were reported over the pentad, it acted more as sink than a source population. From the few signs of lynx presence reported in the remaining compartments (Grisons V, central Switzerland east IV and Ticino VIII) we concluded that only a few single lynx that did not yet establish the typical social or- ganisation occur there. An occupancy-based population estimate from a parallel study resulted in about 111 (SE = 10) independent lynx for the period 2005–2009. This is higher than the 60–90 individuals estimated for the previous pentad. Keywords: Alps, distribution, Lynx lynx, monitoring, status, Switzerland Izvleček: Prispevek ocenjuje stanje risa v Švicarskih alpah za obdobje 2005–2009. Čeprav je številčnost znakov prisotnosti risa med sedanjim (2068) in prejšnjim (2091) pet-letnim obdobjem ostala stabilna, se je območje skupaj s 5-km pufersko cono povečalo za 7,6 %. SZ Švicarske alpe (IV) tako ostajajo območje z najvišjim številom opažanj. Sledita območji osrednje Z Švice (III) in SV Švice (II). Omenjene sub-populacije so bile vir opažanj za zadnje pet-letno obdobje, saj so bili znaki repro- dukcije prisotni skoraj vsako leto. Širjenje na območje SV Švice je edino prostorsko 74 Acta Biologica Slovenica, 54 (2), 2011 povečanje areala v Švicarskih alpah v zadnjih 10 letih. Majhne in ranljive SV švicarske sub-populacije risa imajo pomembno vlogo za vzdrževanje risa v Švicarskih alpah. Ostaja upanje, da bo ta populacija odigrala vlogo odskočne deske do V Alp in skupaj s posameznimi osebki, ki prihajajo iz osrednje švicarske »sub-populacije (III)« in bo omogočila nastanek nove sub-populacije v osrednji V Švici (IV). Stanje sub-populacije na območju Valais (VII) je manj jasno. Ker je za zadnje pet-letno obdobje znanih le malo znakov reprodukcije in smrtnosti, predstavlja bolj ponor kot vir. Na podlagi znakov risove prisotnosti na ostalih območjih (Grisons (V), osrednja V Švica (IV) in Ticino (VIII)) smo zaključili, da se tam pojavljajo posamični osebki, ki se še niso povezali v populacijsko strukturo. Po ocenah modela zasedenosti prostora (occupancy models) iz vzporedne študije ocenjujejo 111 (SE = 10) neodvisnih osebkov za obdobje 2005–2009. To je precej več kot 60–90 osebkov ocenjenih za prejšnjo petletko. Ključne besede: Alpe, razširjenost, Lynx lynx, monitoring, status, Švica Introduction actively reintroduce lynx as this new legislation would give them the rights to intervene under Two lynx (Lynx lynx) populations are cur- some circumstances. The Swiss Lynx Concept rently present in the Alps originating from the established in 2000 and updated in 2004 defines reintroduction done in the 1970s. One lies in the general conservation and management goals, the western Alps in Switzerland and one in the the co-operation between the FOEN and the can- Slovenian Alps, expanding into Italy and Austria. tons. Besides the removal of stock raiders and the Switzerland harbours the most vital sub-population translocation from high density areas to areas not (Molinari-Jobin et al. 2010) and thus has a great yet colonized to foster the spatial expansion of the responsibility regarding the conservation of the lynx population, the Swiss Lynx Concept foresees Alpine lynx population which has still to be that lynx are reduced through controlled hunting, considered as endangered according to the IUCN if the impact of the lynx predation on roe deer Red List criteria. and chamois is considered too strong. However Forty years after the first reintroduction, less this needs a revision of the hunting ordinance. than 20% of the whole suitable habitat in the Alps The consultation of the hunting ordinance ended has been recolonized by the species, despite consid- in October 10th 2011. By mid-2012 the Federal erable efforts at the national and international level Council will adopt the report of the consultation to expand the existing lynx areas. In Switzerland and the ordinance. large parts of central Switzerland east, the Grisons, To counterbalance the slow expansion of the and Ticino are not yet colonized by lynx (Zim- lynx population in Switzerland, six lynx were mermann et al. 2010a). Lynx experts from the Alps translocated in 2001 from the north-western considered illegal killing, habitat fragmentation and Alps to north-eastern Switzerland. Another three anthropogenic accidents to be the main reasons for from the Jura Mts. followed in 2003. All animals this slow expansion (Molinari-Jobin et al. 2010). were fit with radio-collars in order to follow their In Switzerland the main conflict is with hunters movements, reproduction events and mortalities. who compete with lynx for game, and who fear In Switzerland the translocation of a total of 6 that high lynx densities diminish ungulate game lynx to the north-east in 2001–2003 (Ryser et (Breitenmoser et al. 2010). A side effect of this al. 2004) led to an increase of 7% of the lynx conflict is that the local authorities become reluc- distribution range in the whole Alps (Molinari- tant to actively conserve lynx. A possible solution Jobin et al. 2010). The monitoring conducted proposed by hunters’ associations and wildlife in winter 2005/06 in north-eastern Switzerland managers, may be a controlled legal harvest to revealed that the lynx number was critically low supress illegal killing. In parallel, this solution (Ryser et al. 2006). Subsequently, in 2006 the might increase the willingness of new cantons to north-eastern Swiss cantons and the Federal Of- Zimmermann et al.: Status of the lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Swiss Alps 2005–2009 75 fice of Environment based on recommendations confirmed by trained people to be compensated, from the program KORA decided to restock the mainly game wardens. All damages to livestock north-eastern Switzerland lynx sub-population reported are published online on our webpage.