2023-07-03 13:00:08
Researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (EBD), an institute belonging to the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), have determined that the population of the Iberian Lynx it is still not completely favorable.
He jobpublished in Animal Conservationhas evaluated what are the necessary conditions for the population of this animal to be genetically viable long-term. According to the results of the study, this would depend on the increase in the number and size of its subpopulations, as well as the increase in connectivity between them.
Thanks to conservation programs, the Iberian lynx population has shown a positive trend in the last decade: the last census estimated a total of 1,668 individuals released compared to less than 100 that remained in 2002.
The long-term genetic viability of the lynx would require an increase in the number, size, and connectivity of its subpopulations.
Today, in addition to facing numerous threats, such as being run over, the decline of the rabbit, habitat fragmentation or climate change, there is another aspect that puts its recovery at risk: the genetic factor.
“The recovery of a species depends not only on the absolute numbers of its population, but also on a minimum genetic variability to guarantee its survival. At its most critical moment, there were barely two isolated lynx subpopulations in Doñana and Andújar”, explains the CSIC researcher at the EBD Jose A. Godoy. “Today there are five and within the Life” Lynxconnect “project work is being done on new reintroductions in Sierra Arana and Lorca, but this is still not enough,” he adds.
The enormous cost involved in creating new subpopulations and the scarcity of suitable areas make the proposed objectives difficult.
The results of the study indicated that the long-term genetic viability of the Iberian lynx would require at least a increase in the size of subpopulations between 50% and 200%. This would mean reaching at least 1,100 reproductive females, from the 326 registered in the 2022 census. Another condition would be the creation of eight new subpopulations.
Neither of these two objectives would be easy to achieve in the medium term due to the enormous cost involved in creating new subpopulations and the shortage of suitable areas with sufficient density of rabbits, their main prey. However, the Iberian lynx is currently spreading to some habitats that were not initially considered optimal for it, so new possibilities could open up that would have to be studied.
Promote genetic exchange
Another of the necessary requirements would be related to the migration level. The subpopulations should be sufficiently connected to favor genetic exchange between them. In this way, the exchange of between 8 and 15 individuals per generation between neighboring subpopulations should be achieved. Bobcats that are part of reintroduction programs have shown a great ability to migrate.
“They have been known to travel distances of even hundreds of kilometers and, in some cases, have successfully established themselves in other subpopulations. Despite this, new actions will be necessary to improve connectivity, which are already provided for in the Life ‘Lynxconnect’ project”, says Godoy.
Measures such as the creation of ecological corridors or the establishment of intermediate subpopulations are planned.
These include the creation of ecological corridors or the establishment of intermediate subpopulations with few reproductive pairs that function as guides to attract dispersing individuals and thus direct them towards the next subpopulation. It is difficult, however, to predict in advance whether these measures will be able to achieve the objective proposed in the study.
This study suggests that to ensure the long-term genetic viability of the species, it is critical to expand existing subpopulations, create new populations in areas that show high growth potential, even if they are less well connected, and avoid directing resources to the creation of many small populations, with no prospect of connection with others.
Reference:
C Pacín, Germán Garrote, José A. Godoy. “Evaluation of the Genetic Viability of Metapopulation Scenarios for the Iberian lynx”. Animal Conservation (2023)
Rights: Creative Commons.
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