Seguer Moya, Marc

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Facultat de Biociències

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LYNX PARDINUS:  PAST, PRESENT AND FUTUREINTRODUCTIONThe Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is considered the most endangered feline in the world. Only two subpopulations remainisolated in southern Spain, at the National Park of Doñana and at the east of the Natural Park of Sierra Morena (Guzman et al2004). Archaeological data show that feline was distributed along the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Rodriguez andDelibes 1990). Since the nineteenth century populations were reduced (Rodriguez and Delibes 2002) to critically endangeredlevels. Currently conservations programs have been implemented to halt the decline of lynxes, and to reintroduce themelsewhere.PASTORIGINHISTORICAL DISTRIBUTIONPRESENTREINTRODUCTION AREASFollowing the guidelines of the IUCN, two areas were selected for the reintroductionof the Iberian lynx. Guadalmellato and Guarrizas were considered the mostappropriate areas taking into account the variables related to the Lynx pardinus.• Guadalmellato (Córdoba): in 2009 six pairs of Lynx pardinus were released, and in 2010 also 3 males and 2 females were released.• Guarrizas (Jaén): two Iberian lynx cubs bred in captivity were released, as three specimens of the Sierra Morena. OBJECTIVESThe objective of this study was to review the existence of the Iberian lynx since its speciation, its historical distribution, thecauses of its decline and the current status of existing populations. The changes had also analyzed of survival of thesepopulations nowdays and the possibility of reintroducing Lynx pardinus elsewhere into Iberian Peninsula. It is done to givea broad view of the critical situation of the Iberian lynx and the possible future that the species has at short, medium andlong term.Lynx pardinus distribution in 1960 (Rodriguez & Delibes 1991)Lynx pardinus distribution in 1990 (Rodriguez & Delibes 1991)Lynx pardinus distributionactually (Guzmán et al 2004)Jose Maria Gil-Sanchez in 2011 rebuild the former area of distribution of theIberian lynx by using information on the background of the lynx (skins, bonesskulls and preserved specimens). By using a geographic information systemeach individual was geographically locate.Autor: Marc Seguer MoyaGrau de Biologiamarcseguer22@gmail.comCurrently, only remain two Lynx pardinus subpopulations, isolated in southernSpain. Censuses of lynx are taken  annually by the Junta de Andalucia to knowthe state of populations and carry out an assessment of the conservationactions.Comparing the area where Lynx pardinus is in the Natural Park of SierraMorena, between 2004 and 2011, it has increased by 84%, allowing the unionof the two subpopulations. The total population has increased by 281%,territorial females, by 183% and the cubs, by 269%.The Doñana is a metapopulation with several populated areas. These nucleus donot remain isolated, but there are movements among the nuclei. Comparing thearea where Iberian lynx is, between 2004 and 2011, it has increased by 240%.The total population has increased by 115%, in territorial females by 111%, andin cubs by 67%.The main cause of death in 10 years of Lynx pardinus has been run over on roadsthat go through National Parks (33%). There has been a clear reduction inmortality due to anything specific.In total, between 1940 and 2000, the global amount of lynx decreased by74.6% of the occupied territory and 87.5% of subpopulations disappeared.CAUSES OF DECLINE• Loss of mediterranean scrub could havecontributed to the reduction of somesubpopulations.• Hunting and direct persecution byhumans: bonds, stocks, cash traps andpoisons. Many of these practices arenonselective still threatening the survivalof the lynx.• The rabbit populations (Oryctolaguscuniculus) dropped by myxomatosis andthe Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD).These diseases affected the availability ofprey for lynx.• The habitat loss: Mediterraneanshrubland. For the construction ofinfrastructuresuch as roads.FUTUREGENETIC VARIABILITYIn 2011, Ricardo Rodriguez extracted mtDNA fragments from Iberian lynxes fromdifferent parts of the Iberian Peninsula, covering a time period from the latePleistocene in the twentieth century. Radiometric methods (14C) indicate a lack ofdiversity of the mtDNA over time, with the same haplotypes observed in the samplefor at least the last 50,000 years, and suggests an unusually low mutation rate, and itwas not caused by demographic decline. The lack of genetic diversity indicates that itisn't a threat to the long-term viability of the Iberian lynx and should not preventconservation activities.FUTURE POPULATIONSGLOBAL WARMINGRabbits period depend on the production of grass there. If climate change shortensthe rain and the reproduction, things will get worse. The biggest problem for theIberian lynx would be the possible effects on the rabbit population. Lossenvironments such as woodland and scrub will make it harder dispersion lynx inestablishing new populations or pairing.CONCLUSIONSCurrently lynx populations increase because of the lack of genetic variability, which have notbeen an impediment to the existence of Iberian lynx and also due to efforts made in recentyears. This means that populations of Lynx pardinus are insured in short-term. However, thelack of land, the absence of its main prey and human’s pressure are not very encouraging inmedium and long term. In addition, global warming affects the distribution territory of theIberian lynx and the European rabbit, preventing further spread of the species. And evenmore directly to the people of Doñana by the geographical conditions of the land. This effectis difficult to avoid, and if humans do not reduce more pressures on populations andterritories of the Iberian lynx , the future of Lynx pardinus seems to be destined to extinction.REDUCE THE MORTALITYThe National Commission for Protection of Natureapplied several measures to reduce mortality inpopulations of Lynx pardinus:• Recover Oryctolagus cuniculus populations• Measures to prevent the facing poaching, trappingmethods not authorized or poisons. Campaigns andenvironmental education.• Should not build new road infrastructure in theareas of current and potential distribution of the lynx,and installing wildlife crossing.• Stop the elimination and fragmentation of theterritory of actual and potential lynx.Assessments of the viability of the Doñana metapopulation far indicates thatunder current demographic conditions, the probability of extinction in 100 years isvery high mainly due to the small number of reproductive specimens, the spatialstructure of the subpopulations, and the high mortality suffered during dispersal.As for the population of Sierra Morena, was determined to be able to survive, andhas established itself as a source of individuals for lynx in Doñana and areas ofpotential reintroduction of new populations.• Optimal habitat (mediterranean shrubs with Pinus and Quercus)• Optimal food resources(O. cuniculus)• The size of the area• Legal protection• The possible link with existing populationsthrough dispersal of individuals.Actual  population of Sierra  MorenaMyxoma virusThe Duke of Tarifa with a lynx caught in Doñana, in 1920Philogeographic analyses have supported the North American origin of thelynx lineage. Between 1.6 and 1.2 million years ago the ancestors of L.pardinus and L. lynx went to Eurasia through the Bering Strait.Estimated maximum historical range of the Iberian lynx and rabbit accordingto Rodríguez and Delibes (2002) during the maximum glacial period (LGM),before human expansion. L. lynx occupied northern Iberia while L. pardinuswould have displaced to the south as a result of cold and adverseconditions.It is essential to recover previously Guadalmellato in order to obtainmetapoblacional cohesion of the population of Sierra Morena. The capacity wouldbe about 180 territories (540-720 specimens).J.M. Gil-Sanchez assessed the peninsula to select areas for the reintroduction ofLynx pardinus. We select the best areas in the landscape scale, with five key factorsof suitable habitat:BIBLIOGRAPHY• “Conservación y reintroducción del Line Ibérico (Lynx pardinus) en Andalucía”. Consejeria de Medio ambiente, Junta de Andalucia. 2010• Ricardo Rodríguez et al. 2011. 50,000 years of genetic uniformity in the critically endangered Iberian lynx. Molecular Ecology (2011) 20,3785–3795• Jose María Gil-Sánchez et al. 2011 Former range and decline of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) reconstructed using verified records.Journal of Mammalogy, 92(5):1081– 1090, 2011• M. Delibes et al. 2003. Patterns and causes of non-natural mortality in the Iberian lynx during a 40-year period of range contraction.Biological conservation 118 (2004) 151-161.• Ricardo Rodríguez et al. 2011. 50,000 years of genetic uniformity in the critically endangered Iberian lynx. Molecular Ecology (2011) 20,3785–3795

Lynx pardinus : past, present and future

http://ddd.uab.cat/pub/tfg/2013/113523/TFG_marcseguermoya.pdf

Lynx pardinus : past, present and future

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