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The use of camera trapping for estimating Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) home ranges

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Abstract

The use of non-invasive long-term monitoring data to estimate home ranges of the critically endangered Iberian lynx has been evaluated. This programme began in 2002 and consisting of both annual latrine and camera-trap surveys, with the aims of detecting and individually identifying the maximum number of individuals and delineating female home range boundaries. Radio-tracking data were used to evaluate the accuracy of home range estimates constructed with camera-trapping data. There was little overlap of camera-trapping home ranges (7.0% ± 1.47), which suggests the existence of real territories consistent with the land tenure system expected for the species. Camera trapping home range estimates were half the size of radio-tracking data (54.1% ± 6.0 of overlapping). When comparing core areas, only the radio-tracking data did not yield improved results (36.7 ± 5.4 of overlapping). Estimation of territories, which escaped detection each year, ranged from 0.0% to 5.7%. The results produced by camera-trapping data in this non-intrusive monitoring programme could be considered precise, and are therefore well suited to provide the knowledge required for appropriate conservation of this endangered species.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the projects LIFE NAT//E//8609 “Recuperación del Lince Ibérico en Andalucía”, and LIFE 02 NAT/E/209 “Conservación y Reintroducción del Lince Ibérico en Andalucía”. We are especially grateful to people who assisted with camera-trapping surveys: Gerardo Valenzuela, Maribel García, Miguel A. Díaz, Rafael Arenas, Antonio Leiva and Fernando Almagro (EGMASA-CMA Junta de Andalucía), Gregorio Fernández, Fernando Silvestre, Juan Figueredo and Sandra Agudí (CBD-Hábitat Fundation), Ramón Pérez, Concepción Iglesias and Nicolás Guzman (TRAGSA-MIMAM), Alfonso Moreno and Jesús Cobo (Adena-WWF), Aquilino Duque (CMA Junta de Andalucía). Rafael Cadenas, Roberto García, Jorge Alcaina, Rafael Solano, Ana Pello, Magdalena Vara and Inmaculada Tenorio (EGMASA-CMA Junta de Andalucía) provided logistic support. We also wish to express our gratitude to the directors of the natural parks of Sierra de Andújar and Sierras de Cardeña y Montoro, Ascensión García, Jose M. Quero and Jose M. Molina. Emil McCain (Iberus Medio Ambiente S.L.) revised and improved the use of the English language. We thank three anonymous reviewers for their comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipo Life Lince Ibérico, EGMASA-Consejería de Medio Ambiente Junta de Andalucía, O. P. Jaén, Avenida de Andalucía 106, 1ª planta, 23006, Jaén, Spain

    Jose María Gil-Sánchez, Manuel Moral, José Bueno, Javier Rodríguez-Siles, Santiago Lillo, Joaquín Pérez, Jose Manuel Martín, Gerardo Valenzuela, Germán Garrote & Bernado Torralba

  2. Consejería de Medioambiente, D. P. Jaén, C/Fuente del Serbo 3, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    Miguel Ángel Simón-Mata

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  1. Jose María Gil-Sánchez
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  2. Manuel Moral
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  3. José Bueno
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  4. Javier Rodríguez-Siles
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  5. Santiago Lillo
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  6. Joaquín Pérez
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  7. Jose Manuel Martín
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  8. Gerardo Valenzuela
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  9. Germán Garrote
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  10. Bernado Torralba
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  11. Miguel Ángel Simón-Mata
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Correspondence to Jose María Gil-Sánchez.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Gil-Sánchez, J.M., Moral, M., Bueno, J. et al. The use of camera trapping for estimating Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) home ranges. Eur J Wildl Res 57, 1203–1211 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0533-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0533-y

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