Diploma thesis analyzes the viability of the selected species populations in the Czech Republic. The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part contains a stochastic model simulating possible scenarios of the Eurasian lynx population size in the Czech Republic. For this model program Vortex was used. The second part is focused on Time series analysis of the Grey Partridge and the Common Kingfisher population, where data was obtained from the Czech Society for Ornithology. This analysis aims on identification of factors that may affect the viability of the two bird species.

Assessment of the impact of landscape structure on the dispersion of lynx in Posumavi Abstract: The big predators are a traditional group of bioindicative species, whose presence shows the state of environment and landscape within a region. As these animals recolonize the cultural landscape of central Europe it's needed to understand their space requirements and habitat preferences. The lynx (Lynx lynx) has been one of the Sumava forest species since the 70's. After almost 40 years the population of lynx has spread from Sumava and Bavarian Forest to forested parts of Cesky Les, Smrcina and Novohradske hory and to both sides of state borders. However today's state of lynx population, stable number of animals or genetic variability is endangered by many factors. Long term viability of the lynx population is - besides poaching or illegal hunting − affected by the loss of suitable habitats and ongoing fragmentation of the landscape. One of the possible solutions of negative impacts is delineation and protection of landscape permeability of habitat corridors. They might have provide supply of new individuals to small, extinction prone population and at the same time they could reinforce overall fitness population. This thesis has three main objectives:1) evaluation of landscape fragmentation and connectivity in...

Captive environments like zoo exhibits offer limited space, lacking many of the environmental stimuli that are present in the wild. This may reduce animal welfare and potentially lead to the development of stereotypic behaviour like pacing. Environmental enrichment is used to prevent and reduce pacing and enhance animal well-being. The aim of this project was to evaluate sensory enrichments, and the effect of such enrichment on pacing in a group of Northern lynx by means of new, automated monitoring technologies in combination with traditional visual observations. The lynxes were exposed to valerian, catnip and cinnamon as olfactory enrichment. The acoustic enrichments were play-backed mouse squeals, roe deer barking and lynx vocalizations, and live crickets. The responses of the lynx were recorded by logging their subcutaneous HDX pit tags, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags mounted on collars and using a wildlife camera. The results showed that catnip elicited clear “catnip responses” i.e sniffing, rubbing, biting and licking. The sounds were found to attract the lynxes and increase their arousal. One of the sounds, the lynx calls, elicited social behaviour. However, none of the sensory treatments reduced pacing. The combination of these automated technologies with visual observation was powerful to evaluate the effect of enrichment on captive lynxes and to monitor their activity patterns and stereotypic behaviours. Sensory enrichment could also be used in the wild as lures to attract lynxes to BLE or HDX PIT tag logging stations and to wildlife cameras, as part of monitoring a lynx population.

Urban landscapes are quickly replacing native habitat around the world. As wildlife and people increasingly overlap in their shared space and resources, so does the potential for human-wildlife conflict, especially with predators. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are a top predator in several urban areas across the United States and a potential contributor to human-carnivore conflicts. This study evaluated the movements and habitat use of bobcats in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Texas metroplex. Spatial data were collected from 10 bobcats via Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for approximately one year. Average home range size was 4.60 km2 (n=9, SE=0.99 km2) for all resident bobcats, 3.48 km2 (n=5, SE=1.13 km2) for resident females, and 6.00 km2 (n=4, SE=1.61 km2) for resident males. Resource selection function (RSF) models show that bobcats avoid areas close to and far from grasslands and low-medium development, while selecting for these areas at intermediate distances. Bobcats also selected areas closer to developed open space, agricultural areas, and railroads. In addition, camera trap data analyzed with spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models informed by the RSF results estimated a population density of 0.64 bobcats/km2 (SE = 0.22). Bobcats in DFW have significantly smaller home ranges and occur at higher densities compared to rural bobcat populations. Home ranges were also slightly smaller and densities higher than the most closely similar peri-urban bobcat studies. These differences likely arise due to the abundant urban prey species the DFW landscape provides despite limited space and habitat for bobcats. The dense urban development surrounding this population of bobcats may also discourage dispersing from the area, and contributing to higher densities. These results provide information to facilitate management of urban bobcats by providing new insight into how bobcats live amidst people in urban areas.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Gaining accurate population information is crucial for the conservation and management of species. The National Monitoring Program for Large Carnivores monitors the Swedish lynx population (species Lynx lynx) by surveying family groups, non-invasive sampling and genetic analysis. Ten microsatellite regions were used as genetic markers to retrieve unique individual genotypes, through polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with specific primer-pairs and capillary-electrophoresis. Complete genotypes were matched using an internal database. The aim of this degree project was to show how monitoring of lynx through genetic analysis is carried out at the Department of Evolutionary Biology at Uppsala University, and to evaluate how effective these methods are and how they might be improved.</p><p>Even though most of the methods used were fairly robust and reproducible, non-invasive sampling and microsatellite analysis posed some problems regarding DNA quality and quantity, and increased the risks of certain genotyping errors. These risks might be worth taking though, as genetic analysis, in combination with field observations, gives a more comprehensive picture of the Swedish lynx population.</p>

Abstract Gaining accurate population information is crucial for the conservation and management of species. The National Monitoring Program for Large Carnivores monitors the Swedish lynx population (species Lynx lynx) by surveying family groups, non-invasive sampling and genetic analysis. Ten microsatellite regions were used as genetic markers to retrieve unique individual genotypes, through polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with specific primer-pairs and capillary-electrophoresis. Complete genotypes were matched using an internal database. The aim of this degree project was to show how monitoring of lynx through genetic analysis is carried out at the Department of Evolutionary Biology at Uppsala University, and to evaluate how effective these methods are and how they might be improved. Even though most of the methods used were fairly robust and reproducible, non-invasive sampling and microsatellite analysis posed some problems regarding DNA quality and quantity, and increased the risks of certain genotyping errors. These risks might be worth taking though, as genetic analysis, in combination with field observations, gives a more comprehensive picture of the Swedish lynx population.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2007. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Includes appendix of five papers in press and submitted manuscripts, all co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

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Remote cameras have become a popular tool for monitoring wildlife. We used remote cameras to estimate bobcat (Lynx rufus) population abundance on the Utah Test and Training Range during two sample periods between 2015 and 2017. We used two statistical methods, closed capture mark-recapture (CMR) and mark-resight Poisson log-normal (PNE), to estimate bobcat abundance within the study area. We used the maximum mean distance moved method (MMDM) to calculate the effective sample area for estimating density. Additionally, we captured bobcats and estimated home range using minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel density estimation (KDE) methods. Bobcat abundance on the UTTR was 35-48 in 2017 and density was 11.95 bobcats/100 km2 using CMR and 16.69 bobcats/100 km2 using PNE. The North Range of the study area experienced a decline of 36-44 percent in density between sample periods. Density declines could be explained by natural predator prey cycles, by habituation to attractants or by an increase in home range area. We recommend that bobcat abundance and density be estimated regularly to establish population trends.To improve the management of bobcats on the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR), we investigated bobcat (Lynx rufus) habitat use. We determined habitat use points by capturing bobcats in remote camera images. Use and random points were intersected with remotely sensed data in a geographic information system. Habitat variables were evaluated at the capture point scale and home range scale. Home range size was calculated using the mean maximum distance moved method. Scales and habitat variables were compared within generalized linear mixed-effects models. Our top model (AICc weight = 1) included a measure of terrain ruggedness, mean aspect, and land cover variables related to prey availability and human avoidance.