where are the wolves and how many are out...
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IUGB 2017
WHERE ARE THE WOLVES
AND HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE?
Renata ŠPINKYTĖ-BAČKAITIENĖ
renata_shpy@yahoo.com
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Globally researches have unanimously declared that calculating the
abundance of wolves is a rather difficult. A huge attention is paid to detailed
investigations of the state on wolves’ population in many European countries.
For this purpose, rather large expert teams are employed that work all year
round on these issues only.
The entirety of methodologies both classic and based on advanced
techniques is used for investigation of wolves. Scientists often advise that a
combination of several methods should form the basis of population and
variation estimations (Duchamp et al., 2012). Surprisingly, in all countries it is
accentuated that investigations should be performed when there is snow cover
(Rigg et al., 2014, Wabakken et al., 2001). In fact, it is recommended to use
high technologies as possible, i.e. DNA research that improves results of
currently used investigation systems (Marucco, Boitani, 2012; Blanco, Cortes,
2012, Reinhardt et al., 2015). Nevertheless, although genetic investigation is a
highly valued method, it certainly has vulnerabilities. Before undertaking this
method, it is necessary to carefully consider organization of outdoor work
(collection of samples) and lab research (protocols). Without paying respect to
these aspects, the population may be established erroneously. Furthermore,
investigations using snow tracking are considered to be essential method that
helps to collect material for a genetic research (wolves’ scats are most often
used) as well as to interpret results obtained during the genetic research
correctly (Lucchini et al., 2002, Marucco et a., 2009, Blanco, Cortes, 2012).
Reviewing experience of other countries, it is obvious that tracking on snow
cover is the basic method used to estimate wolf abundance. Surprisingly, a
usual way of tracking on the snow is used in many countries including
European and Northern America. For instance, it is generally accepted that, the
methodologies and technologies for wolves’ investigation and monitoring used
in Scandinavia, are most advanced ones if compared among the European
states. However, in this region, tracking on the snow is used alongside with
genotype determination using scats. Using a combination of these methods, the
numbers of packs, pairs, and single wolves can be established.
Investigating wolf abundance and tracking in Southern Europe where there is
no snow cover is much more time consuming and complicated compared to
obtaining the same information in countries with snow. For instance, packs of
wolves in Spain and Portugal are being calculated in summer by searching wolf
dens with pups and rendezvous sites (Blanco et al., 1992; Llaneza et al., 2005;
Pimenta et al., 2005, Blanco, Cortés, 2012). Registration of howling wolves’
through stimulation is also often used to locate and calculate how many
individuals there are in a pack. Unfortunately, this method has not proved
successful in all locations. Many researchers have come to the conclusion that
success of this method (response of wolves) is generally low (Fuller et al., 1988,
Nowak et al., 2007). On the other hand, the howl simulation method is
recommended and used in some cases. Recent research has shown that
analyzing recordings of wolves’ howls, individuals may be identified by unique
voice, i.e., the number of wolves in packs (Root-Gutteridge et al., 2013).
Currently the evaluation of wolf abundance and distribution using genetic
research is becoming used more frequently and on a wider scale. For this
purpose, scats are being collected, analyzed using DNA research, and as a result
wolves are being identified to single individuals. This research might have the
most ideal outcome; however, much investment is required to collect and
conduct genetic research using scats.
Another method which is getting more popular is the registration of wolves
by camera traps. This method has been proven successful during wolf
investigations (Galaverini et al., 2012). Namely, with the help of this method,
most cases of wolf cub were registered in Germany, and Western Poland.
Furthermore, camera traps assist in collecting data to understand pack dynamics
and size, separating neighbouring packs, or finding out about distribution and
state of the species.
Tracking of marked wolves with the help of radio antennas or satellite is
used as a secondary method, but provides significant information on the size of
pack’s territory, traveling distances, activity, etc (Breitenmoser et al., 2006,
Jędrzejewski et al., 2001). For example, often it would be difficult to distinguish
between neighbouring packs or pairs without having information about the
average area used by the pack. Radio telemetric research (especially combined
with other kinds of research) gives the most precise data; however, it is suitable
in smaller-sized territories and only for several individuals (Breitenmoser et al.,
2006). A significant disadvantage of the method is that the data are collected
from several individuals, and the territory used by single individuals may differ
(Reinhardt, Kluth, 2011); therefore, many cases must be investigated to make
the right general view.
Most countries use more or less different methods for wolves’ research and
monitoring. But it is obvious that boundaries of countries made by people do
not exist for wolves. Thus, scientists of Europe pursue for creating methods
with the help of which it would be possible to investigate wolves “without
boundaries” (Linnell et al., 2008, Reinhardt et al., 2015). That means, the
results of the researches in different countries might be analyzed in a common
sense. Currently, wolves that live in Germany and Poland, Sweden and Norway,
as well as the region of the Alps are being investigated jointly (Fabbri et al.,
2007, Liberga et al., 2012, Reinhardt et al., 2012). The accumulated experience
shows that joint activity must expand itself in the name of the right attitude to
this respectable animal.
33rd IUGB CONGRESS 14th Perdix Congress 22 to 25 Aug. 2017 MONTPELLIER - FRANCE
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