Monitoring methods of Large Carnivores in Greeceec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/carnivores/pdf... · Monitoring methods of Large Carnivores ... killed livestock

Monitoring methods of Large Carnivores

in Greece

(Yorgos Mertzanis, PhD biologist – NGO Callisto)

Regional Workshop of the

EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE CARNIVORES

Bucharest, Romania, 8-10th June, 2017

Three +1 large carnivore species in Greece.


EU PLATFORM ON COEXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND LARGE

CARNIVORES -(Bucharest, Romania, 8-10th June, 2017)

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) status- Greece .




Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations

475-500 ind (Pilidis, 2015)

22,000 km2 range

Totally protected

“endangered” (Red data

Book) Recolonization of former

range

Grey wolf (Canis lupus) status- Greece .




Part of the Dinara Pindos & Eastern Balkan populations

>1,000 ind (Iliopoulos 2016)

62,000 km2 range

(Iliopoulos 2016)

Protected-priority species under 39o parallel

“vulnerable” (Red data Book)

Recolonization of former

range

Golden jackal (Canis aureus) status- Greece

.




< 1,000 ind (Giannatos 2004)

<5,000 km2 range

protected

“endangered” (Red data Book)

Recession of former range

due to human persecussion and forest fires

Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balkanica) status- Greece

.




Population: unknown (Kominos 2016)

N.Pindos - Rodopi

Strictly protected

“critically endangered” (Red data Book 2009)

? ?

LC Monitoring techniques in Greece.




BEAR: A. Distribution range size and trends

• Systematic records of bio-signs

• FWCOY spring surveys

• Confirmed attacks on livestock-

beehives and cultivations (yearly

official data from ΕΛΓΑ, 2013).

• Questionnaire surveys

• Camera traps

13,500 km2 (permanent range) – 22,000km2 total

BEAR: B. Population levels and trends

• Systematic records of bio-signs

• FWCOY spring surveys

• Genetic fingerprinting

N.Pindos-Gramos: ~97-150 (Tsaparis et al 2014),

Rodopi:~ 92 ind.(Pilidis 2015)

Total: 475-500 ind.(Pilidis 2015).

• Human-caused mortality records

• Camera traps

BEAR: C. Home range and spatial activity – social interactions

• Telemetry

(65 tagged ind.)

• Genetic fingerprinting

(capture-recapture)

Home range size Average HR (MCP100) for M ~271 km2 Average HR (MCP100) for F ~118km2 (Giannakopoulos et al. 2015)

Habitat connectivity – gene flow

Habitat use Monitoring of problem bears.

BEAR: C1. Telemetry: Monitoring of Problem bears – bears vs human

related food.

• 2 cases of FWCO

denning next to villages

• Bears attracted by

human related food

resources

Aversive conditioning (deterring means-relocation)

Setup a Bear Emergency protocol and team

Management of garbage dumps, etc.

(Riegler 2012)

• Confirmed attacks to livestock- 2013

per municipality (ΕΛΓΑ, 2013).

• Occupancy models to predict

presence

• Closed season- three summer months

• Royle- Nichols – closed one season

occupancy models

(Iliopoulos et al. 2016)

WOLF: A. Distribution range size/ Complete census: ΟCCUPANCY

MODELS from large scale presence data (livestock damage records)

WOLF: Β. Territory size: Based on, a) Pack spacing b) direct territory size

estimations (Iliopoulos et al. 2016)

Interviews with locals-

breeding sites confirmed

Howling sessions :

Pack spacing and

counting.

Camera traps (pups of the year)

Wolf telemetry

Territory size:

Β.2 Average pack size

Camera trapping

(>30 days- winter

data)

Snowtracking

Minimum pack size

ν= 26 / 5.4 ± 0.6

individuals/pack

(95%C.I)


Distribution occupancy Canis lupus (2013): Psi>0.5 ~64000km2

Number of packs estimated: 189 (95% C.I, 162-227) Population estimation: 1020 (95% C.I, 875-1362) Density: 1.4-2.1 ind./100km2


JACKAL: Distribution range size and population estimation

(2004 & 2010) (Giannatos 2004-WWF Greece, Migli, Petridou 2010 – WWF Greece/Callisto)

• Questionnaires – interviews –

information gathering.

• Acoustic stimulation sessions/

call-ins

• Transect counts with spotlights

(depending on terrain and

vegetation coverage

• Telemetry

Balkan LYNX : Intensive surveys for presence detection

(1991- 2015 and continued) (Kominos, Panagiotopoulou – Kominos, Galanaki)

• Questionnaires – interviews –

information gathering.

• Testimonies records

• Camera traps network

Reliability categories (based on SCALP classification): Category 1 (C1): “Hard facts” verified and unchallenged observations such as dead Lynx and clear photos of Lynx. Category 2 (C2): Observations controlled and confirmed by a specialist, such as killed livestock or wild prey, and Lynx tracks or other field signs. Category 3 (C3): Unconfirmed observations of the category 2 (kills, tracks,other field signs too old or badly documented) and all observations such asdirect observations and calls which by their nature cannot be verified.

Balkan LYNX : Intensive surveys for presence detection

(1991- 2015 ongoing) (Kominos, Panagiotopoulou – Kominos, Galanaki)

Category 1 (C1): Red dots “hard evidence” Category 2 (C2): Green dots “2nd hand confirmed information” Category 3 (C3): Yellow dots “2nd hand uncnfirmed” (n=178) Kominos,Galanaki 2016.

2.9 Conclusions 2014 2006

2.9.1 a) Range Assessment FV-Favourable FV-Favourable

2.9.1 b) Range Trend

2.9.2 a) Population Assessment FV-Favourable FV-Favourable

2.9.2 b) Population Trend

2.9.3 a) Habitat for the species Assessment

U1 U1

2.9.3 b) Habitat for the species Trend + improving + improving

2.9.4 a) Future prospects Assessment U1 FV-Favourable

2.9.4 b) Future prospects Trend + improving

2.9.5 Overall assessment of Conservation Status

U1 U1

2.9.6 Overall trend in Conservation Status

+ improving + improving

Iliopoulos et al, 2015

LC’s monitoring in Greece

(context & funding)




LIFE projects (1994-95, 1997-99, 2000-02, 2009-13, 2011-2015, 2016-2020) EU Member States 6 year reporting (HD 92/43, art.17) (2000-06, 2007-13) Monitoring in Protected areas (National Parks)

Other regional scale Monitoring projects: i.e. related to large scale transportation infrastructure (via Egnatia). Who?: NGO,s, Universities, Research Institutes, Protected Areas Management bodies and scientific staff.

BEARCONNECT: 1st project workshop, Bucharest, 20-22 March 2017

Current bear monitoring activities-Peristeri Mt. Range

Pindus Mt. range area of Florina

LIFE AMYBEAR – LIFE 15NAT/GR/001108 (2017 – 2020)

Improvement of Ursus arctos* global conservation status by achieving a

sustainable management of human-bear co-existence through minimization

of bear-human negative interference

Maintain human caused bear mortality at a sustainable level not exceeding

6% of the minimum estimated population

Maintain the number of the yearly reproductive females at no less than 10-

12% of the minimum estimated population

Improvement of the tolerance level of specific target groups regarding their

coexistence with the targeted species

Improvement of the awareness level on the added values of the targeted

species in relation to the attractiveness of the area targeted by the project

Sound acquisition of know-how by the personnel of local competent

authorities on specific & concrete management techniques

Coordinating Beneficiary: Lever Development Consultants SA Associated Beneficiary(ies): Municipality of Amyndeo

CALLISTO Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society Decentralized Administration of Epirus and Western Macedonia

LC’s monitoring in Greece

(conclusions)




Combined application of different standardized methods

Systematic and intensive at sectorial level for reliable extrapolations

Repetition time patterns (depending on species) for better analysis of trends Emphasis on specific aspects: i.e. regional scale Monitoring

related to large scale transportation infrastructure .

Thank you for your attention!!




Documents

Monitoring methods of Large Carnivores in Greeceec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/carnivores/pdf... · Monitoring methods of Large Carnivores ... killed livestock