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Tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance by a large carnivore: the case of E urasian lynx in south‐eastern N orway
Author(s) -
Bouyer Y.,
Gervasi V.,
Poncin P.,
BeudelsJamar R. C.,
Odden J.,
Linnell J. D. C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
animal conservation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.111
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1469-1795
pISSN - 1367-9430
DOI - 10.1111/acv.12168
Subject(s) - carnivore , wilderness , disturbance (geology) , wilderness area , geography , ecology , biodiversity , predation , habitat , preference , range (aeronautics) , biology , paleontology , materials science , composite material , economics , microeconomics
The relative merits of land sparing versus land sharing are being debated within conservation biology. While the debate is multifaceted, a central issue concerns the ability of biodiversity to actually persist in ‘shared’ human‐dominated landscapes. There is a widespread perception that large predators are synonymous with wilderness and have a low tolerance for human‐modified landscapes. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that is questioning this paradigm. In order to explore the tolerance levels of E urasian lynx to human activity, we have analysed data on 49 lynx home ranges in south‐eastern N orway occupying a gradient of landscapes from near wilderness to the urban–forest interface. Our results indicate that lynx have the ability to tolerate relatively high levels of human presence both within their home ranges and within the immediate surroundings of their home ranges. Home‐range orientations reflect preference for areas associated with low levels of human‐induced habitat modification, and avoidance of the more heavily disturbed areas. The results show that lynx have a large potential to exist in shared landscapes if their presence is tolerated by people.