Leading the way – presence of brown bear Ursus arctos, lynx Lynx lynx and grey wolf Canis lupus underlines the integrity and corridor function of the upper Neretva Valley in Bosnia and Herzegovina
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.25.3.201-211Keywords:
carnivores, Eurasian lynx, connectivity, habitat integrity, NeretvaAbstract
Despite its connecting character to the Sutjeska National Park in the North-East, the course of the upper Neretva (Ulog and Borač valley) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has to date not been an area of focus for carnivore research. With the aim of contributing to an improved understanding of the present distribution of large and endangered carnivores in this area, a field survey was conducted during the Neretva Science Week 2022. Opportunistic data collection was carried out along a predefined road transect (20 km) and six line transects (13 km) tracked by foot. Additionally, reports of mammal signs for six corresponding research sites along the Neretva were registered. Altogether, at least 15 mammal species could be distinguished. From the identified carnivores, four are listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. Furthermore, the signs of lynx presence, in addition to brown bear and grey wolf, highlight the connectivity value of the upper Neretva in its current state. Based on information from local practitioners, the main threats to large carnivores are hunting pressure and a negative perception as competitors. A likely decline in habitat quality and fragmentation, due to the planned hydropower plants expansion and logging activities, exacerbate these threats. Consequently, further systematic monitoring is recommended to assess the possible impact of human driven environmental changes.
References
Alho JRC. 2011. Environmental effects of Hydropower Reservoirs on Wild Mammals and Freshwater Turtles in Amazonia: A Review. Oecologia Australis. 15(3): 593-604. https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2011.1503.11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2011.1503.11
Ausilio G, Sand H, Månsson J, Mathisen KM, Wikenros C. 2021. Ecological Effects of Wolves in Anthropogenic Landscapes: The Potential for Trophic Cascades Is Context-Dependent. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 8: 577963. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.577963 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.577963
Behnke R. 2019. Compendium of existing approaches from other sources including threats, joint barriers and driver assessment. Report for Project CE1001 3Lynx, Interreg Central Europe. D.T1.2.1. ISBN: 978-80-7212-639-2
Beschta RL, Ripple WJ. 2018. Can large carnivores change streams via a trophic cascade? Ecohydrology. 12(1): e2048. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2048
Boitani L, Alvarez F, Anders O, Andren H, Avanzinelli E, Balys V, Blanco JC, Breitenmoser U, Chapron G, Ciucci P, et al. 2015. Key actions for Large Carnivore populations in Europe. Institute of Applied Ecology (Rome, Italy). Report to DG Environment, European Commission, Bruxelles. Contract no. 07.0307/2013/654446/SER/B3.
Breitenmoser U, Breitenmoser-Würsten C, Von Arx M, Zimmermann F, Ryser A, Angst C, et al. 2006. Guidelines for the Monitoring of Lynx. KORA Bericht 33e.
Dobbert S, Pappe R, Löffler J. 2021. Continent – Wide Modelling of Potential Habitats and Connectivity fort the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx Lynx) in Europe. Erdkunde. 75(2): 69-85. https://doi.org/10.3112/erdkunde.2021.02.01 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3112/erdkunde.2021.02.01
[EEA] European Environmental Agency. 2023. Emerald Network - General Viewer. [accessed on 15.12.2023]; https://emerald.eea.europa.eu
ENETWILD consortium, Podgórski T, Acevedo P, Apollonio M, Berezowska-Cnota T, Bevilacqua C, Blanco JA, Borowik T, Garrote G, Huber D, et al. 2020. Guidance on estimation of abundance and density of wild carnivore population: methods, challenges, possibilities. EFSA supporting publication 2020. 17(11): EN-1947. p. 203. https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2020.EN-1947 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2020.EN-1876
European Parliament, Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union, Cadete Da Rocha Pereira D, Di Silvestre I, Fernández-Gil A, Dias Ferreira Pinto SM. 2018. Large Carnivore Management Plans of Protection: Best Practices in EU Member States; [assessed 2022 December 10]. https://doi.org/10.2861/282578
Filla M, Premier J, Magg N, Dupke C, Khorozyan I, Waltert M, Bufka L, Heurich M. 2017. Habitat selection by Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is primarily driven by avoidance of human activity during day and prey availability during night. Ecology and Evolution. 7: 6367-6381. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3204
Giergiczny M, Swenson JE, Zedrosser A, Selva N. 2022. Large carnivores and naturalness affect forest recreational value. Scientific Reports-UK. 12(1): 13692. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17862-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17862-0
Hočevar L, Fležar U, Krofel M. 2020. Overview of good practices in Eurasian lynx monitoring and conservation. INTERREG CE 3Lynx report. Ljubljana (SI): University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty.
IMPAQ International. 2020. Bosnia and Herzegovina Biodiversity Analysis and addressing the Biodiversity Needs. Monitoring and Evaluation Support Activity II (Measure II). FAA 119 Analysis, Feb 2020. USAID, AID-167-I-17-00004. [accessed 2022 May 26]. https://www.measurebih.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina-biodiversity-analysis-and-addressing-biodiversity-needs
Kaczensky P, Chapron G, von Arx M, Huber D, Andrén H, Linnell J. 2013. Status, management, and distribution of large carnivores - bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine - in Europe. Part 1 - Europe summaries. Report: 1-72. A Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe Report prepared for the European Commission. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11382.88645
Kaczensky P, Linnell JDC, Huber D, von Arx M, Andren H, Breitenmoser U, Boitani L. 2021. Distribution of large carnivores in Europe 2012-2016: Distribution maps for Brown bear, Eurasian lynx, Grey wolf and Wolferine, Dryad, Dataset; [accessed 2022 June 14]. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.pc866t1p3
Kunovac S, Sekulić Ž, Starogorčić K, Omanović M. 2018. Širenje areala risa (Lynx lynx) u Bosni i Hercegovini. Naše šume. 16(50-51): 50-56.
Lescureux N, Linnell JDC, Mustafa S, Melovski D, Stojanov A, Ivanov G, Avukatov V, Von Arx M, Breitenmoser U. 2011. Fear of the unknown: Local knowledge and perceptions of the eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in western Macedonia. Oryx. 45: 600–607. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605310001547 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605310001547
Malhi Y, Lande T, le Roux E, Stevens N, Macias-Fauria M, Wedding L, Girardin C, Kristensen JA, Sandom CJ, Evans TD, et al. 2022. The role of large wild animals in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Current Biology. 32(4): R181-R196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.041
May R, van Dijk J, Wabakken P, Swenson JE, Linnell JDC, Zimmermann B, Odden J, Pedersen H, Andersen R, Landa A. 2008. Habitat differentiation within the large-carnivore community of Norway’s multiple-use landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology. 45(5): 1382–1391. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01527.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01527.x
Molinari-Jobin A, Breitenmoser U, Breitenmoser C, Černe R, Drouet-Hoguet N, Fuxjäger C, Kos I, Krofel M, Marucco F, Molinari P, et al. 2021. SCALP: Monitoring the Eurasian lynx in the Alps and beyond. CATnews. 14: 50-52.
Ripple WJ, Estes JA, Beschta RL, Wilmers CC, Ritchie EG, Hebblewhite M, Berger J, Elmhagen B, Letnic M, Nelson MP, et al. 2014. Status and ecological effects of the world's largest carnivores. Science. 343(6167):1241484. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241484 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241484
Rode J, Flinzberger L, Karutz R, Berghöfer A, Schröter-Schlaack C. 2021. Why so negative? Exploring the socio-economic impacts of large carnivores from a European perspective. Biological Conservation. 255: 108918 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108918 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108918
Standing Committee of the Council of Europe. 2022. Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. 42nd meeting, Strasbourg, hybrid meeting, 28 November - 2 December 2022, T-PVS(2022)MISC. p.21, p. 49-50. [accessed 2022 December 5]. https://balkanrivers.net/uploads/files/3/MISC_E_2022.pdf
Trouwborst A. 2019. The Bern Convention, the EU Habitats Directive and the conservation of Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) and other large carnivores. A report written for EuroNatur. Tilburg University.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Manuela Habe
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
