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A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation

Marucco, Francesca
; 
Boiani, Maria V.
; 
Dupont, Pierre
; 
Milleret, Cyril
; 
Avanzinelli, Elisa
; 
Pilgrim, Kristine
; 
Schwartz, Michael K.
; 
von Hardenberg, Achaz
; 
Perrone, Domenica S.
; 
Friard, Olivier P.
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Affiliation
University of Turin; University of Chester; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Aree Protette Alpi Marittime; USDA National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation; University of Insubria; Osservatorio Biodiversità, Trieste; Programmazione e Gestione ittica e faunistico-venatoria; Protette e Marine, Parchi e Biodiversità - Settore Fauna Selvatica, Caccia e Vigilanza Venatoria; Ufficio per la fauna selvatica e ittica, Loc; MUSE - Museo delle Scienze di Trento; ERSAF - Direzione Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio; Ripartizione Foreste, Ufficio Caccia e Pesca; Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Genetics Laboratory; Museo regionale di Scienze naturali Efisio Noussan; Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione E. Mach; ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Wildlife Coordination Service
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2023-06-01
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Biological Sciences
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Abstract
The wolf (Canis lupus) is among the most controversial of wildlife species. Abundance estimates are required to inform public debate and policy decisions, but obtaining them at biologically relevant scales is challenging. We developed a system for comprehensive population estimation across the Italian alpine region (100,000 km2), involving 1513 trained operators representing 160 institutions. This extensive network allowed for coordinated genetic sample collection and landscape-level spatial capture–recapture analyses that transcended administrative boundaries to produce the first estimates of key parameters for wolf population status assessment. Wolf abundance was estimated at 952 individuals (95% credible interval 816–1120) and 135 reproductive units (i.e., packs) (95% credible interval 112–165). We also estimated that mature individuals accounted for 33–45% of the entire population. The monitoring effort was spatially estimated thereby overcoming an important limitation of citizen science data. This is an important approach for promoting wolf–human coexistence based on wolf abundance monitoring and an endorsement of large-scale harmonized conservation practices.
Citation
Marucco, F., Boiani, M. V., Dupont, P., Milleret, C., Avanzinelli, E., Pilgrim, K., Schwartz, A. M. K., von Hardenberg, A., Perrone, S., Friard, O., Menzano, A., Bisi, F., Fattori, U., Tomasella, M., Calderola, S., Carolfi, S., Ferrari, P., Chioso, C., Truc, F., ... Bischof, R. (2023). A multidisciplinary approach to estimating wolf population size for long-term conservation. Conservation Biology, 37(6), article-number e14132. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14132
Publisher
Wiley
Journal
Conservation Biology
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10034/627856
DOI
10.1111/cobi.14132
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Article
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© 2023 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.
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0888-8892
EISSN
1523-1739
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https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.14132
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