Translocation effects on regional and local population viability and connectivity

Translocations and reintroductions aim to improve the viability of isolated populations and promote connectivity for large carnivores. However, there is no established framework for assessing their success. We used the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in western and central Europe to assess the impact of translocations on the viability of six populations and their interconnectivity. Lynx populations are small and isolated and have low genetic diversity. Population reinforcements have been carried out, but their impact has not been determined. We devised a workflow to evaluate how releasing new individuals affects population extinction probability and connectivity and patch colonization, and to estimate the minimum release population to create a stepping-stone network. To this end, we calibrated a spatially explicit, individual-based model with space use, survival, and reproductive rates observed in the populations and validated it with field data on population growth and expansion from the 1970s to 2020. We ran the model with the observed population structure in 1995-1996 to 2040 in two scenarios, with and without translocations. In both scenarios, most existing populations remained stable in our model for the next 20 years, but had low connectivity. Lynx translocations positively affected viability and connectivity on a population scale but did not increase connectivity between the eastern and western Alps. To create a stepping-stone population that would significantly improve connectivity across the Alps, we conservatively estimated that at least 13 males and 37 females should be released in the Italian southeastern Alps based on the assumption of negligible immigration rates between patches. Concerted transboundary management to improve the future survival of lynx populations in western and central Europe is still needed.

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Publication Details

Journal
Conservation Biology
Published
2026-05-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70321
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Translocation effects on regional and local population viability and connectivity

Sybille Wölfl, Christine Breitenmoser‐Würsten, Aimara Planillo, Fridolin Zimmermann et al.
Conservation Biology
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

Translocation effects on regional and local population viability and connectivity

Sybille Wölfl, Christine Breitenmoser‐Würsten, Aimara Planillo, Fridolin Zimmermann, Kateřina Poledníková, Simona Poláková, Rok Černe, Tobias Kürschner, Ira Topličanec, Hubert Potočnik, Tomislav Gomerčić, Josefa Volfová, Luděk Bufka, Magda Sindičić, Tereza Mináriková, Eva Sanchez Arribas, Anja Molinari-Jobin, Paolo Molinari, Marco Heurich, Urša Fležar, Elisa Belotti, Thomas Engleder, Stephanie Kramer‐Schadt, Joe Premier, Kristina Vogt, Miha Krofel
article en

Abstract

Translocations and reintroductions aim to improve the viability of isolated populations and promote connectivity for large carnivores. However, there is no established framework for assessing their success. We used the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in western and central Europe to assess the impact of translocations on the viability of six populations and their interconnectivity. Lynx populations are small and isolated and have low genetic diversity. Population reinforcements have been carried out, but their impact has not been determined. We devised a workflow to evaluate how releasing new individuals affects population extinction probability and connectivity and patch colonization, and to estimate the minimum release population to create a stepping-stone network. To this end, we calibrated a spatially explicit, individual-based model with space use, survival, and reproductive rates observed in the populations and validated it with field data on population growth and expansion from the 1970s to 2020. We ran the model with the observed population structure in 1995-1996 to 2040 in two scenarios, with and without translocations. In both scenarios, most existing populations remained stable in our model for the next 20 years, but had low connectivity. Lynx translocations positively affected viability and connectivity on a population scale but did not increase connectivity between the eastern and western Alps. To create a stepping-stone population that would significantly improve connectivity across the Alps, we conservatively estimated that at least 13 males and 37 females should be released in the Italian southeastern Alps based on the assumption of negligible immigration rates between patches. Concerted transboundary management to improve the future survival of lynx populations in western and central Europe is still needed.

Conservation Biology
University of Ljubljana (SI), University of Zagreb (HR), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZ), Bavarian Forest National Park (DE), Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (AT), Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau (DE), Friends United (US), Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES), Life Services (United States) (US), Slovenian Forestry Institute (SI), University of Inland Norway (NO), Institute of Entomology (CZ), Šumava National Park (CZ), Japan Wildlife Research Center (JP), Lynx (Italy) (IT), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE), Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre (CZ), Technische Universität Berlin (DE), University of Lausanne (CH)
Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, MAVA Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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