Age-specific patterns of reproductive success in wild female Eurasian lynx across Europe

Reproductive lifespan and age-specific reproductive performance are key life-history traits, shaping individual fitness and population dynamics. Here, we examine age-specific variation in reproductive success in a wild large carnivore, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), using 38 years of longitudinal data from 173 known-age females across Europe and western Asia. Female lynx exhibited age-related reproductive patterns: (i) breeding probability increased with age before declining at older ages, (ii) litter size remained generally stable at two kittens, although it declined to one kitten in older mothers at northern latitudes, and (iii) offspring survival peaked at intermediate female ages, with variation across individuals, years and latitudes. These patterns likely reflect physiological maturation and increased experience (ages 2 to 8), followed by declines due to reproductive and maternal effect senescence in older females. Temporal and latitudinal variations suggest that environmental conditions shape reproductive patterns in Eurasian lynx, with senescence particularly pronounced in resource-scarce environments. Our findings enhance the understanding of age-related reproductive patterns in carnivores across environmental contexts, contributing to life-history theory and improving evidence-based management by accounting for age structure in population forecasting.

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Publication Details

Journal
Biology Letters
Published
2026-05-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0748
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Age-specific patterns of reproductive success in wild female Eurasian lynx across Europe

Aleksander Trajbarič, Christine Breitenmoser‐Würsten, Jens Persson, Magdalena Tracz et al.
Biology Letters
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

Age-specific patterns of reproductive success in wild female Eurasian lynx across Europe

Aleksander Trajbarič, Christine Breitenmoser‐Würsten, Jens Persson, Magdalena Tracz, Henrik Andrén, Sabina Nowak, Fridolin Zimmermann, Deniz Mengüllüoğlu, Dime Melovski, Rok Černe, Michał Figura, Jenny Mattisson, Robert W. Mysłajek, Anja Molinari‐Jobin, John Oddén, Heather Hemmingmoore, Darja Slana, Lan Hočevar, John D. C. Linnell, Yutong Liang, Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová, Karolin Prott, Erlend B. Nilsen, Joe Premier, Kristina Vogt, Jakub Skorupski, Urša Fležar, Teresa Oliveira, Martin Duľa, Örjan Johansson, Miroslav Kutal, Marcin Grzegorzek, Marco Heurich, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, Paolo Molinari, Malin Aronsson, Miha Krofel
article en

Abstract

Reproductive lifespan and age-specific reproductive performance are key life-history traits, shaping individual fitness and population dynamics. Here, we examine age-specific variation in reproductive success in a wild large carnivore, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), using 38 years of longitudinal data from 173 known-age females across Europe and western Asia. Female lynx exhibited age-related reproductive patterns: (i) breeding probability increased with age before declining at older ages, (ii) litter size remained generally stable at two kittens, although it declined to one kitten in older mothers at northern latitudes, and (iii) offspring survival peaked at intermediate female ages, with variation across individuals, years and latitudes. These patterns likely reflect physiological maturation and increased experience (ages 2 to 8), followed by declines due to reproductive and maternal effect senescence in older females. Temporal and latitudinal variations suggest that environmental conditions shape reproductive patterns in Eurasian lynx, with senescence particularly pronounced in resource-scarce environments. Our findings enhance the understanding of age-related reproductive patterns in carnivores across environmental contexts, contributing to life-history theory and improving evidence-based management by accounting for age structure in population forecasting.

Biology LettersVol. 22(5)
University of Szczecin (PL), African Wildlife Foundation (US), US Forest Service (US), Target (United States) (US), University of Ljubljana (SI), University of Freiburg (DE), Ecological Society of America (US), Bavarian Forest National Park (DE), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE), Institute of Nature Management (BY), University of Inland Norway (NO), Instituto Pró-Carnívoros (BR), Education Trust (US), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology (CZ), Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NO), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE), Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (JO), Technische Universität Berlin (DE), University of Warsaw (PL), Mendel University in Brno (CZ), University of Lausanne (CH)
Rufford Foundation, Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, Stiftung Temperatio, European Commission, Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, Norges Forskningsråd, Karl Mayer Stiftung, Norsk institutt for naturforskning
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
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