WAG : process & products. Marucco et al. 2013, WISO Platform. Western Alps. The wolf population in the Alps: challenges and perspectives

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1 WISO Platform Cogne, 22 nd April 2013 The wolf population in the Alps: challenges and perspectives The natural wolf recolonization of the Western Alps WAG Wolf Alpine Group F. Marucco, E. Marboutin, C. Duchamp, E. Avanzinelli, H. Potocnik & G. Rauer Fabbri et al From the Apennines to the Alps: colonization genetics of the naturally expanding Italian wolf population. Molecular Ecology Fabbri 16: et al. (2007) Wolves are naturally recolonizing the western Alps since the late 80 s through dispersal from the north Apennine wolf subpopulation. Bottleneck simulations showed that a total of 8-16 effective founders explained the genetic diversity observed in the Alps and gene flow between the Apennines and the Alps was moderate (corresponding to wolves per generation). Therefore, the levels of genetic diversity in the current expanding alpine wolf population will depend on future successful migrants from the Apennines, and not only. The natural wolf recolonization of the Western Alps France FRANCE Svizzera ITALY Ministry of Environment/Mercantour N.P./ONC LIFE Ministries of Environment and Agricultural/ONCFS Regione Piemonte + Interreg Project Italia Regione Piemonte The wolf alpine group WAG (2002) WAG : process & products WAG : process & products Process : regular-meetings to identify new «goals»,, e.g.: 2002: first meeting 2004: standardizing methods 2005: CMR, HS index, maps 2007: Map the Range 2008: genetic database 2010: map update 2013: map update and new members Products: Official WAG formation Pack definition,, monitoring standards Transboundary map and Mapping techniques New calibration for genetics New transboundary map Process : regular-meetings to identify new «goals»,, e.g.: 2002: first meeting 2004: standardizing methods 2005: CMR, HS index, maps 2007: map «sensitivity» 2008: genetic database 2010: map update and new members 2013: map update Products: Official WAG formation Pack definition,, monitoring Transboundary map Mapping techniques New calibration for genetics New transboundary map and population evaluation Cogne, 22 April

2 Favourable Conservation Status (HABITAT DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC, article1 ) Monitoring of the alpine wolf population OBJECTIVES and TECHNIQUES Conservation status of a species means the sum of the influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long term distribution and abundance of its populations within the territory referred to in article 2. The conservation status will be taken as favourable when: - population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long term basis as a viable component of its natural habitat, and - the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and - there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its population on a long-term basis. Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) (DocHab-04-03/03 rev3 and guidance documents) should be based around the status of two major Favourable Reference Values (FRV): 1. Favourable Reference Population (FRP) 2. Favourable Reference Range (FRR) RECOMMENDATION for Favourable Reference Population Favourable reference population is the sum of the following criteria: (1)The population must be at least as large as when the Habitats Directive came into effect (2) The population must be at least as large (and preferably much larger) as a MVP, as defined by the IUCN criterion E (extinction risk based on a quantitative PVA with <10% extinction risk in 100 years), or criterion D (number of mature individuals). (3) The population s status is constantly monitored using robust methodology. Source: ec.europa/environment/nature/ conservation/species/carnivores RECOMMENDATION for Favourable Reference Range FRR should be considered larger than the area strictly necessary to support the Favourable Reference Population, and it attempts to ensure: (1) the continuity of distribution within a given wolf population, (2) the possibility for connectivity between wolf populations. Cogne, 22 April

3 Assessing the conservation status of wolves in the Alps THE MONITORING OBJECTIVES 1. Population size: - Number of packs - Number of wolves 2. Distribution: - Wolf occurrence - Wolf packs 3. Other population parameters (e.g. survival) And the relative trends over time MONITORING SAMPLING DESIGN OVERALL APPROACH Extensive sign surveys at landscape scale to detect new wolf occurrence by a Network of trained wolf experts spatially dispatched Assessing the conservation status of wolves in the Alps THE MONITORING TECHNIQUES GOOD FOR INTENSIVE PREDATOR - PREY STUDY Intensive sign survey to monitor each pack detected GOOD FOR LARGE SCALE POPULATION MONITORING Molecular tracking SPECIFIC APPROACH and OBJECTIVES by Country/Region + yearly modifications and improvements THE NON-INVASIVE MONITORING TECHNIQUES NON INVASIVE METHODS Genetic Analysis 1 - Snow-tracking 2 Genetic analysis on scat/tissue samples 3 Wolf-howling Genetic Labs that worked together so far: FRANCE: LECA lab (Grenoble, FR) ITALY: USFS-RMRS Carnivore Genetic lab (Missoula, USA) SWISS: Lab for Conservation Biology (Losanna, CH) NEW LABS: University of Lubjana, ISPRA, Lab. In Germany Cogne, 22 April

4 Assessing the conservation status of wolves in the western Alps Wolf distribution in the Alps 2004 N/B Packs = at least 1M +1F during two Svizzera consecutive winters or breeding evidence Francia 1- how to define the wolf alpine population 2 - how to evaluate the conservation status from an operational point of view Italia 2a a yearly map of packs + wolf occurrence 2b an index of changes over years in the no. of packs. 2c description of each wolf territory (lone individual; pack; transboundary; breeding..etc.) Wolf Alpine Group (WAG) Legend Wolf Occurrence Wolf packs a defining the geographical boundaries: biology and politics 1b demographic vs. genetic point of view: a matter of scale 150 Km Wolf distribution in the Alps packs distribution in Western Alps 32 packs At least 150 wolves within packs At least 16 dispersals Document available at Wolf packs in the Alps 2009 NB/ packs = at least 1M + 1 F during two consecutive winters or breeding evidence 35 Num ber of packs TOTAL I 20 TOTAL TR 15 TOTAL F 10 5 WOLF DISPERSALS Winter Cogne, 22 April 2013 Wolf Alpine Group (WAG) 4

5 Wolf packs in the Alps Work in Progress - FIRST WOLF SIGNSGermania IN THE CENTRAL ALPS Potential wolf populations which can recolonize the Eastern Alps tem From the ItalianSvizzera wolf population Carpathian/Baltic 27 May 2010 Valle Ultimo (BZ) 27 December 2009 Cantone Grigioni (CH) Slovenia M24 13 April 2010 Adamello Brenta (TN) Croazia France Dinaric Italy/western Alps Progetto Kora-Switzerland Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta Ufficio Faunistico della Provincia di Trento Ufficio Caccia e Pesca della Provincia di Bolzano ISPRA-Istituo Superiore per la Ricerca Ambientale-Lab. Genetica Wolf packs in Slovenia by H. Potocnik Italy Cogne, 22 April 2013 Slovenia 5

6 THE WOLF IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN Germania ALPS The story of the wolf Slavc Slavc Swiss Summer 2011 Vojko 6years Francia Pack Vremski Slovenia Slavc 2 years Pack Slavinik Info from: Progetto LIFE Slowolf Source: Croazia Info from: Progetto LIFE Slowolf Source: GOAL: monitor the wolf population in the Alps as a unique population MONITOR POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION - Wolf occurrence on a large scale - Number of packs (reproductive units) Still some issues: 1. Exchange data on genotypes (calibrate a procedure between labs) 2. Common estimate of population size from genetic CMR analysis Still some issues: 1. Exchange data on genotypes (calibrate a procedure between labs) Transboundary packs highlighted by cross validation in genetic analysis between FR and IT (see QDN letter N 22 example of year 2006) - In the short term, exchange raw material (i.e. scats) to make redundant analyses when needed to answer questions such as the identification of a transboundary pack - In the long term, calibrate a genetic procedure between the different labs, to possibly use the data for population size estimate Cogne, 22 April

7 Still some issues: 1. Exchange data on genotypes (calibrate a procedure between labs) - In the short term, exchange raw material (i.e. scats) to make redundant analyses when needed to answer questions such as the identification of a transboundary pack - In the long term, calibrate a genetic procedure between the different labs, to possibly use the data for population size estimate.. We just discovered it is NOT necessary anymore!!! CONCLUSION To monitor the wolf population in the Alps as a unique population, we will focus on estimating pack numbers and distribution over the years. To evaluate the FCS of the wolf population, specific research at the population level is needed. It is crucial to set up a GO official framework to MANAGE the wolf alpine population as a whole THANKS Cogne, 22 April