IUGB 2017 WHERE ARE THE WOLVES AND HOW MANY ARE OUT THERE? Renata ŠPINKYTĖ-BAČKAITIENĖ [email protected] Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania Globally researches have unanimously declared that calculating the abundance of wolves is a rather difficult. A huge attention is paid to detailed investigations of the state on wolves’ population in many European countries. For this purpose, rather large expert teams are employed that work all year round on these issues only. The entirety of methodologies both classic and based on advanced techniques is used for investigation of wolves. Scientists often advise that a combination of several methods should form the basis of population and variation estimations (Duchamp et al., 2012). Surprisingly, in all countries it is accentuated that investigations should be performed when there is snow cover (Rigg et al., 2014, Wabakken et al., 2001). In fact, it is recommended to use high technologies as possible, i.e. DNA research that improves results of currently used investigation systems (Marucco, Boitani, 2012; Blanco, Cortes, 2012, Reinhardt et al., 2015). Nevertheless, although genetic investigation is a highly valued method, it certainly has vulnerabilities. Before undertaking this method, it is necessary to carefully consider organization of outdoor work (collection of samples) and lab research (protocols). Without paying respect to these aspects, the population may be established erroneously. Furthermore, investigations using snow tracking are considered to be essential method that helps to collect material for a genetic research (wolves’ scats are most often used) as well as to interpret results obtained during the genetic research correctly (Lucchini et al., 2002, Marucco et a., 2009, Blanco, Cortes, 2012). Reviewing experience of other countries, it is obvious that tracking on snow cover is the basic method used to estimate wolf abundance. Surprisingly, a usual way of tracking on the snow is used in many countries including European and Northern America. For instance, it is generally accepted that, the methodologies and technologies for wolves’ investigation and monitoring used in Scandinavia, are most advanced ones if compared among the European states. However, in this region, tracking on the snow is used alongside with genotype determination using scats. Using a combination of these methods, the numbers of packs, pairs, and single wolves can be established. Investigating wolf abundance and tracking in Southern Europe where there is no snow cover is much more time consuming and complicated compared to obtaining the same information in countries with snow. For instance, packs of wolves in Spain and Portugal are being calculated in summer by searching wolf dens with pups and rendezvous sites (Blanco et al., 1992; Llaneza et al., 2005; Pimenta et al., 2005, Blanco, Cortés, 2012). Registration of howling wolves’ through stimulation is also often used to locate and calculate how many individuals there are in a pack. Unfortunately, this method has not proved successful in all locations. Many researchers have come to the conclusion that success of this method (response of wolves) is generally low (Fuller et al., 1988, Nowak et al., 2007). On the other hand, the howl simulation method is recommended and used in some cases. Recent research has shown that analyzing recordings of wolves’ howls, individuals may be identified by unique voice, i.e., the number of wolves in packs (Root-Gutteridge et al., 2013). Currently the evaluation of wolf abundance and distribution using genetic research is becoming used more frequently and on a wider scale. For this purpose, scats are being collected, analyzed using DNA research, and as a result wolves are being identified to single individuals. This research might have the most ideal outcome; however, much investment is required to collect and conduct genetic research using scats. Another method which is getting more popular is the registration of wolves by camera traps. This method has been proven successful during wolf investigations (Galaverini et al., 2012). Namely, with the help of this method, most cases of wolf cub were registered in Germany, and Western Poland. Furthermore, camera traps assist in collecting data to understand pack dynamics and size, separating neighbouring packs, or finding out about distribution and state of the species. Tracking of marked wolves with the help of radio antennas or satellite is used as a secondary method, but provides significant information on the size of pack’s territory, traveling distances, activity, etc (Breitenmoser et al., 2006, Jędrzejewski et al., 2001). For example, often it would be difficult to distinguish between neighbouring packs or pairs without having information about the average area used by the pack. Radio telemetric research (especially combined with other kinds of research) gives the most precise data; however, it is suitable in smaller-sized territories and only for several individuals (Breitenmoser et al., 2006). A significant disadvantage of the method is that the data are collected from several individuals, and the territory used by single individuals may differ (Reinhardt, Kluth, 2011); therefore, many cases must be investigated to make the right general view. Most countries use more or less different methods for wolves’ research and monitoring. But it is obvious that boundaries of countries made by people do not exist for wolves. Thus, scientists of Europe pursue for creating methods with the help of which it would be possible to investigate wolves “without boundaries” (Linnell et al., 2008, Reinhardt et al., 2015). That means, the results of the researches in different countries might be analyzed in a common sense. Currently, wolves that live in Germany and Poland, Sweden and Norway, as well as the region of the Alps are being investigated jointly (Fabbri et al., 2007, Liberga et al., 2012, Reinhardt et al., 2012). The accumulated experience shows that joint activity must expand itself in the name of the right attitude to this respectable animal. 33rd IUGB CONGRESS 14th Perdix Congress 22 to 25 Aug. 2017 MONTPELLIER - FRANCE References: • Blanco J.C., Cortes Y. (2012). Surveying wolves without snow: a critical review of the methods used in Spain. 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