Continuing recovery of wolves in Europe

PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. e0000158 - e0000158

Published: Feb. 25, 2025

The recovery of wolves ( Canis lupus ) across Europe is a notable conservation success in region with extensive human alteration landscapes and high population densities. We provide comprehensive update on wolf populations Europe, estimated at over 21,500 individuals by 2022, representing 58% increase the past decade. Despite challenges densities significant land use for agriculture, industry, urbanization, have demonstrated remarkable adaptability increasing trends most European countries. Improved monitoring techniques, although varying quality scope, played crucial role tracking this recovery. Annually, kill approximately 56,000 domestic animals EU, risk unevenly distributed differently handled regions. Damage compensation costs 17 million EUR every year to Positive economic impacts from presence, such as those related reducing traffic accidents wild ungulates or supporting wildlife tourism, remain under studied. Wolf supported diverse policy legal instruments LIFE programs, stakeholder platforms, well EU Habitats Directive Bern Convention. Coexisting newly established entails managing activities, including livestock depredation, competition game, fear attacks humans, amidst social political views Sustainable coexistence continues operate evolving complex social, economic, landscapes, often characterized intense debates regarding policies.

Language: Английский

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Museomics and morphological analyses of historical and contemporary peninsular Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) samples

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 4, 2025

Abstract After centuries of decline and protracted bottlenecks, the peninsular Italian wolf population has naturally recovered. However, an exhaustive comprehension effects such a conservation success is still limited by reduced availability historical data. Therefore, in this study, we morphologically genetically analyzed contemporary samples, also exploiting optimization innovative bone DNA extraction method, to describe morphological variability subspecies its genetic diversity during last 30 years. We obtained high amplification genotyping rates for tissue, blood petrous samples. Multivariate, clustering analyses confirmed that Apennine well-distinguishable from both European wolves dogs, with no natural immigration other populations, while remained low across three decades, without significant changes between specimens. This study highlights scientific value well-maintained museum collections, demonstrates bones represent reliable sources, emphasizes need long-term monitor dynamics peculiar populations ensure appropriate management actions.

Language: Английский

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Beyond population size: Whole-genome data reveal bottleneck legacies in the peninsular Italian wolf

Journal of Heredity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 116(1), P. 10 - 23

Published: Aug. 27, 2024

Preserving genetic diversity and adaptive potential while avoiding inbreeding depression is crucial for the long-term conservation of natural populations. Despite demographic increases, traces past bottleneck events at genomic level should be carefully considered population management. From this perspective, peninsular Italian wolf a paradigmatic case. After being on brink extinction in late 1960s, wolves rebounded recolonized most peninsula aided by measures, including habitat legal protection. Notwithstanding their recovery, comprehensive understanding consequences historical still lacking. To fill gap, we sequenced whole genomes 13 individuals sampled core range species Central Italy to conduct analyses, comparison with from two highly-inbred populations (i.e. Scandinavia Isle Royale). We found that wolves, despite recent exhibit relatively low diversity, small effective size, signatures inbreeding, non-negligible load. Our findings indicate susceptible legacies, which could lead local case reduction or fragmentations. This study emphasizes importance considering key parameters design appropriate management plans.

Language: Английский

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Echinococcus granulosus complex infection in wild boar hunters and auxiliary hunting dogs

One Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19, P. 100908 - 100908

Published: Oct. 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Leveraging local wildlife surveys for robust occupancy trend estimation

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 169, P. 112863 - 112863

Published: Nov. 27, 2024

Language: Английский

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Bird Diversity Across Farmland, Wetland, and Forest Environments of the Moulouya High Plain, Morocco

Acta Zoológica Lilloana, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 647 - 668

Published: Dec. 13, 2024

A survey of avian diversity in a specific environment is the first step comprehensing and categorizing importance this area, followed by implementation suitable conservation policies. Monthly surveys from beginning January 2015 to end December 2020 Moulouya High plain, Morocco, resulted documentation 136 species, belonging 44 families 21 orders. In addition, five birds preoccupation namely endangered Neophron percnopterus (migrant); Near Threatened Aythya nyroca (wintering) Gypaetus barbatus (resident summering); Vulnerable Streptopelia turtur (migrant breeder), Chersophilus duponti were observed plain. On other hand, comparison indexes (Margalef, Simpson, Shannon-Wiener indexes) compositional parameters (Taxa abundance) displayed maximum richness forest wetland habitats, while farmlands least diverse habitats. Finally, our study provides only profound information on species Results harvested investigation will provide valuable data for future monitoring actions at most threatened

Language: Английский

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Dispersal and settlement dynamics of wolves in a lowland ecological corridor in northern Italy: Effects of resource availability and human disturbance

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 302, P. 110936 - 110936

Published: Dec. 16, 2024

Language: Английский

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