Estimation of population sizes in large carnivores in Europe using genetic analyses

Vojtěch Zeman

Bakalářská práce

Abstract:

Large carnivores such as brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) or grey wolf (Canis lupus) play very important roles as keystone species in their ecosystems. However, these species are particularly difficult to monitor through traditional field methods. Literature research was mainly focused on non-invasive genetic monitoring as a tool to estimate population sizes in large carnivores. This method was described along with its advantages and disadvantages and it was also compared to traditional field methods, which were the only source of data in the past. In non-invasive genetic monitoring, population sizes are usually estimated under Capture–Recapture modelling framework. This method and its estimation models (Closed population model, Open population model, Robust design) were characterised with examples of their applications in European countries. Practical part consisted of experimental estimation of wolf population size in the Czech Republic. Data set used to estimate population size contained 184 wolf samples which were collected between years 2014–2021 in the Czech Republic. Microsatellites were used as genetic markers and 156 unique genotypes were identified. Estimation of population sizes was carried out in software capwire using ECM and TIRM models. TIRM showed slightly higher likelihood, therefore we assume that this model is more suitable for estimating size of wolf population in the Czech Republic. However, our results were strongly overestimated possibly due to low number of samples used in our estimation, but also due to transboundary and geographic layout of wolves in the Czech Republic. Therefore, future efforts to estimate size of wolf population should take in consideration these factors causing possible bias in results.

Keywords

carnivora, DNA analysis, genetic monitoring, microsatellites, non-invasive samples, population size

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 16. 4. 2021

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: Mgr. Barbora Černá Bolfíková, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Bakalářský studijní program / obor:
Zemědělská specializace / Zemědělství tropů a subtropů