Abstract
The overall aim of this project is to study habitat selection, dispersal patterns and genetic variation to forecast establishment of lynx in expanding populations, e.g. the lynx population in southern Sweden. We will use the unique possibilities to evaluate the power to forecast dispersal pathways and establishment into new areas, as we will build models with data from one area and test these models with independent data from another area. We will combine data from radio-marked lynx, lynx surveys and genetic analyses (tissue from marked and killed lynx) to forecast areas of establishment, identify dispersal pathways and sources of immigration. Data from radio-marked lynx will be the basis for habitat suitability maps and to describe dispersal routes, using GIS-tools like network analysis, least-cost-path analysis and circuitscape. We will use high-resolution DNA genotyping using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to study genetic structure, genetic variation and relatedness in the lynx population. Landscape genetic will be used to describe gene flow, spatial genetic structure, connectivity and migration rate between central and southern lynx populations in Sweden. The Swedish lynx population has deceased during the last few years and the establishment of lynx in southern Sweden crucial for long-term viability of the population, to meet the requirements for favorable conservation status (EU Habitat Directive) and the Swedish environmental goals.
Sweden