The Iberian lynx population is not yet viable in the long term

Researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (EBD), an institute belonging to the Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), determined that the population of the Iberian Lynx it is still not fully favourable.

He workpublished in Animal Conservationevaluated what are the necessary conditions for the population of this animal to be genetically viable long-term. According to the results of the study, this would depend on the increase in the number and size of its subpopulations, as well as on the increase in connectivity between them.

Thanks to conservation programs, the Iberian lynx population has shown a positive evolution in the last decade: the last census estimated a total of 1,668 individuals released compared to less than 100 who remained in 2002.

Today, in addition to facing numerous threats, such as being run over, rabbit decline, habitat fragmentation or climate change, there is another aspect that jeopardizes its recovery: the genetic factor.

“The recovery of a species depends not only on the absolute numbers of its population, but also on a minimum genetic variability to guarantee its survival. At their most critical moment, there were barely two isolated lynx subpopulations in Doñana and Andújar”, ​​explains the CSIC researcher at EBD José A. Godoy. “Today there are five and within the Life project “Lynxconnect” new reintroductions are being made in Sierra Arana and Lorca, but this is still not enough”, he adds.

Study results indicated that long-term genetic viability of the Iberian lynx would require at least one increase in the size of subpopulations between 50% and 200%. That would mean reaching at least 1,100 reproductive females, out of the 326 recorded in the 2022 census. Another condition would be the creation of eight new subpopulations.

Neither of these two objectives would be easy to achieve in the medium term due to the enormous cost involved in creating new subpopulations and the lack of suitable areas with sufficient density of rabbits, their main prey. However, the Iberian lynx is currently spreading to some habitats that were initially not considered optimal for it, so new possibilities may open up that will have to be studied.

Promote genetic exchange

Another of the necessary requirements would be related to the migration level. Subpopulations must be sufficiently connected to favor genetic exchange between them. In this way, the exchange between 8 and 15 individuals per generation between neighboring subpopulations should be achieved. The lynxes that are part of the reintroduction programs have shown a great ability to migrate.

“They have been known to travel distances of up to hundreds of kilometers and in some cases have successfully established themselves in other subpopulations. Despite this, new actions will be necessary to improve connectivity, which are already foreseen in the Life ‘Lynxconnect’ project”, says Godoy.

These include creating ecological corridors or the establishment of intermediate subpopulations with few reproductive pairs that act as guides to attract dispersed individuals and thus direct them to the next subpopulation. It is difficult, however, to predict in advance whether these measures will be able to achieve the objective proposed in the study.

This study suggests that, to ensure the long-term genetic viability of the species, it is essential to expand existing subpopulations, create new populations in areas that have high growth potential, even if they are less well connected, and avoid directing resources to the creation of new ones. many small populations, with no prospect of linking with others.