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Assessing Great Britain as a relocation site for the threatened Iberian Lynx in a changing climate

Börmann, Anna LU (2024) In Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science GISM01 20242
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) faces imminent endangerment due to climate change resulting in the declining population of its primary prey, the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). With ongoing environmental shifts, this threat intensifies, heightening the risk of extinction for the species. The aim of this study was to explore a potential conservation strategy; the possibility of relocating Iberian Lynx to Great Britain was assessed. Utilizing species distribution modeling, lynx distribution was assessed and modeled over the extent of the Iberian Peninsula. Subsequently, the model was extrapolated to Great Britain as well as to future climate change scenarios in both study sites. While the model assessment revealed high accuracies,... (More)
The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) faces imminent endangerment due to climate change resulting in the declining population of its primary prey, the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). With ongoing environmental shifts, this threat intensifies, heightening the risk of extinction for the species. The aim of this study was to explore a potential conservation strategy; the possibility of relocating Iberian Lynx to Great Britain was assessed. Utilizing species distribution modeling, lynx distribution was assessed and modeled over the extent of the Iberian Peninsula. Subsequently, the model was extrapolated to Great Britain as well as to future climate change scenarios in both study sites. While the model assessment revealed high accuracies, it indicated low occurrence probabilities for Great Britain. As the model lacked evidence of the lynx's dependence on the European Rabbit due to the broad modeling extent, it comprised mainly climatic variables as predictors. Consequently, Great Britain appeared unsuitable for relocation, given its climatic disparity between it and the Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, projected future climatic conditions on the Iberian Peninsula are projected to exceed the current climatic conditions related to lynx distribution in large areas by 2100 indicating a heightened risk to the species. Thus, while relocation to Great Britain would demand more detailed and geographically narrower analysis, exploring sustainable alternative conservation measures outside of the Iberian Peninsula remains crucial to ensure Iberian Lynx survival against upcoming environmental challenges. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Börmann, Anna LU
supervisor
organization
course
GISM01 20242
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Geography, GIS+, Iberian Lynx, Species relocation, Species Distribution Modeling, Climate Change
publication/series
Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science
report number
182
language
English
additional info
External supervisor: Thomas A. Groen, University of Twente
id
9177400
date added to LUP
2024-11-05 11:54:46
date last changed
2024-11-05 11:54:46
@misc{9177400,
  abstract     = {{The Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) faces imminent endangerment due to climate change resulting in the declining population of its primary prey, the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). With ongoing environmental shifts, this threat intensifies, heightening the risk of extinction for the species. The aim of this study was to explore a potential conservation strategy; the possibility of relocating Iberian Lynx to Great Britain was assessed. Utilizing species distribution modeling, lynx distribution was assessed and modeled over the extent of the Iberian Peninsula. Subsequently, the model was extrapolated to Great Britain as well as to future climate change scenarios in both study sites. While the model assessment revealed high accuracies, it indicated low occurrence probabilities for Great Britain. As the model lacked evidence of the lynx's dependence on the European Rabbit due to the broad modeling extent, it comprised mainly climatic variables as predictors. Consequently, Great Britain appeared unsuitable for relocation, given its climatic disparity between it and the Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, projected future climatic conditions on the Iberian Peninsula are projected to exceed the current climatic conditions related to lynx distribution in large areas by 2100 indicating a heightened risk to the species. Thus, while relocation to Great Britain would demand more detailed and geographically narrower analysis, exploring sustainable alternative conservation measures outside of the Iberian Peninsula remains crucial to ensure Iberian Lynx survival against upcoming environmental challenges.}},
  author       = {{Börmann, Anna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science}},
  title        = {{Assessing Great Britain as a relocation site for the threatened Iberian Lynx in a changing climate}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}