Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.07.007
Title (Primary) Dogs on the catwalk: modelling re-introduction and translocation of endangered wild dogs in South Africa
Author Gusset, M.; Jakoby, O.; Müller, M.S.; Somers, M.J.; Slotow, R.; Grimm, V.
Source Titel Biological Conservation
Year 2009
Department OESA
Volume 142
Issue 11
Page From 2774
Page To 2781
Language englisch
Keywords Allee effect; Individual-based model; Lycaon pictus; Pattern-oriented modelling; Population viability analysis; Re-introduction
Abstract In South Africa, a plan was launched to manage separate sub-populations of endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in several small, geographically isolated conservation areas as a single meta-population. This intensive management approach involves the re-introduction of wild dogs into suitable conservation areas and periodic translocations among them. Despite the initial failures and high costs associated with wild dog re-introductions and translocations, there is no predictive framework available to quantify which management protocol is the most efficient. We therefore developed an individual-based model of wild dog population and pack dynamics, which accounts for the wild dogs' social complexity. The model appeared to capture the essential characteristics of a real wild dog population from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa and to be relatively robust to parameter uncertainty, suggesting that the model is valid enough for addressing management problems. The model enabled us to quantify a critical initial number of packs (two) and individuals per pack (six) necessary for a re-introduced wild dog population to establish itself in the release area. We also found a practically feasible intervention regime at which a re-introduced wild dog population had the best chance of persistence: intermittently adding packs (at least every 6 years) and harvesting disperser groups (as often as every 4 years) for translocation to other release sites, without threatening the small source population. This study demonstrates that individual-based models can be a powerful decision-support tool in re-introduction planning and provides insight into how populations made up of social groups have dynamics, and ultimately persistence, determined by individual behaviour.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=217
Gusset, M., Jakoby, O., Müller, M.S., Somers, M.J., Slotow, R., Grimm, V. (2009):
Dogs on the catwalk: modelling re-introduction and translocation of endangered wild dogs in South Africa
Biol. Conserv. 142 (11), 2774 - 2781 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.07.007