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ANALYSIS OF GREY WOLF'S (Canis lupus L.) PREFERENCES TO THE HABITAT
TYPES (BY NCH) IN THE NATURE PARK BIOKOVO
Goran Gužvica1, Ivana Gabrić2, Lidija Šver3
1Oikon Ltd. – Institute of Applied Ecology, Trg senjskih uskoka 1-2, HR-10020 Zagreb, Croatia ([email protected])
2Public Institution "Nature Park Biokovo", Franjevački put 2/A, HR-21300 Makarska, Croatia ([email protected])
3Association for Research, Photographing and Conservation of Croatian Natural Heritage – Bioterra, Grižanska 15, HR-
10040 Zagreb, Croatia ([email protected])
Results
Three wolves were GPS collared between 2015 and 2017 (Fig. 1). In NP Biokovo
and the contact zone there were 2 wolf packs. Two of the collared wolves (Joško
and Škiljo) belonged to the NW pack and the third wolf (Nuša) was a member of
the SE pack. The SE pack stayed in the central part of the Biokovo Massif, while
the NW pack mostly remained in the lower parts of hinterland of Biokovo
Mountain (Fig. 1 and 2). Accordingly, the habitat preference index of these two
packs differs (Fig. 3). The NW pack mostly prefered mosaics of cultivated areas
(1.77), then Submediterranean, termophilous forests and scrubs of Quercus
pubescens (alliance Ostryo-Carpinion orientalis) (1.18), Sub-Mediterranean and
Epimediterranean dry grasslands (order Scorzoneretalia villosae) (0.60), etc. The SE
pack mostly prefered Lime stone of Tyrrhenian-Adriatic region (2.89), then Sub-
Mediterranean and Epimediterranean dry grasslands (order Scorzoneretalia villosae)
(1.53), Garrigues (class Erico-Cistetea) (1.16), etc. (Fig. 3).
Material and methods
GPS telemetry was used as the main method in this study. Based on recorded
coordinates, movement were analyzed and index of wolf's habitat preference
(ratio of the time wolf spent in certain habitats and presence of these habitats in
their home range) for habitat type (by National Classification of habitats) was
calculated.
Research and monitoring of wolves in Nature Park Biokovo has been continually performed since 2013. The purpose of the research is to estimate the number
and stability of wolf packs and the number of individuals within a pack as well as to determine the size of their home range and habitat preferences.
Conclusion
The results of this study enable researches to determine levels of importance of
different habitat types and zoning of protected areas crucial for wolf
conservation.
References
Anonymous (2014) Ordinance on Habitat Types, Habitat Maps, Threatened and
Rare Habitat Types and Measures for Conserving Habitat Types. Official Gazette
of the Republic of Croatia, 88.
Fuller, T.K. et al. (2003) Wolf population dynamics. In: Wolves: behavior, ecology,
and conservation (Mech & Boitani, Eds). University of Chicago Press, Chicago,
Illinois, USA
Kuzyk, G.W. et al. (2004) Winter Habitat Use by Wolves, Canis lupus , in Relation
to Forest Harvesting in West-central Alberta. The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 118,
368–375.
Nuša
Female, 2 years old, 29 kg weight, monitored
from 11st March 2016 till 20th March 2017
Škiljo
Male, 8 months old, 22 kg weight, monitored
from 14th December 2016 till 22nd May 2017
Joško
Male, 7 months old, 25 kg weight, monitored
from 22nd October 2015 till 3rd December 2015
Figure 1. Maps of habitat types within home ranges belonging to the
three collared wolves in Nature Park Biokovo.
Figure 3. Habitat preference index of wolves from NW and SE packs in Nature
Park Biokovo.
0,36
2,89
1,531,16
0,64
0,00 0,00 0,200,66
0,170,00,51,01,52,02,53,0
Hab
itat
pre
fere
nce i
nd
ex
NHC code
SE pack
0,00 0,00
0,600,34
1,18
0,00 0,20
1,77
0,000,00,51,01,52,02,53,0
Hab
itat
pre
fere
nce i
nd
ex
NHC code
NW pack
Habitat type
D.3.4.
E.3.5.
E.7.4.
E.8.1.
E.8.2.
I.2.1.
J.1.1.
B.1.3.
B.1.4.
C.3.5.
Lime stone of Alpine-Carpathian-Balkanic region
Lime stone of Tyrrhenian-Adriatic region
Sub-Mediterranean and Epimediterranean dry grasslands
Garrigues
Submediterranean, termophilous forests and scrubs of Quercus
pubescens
Forests of Pinus sylestris and P. nigra on dolomites
Mixed, rarely pure evergreen forests and macchia of Quercus ilex
and Q. coccifera
Strictly Mediterranean pure evergreen forests and Holm-oak
(Quercus ilex) maquis scrubland
Mosaic landscapes with arable land and woodland element
(bocages)
Active villages
GPS points of Nuša
Home range of Nuša
Border of NP Biokovo
State border of Croatia
Highway A1
Legend
GPS points of Škiljo
Home range of Škiljo
Border of NP Biokovo
State border of Croatia
Highway A1
Legend
Habitat type
D.3.4.
E.3.5.
E.7.4.
E.8.2.
I.2.1.
J.1.1.
B.1.3.
B.1.4.
C.3.5.
Lime stone of Alpine-Carpathian-Balkanic region
Lime stone of Tyrrhenian-Adriatic region
Sub-Mediterranean and Epimediterranean dry grasslands
Garrigues
Submediterranean, termophilous forests and scrubs of
Quercus pubescens
Forests of Pinus sylestris and P. nigra on dolomites
Strictly Mediterranean pure evergreen forests and Holm-oak
(Quercus ilex) maquis scrubland
Mosaic landscapes with arable land and woodland element
(bocages)
Active villages
GPS points of Joško
Home range of Joško
Border of NP Biokovo
State border of Croatia
Highway A1
Legend
Habitat type
D.3.4.
E.3.5.
E.7.4.
E.8.2.
I.2.1.
J.1.1.
B.1.3.
I.5.1.
C.3.5.
Lime stone of Alpine-Carpathian-Balkanic region
Sub-Mediterranean and Epimediterranean dry grasslands
Garrigues
Submediterranean, termophilous forests and scrubs of
Quercus pubescens
Forests of Pinus sylestris and P. nigra on dolomites
Strictly Mediterranean pure evergreen forests and Holm-oak
(Quercus ilex) maquis scrubland
Mosaic landscapes with arable land and woodland element
(bocages)
Fruit and nut tree orchards
Active villages
Figure 2. Percentages of different habitat types within home ranges of wolves
from NW and SE packs in Nature Park Biokovo.
B.1.3.; 2,85%
B.1.4.; 0,15%
C.3.5.; 34,82%
D.3.4.; 0,58%
E.3.5.; 43,89%
E.7.4.; 0,98%
E.8.1.; 0,00%
E.8.2.; 0,98%I.2.1.;
15,32%
J.1.1.; 0,43%
NW pack
B.1.3.; 0,20%
B.1.4.; 0,02%
C.3.5.; 40,83%
D.3.4.; 0,40%
E.3.5.; 54,68%
E.7.4.; 0,21%
E.8.1.; 0,43%
E.8.2.; 0,36%
I.2.1.; 2,43%
J.1.1.; 0,43%
SE pack