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Lynx
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Extreme genomic erosion after recurrent demographic bottlenecks in the highly endangered Iberian lynx Abascal et al., 2016
Abstract Background: Genomic studies of endangered species provide insights into their evolution and demographic history, reveal patterns of genomic erosion that might limit their viability, and offer tools for their effective conservation. The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid and a unique example of a species on the brink of extinction. Results: "We generate the first annotated draft of the Iberian lynx genome and carry out genome-based analyses of lynx demography, evolution, and population genetics. We identify a series of severe population bottlenecks in the history of the Iberian lynx that predate its known demographic decline during the 20th century and have greatly impacted its genome evolution. We observe drastically reduced rates of weak-to-strong substitutions associated with GC-biased gene conversion and increased rates of fixation of transposable elements. We also find multiple signatures of genetic erosion in the two remnant Iberian lynx populations, including a high frequency of potentially deleterious variants and substitutions, as well as the lowest genome-wide genetic diversity reported so far in any species." Conclusions: "The genomic features observed in the Iberian lynx genome may hamper short- and long-term viability through reduced fitness and adaptive potential. The knowledge and resources developed in this study will boost the research on felid evolution and conservation genomics and will benefit the ongoing conservation and management of this emblematic species."
População de lince chega aos 475 exemplares em 2016, 28 na Extremadura
EFEPlasencia (Cáceres)30 Jan 2017 Exemplar de lince ibérico em Madrid (Espanha). EFE/Sergio Barrenechea  *This image is copyright of its original author A população de lince na Península Ibérica chegou aos 475 exemplares em 2016, 28 dos quais encontram-se na zona de reintrodução do Vale do Matachel (Badajoz), segundo o censo provisório do projeto Life+IBERLINCE. Em Sierra Morena (Andalucía) consolidou-se uma única população, com 317 exemplares, alcançando-se assim um dos principais objetivos do projeto. Os resultados do censo, ainda provisórios, confirmam a tendência de subida que se regista ano a ano, apesar da influência negativa que a doença hemorrágica (EHVb) teve na diminuição das populações de coelho silvestre em toda a Península Ibérica, destacou o Life+IBERLINCE em comunicado. O aumento de exemplares na Andalucía produziu-se graças em boa medida à contribuição de duas das zonas onde está presente o Lince ibérico, as de Guarrizas e Andújar-Cardeña. Na zona de Andújar-Cardeña contabilizaram-se 197 exemplares de lince ibérico (frente aos 176 de 2015), números similares aos de 2011 e que aprovam o plano de confronto contra os efeitos da EHVb que se iniciou em 2013, graças ao qual se conseguiu recuperar a queda da população do lince. No vale de Guarrizas (Jaén), onde se iniciaram em 2011 as libertações, registam-se até ao momento 70 exemplares. Em Doñana-Aljarafe, por sua parte, a população estabilizou-se em torno dos 70/75 exemplares (o censo de 2016 contabiliza 72), embora a situação possa reverter-se caso se melhorar a densidade de coelho. Quanto ao resto da Península Ibérica, o censo constata uma população de 86 exemplares (frente a 42 de 2015) distribuídos pelas distintas áreas de reintrodução. Assim, no parque natural Vale do Guadiana (Mértola, Portugal), foram recenseados 19 exemplares; em Matachel (Badajoz), 28; nos Montes de Toledo, 23; e em Sierra Morena Oriental, 16. No total, somados estes números aos da Andalucía, alcançam-se um total de 475 exemplares para toda a Península Ibérica, um número que desde o projeto Life+IBERLINCE se pretende garantir nos próximos anos.
ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE IBERIAN LYNX (LYNX PARDINUS) IN EUROPE Delibes, Rodriguez & Ferreras, 2000
Conservation Action Plan for the Iberian Lynx in Portugal Sarmento, Cruz & Serra, 2004
Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Analysis of Iberian Lynx Populations Johnson et al., 2004
Abstract: "The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), one of the world’s most endangered cat species, is vulnerable due to habitat loss, increased fragmentation of populations, and precipitous demographic reductions. An understanding of Iberian lynx evolutionary history is necessary to develop rational management plans for the species. Our objectives were to assess Iberian lynx genetic diversity at three evolutionary timescales. First we analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation to position the Iberian lynx relative to other species of the genus Lynx. We then assessed the pattern of mtDNA variation of isolated populations across the Iberian Peninsula. Finally we estimated levels of gene flow between two of the most important remaining lynx populations (Donana National Park and the Sierra Morena Mountains) and characterized the extent of microsatellite locus variation in these populations. Phylogenetic analyses of 1613 bp of mtDNA sequence variation supports the hypothesis that the Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx, and Canadian lynx diverged within a short time period around 1.53–1.68 million years ago, and that the Iberian lynx and Eurasian lynx are sister taxa. Relative to most other felid species, genetic variation in mtDNA genes and nuclear microsatellites were reduced in Iberian lynx, suggesting that they experienced a fairly severe demographic bottleneck. In addition, the effects of more recent reductions in gene flow and population size are being manifested in local patterns of molecular genetic variation. These data, combined with recent studies modeling the viability of Iberian lynx populations, should provide greater urgency for the development and implementation of rational in situ and ex situ conservation plans."
Iberian Lynx from Andalusia, Spain. Credits to Oscar Diez "Wildlife Photography".
Regalos de la naturaleza... Trabajando la noche... Lince Ibérico..  *This image is copyright of its original author
 (09-08-2017, 05:24 PM)Ngala Wrote: Iberian Lynx from Andalusia, Spain. Credits to Oscar Diez "Wildlife Photography". That photo has a very creepy, alluring undertone to it... 
Fascinating article, very impressed with the lynx. http://lynxinbelarus.com/2017/08/21/lynx-wolf-interference/ . This does make me wonder, if a Eurasian Lynx has the aggression to take on and defeat a wolf, could it possibly do the same to a human? What are your thoughts?
 (01-29-2019, 04:23 AM)smedz Wrote: Fascinating article, very impressed with the lynx. http://lynxinbelarus.com/2017/08/21/lynx-wolf-interference/ . This does make me wonder, if a Eurasian Lynx has the aggression to take on and defeat a wolf, could it possibly do the same to a human? What are your thoughts? Any carnivore above the weight range of 15-25 kg can do serious damage (killing is some what risky and less possible) if determined to do... They just fear the two legged predator which tower them in height aspect and with binocular vision akin to predators like them...
Lynx is kind of funny animal time to time. Yes, they can confront lone wolf, but then again this can happen too, when meeting a small dog in the woods :) That dog is 1 year old, when his owner went to the woods with her, she immediately run to track something. Owner thought, that it was maybe a raccoon dog, but here you can see, what he found when finally managed to find what dog was barking :)
One guy who I know was once in the house when his dog, beagle started a terrible noise outside, he went outside to look what it was (dog was loose on yard), he found dog following the barking. There were 2 lynxes up on the tree :) He said to the dog, that maybe better to leave before they look closer and come down :) Here another video, where lynx comes down from a tree.
Here are some footage about lynxes in Finland.
Young lynx here: Here is a camera and curious lynx. After about 0:55 there is quite good footage about that lynx. Last one just for fun, don´t try to put a dog to do a job for a lynx :) (01-29-2019, 06:30 PM)Shadow Wrote: Lynx is kind of funny animal time to time. Yes, they can confront lone wolf, but then again this can happen too, when meeting a small dog in the woods :) That dog is 1 year old, when his owner went to the woods with her, she immediately run to track something. Owner thought, that it was maybe a raccoon dog, but here you can see, what he found when finally managed to find what dog was barking :)That is weird, perhaps it's because they learned domestic dogs might have a human with them. (01-30-2019, 02:56 AM)smedz Wrote:(01-29-2019, 06:30 PM)Shadow Wrote: Lynx is kind of funny animal time to time. Yes, they can confront lone wolf, but then again this can happen too, when meeting a small dog in the woods :) That dog is 1 year old, when his owner went to the woods with her, she immediately run to track something. Owner thought, that it was maybe a raccoon dog, but here you can see, what he found when finally managed to find what dog was barking :)That is weird, perhaps it's because they learned domestic dogs might have a human with them. Dogs are also loud and charge quite eagerly. If lynx flees, dogs for sure run after and barking all the time. If lynx would stay foot, then it would be a different situation. Wold acts many times differently. |
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