Assessing the distribution of elusive non‐game carnivores: are hunters valuable informants?
| Autor: | Esther Descalzo, Pablo Ferreras, María Martínez‐Jauregui, Mario Soliño, Jenny Anne Glikman, Francisco Díaz‐Ruiz, Miguel Delibes‐Mateos |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Universidad de Málaga, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2023 |
| Předmět: | |
| Popis: | 10 pages, 1 table, 2 figures.-- Open access Public surveys can be valuable tools to collect information on wildlife distribution. Our objective was to improve the knowledge on the distribution and expanding areas of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in central Spain by using an on-line questionnaire to hunters. We assessed the reliability of information that hunters provided by comparing it with reports from wildlife professionals. Our results show a high overall congruence but significantly different information provided by hunters and professionals on the distribution of the Egyptian mongoose, suggesting that both sources provide unique data for the management of non-game species. For example, hunters reported greater mongoose presence than professionals in areas to the east of Toledo and Ciudad Real provinces, for the whole distribution and core area of the species, suggesting that hunters could help to detect other areas where the species exists. Overall, our findings stress the importance of engaging hunters in wildlife conservation, as they can share valuable information on wildlife species, including those that are not hunted E. Descalzo was supported by a predoctoral research contract funded by the University of Castilla-La Mancha co-supported by the Plus European Social Fund (FSE+). F. Díaz-Ruiz was supported by a postdoctoral research contract funded by the University of Málaga through the grant program Ayudas para la Incorporación de Doctores del I Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Málaga (Call 2020). This study is part of the research project SBPLY/17/180501/000184, funded by the regional Government of CLM and the European Regional Development Fund |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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