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Number of chamois observed in the massifs of Ezkaurre (1995-2006) and Larra-Lapaquiza (1996-2006), with the population trend fitted by Poisson regression (lines).
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Two political jurisdictions in northern Spain, Navarre, where the Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica is categorized as Vulnerable, and Aragon, where it is huntable, coordinated management for the recovery of this subspecies at the western limit of its range. After an estimate of only a small population in 1992–1993 hunting was banned in...
Citations
... Sport hunting may be the main threat to be addressed for the long-term conservation of taruka in the vicinity of La Paz. Hunting must be controlled to facilitate the continued recovery of taruka populations, as demonstrated for other threatened species (Ale et al., 2007;Recharte Uscamaita & Bodmer, 2009;Herrero et al., 2010). The elimination of hunting both for meat and for sport may not be possible if local people are not actively engaged in the conservation effort, which requires them to know and care for the species. ...
The taruka Hippocamelus antisensis, a species of deer categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was thought to be locally extinct in the environs of La Paz, Bolivia. However, local people from Mecapaca municipality reported seeing tarukas at their former community establishment, which had been abandoned several years previously. After confirming the presence of taruka we conducted intensive surveys from which we estimated minimum abundance, and then calibrated relative abundance indices (faecal and track counts) to the abundance estimate. Using these calibrated indices we carried out a preliminary estimate of the total abundance of the species in the municipality of Mecapaca. We also carried out conservation education activities with teachers and students at local schools, which we discuss here in terms of the long-term conservation of this threatened species.
... Giona Mt hosts the second largest population of chamois in Greece after the Tymfi Mt population (130 individuals) in northwestern Greece (Papaioannou and Kati 2007). Even though the Giona Mt population is one of the largest at a national scale, its impressively low density of 2 ind./100 ha is six-to twelve-fold lower than the densities reported for the Pyrenees or the Alpsfor instance 12.2 ind./100 ha (Herrero et al. 2012), 13 ind/100 ha (Boschi & Nievrgelt 2003), 14 ind./100 ha (Berducou and Bousses 1985), 21-23 ind./100 ha (Pepin et al. 1996), 24 ind./100 ...
The annual range of Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) in Giona
mountain was found to be 5502 ha, with a low population density (2 individuals/
100 ha). Seasonal range patterns varied significantly, with a minimum extent in
summer and a maximum in winter (30% and 79% of the annual range, respectively).
Summer stress and the rutting period might be associated with the observed
aggregated distributions during the summer and autumn (core areas of 28% and
22% of seasonal ranges, respectively, defined after the Fixed Kernel Density
Estimator). Chamois were found to use significantly lower altitude habitats in
winter (1212 m) than in summer (2223 m), and significantly steeper slopes in
winter (35°); aspect was not found to have a significant effect on habitat use.
Population structure consisted of kids (21%), yearlings (8%), females (35%) and
males (36%). Conservation management for the species should consider poaching,
livestock competition and global warming.
... En este sentido la zona más adecuada para la suelta sería la que mantiene un grupo de hembras estable dentro de la RNCA. En cualquier caso es importante aplicar una visión de macizo a la gestión de los ungulados de montaña de Ancares, con la consiguiente necesidad de coordinación territorial (Herrero et al., 2010), entre otras cosas porque la gestión de unidades exclusivamente administrativas, presenta serias dificultades a la hora de evaluar los resultados obtenidos (Pañella et al., 2010). ...
Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica has been re-introduced in the Cantabrian Mountains in Leon province (Riaño and Ancares). To evaluate habitat and restocking suitability in the National Game Reserve of Os Ancares (NGRA, Lugo province) we: (i) undertook a reconstruction of its natural history in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula; (ii) gathered data on its current distribution in Ancares; (iii) analyzed its habitat use though a review of similar experiences; (iv) developed a cartography to define its potential habitat, and y v) drew a zoning of the NGRA following habitat quality. Results indicate the existence of suitable habitat in 1,250, which could host 40 animals considering a density of 3 goat km-2. The management of this population should we coordinated with the leonese side of the massif, of higher quality and surface rather than the Lugo’s slope. The increase of the current population will allow the species to colonize naturally the whole massif.La cabra montés, Capra pirenaica, ha sido reintroducida en la Cordillera Cantábrica en León (Riaño y Ancares). Con el fin de evaluar la viabilidad del hábitat y del reforzamiento poblacional en la Reserva Nacional de Caza de Os Ancares (RNCA, Lugo) llevamos a cabo: (i) una reconstrucción de su historia natural en el NO de la Península Ibérica; (ii) una recolección de citas y determinación de la distribución actual en Ancares; (iii) el análisis del uso del espacio a partir de revisión de experiencias similares; (iv) un desarrollo de cartografía para definir su hábitat potencial y v) una zonificación de la RNCA en función de la calidad del hábitat. Los resultados indican la existencia de un área adecuada de 1.250 ha que podría albergar una población de 40 ejemplares considerando una densidad de 3 cabras km-2. La gestión de esta población debería estar coordinada con la de la parte leonesa del macizo, de mayor calidad y superficie que la parte lucense. El crecimiento actual de la población existente permitirá a la especie colonizar todo el macizo de forma natural.
... Considering that there was no population monitoring, approximate estimations considered a decrease in 50% of total animals. Almost 30 yr later, a new outbreak of IKC affected populations of Pyrenean chamois, which have been subjected to long-term monitoring [17], [18], [19], and has provided an opportunity to quantify the effects of the outbreak on Pyrenean chamois. ...
Between 2006 and 2008, an outbreak of Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) affected Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra p. pyrenaica, an endemic subspecies of mountain ungulate that lives in the Pyrenees. The study focused on 14 mountain massifs (180,000 ha) where the species' population is stable. Cases of IKC were detected in ten of the massifs and, in five of them, mortality was substantial. The outbreak spread quickly from the first location detected, with two peaks in mortality that affected one (2007) and three (2008) massifs. In the latter, the peak was seasonal (spring to autumn) and, in the former, the outbreak persisted through winter. To identify the outbreak's aetiology, we examined 105 Pyrenean chamois clinically affected with IKC. TaqMan rt-PCR identified Mycoplasma conjunctivae in 93 (88.5%) of the chamois. Another rt-PCR detected Chlamydophila spp. in 14 of chamois, and 12 of those had mixed infections with mycoplasmas. In the period 2000-2007, the chamois population increased slightly (λ 1.026) but decreased significantly during the IKC outbreak (λ 0.8, 2007-2008; λ 0.85, 2008-2009) before increasing significantly after the outbreak (λ 1.1, 2009-2010). Sex-biased mortality shifted the adult sex ratio toward males (from 0.6 to 0.7 males per female) and reduced productivity slightly. Hunting was practically banned in the massifs where chamois experienced significant mortality and allowed again after the outbreak ended. Long-term monitoring of wild populations provides a basis for understanding the impacts of disease outbreaks and improves management decisions, particularly when species are subject to extractive exploitation.
... Desde entonces diversos trabajos han ido aproximándose al tamaño de sus poblaciones. En 1995-96 comienza un seguimiento anual propiamente dicho de forma coordinada entre Aragón y Navarra ( Herrero et al., 2010) y en 2000 todo el conjunto de subpoblaciones están integradas en él. Desde enton- ces pueden distinguirse tres periodos en cuanto a su tendencia: incremento moderado (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007); decremento por una epidemia de queratoconjuntivitis infecciosa (2007)(2008)(2009) y comienzo de la recuperación (2010) (Figura 3). ...
The remarkable increase of wild ungulates populations in Aragon during the last 50 years, both in numbers and distribution, has made population monitoring a need for effective management of these species. In parallel to their raising numbers, problems related to crop damage and collisions with vehicles are growing. In this situation there has been a shift in the management goals from conservation to population control. Different methods have been used in the surveys: postal enquiries for distribution, battues, distance sampling, night spotlight surveys and indirect ones based on transect and plot counts of pellet groups. Surveys started in 1985 for red deer, 1990 for wild boar and Iberian wild goat, 1995 for chamois and 2002 for roe deer, gradually becoming a population monitoring program. The surveys are carried out by rangers and wildlife consultants under the coordination and supervision of the Fish and Game Service of the Aragon Government. The ungulate populations are still growing (wild boar, wild goat, red and roe deer), are relatively stabilised (fallow deer, feral goat), fluctuate due to diseases (chamois) or show small populations limited to fenced states (Barbary sheep, mouflon). Hunting bags went from 1,100 to 36,000 during an eleven-year period (1990-2009): 303 chamois, 1,173 wild goats, 2,141 roe deer, 2,424 red deer and 29,595 wild boars, showing a trend which is still increasing. The main tool is therefore hunting quota and its verification through hunting bags declarations, damages to crops and car crashes, and population trend and abundance.
La importante expansión de las poblaciones de ungulados silvestres en Aragón desde los años 50 del siglo XX hasta la actualidad, tanto en superficie ocupada como en abundancia de ejemplares, ha hecho necesario el seguimiento de las mismas para su adecuada gestión. Su incremento en las dos últimas décadas, junto con el importante aumento de daños agrícolas y colisiones con vehículos, ha motivado un importante cambio en los criterios gestores; pasando de la conservación y fomento al control e incluso reducción de efectivos. Los métodos utilizados para el seguimiento de las poblaciones fueron: encuestas quincenales de distribución, batidas, muestreos de distancia, captura – recaptura, fareos nocturnos y muestreos indirectos basados en el conteo de grupos de excrementos en transectos y parcelas fijas. Los seguimientos se comenzaron a realizar en 1985 en el caso del ciervo, 1990 en el jabalí y cabra montesa, 1995 en el sarrio y 2002 en el corzo, habiéndose convertido paulatinamente en una verdadera monitorización poblacional. Los seguimientos son realizados por Agentes de Protección de la Naturaleza del Gobierno de Aragón y asistencias técnicas externas, bajo la supervisión y coordinación de los responsables administrativos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, algunas poblaciones continúan su expansión e incremento (jabalí, ciervo, corzo, cabra montesa), otras se encuentran relativamente estabilizadas (gamo, cabra doméstica asilvestrada), y unas pocas fluctúan debido a enfermedades (sarrio) o muestran presencias testimoniales prácticamente reducidas a cercados (arruí, muflón). Las capturas declaradas han pasado de 1.100 a 36.000 en 11 años (1999-2009): 303 sarrios, 1.173 cabras montesas, 2.141 corzos, 2.424 ciervos y 29.595 jabalíes, con una tendencia al incremento que aún no ha finalizado. El instrumento fundamental por lo tanto son los cupos de caza y su verificación se realiza a partir de las declaraciones de capturas, los daños a la agricultura y accidentes automovilísticos y la tendencia y abundancia poblacional.
[Published in: Handbook of the Mammals of Europe – Terrestrial Cetartiodactyla (Eds. Zachos, F. and L. Corlatti). Springer Nature.]
The chamois is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe. Although the taxonomy of the genus has been subject to continuous revisions since the beginning of the twentieth century, currently two species are recognized: the Northern chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, and the Southern chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica. In this chapter we follow this classification, and present an up-to-date synthesis of the biology, ecology, behaviour and conservation status of the two species. After introducing the taxonomic status and the recent controversies surrounding the systematic of the genus, we provide an account of the current distribution of the chamois within its native range, from the Cantabrians to the Caucasus, from Poland to Turkey. For both species, we describe: the main morphological, physiological and genetic features; an overview of the main life history traits (growth, survival and reproduction); the relationships between chamois and its environment (space use, diet) and how internal and external variables impact on the dynamics of its populations, including competition with wild and domestic ungulates; its social behaviour throughout the year and male mating system; the most relevant diseases and their demographic impacts; the issues surrounding its management and conservation. This chapter will provide researchers and people interested in chamois with the opportunity to access the most relevant advances on the biology of these iconic species.
A probabilistic approach to P systems, called population dynamics P systems (PDP systems, for short) is introduced for studying the dynamics of (real) ecological populations. An implementation of this approach, as part of the P-Lingua software library, called pLinguaCore, is provided in order to assist in the definition, analysis, simulation and validation of PDP-based models. Four significant case studies of (real) ecosystems - the scavenger birds, Zebra mussel, Pyrenean chamois and Giant panda - are presented.
Biology, pathology and management of the Pyrenean chamois
