Corradini Andrea, Peters Wibke, Pedrotti Luca, Hebblewhite Mark, Bragalanti Natalia, Tattoni Clara, Ciolli Marco, Cagnacci Francesca
Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, TN, Italy.
Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy.
Glob Ecol Conserv. 2021 Dec;32:e01895. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01895. Epub 2021 Oct 28.
Recent events related to the measures taken to control the spread of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) reduced human mobility (i.e. anthropause), potentially opening connectivity opportunities for wildlife populations. In the Italian Alps, brown bears have recovered after reintroduction within a complex anthropogenic matrix, but failed to establish a metapopulation due to reduced connectivity and human disturbance (i.e. infrastructure, land use, and human mobility). Previous work from Peters et al. (2015, Biol. Cons. 186, 123-133) predicted the main corridors and suitable hot spots for road network crossing for this population across all major roads and settlement zones, to link most suitable habitats. Bears used the identified hot spots for road network crossing over the years, but major barriers such as main motor roads were not overcome, possibly due to functional anthropogenic disturbance, specifically human mobility. By analyzing 404 bear occurrences reported to local authorities (as bear-related complaints) collected between 2016 and 2020 (March 9th - May 18th), hence including the COVID-19 related lockdown, we tested the effect of human presence on brown bears' use of space and hot spots for road network crossing. Animals occupied human-dominated spaces and approached hot spots for crossing at a higher rate during the lockdown than in previous years, suggesting that connectivity temporarily increased with reduced human mobility for this population. As a result of their increased use of hot spots, bears expanded their use of suitable areas beyond the population core area. Movement of animals across structural barriers such as roads and human settlements may therefore occur in absence of active disturbance. We also showed the value of predictive models to identify hot spots for animal barrier crossing, the knowledge of which is critical when implementing management solutions to enhance connectivity. Understanding the factors that influence immigration and emigration across metapopulations of large mammals, particularly carnivores that may compete indirectly with humans for space or directly as super-predators, is critical to ensure the long-term viability of conservation efforts for their persistence. We argue that dynamic factors such as human mobility may play a larger role than previously recognized.
近期与控制新冠病毒（SARS-CoV-2）传播所采取措施相关的事件减少了人类活动（即人为休止），这可能为野生动物种群带来了连通性机会。在意大利阿尔卑斯山，棕熊在重新引入复杂的人为环境后数量有所恢复，但由于连通性降低和人类干扰（即基础设施、土地利用和人类活动），未能形成集合种群。彼得斯等人（2015年，《生物保护》186卷，第123 - 133页）之前的研究预测了该种群穿越所有主要道路和聚居区的道路网络的主要廊道和适宜热点，以连接最适宜的栖息地。多年来，熊利用已确定的热点穿越道路网络，但诸如主要机动车道等主要障碍并未被克服，这可能是由于功能性人为干扰，特别是人类活动。通过分析2016年至2020年（3月9日至5月18日）期间向地方当局报告的404起熊出现事件（作为与熊相关的投诉），其中包括与新冠疫情相关的封锁期，我们测试了人类存在对棕熊空间利用和道路网络穿越热点的影响。在封锁期间，动物占据人类主导空间并以高于前几年的速率接近穿越热点，这表明该种群的连通性随着人类活动减少而暂时增加。由于它们对热点的利用增加，熊扩大了对适宜区域的利用范围，超出了种群核心区域。因此，在没有主动干扰的情况下，动物可能会穿越诸如道路和人类聚居区等结构性障碍。我们还展示了预测模型在识别动物穿越障碍热点方面的价值，在实施增强连通性的管理解决方案时，了解这些热点至关重要。了解影响大型哺乳动物集合种群迁移和扩散的因素，特别是那些可能与人类间接争夺空间或作为超级食肉动物直接竞争的食肉动物，对于确保其长期生存的保护工作的可行性至关重要。我们认为，诸如人类活动等动态因素可能比之前认为的发挥更大作用。
