Pack size in humanized landscapes: the Iberian wolf population

摘要: Group living is an important behavioral feature in some species of mammals, although somewhat uncommon the Order Carnivora. Wolves Canis lupus are highly social and cooperative carnivores that live family groups, i.e. packs. The number wolves a pack affects social, reproductive predatory behavior, thus conditioning population dynamics. Despite its relevance to management decisions, size has not been thoroughly studied populations inhabiting human dominated landscapes such as Iberian Peninsula. We estimated variation wolf from 1990 2018 northern Spain, both winter summer. Winter data corresponded direct observations snow tracking at 42 localities (n = 253 data, 160 pack-years), whereas summer rendezvous sites 22 237 43 pack-years). average largest recorded each locality year. averaged 4.2 ± 1.7 (mean SD) individuals. At adult/subadult (older than one year) 3.1 1.3 individuals, pups 4.0 1.9. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) showed declined through 4.9 (4.2–5.6, 95% CI) November 3.8 (2.9–4.9, April. found no trend size, neither nor discuss our results compared with other studies worldwide, usefulness comprehend dynamics this vulnerable population.