From science to practice: genetic estimate of brown bear population size in Slovenia and how it influenced bear management

摘要: Rapid development of molecular genetics has provided ecologists and wildlife managers with a powerful set tools for studying monitoring wildlife. We applied these to estimate the size brown bear population in Slovenia 2007. In years after was made public, we followed how this affected policy management actions Slovenian management. designed executed large-scale noninvasive genetic sampling across range species country network volunteers estimated using mark-recapture modeling. highly intensive 3-month autumn 2007, collected 1057 samples. A total 931 samples were successfully genotyped, yielding 354 different genotypes. Using correcting edge effect caused by bears moving out area Slovenian-Croatian border, accounting detected mortality, “winter” (after annual before reproduction) at 424 (95% confidence interval 383–458). also observed an uneven male female ratio 0.405 0.595, respectively. “citizen science,” managed conduct modest financial resources, something that would be impossible do otherwise. produced first robust, scientifically defensible Slovenia. Although reluctantly considered as equivalent other “traditional” data, awareness importance grew time. It became reference point understanding dynamics, basis which current future is being compared to. As such, can expect it will profoundly affect come.