Spatial structure of the male Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) home range within the Volyn Polissia, Ukraine

R. M. Cherepanyn; M. V. Franchuk; Y. M. Andreychuk; I. V. Dykyy

doi:10.15421/012603

R. M. Cherepanyn Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University
M. V. Franchuk World Wide Fund for Nature Ukraine (WWF-Ukraine)
Y. M. Andreychuk Nature Reserve “Rivnenskyi”
I. V. Dykyy International Research and Educational Centre Observatory

Keywords: GPS-GSM telemetry, MCP method, KDE method, lynx, spatial ecology, habitat, conservation.

Abstract

At the European level, interest in the study and conservation of the Eurasian lynx has increased consi d erably, particularly with regard to the spatial organization of its populations across different ecosystems and landscapes, including home range size and habitat use. In Ukraine, however, reliable information on the spatial parameters of lynx populations based on modern monitoring approaches remains extremely limited. The objective of this study was to assess the spatial structure of the home range of a male lynx within the Volyn Polissia region using GPS–GSM telemetry data obtained in Ukraine. Spatial analyses were conducted using the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) methods, with additio n al identification of core and subcore areas. The total home range area of the male lynx during February–August 2023 was estimated at 258.3 km² using MCP (100%) and 119.5 km² using KDE (100%), while the core and subcore areas comprised 24.0 km² and 10.9 km², respectively. During the breeding season, the estimated areas of MCP (100%), KDE (100%), core area , and subcore zones were 158.5 km², 55.4 km², 0.6 km² , and 3.2 km², respectively, indicating a pronounced reduction compared with the non breeding per i od. Analysis of core and subcore loc ation points demonstrated the importance of oligotrophic and mesotrophic swampy coniferous and deciduous forests, black alder–dominated wetlands, and swampy pine forests as key habitats for hunting, reproduction, and shelter. The obtained results provide new insights into the spatial ecology of the Eurasian lynx in Volyn Polissia and contribute valuable baseline data for the deve l opment of effective management and conservation strategies for lynx populations in Ukraine.

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