Development of a method for non-invasive and representative tissue sampling for use in population estimation of wild boar.

Description of the project:
Since 2005, a study with the aim to develop a new method to estimate wild boar population density is being carried out in the central Palatinate Forest (South-western Germany). The method is based on the classical capture-mark-recapture approach. However, instead of capture and marking, the wild boar are to be identified via genotyping of non-invasively obtained tissue samples (hair or scat). In a first step, the feasibility of a representative survey of wild boar populations via hair or scat samples shall be tested. Therefore, hair sampling stations were installed in the study area, baited with maize and controlled regularly. The analysis of the so obtained hair samples together with infrared- video control shall give information about heterogeneities and thus potential bias in the individual sampling probability due to age, sex or status of an animal. A homogeneous sampling over all members of a population is crucial for the successful application of the capture-mark-recapture approach. After having carried out previous tests in a wild boar population kept in an enclosure, the scat sampling is tested in the study area in the Palatinate Forest. The first question to answer is if enough samples can be obtained in the field e.g. by searching along transects. In addition to hair and scat sampling, wild boar are captured in the study area and equipped with VHF- and GPS- transmitters in order to observe their movements and to obtain information about the size of their home ranges. This shall help to determine the optimal density and distribution of sampling stations and/ or transects.

contact person: Dipl. Biol. Cornelia Ebert
Phone: +49 (0)630 691 1162
Email: cornelia.ebert@wald-rlp.de
Runtime:
Start of project: 01.01.2005
End of project: 31.07.2011
Project Management:
Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg
Hohmann U
Professur für Wildtierökologie und Wildtiermanagement
Prof. Dr. Storch
Tennenbacher Str. 4
79106 Freiburg
Germany

Phone: + 49 (0) 761 203 - 3663
Fax: + 49 (0) 761 203 - 3667
http://www.wildlife.uni-freiburg.de
Actual Research Report
Financing: