DOI: 10.5061/dryad.sf7m0cg7v
title: Data for: Long-term changes in habitat selection and prey spectrum in a reintroduced Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in Switzerland

description: When wild-caught Euan lynx (Lynx lynx) from the Slovak Carpathian
 Mountains were reintroduced to Central Switzerland in the early 1970s and
 spread through the north western Swiss Alps (NWA), they faced a largely
 unfamiliar landscape with strongly fragmented forests, high elevations and
 intense human land use. For more than 30 years, radiocollared lynx have
 been monitored during three different project periods (in the 1980s, 1990s
 and 2010s). Our study explored, how lynx over generations have learned to
 adjust to the alpine environment. We predicted that (1) lynx nowadays
 select more strongly for open habitats, higher elevations and steep slopes
 compared to the early stages of recolonization and that (2) consequently,
 there were significant changes in the Eurasian lynx’ prey spectrum. To
 test our predictions, we analysed telemetry data (VHF, GPS) of 13 adult
 resident lynx in the NWA over 35 years, using Resource Selection
 Functions. Furthermore, we compared kills recorded from different
 individuals inhabiting the same region during three project periods. In
 general, lynx preferred forested areas, but over the years, they avoided
 open habitat less. Compared to the early stage of the recolonization, lynx
 in the most recent project period selected for higher elevations and the
 proportion of chamois in their prey spectrum surmounted that of roe deer.
 Potential driving factors for the observed changes could be increasing
 tolerance to human presence, intraspecific competition or fitness benefits
 through exploitation of new resources. Long-term studies like ours provide
 important insight into how animals can respond to sudden environmental
 changes e.g., in the course of translocations into new areas or
 anthropogenic alterations of their habitats.
description: <strong>RSF
 dataset:</strong> This table
 contains VHF and GPS locations of Eurasian lynx associated with habitat
 variables and project period id that were used to build a RSF model for
 Eurasian lynx. The table is divided into used (actual) lynx locations and
 random locations (use=0) in a ratio of 1:1 (column "use"). The
 table also includes an animal id and a measure of localisation accuracy
 (column "accuracy", 2= position located with an accuracy of ±
 500 m (at least 3 bearings), 3= position located with an accuracy of ± 50
 m, 4= exact position affirmed through direct observation, a kill or
 tracks). Habitat type is defined as 1= forest, 2= open habitat, and 3=
 unsuitable habitat. The project periods are NWA I (1983 – 1985), NWA II
 (1997 – 2001) and NWA III (2011 – 2017). GPS telemetry was used in NWA
 III, VHF telemetry for NWA I and NWA II. For information on the raw data
 or for R-code used to run the models please contact the data
 owner. <strong>Prey winter
 dataset:</strong> This table
 contains data on ungulate species (roe deer, Alpine chamois) predated by
 radio-collared Eurasian lynx in the same study area during three project
 periods (NWA I: 1983 – 1985; NWA II: 1997 – 2001; NWA III: 2011 – 2017).
 Only kills found in winter (November to April) are included. For each prey
 item the kill date (defined from telemetry data) and several habitat
 variables are given. Habitat type is defined as 1= forest, 2= open
 habitat, and 3= unsuitable habitat.