No Allee effect detected during the natural recolonization by a large carnivore despite low growth rate

Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) have recently naturally recolonized southern Sweden. The first documented reproduction of lynx in recent times occurred in 2003, and the population increased from two to 48 family groups (the unit of measurement in Swedish monitoring) during its first 18 years (2003/04 – 2020/21). We did not detect any Allee effect, i.e., lower growth rate at low population density, during the recolonization of southern Sweden, although our population simulations revealed a non-negligible (30 %) chance that population observed development could include an Allee effect. The probable absence of an Allee effect was likely because colonizing females did not lack mating partners, as a larger number of wide-ranging males were established in the area before documented reproduction took place. Despite the absence of an Allee effect, the growth rate during recolonization was lower in southern Sweden (lambda = 1.20) than in central Sweden (lambda = 1.29). We have no evidence of higher mo...

欧亚猞猁（Eurasian lynx，学名Lynx lynx）近期自然重新定居至瑞典南部。有记录以来近代猞猁的首次繁殖事件发生于2003年，在其重新定居的前18年（2003/04–2020/21）间，种群规模从2个（瑞典监测体系的统计单位为家族群）增长至48个家族群。本研究未在瑞典南部猞猁的重新定居过程中检测到阿利效应（Allee effect）——即种群密度较低时生长速率下降的现象——尽管种群模拟结果显示，观测到的种群动态存在30%的不可忽略概率包含阿利效应。阿利效应未显现的可能原因是：定居的雌性个体并未缺乏交配伴侣，因为在有记录的繁殖事件发生前，该区域已存在大量活动范围广阔的雄性个体。尽管未检测到阿利效应，瑞典南部猞猁种群在重新定居阶段的增长率（λ=1.20）仍低于瑞典中部种群（λ=1.29）。目前尚无证据表明更高的……