Release Strategy for the Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Restoration Project in Korea Based on Population Viability Analysis

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국환경생태학회
· 수록지 정보 : 한국환경생태학회지 / 27권 / 4호 / 417 ~ 428페이지
· 저자명 : 이화진, 이배근, 권구희, 정철운

초록

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), listed as a Class I endangered species by the Ministry of Environment of Korea, has been considered to be extinct in South Korea since the 1980s, and an intensive restoration project has been underway in Sobaeksan national park. This study was carried out to develop a suitable model for the red fox reintroduction program based on Population viability analysis (PVA) by using the VORTEX program. If 10 animals (5 females and 5 males) were continuously released into the initial zero population every year for 10 years, population growth rate and extinction probability over the next 50 years after the introduction of the population were 0.018±0.204 and 0.354, respectively; the maximum population size was 116.34 at the 16th year after the first release, and a reduction rate of 1.22 every year from the 17th year was inferred. We found that additional releases would be needed from the 17th year after the initial release to maintain a positive growth rate and to prevent the extinction of the released red foxes, and releasing more than 12 individuals every year would be needed for the long-term, continuous existence of red foxes. By contrast, if fewer than 6 red fox individuals were released the extinction probability over the next 50 years was more than 80%. To maintain the minimum population growth rate, the release of more than 8 individuals were needed for positive population growth. The population growth rate was more stable when 10 animals in the change of their sex rate every year from the set value were released as the female-to- male sex ratio of 6:4 rather than 1:1. However, if the female-biased sex ratio was increased by more than 7:3, a negative population growth was expected. The occurrence rate of roadkill and poaching are important factors in the red fox restoration project. The extinction probability was decreased to 30% if each factor was decreased to 3% based on the standard baseline; however, if each factor was increased to more than 3%, an extinction rate of about 90% was reached over the next 50 years.

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