Abstract

Understanding the extent of animal mortality, the where and when mortality occurs, is paramount to implement effective conservation actions and secure the persistence of animal populations. Unfortunately, so far our understanding of animal survival (which is the inverse of mortality) is very limited, even for well-studied species such as vultures. Project SURVIVALIST has the ambitious objective of filling this knowledge gap for three European vultures (Griffon, Cinereous and Bearded vulture). Based on a large collaborative network, SURVIVALIST collated a uniquely large dataset (including >1400 vulture individuals across the three species) of high-resolution vulture tracking data. These data are analysed using novel approaches to quantify survival in time across the species annual cycle (e.g. during the breeding and non-breeding season) and life-stages (juvenile, immature, adults; Objective 1). Survival variation for each species is then mapped across space by integrating survival modeling with space use from the tracking data, to identify hotspots of vulture mortality (Objective 2).