Hula mammal communities

The expansion of human infrastructure into primary habitats has led to the creation of anthropogenic landscapes. These new habitats are characterized by a variety of disturbances resulting from construction, changes in soil composition and hydrological processes, vehicle travel, the presence of hikers and pet animals. How animal species respond to these disturbances and how impacts resulting from the interaction with human activity can be mitigated are currently central questions in the field of conservation biology. Studies indicate that certain mammal species benefit from changes in the landscape resulting from human activity. These are usually species with a wide dietary diversity and the potential for behavioral flexibility. Conversely, species with narrower niches and less adaptive capacity show limited movement and reduced distribution.

Several species that are harmful to agriculture have been observed in the Hula lake and the agricultural areas around it, such as Indian crested porcupines, Eurasian badgers, wild boars and coypus. In addition to these species, Egyptian mongooses, swamp cats, golden jackals and striped hyenas are also common in the area. In order to quantify the damage caused to agriculture and propose management solutions that will mitigate it, detailed knowledge is needed about the spatial distribution and ecology of these species.

We have recently established an array of 40 sensor-activated camera traps, distributed over areas with distinct levels of human activities and infrastructure, as well as in less disturbed areas such as the Hula Reserve and the area around Hula Lake. One of the goals of the project is to create an extensive database that will enable us to map and analyze the distribution of large and medium-sized mammal species in the Hula Valley, their responses to different types of human activity in time and space, and the identification of areas where the probability of conflict with farmers is higher. In addition, the knowledge gained will enable us to examine drivers of ecological interactions between mammal species. Our objective is to create a publicly available database, allowing citizens to appreciate the biodiversity of the Hula Valley and contribute to the identification of species from images.

In addition to the significance of the program for studying the distribution patterns of harmful species and efforts to minimize agricultural damage, it is expected to enable us to evaluate the current management strategies of the various authorities operating in the Hula Valley and the surrounding Agmon complex, including the KKL and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.