Biogeographical patterns in the diet of the wildcat, Felis silvestris Schreber, in Eurasia: Factors affecting the trophic diversity
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Aim: To analyse the biogeographical patterns in the feeding habits and trophic diversity of prey of the wildcat, Felis silvestris Schreber. Location: The Eurasian distribution range from the Caucasian mountains to the Iberian Peninsula and Scotland. Methods: We reviewed 15 studies to collate data on feeding behaviour across the current wildcat distribution range. We considered nine prey groups and recorded the latitude, whether the location was within a Mediterranean bioclimate area, and rabbit presence. Prey groups were reduced into four PCA factors. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships of latitude with PCA factors and trophic diversity. anova was used to test if trophic diversity was higher at locations with Mediterranean climates. We also analysed the relationship between small rodent consumption and both Mediterranean climates and rabbit presence using anova. Finally, we confirmed the relationship between the frequency of Murinae and Microtinae in the diets and the presence of rabbits and with respect to Mediterranean climates controlling for latitude (mancova). Results: Diet diversity was greatest in Mediterranean climates. Trophic diversity decreased when rodents formed the bulk of the diet, but increased with the inclusion of alternative prey such as rabbits and invertebrates. Small rodent consumption was also negatively related to rabbit consumption or presence. The inclusion of Murinae and Microtinae in the diet varied with latitude, with higher ingestion of the former in the southern locations and of the latter in northern areas. Main conclusions: The trophic diversity of the wildcat diet was associated with Mediterranean climatic conditions, being broader at more southern latitudes. At the continental scale, the wildcat cannot be considered a rodent specialist because rabbits were preferred when they were present. Thus, we consider the wildcat to be a facultative specialist. In addition, our results indicate that general trophic patterns in the diet of a species may not be accurately determined if the availability of alternative prey is not taken into account.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Biogeography |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1076-1085 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0305-0270 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.06.2006 |
Bibliographical note
Cited By :50
Export Date: 27 January 2017
CODEN: JBIOD
Correspondence Address: Lozano, J.; Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales Y Tecnología, Depto. Matemáticas, Física Aplicada Y Ciencias de la Naturaleza, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, E-28933 Madrid, Spain; email: j.lozano.m@wanadooadsl.net
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- Biogeographical patterns, Diet, Feeding habits, Felis silvestris, Latitudinal gradient, Mediterranean area, Rabbit, Rodents, Trophic diversity, Wildcat, diet, feeding behavior, felid, latitudinal gradient, Mediterranean environment, prey preference, rodent, trophic level, zoogeography, Caucasus, Eurasia, Europe, Iberian Peninsula, Scotland, Southern Europe, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Arvicolinae, Invertebrata, Muridae, Murinae, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Rodentia
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