TY - JOUR

T1 - Biogeographical patterns in the diet of the wildcat, Felis silvestris Schreber, in Eurasia: Factors affecting the trophic diversity

AU - Lozano Mendoza, Jorge

AU - Moleón, M.

AU - Virgós, E.

N1 - 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 References: Arroyo, B.E., Diet of Montagu harrier Circus pigargus in Central Spain. 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Is the wildcat (Felis silvestris) a specialist predator (2004) Journal of Zoology, London, 263, pp. 401-407; Moleón, M., Gil-Sánchez, J.M., Food habits of the Wildcat (Felis silvestris) in a peculiar habitat: The Mediterranean high mountain (2003) Journal of Zoology, London, 260, pp. 17-22; Moreno, E., Barbosa, A., Distribution patterns of small mammal fauna along gradients of latitude and altitude in Northen Spain (1992) Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 57, pp. 169-175; Nasilov, S.B., Feeding of wildcat in Azerbaijan (1972) Soviet Journal of Ecology, 3, pp. 179-180; Ozenda, P., (1982) Les Végetaux Dans Le Biosphère, , Doin Éditeurs, Paris; Palomo, L.J., Gisbert, J., (2002) Atlas de Los Mamíferos Terrestres de España, , Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza-SECEM-SECEMU, Madrid; Partridge, L., Green, P., Intraspecific feeding specialization and population dynamics (1985) Behavioural Ecology: Ecological Consequences of Adaptative Behaviour, pp. 207-226. , ed. by. R.M.*Sibly. R.H.*Smith. pp. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford; Pierpaoli, M., Birò, Z.S., Herrmann, M., Hupe, K., Fernandes, M., Ragni, B., Szemethy, L., Randi, E., Genetic distinction of wildcat (Felis silvestris) populations in Europe, and hybridization with domestic cats in Hungary (2003) Molecular Ecology, 12, pp. 2585-2598; Putman, R.J., Facts from faeces (1984) Mammal Review, 14, pp. 79-97; Ragni, B., Gatto selvatico Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777 (1981) Distribuzione e Biologia di 22 Specie di Mamiferi in Italia, pp. 105-113. , ed. by. M.*Pavan. pp. Consiglio nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma; Reynolds, J.C., Aebischer, N.J., Comparison and quantification of carnivore diet by faecal analysis: A critique, with recommendations, based on a study of the Fox Vulpes vulpes (1991) Mammal Review, 21, pp. 97-122; Riols, C., Étude du régime alimentaire du Chat forestier (Felis silvestris) dans l'est de la France (1988) Bulletin Mensuel Office National de la Chasse, 121, pp. 22-27; Roper, T.J., The European badger Meles meles: Food specialist or generalist (1994) Journal of Zoology, London, 234, pp. 437-452; Roper, T.J., Mickevicius, E., Badger Meles meles diet: A review of literature from the former Soviet Union (1995) Mammal Review, 25, pp. 117-129; Rosenzweig, M.L., (1995) Species Diversity in Space and Time, , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; Roughgarden, J., Evolution of niche width (1972) American Naturalist, 106, pp. 683-718; Saint-Girons, M.C., Vesco, J.P., Notes sur les mammifères de France. XIII: Répartition et densité de micromammifères dans le couloir Sequano-Rodhanien (1974) Mammalia, 38, pp. 244-264; Sarmento, P., Feeding ecology of the European wildcat Felis silvestris in Portugal (1996) Acta Theriologica, 41, pp. 409-414; Schall, J.J., Pianka, E.R., Geographical trends in numbers of species (1978) American Naturalist, 137, pp. 791-815; Schoener, T.W., Theory of feeding strategies (1971) Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 2, pp. 369-404; Sládek, J., The quantitative composition of the food of the wildcats (Felis silvestris) living in the West Carpathians (1973) Biologia Bratislava, 28, pp. 127-137; Stahl, P., (1986), Thèse, Université Nancy, NancyStahl, P., Leger, F., Le chat sauvage (Felis silvestris, Schreber, 1777) (1992) Encyclopédie des Carnivores de France, pp. 1-50. , ed. by. M.*Artois. H.*Maurin. pp. Société Française pour l'Etude et la Protection des Mammifères (SFEPM), Bohallard, Puceul; (2001) Statistica® for Windows, , StatSoft., Ver. 6.0. 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PY - 2006/6/1

Y1 - 2006/6/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Biogeographical patterns

KW - Diet

KW - Feeding habits

KW - Felis silvestris

KW - Latitudinal gradient

KW - Mediterranean area

KW - Rabbit

KW - Rodents

KW - Trophic diversity

KW - Wildcat

KW - diet

KW - feeding behavior

KW - felid

KW - latitudinal gradient

KW - Mediterranean environment

KW - prey preference

KW - rodent

KW - trophic level

KW - zoogeography

KW - Caucasus

KW - Eurasia

KW - Europe

KW - Iberian Peninsula

KW - Scotland

KW - Southern Europe

KW - United Kingdom

KW - Western Europe

KW - Arvicolinae

KW - Invertebrata

KW - Muridae

KW - Murinae

KW - Oryctolagus cuniculus

KW - Rodentia

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - Biology

KW - Gender and Diversity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646683809&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/4ec3c9f6-0d20-31c2-87ab-533507496d63/

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01474.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01474.x

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 33

SP - 1076

EP - 1085

JO - Journal of Biogeography

JF - Journal of Biogeography

SN - 0305-0270

IS - 6

ER -