Abstract
Knowledge of population dynamics of threatened species in the wild is key to effective conservation actions. However, at present, there are many examples of endangered animals for which their current situation is unknown, and not just in remote areas and less developed countries. We have explored this topic by studying the paradigmatic case of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), an endangered small carnivore whose status has been subjectively established on the basis of non-systematic approaches and opportunistic records. Little is known about its demographic situation, prompting the need for information to improve conservation measures. However, the secretive behaviour of felines along with its low density in natural conditions have prevented the gathering of sufficient data. We developed a field sampling strategy for one of the largest populations (Andalusia, South Spain, 87,268 km2), based on a logistically viable systematic non-intrusive survey by camera-trapping. This study offers the first large-scale estimation for any European wildcat population, based on analytical approaches applied on Species Distribution Models. A hierarchical approach based on a Maxent model for distribution estimation was used, along with Generalised Linear Models for density estimation from explicit spatial capture-recapture data. Our results show that the distribution range is smaller and more highly fragmented than previously assumed. The overall estimated density was very low (0.069 ±0.0019 wildcats/km2) and the protected areas network seems to be insufficient to cover a significant part of the population or a viable nucleus in demographic terms. Indeed, the most important areas remain unprotected. Our main recommendations are to improve the protected area network and/or vigilance programs in hunting estates, in addition to studying and improving connectivity between the main population patches.
Highlights
Knowledge of the population dynamics of threatened species in the wild is key to effective conservation actions [1, 2]
We must ask what is the current situation of the European wildcat populations? More how many “pure” European wildcats are left and how many live under the umbrella of the protected areas network, such as in national parks or other reserves? A paradoxical situation has arisen in which the ecology of the subspecies is well-known, due to ample research on this topic, while very little is known about the species’ demographic situation; at the same time, answers to the latter question are critical for the effective conservation of these endangered European wildcats
Seventeen wildcats of our study area were genetically examined in order to detect hybridization with domestic cat [30]; we found that the phenotypic traits of genetically pure individuals of our study area were very constant, and we only considered typical wildcats from camera trapping as “pure” individuals
Summary
Knowledge of the population dynamics of threatened species in the wild is key to effective conservation actions [1, 2] While this is an obvious idea, at present, there are many examples of endangered animals for which their current situation is unknown, and in remote areas and less developed countries. The available distribution maps show a severely fragmented range, with the main patches in the Iberian Peninsula, France, Germany and the eastern countries of Europe (see a compilation in [28]) Most of these maps (if not all) have been subjectively built on the basis of non-systematic approaches, using opportunistic records which could be assumed to be unchecked following the detailed phenotypic examination needed for hybridization detection [29, 30, 31]. A large-scale conservation strategy for a species must take into account the complexity of density-niche relationships [34] and simultaneously overcome the huge challenges posed by density estimations over large spatial scales (e.g. [35])
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