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The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is a relatively common, small felid ranging throughout Asia. During the past 15 years the natural history of leopard cats has been the topic of five studies; however, the mean sample size of study animals has been low (x = 6.8, range 4-10). We report on the most comprehensive study of leopard cats to date. Between June 1999 and February 2003, 20 leopard cats (14 males and six females) were radio-collared and tracked from 3 to 20 months in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Spatial organization of the leopard cats was characterized as weakly territorial with similar intrasexual range sizes and minimal seasonal variation. Mean (± SD) annual home-range (95% minimum convex polygon) size for males was 12.4 km 2 (n = 1211 locations, ± 7.1, range 2.2-28.9), whereas females exhibited a mean home-range size of 14 km 2 (n = 470, ± 12.2, range 4.4-37.1). Core area (50% minimum convex polygon) averaged 2.0 km 2 , and the mean 1-day movement was 1298 m (± 981, range 35-8653). Habitat use was generally in proportion to occurrence, and the mean activity (52%) was arrhythmic with crepuscular and nocturnal peaks. Analysis of scats indicated that murids dominated leopard cat diet.

We examined demographics, dispersal, sex-related behaviour, group structure, and genetic similarities of female feral pigs Sus scrofa on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in southern Texas from June 1993 to December 1995. Cumulative and seasonal ranges and core areas were calculated for 18 female pigs representing three distinct sounders. Simultaneous pairs of radio locations were used to assess behavioural associations among pigs, and DNA ®ngerprinting was used to determine genetic similarity. Behavioural and spatial associations largely corresponded to genetic relationships. Similarity of behavioural dendrograms to genetic dendrograms indicated that genetic relationships of feral pigs played a role in observed population structure. A single discrepancy between genetic and behavioural dendrograms suggested two animals dispersed to an adjacent sounder. Also, one sounder appeared to have been created by ®ssion from a larger, adjacent sounder. Factors that are important keys in understanding the association between genetics and behaviour of feral pigs include dispersal, climate, habitat quality, population densities, and sex-related behaviour.

No abstract

Urban development in the Florida Keys, USA, mandates an understanding of how habitat requirements for Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) interact with vegetation changes caused by development. Our study objectives were to (1) determine Key deer habitat use at different spatial scales, (2) evaluate vegetation changes and identify vegetation types most threatened by development, and (3) provide guidelines to direct land acquisition programs in the future. We identified 6 vegetation types: pineland, hammock, developed, freshwater marsh, buttonwood, and mangrove. Key deer (n = 180; 84 F, 96 M) preferred upland vegetation types (>1 m above mean sea level; pineland, hammock, developed) and avoided tidal or lower‐elevation areas (<1 m above mean sea level; freshwater marsh, buttonwood, mangrove). Analyses of Geographic Information System (GIS) coverages suggested that historical development impacted near‐shore habitats while recent trends pose a greater risk to upland areas (pineland, hammock). Because uplands are preferred by Key deer, conservation measures that include land acquisition and habitat protection of these areas may be needed.