Strong spatial segregation between wildcats and domestic cats may explain low hybridization rates on the Iberian Peninsula

Gil‐Sánchez, José María; Jaramillo, Javier Tamayo; Barea‐Azcón, José Miguel

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2015.08.001

Cited by 36 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Such scenario could buffer the effects of feral and hybrid cats, minimizing introgression potential. This assertion is coherent with the results from other studies in the Iberian region, where wildcat genetic integrity is maintained when habitat conditions are favorable, even under close contact with domestic cats (Gil‐Sanchez et al., ; Oliveira, Godinho, Randi, & Alves, ). Under Hubbs’ “desperation hypothesis” (Hubbs, ), restricted mate options resultant from depleted populations may promote mating with heterospecifics, leading to hybridization (Bohling & Waits, ; McCracken & Wilson, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Females know better: Sex‐biased habitat selection by the European wildcat

Oliveira

Urra

López‐Martín

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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The interactions between animals and their environment vary across species, regions, but also with gender. Sex‐specific relations between individuals and the ecosystem may entail different behavioral choices and be expressed through different patterns of habitat use. Regardless, only rarely sex‐specific traits are addressed in ecological modeling approaches. The European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is a species of conservation concern in Europe, with a highly fragmented and declining distribution across most of its range. We assessed sex‐specific habitat selection patterns for the European wildcat, at the landscape and home range levels, across its Iberian biogeographic distribution using a multipopulation approach. We developed resource selection functions in a use‐availability framework using radio‐telemetry data from five wildcat populations. At the landscape level, we observed that, while both genders preferentially established home ranges in areas close to broadleaf forests and far from humanized areas, females selected mid‐range elevation areas with some topographic complexity, whereas males used lowland areas. At the home range level, both females and males selected areas dominated by scrublands or broadleaf forests, but habitat features were less important at this level. The strength of association to habitat features was higher for females at both spatial levels, suggesting a tendency to select habitats with higher quality that can grant them enhanced access to shelter and feeding resources. Based on our results, we hypothesize that sex‐biased behavioral patterns may contribute to the resilience of wildcats’ genetic integrity through influencing the directionality of hybridization with domestic cats. Our study provides information about European wildcats’ habitat use in an Iberian context, relevant for the implementation of conservation plans, and highlights the ecological relevance of considering sex‐related differences in environmental preferences.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Females know better: Sex‐biased habitat selection by the European wildcat

Oliveira

Urra

López‐Martín

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Ocelots were found in slightly higher densities in the Cerro compared with the other two transects in concert with the opposite trend in jaguar density. The two animals were seldom found on the same transect at the same time or even within a few weeks of each other, implying that as larger, more apex predators, jaguars displace other predators spatiotemporally, as has been demonstrated in other wild cats (Gil-Sánchez, Jaramillo, & Barea-Azcón, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Large mammal community composition and relative abundance under a disturbance gradient in Northeast Costa Rica

Khazan¹,

Arias

Fernández

2016

RBT

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Large mammal communities, integral components of Neotropical ecosystems, are increasingly threatened by habitat fragmentation and degradation due to anthropogenic pressures and climate change. Lowland Neotropical palm forests harbor diverse mammal communities, including threatened and endangered species. We monitored three transects in the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge in Northeast Costa Rica from February 2014 until April 2015 documenting large terrestrial mammal and primate detections. Following established large mammal survey methodology, each transect was walked weekly alternating between early morning and late afternoon to maximize detection. The three transects represent three levels of anthropogenic disturbance with highest disturbance at the Cerro, followed by Caño Palma Biological Station (CPBS), and lowest levels in Tortuguero National Park (TNP). Overall we found higher diversity and increased presence of endangered species in TNP and the lowest diversity and lower presence of those species in the Cerro. Overall we detected 25 species; 19 at the Cerro, 22 in TNP and 23 at CPBS. TNP had the highest diversity as calculated by Simpson index (28.3) followed by CBPS (27.9), and the Cerro had the lowest diversity of mammals (2.27). The most influential species driving the differences of communities between the three transects included the white-lipped and collared peccaries, which were both present in higher densities in transects with lower disturbance and higher levels of protection, and domestic dogs which were present in higher densities at the Cerro. This study has documented baseline densities of large mammal communities in the wildlife refuge which can be used as preliminary data for future comparisons. As development is continuing in the region, including construction of a tourist trail at the Cerro, a continued monitoring is recommended to understand the effect of development on mammal communities. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (4): 1553-1564. Epub 2016 December 01.

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“…This is probably due to the fact that domestication has influenced some characteristics of the domestic cat (Cameron‐Beaumont, Lowe, & Bradshaw, ; Driscoll, Macdonald, & O'Brien, ; Mattucci et al, ; Wilkins, Wrangham, & Fitch, ), first of all the dependence on food distributed by humans, that has made it less competitive than the ancestor and other wild related subspecies. A low abundance of rodents and/or competition with other carnivore species (Gil‐Sànchez et al, ) such as the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes )—of which populations are increasing in several European countries (Chautan, Pontier, & Artois, ; Goszczyński, Misiorowska, & Juszko, )—may make domestic cats even more heavily dependent on food distributed by humans.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Direction of the gene flow also varied, some studies reporting a gene flow from domestic cats to wildcats (Nussberger, Wandeler, Weber, & Keller, 2014;Oliveira, Godinho, Randi, Ferrand, & Alves, 2007) while others showed the opposite with a detected flow from wildcats to domestic cats (Hertwig et al, 2009). The causes of such a high degree of heterogeneity in hybridization modalities and subsequent introgression are not known, but different environmental conditions (e.g., habitat fragmentation and urban pressure), ecological barriers (Gil-Sànchez, Jaramillo, & Barea-Azcòn, 2015), relative numbers of wild and domestic cats, or population histories (Crispo, Moore, Lee-Yaw, Gray, & Haller, 2011;Mattucci et al, 2019;Pierpaoli et al, 2003) could all play a role. Local investigations of threats are thus required to identify conservation problems and design the best options for wildcat conservation (Lozano & Malo, 2012;Mattucci et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybridization between Felis silvestris silvestris and Felis silvestris catus in two contrasted environments in France

Beugin

Salvador²,

Leblanc³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) populations are fragmented throughout most of the whole range of the subspecies and may be threatened by hybridization with the domestic cat F.s. catus. The underlying ecological processes promoting hybridization remain largely unknown. In France, wildcats are mainly present in the northeast and signs of their presence in the Pyrenees have been recently provided. However, no studies have been carried out in the French Pyrenees to assess their exposure to hybridization. We compared two local populations of wildcats, one living in a continuous forest habitat in the French Pyrenees, the other living in a highly fragmented forest-agricultural landscape in northeastern France to get insights into the variability of hybridization rates. Strong evidence of hybridization was detected in northeastern France and not in the Pyrenees. Close kin in the Pyrenees were not found in the same geographic location contrary to what was previously reported for females in the northeastern wildcat population. The two wildcat populations were significantly differentiated (F ST = 0.072) to an extent close to what has been reported (F ST = 0.103) between the Iberian population, from which the Pyrenean population may originate, and the German population, which is connected to the northeastern population. The genetic diversity of the Pyrenean wildcats was lower than that of northeastern wildcat populations in France and in other parts of Europe. The lower hybridization in the Pyrenees may result from the continuity of natural forest habitats. Further investigations should focus on linking landscape features to hybridization rates working on local populations.

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Strong spatial segregation between wildcats and domestic cats may explain low hybridization rates on the Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 36 publications

References 46 publications

Females know better: Sex‐biased habitat selection by the European wildcat

Females know better: Sex‐biased habitat selection by the European wildcat

Large mammal community composition and relative abundance under a disturbance gradient in Northeast Costa Rica

Hybridization between Felis silvestris silvestris and Felis silvestris catus in two contrasted environments in France

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