IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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Eurasian lynx - Lynx lynx All articles in a recent issue of the journal Wildlife Biology [13 (4), 2007] were dedicated to the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx. We take the opportunity to present some of them plus a few additional articles in this current hightlight. You can find a lot more articles on the Eurasian lynx by entering Lynx lynx in the Keyword Search of the Library.
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Articles
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The Eurasian lynx in Switzerland: several articles, published in Wildlife Biology 13: Characterisation of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx den sites and kitten survival. |
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| © KORA |
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Odden, J., Herfindal, I., Linnell, J.D.C., Andersen, R. 2008: |
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The Eurasian lynx causes large loss of free-ranging domestic sheep in Norway. We tested whether the observed higher kill rates by male lynx than female lynx were related to an association between the availability of the main natural prey, as measured by roe deer habitat suitability, presence of sheep, and habitat selection of male and female lynx. We found that lynx selected areas with high roe deer suitability during summer and winter. Moreover, during summer, compared to male lynx, females had greater selection for roe deer areas and a stronger avoidance for sheep grazing areas, which suggests that previously observed differences in kill rates between male and female lynx can be attributed to sex-specific habitat use during summer. |
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Odden_et_al_2008_Sheep_vulnerability_to_lynx_depredation_in_relation_to_roe_deer_density.pdf |
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| © KORA |
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Schmidt, K. 2008: |
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Comparison of published data on lynx diet during the high abundance of ungulates with new data obtained for the low abundance period showed that despite a significant decline in their availability, cervids (roe and red deer) continued to form the majority of the diet of lynx, with roe deer being most preferred in both periods. Home range sizes of lynx showed a tendency to increase with declining prey densities, as indicated by relative percentage increases in average yearly home range sizes amongst different sex/age groups. In response to lower availability of their main prey, lynx increased their daily straight-line movement distances by 44% and doubled the ranges covered in 5-day periods. This illustrated that, with declining prey abundance, the lynx increased their hunting efforts by either spending more time actively searching for prey or continuing foraging even after a successful hunt. |
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© KORA |
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Andersen, R., Karlsen, J., Austmo, L.B., Odden, J., Linnell, J.D.C., Gaillard, J.M. 2007: |
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Data on the age, sex and condition of roe deer killed by Eurasian lynx and human hunters were collected in two study areas in the counties of Nord-Trøndelag and Hedmark in central and southeastern Norway, respectively. The profile of 151 lynx-killed roe deer (24% adult males, 44% adult females, 11% male fawns and 21% female fawns) was not statistically different from that of the standing population. In contrast, hunters killed a significantly larger proportion of adult animals, especially males (44% adult males, 28% adult females, 15% male fawns and 13% female fawns). |
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Andersen_et_al_2007_Selectivity_of_Eurasian_lynx_and_hunters_for_roe_deer.pdf |
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| © Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme / MES |
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Huckschlag, D. 2007: |
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In 1999 a long-term monitoring was established to gain information about the occurrence and distribution of the lynx in the Palatinate Forest (Rhineland-Palatinate). From 1999 to 2006 239 indications were recorded. One fifth is regarded as unreliable and was excluded from further analysis. The remaining 187 indications consist of two third doubtful and one third reliable data. No indication could be qualified as sure and confirmed. 57 % of all indications are sightings, 21 % vocalisations and 16 % tracks. Kills, scats and scores seldom occurred. The seasonal variation of all indications shows a maximum in January and February. According to the analysis there are only weak evidences for a minimal number of two individuals in 1999, 2000 and 2002. |
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| © D. Huckschlag |
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Jule, K.R., Leaver, L.A., Lea, S.E.G. 2008: |
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We examined results published in previous reviews, and found evidence to support that reintroduction projects using wild-caught animals are significantly more likely to succeed than projects using captive-born animals. We further compiled our own review of 45 case studies in carnivore reintroduction projects (in 17 species across 5 families) to investigate survival rates rather than overall project 'success'. We found that (1) wild-caught carnivores are significantly more likely to survive than captive-born carnivores in reintroductions; (2) that humans were the direct cause of death in over 50% of all fatalities and (3) that reintroduced captive-born carnivores are particularly susceptible to starvation, unsuccessful predator/competitor avoidance and disease.. |
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Jule_et_al_2008_Effect_of_captive_experience_on_reintroduction_success_of_carnivores.pdf |
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| © KORA |
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O'Brien, J.S., Johnson, W.E. 2007: |
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Where did the modern cat family evolve? Why and when did they leave their homes and migrate across continents? How many species actually exist, and which ones are closely related? Experts generally agree that there are 37 species in the family Felidae, but they have offered dozens of classifi cation schemes, ordering cat species in as few as two to as many as 23 genera. Who could argue? Under the skin, one cat species appears pretty similar to another. They look like big cats, midsize cats and small cats. Distinguishing a lion's skull from a tiger's can be a challenge even for an expert, and genetic investigations that we have tried over the past two decades have failed to sort the cats into definitive groupings. |
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© KORA |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |
