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Jerosch, S.; Kramer-Schadt, S.; G”tz, M.; Roth, M.
The importance of small-scale structures in an agriculturally dominated landscape for the European wildcat (_Felis silvestirs silvestris_) in central Europe and implications for its conservation
2018  Journal for Nature Conservation (41): 88-96

The European wildcat (_Felis silvestris silvestris_) is a threatened and elusive species that was previously considered to be forest-bound in central Europe. For the first time, we caught and radio-collared wildcats outside heavily forested habitats to investigate their habitat utilization pattern. We used a generalized linear modelling framework to test our hypotheses that sex and season influence habitat selection in addition to habitat variables. Our results reveal a gender difference in habitat selection: Females were more restricted to areal shelter habitats and avoided the areas near roads more than did males. Males used more linear shelter habitats such as watercourses or hedges and avoided the proximity to settlements more than did females. The probability of wildcat occurrence far from shelter habitats was higher in summer than in winter, probably due to high coverage and shelter provided by crops. The same pattern applied to the proximity to roads. We concluded that shelter habitats are one of the key factors for the occurrence of wildcats in agriculturally dominated landscapes. We recommend a management strategy that enhances structural heterogeneity in the agricultural landscape by conserving small-scale structures such as copses, hedges and wide field margins. Other species, such as the gray-partridge (_Perdix perdix_) and the common quail (Coturnix corturnix), can also benefit from these habitat recommendations. Additionally, this management strategy simultaneously creates habitat connectivity.

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