IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kaczensky, P. | |
| Untersuchungen zur Raumnutzung weiblicher Luchse (Lynx lynx), sowie zur Abwanderung und Mortalit„t ihrer Jungen im Schweizer Jura - Spatial use of female lynx, and dispersal and mortality of their offspring in the Swiss Jura | |
| 1991 Full Book | |
In the Swiss Jura mountains a radio telemetry study of European lynx was started in 1988, 14 years after successful reintroduction. The present study was concerned with spatial organization of female lynx focusing on the year 1990. In addition dispersal and mortality of their young was documented between 1988 and 1990. Home ranges of four adjacent female lynx did not overlap and varied in size between 65.5 and 200.0 km2. Utilization pattern of home ranges by females with young depended strongly on the reproduction cycle. During the first 6-9 weeks after parturition, when the kittens stayed at a den side, two females used an area of only 6 and 9 km2 around the den. With cubs becoming able to follow the mother, the females increased the hunting area. During the next three months (August - October) they were tracked on 18.5 and 84.5 km2., respectively. Kills made by the two females were distributed over a much smaller area (9 - 84.5 km2) than by a male (182 km2). In addition, distance between consecutive kills were much shorter for the females, than for the male (0.3 - 8.4 km versus 2.6 - 28.1 km). Differences in home range utilization pattern between female and male lynx, but also between females with and without young were obvious. Observed young mortality in the Jura was very high. Of at least 13 young from 7 litters only two were still alive in June 1991. On the average one of two cubs per litter died while still with the mother. Causes of death were mostly unknown. The remaining youngs separated from their mothers at an age of 10 - 11 months, trying to find new territories. Of four dispersing young studied, all died within the first year after separation. None of them lived long enough to reach sexual maturity. Besides spacing by exclusive home ranges and an unflexible reproduction rate, juvenile mortality seems to play an important role for population dynamics of an established population. |
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