IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Valdmann, H. | |
| Lynx (_Lynx lynx_) in Estonia: Genetic differentiation, diet, habitats and diseases | |
| 2002 Conference Proceeding | |
Recent studies have replenished our knowledge on some aspects of biology of lynx in Estonia. Genetic differentiation, winter diet, habitats and helminth fauna have been studied. Genetic variability, although being relatively low in all northern European lynx populations, is higher in Baltic States and Finland, probably due to the contacts with larger Russian lynx population than in Norway and Sweden, thus lessening management risks for Estonian lynx population. In the winter diet of lynx roe deer Capreolus capreolus and hares Lepus sp. dominate, red fox Vulpes vulpes representing the alternative prey item. Lynxes of both sexes and two age groups (young and adult) feed similarly with no statistically significant differences. Home range of one single adult male was approximately 100 sq. km, and practical hunters support this number. The results of snow tracking were recorded by GPS equipment and compared to available habitat types. It was observed that lynxes preferred to move in certain habitats, mostly with dense vegetation. The preferred habitat types - mostly different types of middle-aged pinewoods - were also prime wintering areas for roe deer Capreolus capreolus. Helminth fauna of studied lynx ( n= 46) consisted of cestods Diphyllobothrium latum, Taenia sp. and nematodes Toxocara mystax, Thominx aerophilus (eggs), Trichinella sp. |
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