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An Investigation Into Prey Selection in the Scottish Wildcat (Felis Silvestris Silvestris)

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An investigation into prey selection in the Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) Keziah Jane Hobson September 2012 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science and the Diploma of Imperial College London 1 Scottish wildcat, photo courtesy of Kerry Kilshaw, WildCRU, University of Oxford 2 "NA BEAN DO'N CHAT GUN LAMHAINN" - - "Touch not the cat without a glove" (Motto of Clan Macpherson) 3 CONTENTS List of acronyms………………………………………………………………………..... 4 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………................ 5 Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………............... 6 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………. 7 1.1. Problem statement………………………………………………………….............. 7 1.2. Aims and objectives………………………………………………………………... 9 1.3. Hypotheses…………………………………………………………………………... 10 2. BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………........ 11 2.1.Carnivore conservation…………………………………………………………....... 11 2.2. Wildcat Felis silvestris………………………………………………………..……. 11 2.3. Domestication of the cat……………………………………………………..…….. 11 2.4. European wildcat - Felis silvestris silvestris……………………………….......... 12 2.4.1. Distribution & Protection…………………………………………........... 12 2.4.2. Habitat use…………………………………………………………............. 12 2.4.3. Scottish population of Felis silvestris silvestris…………………......... 12 2.4.4. Hybridisation and introgression………………………………................ 13 2.5. The diet of Felis silvestris silvestris ………………………………………........... 15 2.5.1. Preference for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)……………………........ 15 2.6. Prey availability in Scotland…………………………………………………......... 17 2.6.1. Wild rabbits, myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease……….. 17 2.6.2. Small mammal populations………………………………………............ 18 2.7. Ecological relationships……………………………………………………............. 19 2.8. Investigating food habits of a species………………………………………........ 19 2.8.1. Scat content analysis……………………………………………….......... 20 2.9. Prey selectivity ………………………………………………………………............ 21 2.10. Study sites…………………………………………………………………….......... 22 3. METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………………. 25 1 3.1. Conceptual and methodological frameworks ………………………………….. 25 3.2. Scat collection and identification………………………………………………… 25 3.2.1. Scat collection…………………………………………………………….. 25 3.2.2. Scat identification……………………………………………………........ 25 3.2.3. DNA analysis…………………………………………………………........ 26 3.3. Scat content analysis…………………………………………………………........... 26 3.3.1. Scat preparation………………………………………………………........ 26 3.3.2. Identification of prey items………………………………………………. 27 3.3.2.1. Cuticular slides………………………………………………………...... 27 3.3.2.2. Medullar slides………………………………………………………....... 27 3.4. Small mammal trapping ………………………………………………………....... 28 3.4.1. Survey areas and traps……………………………………………………. 28 3.4.2. Processing small mammals………………………………………………. 29 3.5. Rabbit latrine counts using line transects……………………………………….. 29 3.6. Statistical analysis - contents of scats…………………………………………….. 30 3.6.1 Two frequency of occurrence methods…………………………………… 30 3.6.2. Mass and volume methods……………………………………………...... 30 3.6.3. Biomass calculation method……………………………………………... 30 3.7. Statistical analysis - small mammal trapping data……………………………... 31 3.7.1 Small mammal abundance…………………………………………........... 31 3.7.2. Density estimates for dominant habitats………………………............. 32 3.7.3. Density estimates for study sites…………………………………........... 32 3.8. Prey selection………………………………………………………………….......... 32 4. RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………......... 34 4.1. Objective 1: To examine prey consumption in the Scottish population of F.s. silvestris at three different sites. ……………………………………………………… 34 4.1.1. Frequency of occurrence of prey types ………………………….............. 34 4.1.2. Mass and volume of food items ……………………………………......... 35 5.1.3. Consumed biomass……………………………………………………..…. 36 4.2. Objective 2: Investigate the diversity, abundance and density of small mammal species in areas occupied by F. s. silvestris. …………………………………….. 37 4.2.1. Diversity of small mammal species………………………………........... 37 2 4.2.2. Abundance of small mammals - modelling using mark-recapture techniques…………………………………………………........ 38 4.2.3. Density of small mammal species……………………………………...... 39 4. 3. Objective 3: To explore the prey selectivity of F. s. silvestris, taking into account the availability of prey species (with a focus on small mammals)……………….. 40 4.3.1. Rabbit presence/absence………………………………………………….. 40 4. 3. 2. Prey Selectivity Analysis……………………………………………….. 40 4.3.2.1. Scat production………………………………………………….. 40 4.3.2.2. Prey selection…………………………………………………….. 40 5. DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………....….41 5.1. Prey consumption in the population of wild-living cats in Scotland…...........41 5.2. Diversity, abundance and density of small mammals ………………................42 5. 3. Prey selection in wild-living cats in Scotland………………………….............. 43 5.3.1. Rabbit presence/absence………………………………………….............. 43 5. 3. 2. Prey Selectivity ………………………………………………….............. 43 5.4. Limitations of this investigation ……………………………………………......... 45 5.4.1. Identification of Felis silvestris silvestris in Scotland…………........... 45 5.4.2. Sample size ..……………………………………………................……... 45 5.4.3. Individual wild-living cat’s preferences………………………………... 45 5.4.4. Scat content analysis - sources of bias and identification difficulties………………………………………………………………………… 46 5.4.5. Small mammal abundance and density estimates…………………...... 46 5.5 Conservation implications ………………………………………………………… 47 6. REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………......... 49 7. APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………......... 60 3 List of acronyms AIC - Akaike Information Criterion EC - European Commission FCS – Forestry Commission Scotland GPS - Global Positioning System IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature MNA - Minimum Number Alive mtDNA - Mitochondrial DNA OSGB - Ordnance Survey Great Britain PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction RHD - Rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease SE - Standard Error SD - Standard Deviation SNH – Scottish Natural Heritage UKBAP - UK Biodiversity Action Plan WildCRU - Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford Word count: 12 871 4 Abstract The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is the only native felid species still present in Britain. The species faces numerous threats including direct persecution, habitat loss, and risk of hybridisation and introgression with the domestic cat (Felis catus). The current population is estimated to be as low as 400 individuals combined with concern over the genetic purity of the Scottish wildcat could lead to the species being re-classified as Critically Endangered. To enable species recovery efforts must be made to reduce the risk of hybridisation with the domestic cat, and facilitate the species to re-establish its former range. This requires up-to-date information on habitat and prey requirements of the species in order to inform management decisions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prey availability and consumption in the Scottish wildcat, in order to elucidate which prey species are being selected. A total of 30 scat samples were collected from three sites located on FCS land throughout Scotland. Prey remains were identified to the following prey types; Microtinae, Murinae, avian and lagomorph species and 5 scat analysis techniques were applied to determine the most frequent and important prey type within the diet. Prey availability was assessed through small mammal trapping and rabbit latrine count surveys in the dominant habitats at each site. Mark recapture techniques were applied to the small mammal data to estimate abundance and derive density estimates of prey species at each site. This information was then used to test for prey selectivity in the wild-living cat population. All scat analysis techniques found Microtinae species to be the most consumed prey type across all sites. Murinae species were the most abundant species at the east coast sites whereas Microtinae were most abundant at the west coast site. Rabbit populations were either absent or low at all study sites. A significant selection on any prey type was not found, however wild-living cats did not consume the species found in the highest abundance, suggesting some level of selectivity. 5 Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of people for their help in arranging and organising all aspects of fieldwork and giving me the support I needed, both academically and personally that enabled me to complete this project. Firstly a massive thanks to Kerry Kilshaw, who took me on as a lost MSc student whose 1st project had fallen through due to unforeseen circumstances, rather late in the day. I am extremely glad I was able to work with her on this project, and very grateful for her introduction to the world of the Scottish wildcat and mentoring and support in and out of the field. Thank you very much to the staff at the Forestry Commission Scotland for granting permission for this study to take place on FCS land, allowing access to the sites and also for providing much needed data and maps. A sincere thanks to Marcus Rowcliffe for supplying invaluable comments and advice in survey methodologies and analysis. I’d like to thank Imperial College for accepting my application for the bursary, without which this project would not have been possible. Thank you very much Ross McEwing, for allowing us to use the equipment and your expertise at the Wildgenes lab (RZSS) and enabling
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