Wildcat Genetics What Is a Wildcat in Scotland?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Wildcat Genetics What Is a Wildcat in Scotland? Wildcat Genetics What is a wildcat in Scotland? • The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is Britain’s last native cat species. • They are very well adapted to life in the mountains. • The wildcat plays an important role in a healthy ecosystem. • They look similar to a large pet cat. However, there are key differences. • Sadly, they are now one of our most endangered mammals and are on the edge of extinction. A wildcat call A wildcat growl Wildcat history Europe topography map by Ulamm / CC BY-SA 3.0 • Isolated for over 9,000 years • Recognised as a species in 1907 • Reconsidered as a sub-species of European cat (Felis silvestris) in 1912 Felis silvestris Sub-species Scottish Wildcat Species - 1907 • silvestris (West Europe) Felis grampia • caucasica (East Europe) • grampia (Scotland) Felid Classification Revision • IUCN Cat Specialist Group 2017 revision = not a sub-species Classification Criteria • Morphology (form) • Geographical (location) • Genetic Sub-species Revised 2017 silvestris caucasica West Europe & Scotland East Europe Threats and Concerns • Loss of habitat – forest fragmentation • Increased human disturbance Threats and Concerns • Historical Persecution • Land management Threats and Concerns Wildcat Domestic Hybrid • Hybridisation • Genetic Purity of the Species Identification Guide Four wavy neck stripes Two shoulder stripes Unbroken stripes on the side No spots on bottom Back stripe stops at tail Dark tail stripes Tip is rounded and black Wildcat Domestic cat Pelage (coat) scoring • During sedation for blood sampling, wild-caught cats will be scored out of 21 for pelage characteristics. • No cat so far has had full marks (21/21). • Scoring is undertaken by a panel. • Combined with the genetic tests and pelage score, cats will either be kept for breeding or not. What is hybridisation? Wildcat Hybrid Domestic Genetics in conservation How is RZSS using genetics? WildGenes Laboratory Established 2010 DNA analysis for zoos worldwide Supporting in-situ and ex-situ conservation Provide evidence against wildlife crime https://youtu.be/Gazr-ijt3As WildGenes Laboratory Projects centre on: • in-situ monitoring • ex-situ management • reintroduction management • control of the illegal wildlife trade We work alongside • government agencies • conservation charities • zoos across the world http://www.rzss.org.uk/conservation/our-projects/project-search/ Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Conservation breeding programme Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Management of wildcat studbook Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Working closely with land managers to acquire wildcats from high risk areas Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Habitat / prey species surveys for possible release sites Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Learn from previous small carnivore / felid reintroductions Wildcat, genetics and conservation • Genetic analysis of wildcat samples to aid breeding recommendations Genetics Blood and hair samples are analysed by the WildGenes Lab. • Hair samples are collected when monitoring wildcats and then they go to the lab for analysis. • Combination of genetic test and pelage score are used to assess suitability for the conservation breeding programme. If it's a high scoring cat, it can be used in the breeding program and eventually to be released into the wild. • RZSS has developed a genetic test to help identify wildcats from hybrids. • It uses DNA (the building block of life) markers to identify the level of hybridism (purity). • It has the advantage of generating data that can be compared to datasets for wildcats across Europe. SNP model by David Eccles / CC BY 4.0 Phenotype Due to historical hybridisation there will probably be no 100% pure wildcats, however the current population will have recessive genes from domestic cats e.g. Strips (WC) and spots (DC). Genotype WW Ww ww Bold striped / Wild Allele: W Spotted / Domestic Allele: w Dominant Allele: W Recessive Allele: w Inheritance *Offspring Produced with Mate: Mrs Spot *New Mate: Sophie ‘02 ‘04 ‘06 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘15 So How Did Sophie Become A Carrier? (Slight) Inbreeding! Wildcat breeding 100% WC 100% WC (Inheritance) 100% WC 100% WC 2) 75% WC + 1) 100% DC 25% DC 100% WC 3) 93.75% WC + 50% DC + 50% WC 6.25 DC 87.5% WC + 12.5% DC Which of the youngest wildcats would you NOT select for breeding if the RZSS breeding % was set at 75%? 96.875 % WC + 3.125 % DC Current Wildcat Sub-species East Europe Felis silvestris caucasica European wildcat by Lviatour / CC BY-SA 3.0 West Europe Felis silvestris silvestris The future of the wildcat in Scotland • Biologically and culturally important • A Locally Endangered Population • Genetic Bottle neck in wild • low genetic representation in captivity • Current RZSS Conservation Program • Capture Wild Wildcats • Breed in captivity at HWP Click picture for film • Increase captive gene pool • Capture Neuter Release program • Potential to introduce new genes from European wildcats.
Recommended publications
  • Conservation of the Wildcat (Felis Silvestris) in Scotland: Review of the Conservation Status and Assessment of Conservation Activities
    Conservation of the wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Scotland: Review of the conservation status and assessment of conservation activities Urs Breitenmoser, Tabea Lanz and Christine Breitenmoser-Würsten February 2019 Wildcat in Scotland – Review of Conservation Status and Activities 2 Cover photo: Wildcat (Felis silvestris) male meets domestic cat female, © L. Geslin. In spring 2018, the Scottish Wildcat Conservation Action Plan Steering Group commissioned the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group to review the conservation status of the wildcat in Scotland and the implementation of conservation activities so far. The review was done based on the scientific literature and available reports. The designation of the geographical entities in this report, and the representation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The SWCAP Steering Group contact point is Martin Gaywood ([email protected]). Wildcat in Scotland – Review of Conservation Status and Activities 3 List of Content Abbreviations and Acronyms 4 Summary 5 1. Introduction 7 2. History and present status of the wildcat in Scotland – an overview 2.1. History of the wildcat in Great Britain 8 2.2. Present status of the wildcat in Scotland 10 2.3. Threats 13 2.4. Legal status and listing 16 2.5. Characteristics of the Scottish Wildcat 17 2.6. Phylogenetic and taxonomic characteristics 20 3. Recent conservation initiatives and projects 3.1. Conservation planning and initial projects 24 3.2. Scottish Wildcat Action 28 3.3.
    [Show full text]
  • Felis Silvestris, Wild Cat
    The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T60354712A50652361 Felis silvestris, Wild Cat Assessment by: Yamaguchi, N., Kitchener, A., Driscoll, C. & Nussberger, B. View on www.iucnredlist.org Citation: Yamaguchi, N., Kitchener, A., Driscoll, C. & Nussberger, B. 2015. Felis silvestris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T60354712A50652361. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T60354712A50652361.en Copyright: © 2015 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London. If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information
    [Show full text]
  • Reproduction and Behaviour of European Wildcats in Species Specific Enclosures
    Symposium Biology and Conservation of the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) Germany January 21st –23rd 2005 Abstracts Mathias Herrmann, Hof 30, 16247 Parlow, [email protected], Mobil: ++49 +171 9962910 Introduction More than four years after the last meeting of wildcat experts in Nienover, Germany, the NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V.) invited for a three day symposium on the conservation of the European wildcat. Since the last meeting the knowledge on wildcat ecology increased a lot due to the field work of several research teams. The aim of the symposium was to bring these teams together to discuss especially questions which could not be solved by one single team due to limited number of observed individuals or special landscape features. The focus was set on the following questions: 1) Hybridization and risk of infection by domestic cat - a threat to wild living populations? 2) Reproductive success, mating behaviour, and life span - what strategy do wildcats have? 3) ffh - reports/ monitoring - which methods should be used? 4) Habitat utilization in different landscapes - species of forest or semi-open landscape? 5) Conservation of the wildcat - which measures are practicable? 6) Migrations - do wildcats have juvenile dispersal? 75 Experts from 9 European countries came to Fischbach within the transboundary Biosphere Reserve "Vosges du Nord - Pfälzerwald" to discuss distribution, ecology and behaviour of this rare species. The symposium was organized by one single person - Dr. Mathias Herrmann - and consisted of oral presentations, posters and different workshops. 2 Scientific program Friday Jan 21st 8:00 – 10:30 registration /optional: Morning excursion to the core area of the biosphere reserve 10:30 Genot, J-C., Stein, R., Simon, L.
    [Show full text]
  • African Wildcat 1 African Wildcat
    African Wildcat 1 African Wildcat African Wildcat[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: F. silvestris Subspecies: F. s. lybica Trinomial name Felis silvestris lybica Forster, 1770 The African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), also known as the desert cat, and Vaalboskat (Vaal-forest-cat) in Afrikaans, is a subspecies of the wildcat (F. silvestris). They appear to have diverged from the other subspecies about 131,000 years ago.[2] Some individual F. s. lybica were first domesticated about 10,000 years ago in the Middle East, and are among the ancestors of the domestic cat. Remains of domesticated cats have been included in human burials as far back as 9,500 years ago in Cyprus.[3] [4] Physical characteristics The African wildcat is sandy brown to yellow-grey in color, with black stripes on the tail. The fur is shorter than that of the European subspecies. It is also considerably smaller: the head-body length is 45 to 75 cm (17.7 to 29.5 inches), the tail 20 to 38 cm (7.87 to 15 inches), and the weight ranges from 3 to 6.5 kg (6.61 to 14.3 lbs). Distribution and habitat The African wildcat is found in Africa and in the Middle East, in a wide range of habitats: steppes, savannas and bushland. The sand cat (Felis margarita) is the species found in even more arid areas. Skull African Wildcat 2 Behaviour The African wildcat eats primarily mice, rats and other small mammals. When the opportunity arises, it also eats birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Mountain Cat 1 Chinese Mountain Cat
    Chinese mountain cat 1 Chinese mountain cat Chinese Mountain Cat[1] Conservation status [2] Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: F. bieti Binomial name Felis bieti Milne-Edwards, 1892 Distribution of the Chinese Mountain Cat (in green) The Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti), also known as the Chinese Desert Cat, is a small wild cat of western China. It is the least known member of the genus Felis, the common cats. A 2007 DNA study found that it is a subspecies of Felis silvestris; should the scientific community accept this result, this cat would be reclassified as Felis silvestris bieti.[3] Some authorities regard the chutuchta and vellerosa subspecies of the Wildcat as Chinese Mountain Cat subspecies.[1] Chinese mountain cat 2 Description Except for the colour of its fur, this cat resembles a European Wildcat in its physical appearance. It is 27–33 in (69–84 cm) long, plus a 11.5–16 in (29–41 cm) tail. The adult weight can range from 6.5 to 9 kilograms (14 to 20 lb). They have a relatively broad skull, and long hair growing between the pads of their feet.[4] The fur is sand-coloured with dark guard hairs; the underside is whitish, legs and tail bear black rings. In addition there are faint dark horizontal stripes on the face and legs, which may be hardly visible. The ears and tail have black tips, and there are also a few dark bands on the tail.[4] Distribution and ecology The Chinese Mountain Cat is endemic to China and has a limited distribution over the northeastern parts of the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai and northern Sichuan.[5] It inhabits sparsely-wooded forests and shrublands,[4] and is occasionally found in true deserts.
    [Show full text]
  • Serval Fact Sheet
    Right 50mm Fore Right 50mm Hind SERVAL FAST FACTS DESCRIPTION Scientific Name: Leptailurus serval Servals have an elongated neck, very long legs, and very large Conversation Status: Least concern ears on a small, delicate skull. Their coat is pale yellow, with black markings consisting either of large spots that tend to merge Body Length: 59 - 92cm into longitudinal stripes on the neck and back. The underside is whitish grey or yellowish. Their skull is more elongated than Weight: 12 - 18kg most cats. The ears are broad based, high on the head and Gestation: 67 - 79 days close together, with black backs and a very distinct white eye spot. The tail is relatively short, only about one third of the Number of Young: 1 - 4 body length, and has a number of black rings along it. Habitat: Well-watered savanna long- grass environments, particularly reed beds DIET and other riparian habitats. Rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects and other species smaller than they are. Distribution: Servals live throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa (except the central BEHAVIOUR African rainforest), the deserts and plains of Namibia, and most of Botswana and South Servals locate prey in tall grass and reeds primarily by Africa. sound and make a characteristic high leap as they jump on their prey, striking it on impact to prevent escape in thick vegetation. They also use vertical leaps to seize bird and insect prey by “clapping” the front paws together or striking a downward blow. From a standing start a serval can leap 3m vertically into the air to catch birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Pallas's Cat Status Review & Conservation Strategy
    ISSN 1027-2992 I Special Issue I N° 13 | Spring 2019 Pallas'sCAT cat Status Reviewnews & Conservation Strategy 02 CATnews is the newsletter of the Cat Specialist Group, Editors: Christine & Urs Breitenmoser a component of the Species Survival Commission SSC of the Co-chairs IUCN/SSC International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is pub- Cat Specialist Group lished twice a year, and is available to members and the Friends of KORA, Thunstrasse 31, 3074 Muri, the Cat Group. Switzerland Tel ++41(31) 951 90 20 For joining the Friends of the Cat Group please contact Fax ++41(31) 951 90 40 Christine Breitenmoser at [email protected] <[email protected]> <[email protected]> Original contributions and short notes about wild cats are welcome Send contributions and observations to Associate Editors: Tabea Lanz [email protected]. Guidelines for authors are available at www.catsg.org/catnews This Special Issue of CATnews has been produced with Cover Photo: Camera trap picture of manul in the support from the Taiwan Council of Agriculture's Forestry Bureau, Kotbas Hills, Kazakhstan, 20. July 2016 Fondation Segré, AZA Felid TAG and Zoo Leipzig. (Photo A. Barashkova, I Smelansky, Sibecocenter) Design: barbara surber, werk’sdesign gmbh Layout: Tabea Lanz and Christine Breitenmoser Print: Stämpfli AG, Bern, Switzerland ISSN 1027-2992 © IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group The designation of the geographical entities in this publication, and the representation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Savannah Cat’ ‘Savannah the Including Serval Hybrids Felis Catus (Domestic Cat), (Serval) and (Serval) Hybrids Of
    Invasive animal risk assessment Biosecurity Queensland Agriculture Fisheries and Department of Serval hybrids Hybrids of Leptailurus serval (serval) and Felis catus (domestic cat), including the ‘savannah cat’ Anna Markula, Martin Hannan-Jones and Steve Csurhes First published 2009 Updated 2016 © State of Queensland, 2016. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. Note: Some content in this publication may have different licence terms as indicated. For more information on this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0/au/deed.en" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Front cover: Close-up of a 4-month old F1 Savannah cat. Note the occelli on the back of the relaxed ears, and the tear-stain markings which run down the side of the nose. Photo: Jason Douglas. Image from Wikimedia Commons under a Public Domain Licence. Invasive animal risk assessment: Savannah cat Felis catus (hybrid of Leptailurus serval) 2 Contents Introduction 4 Identity of taxa under review 5 Identification of hybrids 8 Description 10 Biology 11 Life history 11 Savannah cat breed history 11 Behaviour 12 Diet 12 Predators and diseases 12 Legal status of serval hybrids including savannah cats (overseas) 13 Legal status of serval hybrids including savannah cats
    [Show full text]
  • Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat
    UPTEC X 12 012 Examensarbete 30 hp Juni 2012 Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Carolin Johansson Molecular Biotechnology Programme Uppsala University School of Engineering UPTEC X 12 012 Date of issue 2012-06 Author Carolin Johansson Title (English) Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Title (Swedish) Abstract This study presents mitochondrial genome sequences from 22 Egyptian house cats with the aim of resolving the uncertain origin of the contemporary world-wide population of Domestic cats. Together with data from earlier studies it has been possible to confirm some of the previously suggested haplotype identifications and phylogeny of the Domestic cat lineage. Moreover, by applying a molecular clock, it is proposed that the Domestic cat lineage has experienced several expansions representing domestication and/or breeding in pre-historical and historical times, seemingly in concordance with theories of a domestication origin in the Neolithic Middle East and in Pharaonic Egypt. In addition, the present study also demonstrates the possibility of retrieving long polynucleotide sequences from hair shafts and a time-efficient way to amplify a complete feline mitochondrial genome. Keywords Feline domestication, cat in ancient Egypt, mitochondrial genome, Felis silvestris libyca Supervisors Anders Götherström Uppsala University Scientific reviewer Jan Storå Stockholm University Project name Sponsors Language Security English Classification ISSN 1401-2138 Supplementary bibliographical information Pages 123 Biology Education Centre Biomedical Center Husargatan 3 Uppsala Box 592 S-75124 Uppsala Tel +46 (0)18 4710000 Fax +46 (0)18 471 4687 Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Carolin Johansson Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning Det är inte sedan tidigare känt exakt hur, när och var tamkatten domesticerades.
    [Show full text]
  • Revealed Via Genomic Assessment of Felid Cansines
    Evolutionary and Functional Impacts of Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs) Revealed via Genomic Assessment of Felid CanSINEs By Kathryn B. Walters-Conte B. S., May 2000, University of Maryland, College Park M. S., May 2002, The George Washington University A Dissertation Submitted to The Faculty of Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 15 th , 2011 Dissertation Directed By Diana L.E. Johnson Associate Professor of Biology Jill Pecon-Slattery Staff Scientist, National Cancer Institute . The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of The George Washington University certifies that Kathryn Walters-Conte has passed the Final Examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy as of March 24 th , 2011. This is the final and approved form of the dissertation. Evolutionary and Functional Impacts of Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINEs) Revealed via Genomic Assessment of Felid CanSINEs Kathryn Walters-Conte Dissertation Research Committee: Diana L.E. Johnson, Associate Professor of Biology, Dissertation Co-Director Jill Pecon-Slattery, Staff Scientist, National Cancer Institute, Dissertation Co-Director Diana Lipscomb, Ronald Weintraub Chair and Professor, Committee Member Marc W. Allard, Research Microbiologist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Committee Member ii Acknowledgements I would like to first thank my advisor and collaborator, Dr. Jill Pecon-Slattery, at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, for generously permitting me to join her research group. Without her mentorship this dissertation would never have been possible. I would also like to express gratitude to my advisor at the George Washington University, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • African Wildcat (Felis Silvestris Lybica)
    African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) Reference List 1. Avenant N.L. 1993. The caracal Felis caracal Schreber 1776, as a predator in the West Coast Strandveld. M.S. thesis, Univ. Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch. 2. Cuzin F. 2003. 4.4.4. le chat ganté, Felis silvestris. Dissertation University of Montpellier, 161 pp. 3. de Smet K. J. M. 1989. Distribution and habitat choice of larger mammals in Algeria, with special reference to nature protection. PhD Thesis, Gent State Univ., Belgium. Original in Dutch: Engl. transl. World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge. 4. Dragesco-Joffé A. 1993. La vie sauvage au Sahara. 5. Driscoll C. and Nowell K. 2010. Felis silvestris. In IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 05 September 2013. 6. Fuller T. K., Biknevicius A.R. and Kat P.W. 1988. Home range of an African wild cat, Felis silvestris (Schreber) near Elmenteita, Kenya. Z. Säugetierk. 53, 380-381. 7. Driscoll C. A., Menotti Raymond M., Roca A. L., Hupe K., Johnson W. E., Geffen E., Harley E., Delibes M., Pontier D., Kitchener A. C., Yamaguchi N., O'Brien S. J. & Macdonald D. 2007. The Near Eastern Origin of Cat Domestication. Science express (28 June 2007),1-6. 8. Gasperetti J., Harrison D. L. & Büttiker W. 1986. The carnivora of Arabia. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 7, 397-461. 9. Gibson DStC. The status and distribution of small carnivores in Zimbabwe, pp. 66. 10. Green R. 1991. Wild cat species of the world. Basset, Plymouth. 11. Harrison D. L. & Bates P. J. J.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Wildcats and Wild Cats: Troubling Species-Based Conservation in the Anthropocene
    Of wildcats and wild cats: troubling species-based conservation in the Anthropocene Aurora Fredriksen The University of Manchester, School of Environment, Education and Development Arthur Lewis Building, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom [email protected] Forthcoming in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space (post-peer review author created PDF) Abstract This article takes the case of Scottish wildcats, threatened with extinction through hybridisation with feral domestic cats, as a site for exploring what it means to conserve a species as such. To this end, the article looks at the practices associated with conserving Scottish wildcats as defined by a definite phenotypical, morphological and/or genetic type, abstracted from indefinite, fleshy organisms emplaced and entangled within changing ecologies. The article describes the biopolitical work of taxonomically distinguishing wildcats (Felis silvestris) from domestic cats (Felis catus) and their hybrids, exploring the challenges presented to this work by the disorderly agencies of wild-living cats. It then outlines and reflects on the proposed captive breeding programme aimed at preserving the ‘pure’ Scottish wildcat sub-species type. This case highlights the ways in which species-based conservation can conflict with care for individual animals as well as with life’s immanent, generative tendencies. Keywords: conservation biology, species, hybridisation, biopolitics, inventive life, Scottish wildcats Fredriksen – ‘Of wildcats and wild cats’ (author created pdf, post peer review) Of wildcats and wild cats: troubling species-based conservation in the Anthropocene Aurora Fredriksen The last surviving wild member of the Felidae (i.e., cat) family in Britain, the Scottish wildcat is an elusive animal with the appearance of a large tabby cat with a bushy black ringed tail.
    [Show full text]