A review of cat behavior in relation to disease risk and management options

Lepczyk, Christopher A.; Lohr, Cheryl A.; Duffy, David Cameron

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2015.07.002

Cited by 56 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 139 publications

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“…, Lepczyk et al. ). Globally comparative studies are needed to understand how these species interactions are affected by higher‐level filters and influence community assembly.…”

Section: Filters Of Community Assembly In Citiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The domesticated cat (Felis catus) has been identified as a major contributor to the decline of biodiversity in urban areas throughout North America (Lepczyk et al 2004b, Loss et al 2013, South Africa (Tennent and Downs 2008), Europe (Hilton and Cuthbert 2010), islands of the Pacific Ocean (Medina et al 2011, Duffy andCapece 2012), and Australia (Calver et al 2011). In all regions, domestic cats, whether pets let out to roam at night or free living and feral, pose serious threats to the diversity of various groups of urban fauna (Loss et al 2013, Lepczyk et al 2015. Globally comparative studies are needed to understand how these species interactions are affected by higher-level filters and influence community assembly.…”

Section: Species Interactions Filtermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Aronson

Nilon

Lepczyk

et al. 2016

Ecology

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Abstract. The majority of humanity now lives in cities or towns, with this proportion expected to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. As novel ecosystems, urban areas offer an ideal opportunity to examine multi-scalar processes involved in community assembly as well as the role of human activities in modulating environmental drivers of biodiversity. Although ecologists have made great strides in recent decades at documenting ecological relationships in urban areas, much remains unknown, and we still need to identify the major ecological factors, aside from habitat loss, behind the persistence or extinction of species and guilds of species in cities. Given this paucity of knowledge, there is an immediate need to facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary research on the patterns and drivers of biodiversity in cities at multiple spatial scales. In this review, we introduce a new conceptual framework for understanding the filtering processes that mold diversity of urban floras and faunas. We hypothesize that the following hierarchical series of filters influence species distributions in cities: (1) regional climatic and biogeographical factors; (2) human facilitation; (3) urban form and development history; (4) socioeconomic and cultural factors; and (5) species interactions. In addition to these filters, life history and functional traits of species are important in determining community assembly and act at multiple spatial scales. Using these filters as a conceptual framework can help frame future research needed to elucidate processes of community assembly in urban areas. Understanding how humans influence community structure and processes will aid in the management, design, and planning of our cities to best support biodiversity.

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“…, Lepczyk et al. ). Globally comparative studies are needed to understand how these species interactions are affected by higher‐level filters and influence community assembly.…”

Section: Filters Of Community Assembly In Citiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Species Interactions Filtermentioning

confidence: 99%

Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Aronson

Nilon

Lepczyk

et al. 2016

Ecology

Self Cite

303

263

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…One of the most popular of these strategies is trap‐neuter‐release or trap‐neuter‐return (TNR), which claims that sterilizing, feeding, and maintaining colonies of cats will eventually reduce free‐roaming cat populations (Levy et al , Slater ). However, there is scant scientific evidence to indicate that this strategy, on its own, can meet this goal (Longcore et al ; Lepczyk et al , ; Lohr et al ). Meanwhile, free‐roaming cats, sterilized or not, continue to prey on wildlife.…”

Section: Summary Of Study Categories and Research Hypotheses Regardinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free‐roaming cat interactions with wildlife admitted to a wildlife hospital

et al. 2016

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Free‐roaming domestic cats are a major anthropogenic source of morbidity and mortality to wild birds and mammals in the United States. Permitted wildlife rehabilitators routinely treat cat‐caused injuries. However, extent of these activities is under‐reported in the scientific literature. To determine incidence, age class, mortality, diversity and frequency of species affected, nature of injuries, time in care, and temporal and geospatial trends associated with interactions between free‐roaming cats and wildlife, we conducted a retrospective analysis on 20,921 records from small birds and mammals presented to the Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV), USA between 2000 and 2010. Cat interaction was the second greatest cause of small‐mammal admissions (14.8%), fourth greatest cause of mammal mortality (70.8%), fourth greatest cause of bird admissions (13.7%), and second greatest cause of avian mortality (80.8%). Eighty‐three species were admitted following interactions with cats. Age of wildlife admitted following cat interaction varied by class; juvenile mammals were captured most frequently (40.5%), followed by neonates (34%), then adults (25.5%). However, adults were documented most frequently in birds (42.7%), followed by juveniles (37.2%), then nestlings (20.1%). Birds were more likely to have interactions with cats in rural areas, whereas degree of urbanization did not differ for mammals. Eighty‐eight percent of cat interactions occurred between April and September, indicating a strong seasonal trend. Our findings indicate that free‐roaming cats substantially contribute to admissions in a wildlife rehabilitation hospital and even with veterinary intervention, release potential is limited. Reducing the number of free‐roaming cats will reduce interactions with wildlife and decrease the need for medical assistance. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Native island faunas are especially susceptible to cat predation because they have little or no behavioral, morphological, or life history traits to aid in defense. Furthermore, cats carry a multitude of pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii , many of which may be detrimental to both native species and people (Aguirre et al, ; Lepczyk, Lohr, & Duffy, ). As a result, cats are listed among the world's 100 worst invasive species and have been directly linked to animal species populations' declines and extinctions in numerous studies on islands (Doherty et al, ; Lowe, Browne, Boudjelas, & De Poorter, ; Medina et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the presence of feral cat colonies and Toxoplasma gondii in relation to bird conservation areas on O'ahu, Hawai'i

Lepczyk

Haman

Sizemore³

et al. 2020

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Free-ranging feral cats (Felis catus) are increasingly found in colonies loosely managed by people. These colonies increase cat densities and, hence, pose threats to wildlife via disease and predation, particularly in insular ecosystems where native species have smaller populations and reduced pathogen exposure compared to continental systems. Given such concerns, our objectives were to: (a) identify feral cat colonies on the island of O'ahu in the vicinity of important native bird sites;and (b) test for Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite-causing disease (Toxoplasmosis) of concern to native birds, at cat colony sites. We identified 32 important native bird locations and surveyed public lands near these sites to determine presence of cat colonies. Where cat colonies were present, we collected feces and used molecular tools to identify the presence of T. gondii. We identified 25 cat colonies near an important bird area and collected feces at four of these colonies, with three testing positive for T. gondii. The presence of cats near a majority of native bird areas suggests that cats may impose a serious threat to bird species. Our finding of T. gondii at three of the four colonies where cat feces were collected raises serious health concerns for humans, birds, and many other terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Native birds in Hawai'i, including highly endangered species, are susceptible to both predation and T. gondii, and finding its presence in locations relatively near to important native bird areas provides further evidence that reducing freeranging feral cat numbers is critical for reducing impacts on birds. K E Y W O R D Scat colony, Felis catus, invasive species, island ecosystems, Toxoplasma gondii

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A review of cat behavior in relation to disease risk and management options

Cited by 56 publications

References 139 publications

Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Hierarchical filters determine community assembly of urban species pools

Free‐roaming cat interactions with wildlife admitted to a wildlife hospital

Quantifying the presence of feral cat colonies and Toxoplasma gondii in relation to bird conservation areas on O'ahu, Hawai'i

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