Factors Affecting the Placement of Common Genet Latrine Sites in a Mediterranean Landscape in Portugal

Espírito-Santo, Clara; Rosalino, Luís Miguel; Santos‐Reis, Margarida

doi:10.1644/05-mamm-a-343r3.1

Cited by 32 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…We choose 500 m radius buffers ($78 ha), given the balance between the behavioural ecology of the species, the size of the area of interest, the aims of the study, and the available resources (Wilson and Delahay 2001). In analogous sites of montado in southern Portugal, other studies have used similar areas to model the presence of the genet (Espı´rito-Santo et al 2007), based upon the mean home ranges (341 ha) and core areas (23 ha) registered for this species at the same sites (Santos-Reis et al 2004).…”

Section: Genet Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil organic matter is positively related to the density of trees in the montado (Moreno et al 2007;Moreno 2008) and to the soil invertebrates, including coleopteran, that contribute to the stabilization of soil aggregates, thereby preventing the quick mineralization of part of the organic matter (Irmler and Hoernes 2003). Both trees and arthropods are important resources for the genet (Espı´rito-Santo et al 2007;Virgo´s et al 1999). The index of topographic roughness (ITR) and other variables related to elevation and slope were derived from the Digital Elevation Model, provided by the Montemor-o-Novo Municipality, using Surface Tools v.1.6 (Jenness 2005) and Spatial Analyst extensions for ArcView 3.2 (ESRI 1999).…”

Section: Explanatory Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The genet has large flexibility in its choice of habitat (Cugnasse and Riols 1984;Calzada 2002), and studies carried out so far have demonstrated an association with high temperature and low rainfall and with woodland and shrubland areas (Palomares and Delibes 1994;Virgo´s and Casanovas 1997;Virgo´s et al 2001;Espı´rito-Santo et al 2007). This species has generalist and opportunistic feeding habits, but in Europe it feeds mainly on small mammals, especially the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and on arthropods (Virgo´s et al 1999;Rosalino and Santos-Reis 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ruiz-Olmo and Lo´pez-Martinez 1993;Virgo´s et al 1996Virgo´s et al , 1999G í l-Sanchez 1998;Rosalino and Santos-Reis 2002). Spatio-temporal ecology also has been studied Delibes 1988, 1994;Palomares 1990Palomares , 1993Zuberogoitia et al 2002;Munuera and Llobet 2004), as well as the environmental factors that affect species distribution (Virgo´s and Casanovas 1997;Virgo´s et al 2001;Gaubert et al 2008), and latrine use and placement (Gomes and Giraudoux 1992;Costa and Santos-Reis 2002;Espı´rito-Santo et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland

Galantinho

Mira

2008

Ecological Research

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We have studied the relationship between occurrence patterns of the genet (Genetta genetta) and ecological, human, and livestock descriptors at the Monfurado Natura 2000 Site in southern Portugal. An information-theoretical model comparison (ITMC) was used to select the best models to explain the presence of the species, using data from 36 habitat patches. Variables that were included in the best models then were used in a variation partitioning procedure to determine the relative influence of each variable set on the presence of the genet. When considered together, all the variables captured 56.5% of the variance in genet occurrence within the study area. The set of ecological variables accounted for most of the explained variance (pure effect: 30.3%). In the best ecological model, the occurrence of the genet was positively related to the density of trees and shrubs in the dominant agro-silvo-pastoral system (montado), to soil organic matter, and to Shannon's index of vertical vegetation diversity. Human influence factors (pure effect: 4.8%) highlighted the negative relationship between the presence of the genet and the proportion of game-estate areas. The group of livestock variables (pure effect: 8.5%) revealed that intermediate levels of grazing may promote the occurrence of the genet. Our results highlight the importance of variables directly related to agricultural management, and are meaningful because they allow for the prioritization of management decisions. In particular, the results draw attention to soil organic matter and grazing by sheep, which are important factors in soil conservation practices.

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Section: Genet Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Explanatory Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland

Galantinho

Mira

2008

Ecological Research

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“…Different latrines, in different locations, may aid spatial memory in order to optimize foraging efficiency (Garber 1989), to stake a claim on access to temporally variable and potentially limiting scarce food resources (especially by females raising young : Covich 1976, Mertl-Millhollen 2006, Espírito-Santo et al 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) latrine use in relation to food abundance: evidence of the scarce factor paradox

et al. 2015

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2015. Hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) latrine use in relation to food abundance: evidence of the scarce factor paradox.Ecosphere 6(1):19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00155.1Abstract. Many carnivores use latrines, and investigations of latrine use have typically been concerned with territorial defense, often at the expense of fully evaluating other, not mutually exclusive, functions. In particular, the relationship between food abundance and latrine use patterns has been explored inadequately, where latrine location may be used to aid spatial memory, to stake a claim on access to temporally variable food resources, or to signal the local depletion of resources. Little is known about the hog badger (Arctonyx collaris), however the consensus is that they are solitary, but nonetheless deposit their feces in latrines, but without any group-territory defense function. This provides an ideal study system to investigate how temporal and spatial variation in latrine use strategy is associated with food resource availability throughout the year. We use generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and an informationtheoretic approach to test the hypothesis that seasonal latrine use patterns signal the resources most valued (i.e., the foraging book keeping hypothesis). We found that latrine use showed significant seasonal and habitat-related variations, where the number of feces per latrine reached seasonal maxima in early summer but was lowest in autumn, and was significantly higher in logged forest and selectively logged forest but lowest in farmland. The intensity of latrine use exhibited a significant negative relationship with environmental food abundance, and was related to dietary output (fecal contents). That is, hog badgers invested most in 'marking' those more limited resources, concurring with the scarce factor paradox, which asserts that the value of any commodity is a function of its rarity.

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Seed Dispersal by Mesocarnivores

Nakashima¹,

San²

2022

Small Carnivores

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Factors Affecting the Placement of Common Genet Latrine Sites in a Mediterranean Landscape in Portugal

Cited by 32 publications

References 27 publications

The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland

The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland

Hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) latrine use in relation to food abundance: evidence of the scarce factor paradox

Seed Dispersal by Mesocarnivores

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