Morphological discriminants of Scottish wildcats (<i>Felis silvestris</i>), domestic cats (<i>F. catus</i>) and their hybrids

French, Dennis D.; Corbett, Laurie; Easterbee, N.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb04719.x

Cited by 46 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, in at least some cases, outbreeding with wild stock is encouraged as it appears to enhance offspring fitness through maintenance of genetic diversity (e.g. see Groves et al (1966) on the ass (Equus asinus) and, for a very neatly analysed example, French et al (1988) on the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)).…”

Section: Species Identity and Nomenclature Of Domesticatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species?

Jackson

Groves

Flemming

et al. 2017

Zootaxa

101

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The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial since its initial description in 1792. Since that time it has been referred to by various names including Canis dingo, Canis lupus dingo, Canis familiaris and Canis familiaris dingo. Of these names C. l. dingo and C. f. dingo have been most often used, but it has recently been proposed that the Australian Dingo should be once again recognized as a full species-Canis dingo. There is an urgent need to address the instability of the names referring to the Dingo because of the consequences for management and policy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the morphological, genetic, ecological and biological data to determine the taxonomic relationships of the Dingo with the aim of confirming the correct scientific name. The recent proposal for Canis dingo as the most appropriate name is not sustainable under zoological nomenclature protocols nor based on the genetic and morphological evidence. Instead we proffer the name C. familiaris for all free-ranging dogs, regardless of breed and location throughout the world, including the Australian Dingo. The suggested nomenclature also provides a framework for managing free-ranging dogs including Dingoes, under Australian legislation and policy. The broad principles of nomenclature we discuss here apply to all free-roaming dogs that coexist with their hybrids, including the New Guinea Singing Dog.

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Section: Species Identity and Nomenclature Of Domesticatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species?

Jackson

Groves

Flemming

et al. 2017

Zootaxa

101

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“…In fact, it was suggested that the true Scottish wildcat may have disappeared (see French et al 1988). However, the scientific literature dealing with wildcat distributions continues to state that the European wildcat is present in all Scottish territory (e.g., Sunquist and Sunquist 2002;Driscoll and Nowell 2010).…”

Section: Wildcat Scat Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the scientific literature dealing with wildcat distributions continues to state that the European wildcat is present in all Scottish territory (e.g., Sunquist and Sunquist 2002;Driscoll and Nowell 2010). Moreover, given that hybrids live in the wild, they continue to breed with wildcats and thus actively participate in wildcat population dynamics and influence demographic parameters (for more details, see French et al 1988;Easterbee et al 1991;Pierpaoli et al 2003;Germain et al 2008;Hertwig et al 2009). Thus, in Scotland, this participation did allow the recovery of populations (Easterbee et al 1991) and even of the original genotype to some extent (French et al 1988).…”

Section: Wildcat Scat Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, given that hybrids live in the wild, they continue to breed with wildcats and thus actively participate in wildcat population dynamics and influence demographic parameters (for more details, see French et al 1988;Easterbee et al 1991;Pierpaoli et al 2003;Germain et al 2008;Hertwig et al 2009). Thus, in Scotland, this participation did allow the recovery of populations (Easterbee et al 1991) and even of the original genotype to some extent (French et al 1988). Therefore, due to theoretical and practical reasons (and consistent with current wildcat distribution maps), scats from hybrids should be considered as belonging to wildcats (for a similar suggestion, see Daniels and Corbett 2003;Kitchener et al 2005).…”

Section: Wildcat Scat Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It does not seem realistic to propose a large-scale population monitoring on the basis of more expensive or even prohibitive (as recognized by Harrington et al 2010) alternative methods such as genetic analyses or camera trapping. Nevertheless, genetic analyses are needed when facing other types of questions: for example, both the identification of hybrids and the monitoring of their frequency of occurrence within populations over time continue to be relevant for the conservation of the European wildcat genotype (e.g., French et al 1988;Driscoll and Nowell 2010). Moreover, camera trapping can be a good complementary non-genetic-based method (see below) to monitor wildcats where hybridization is suspected, given that pictures can be used to discriminate hybrids (see Sarmento et al 2009;Can et al 2011;Kilshaw and Macdonald 2011;Anile et al 2012).…”

Section: Scat Surveys For Monitoring Wildcat Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring European wildcat Felis silvestris populations using scat surveys in central Spain: are population trends related to wild rabbit dynamics or to landscape features?

2013

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Background: Accurate data on the European wildcat Felis silvestris population trends are scarce for most of its range, despite this information being essential in assessing the threat status of the species. Moreover, ecological correlates of these population trends have never been evaluated. The aim of this study was to describe population trends of the European wildcat in a central region of Spain during the period 1997 to 2005 on both regional and local scales. Putative associations with several landscape features and wild rabbit population trajectories were also examined. Analyses were based on temporal variations of abundance indexes calculated for both species, which were derived from the respective frequencies of occurrence of scats along linear transects. Moreover, we propose monitoring wildcat populations across their range using scat surveys. Results: Results showed that wildcat populations remained stable between the two survey periods considered, and variations in wildcat abundances were not associated with either habitat features or changes in rabbit abundances. Moreover, results suggested that wildcat predation does not limit the growth capacity of rabbit populations. Conclusions:We propose standardized scat surveys as the most efficient methodology for monitoring wildcat populations across European regions. Problems with genetic analyses for correctly identifying carnivore scats are noted, which indicate that the best complementary method for monitoring wildcats is probably camera trapping (especially where hybridization is suspected). Furthermore, results showed that controlling wildcats to protect the rabbit populations is not justified.

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European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation?

Mattucci

Oliveira

Lyons

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Extant populations of the European wildcat are fragmented across the continent, the likely consequence of recent extirpations due to habitat loss and over‐hunting. However, their underlying phylogeographic history has never been reconstructed. For testing the hypothesis that the European wildcat survived the Ice Age fragmented in Mediterranean refuges, we assayed the genetic variation at 31 microsatellites in 668 presumptive European wildcats sampled in 15 European countries. Moreover, to evaluate the extent of subspecies/population divergence and identify eventual wild × domestic cat hybrids, we genotyped 26 African wildcats from Sardinia and North Africa and 294 random‐bred domestic cats. Results of multivariate analyses and Bayesian clustering confirmed that the European wild and the domestic cats (plus the African wildcats) belong to two well‐differentiated clusters (average Ф ST = 0.159, rst = 0.392, P > 0.001; Analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA]). We identified from c. 5% to 10% cryptic hybrids in southern and central European populations. In contrast, wild‐living cats in Hungary and Scotland showed deep signatures of genetic admixture and introgression with domestic cats. The European wildcats are subdivided into five main genetic clusters (average Ф ST = 0.103, rst = 0.143, P > 0.001; AMOVA) corresponding to five biogeographic groups, respectively, distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, central Europe, central Germany, Italian Peninsula and the island of Sicily, and in north‐eastern Italy and northern Balkan regions (Dinaric Alps). Approximate Bayesian Computation simulations supported late Pleistocene–early Holocene population splittings (from c. 60 k to 10 k years ago), contemporary to the last Ice Age climatic changes. These results provide evidences for wildcat Mediterranean refuges in southwestern Europe, but the evolution history of eastern wildcat populations remains to be clarified. Historical genetic subdivisions suggest conservation strategies aimed at enhancing gene flow through the restoration of ecological corridors within each biogeographic units. Concomitantly, the risk of hybridization with free‐ranging domestic cats along corridor edges should be carefully monitored.

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Morphological discriminants of Scottish wildcats (Felis silvestris), domestic cats (F. catus) and their hybrids

Cited by 46 publications

References 15 publications

The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species?

The Wayward Dog: Is the Australian native dog or Dingo a distinct species?

Monitoring European wildcat Felis silvestris populations using scat surveys in central Spain: are population trends related to wild rabbit dynamics or to landscape features?

European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation?

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