Scent-marking behaviour and social dynamics in a wild population of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx

Communal latrines act as potentially important communication centers in ocelots Leopardus pardalis

“…Scent marking can be used to (1) demarcate territorial boundaries and maintain spacing between individuals of the same sex (Richardson, 1993), (2) communicate dominance (Clapham et al, 2012), and (3) advertise breeding condition to members of the opposite sex (Molteno et al, 1998;Rishi, 2012;Vogt et al, 2014). In addition, wildcats (Felis silvestris) may use feces to mark favorable hunting areas (Piñeiro and Barja, 2015).…”

“…The period of 10 days was chosen as a reasonable time for persistence of a deposited chemical scent. This is a conservative time frame as the strong urine scent at ocelot latrines is perceptible by the human nose for weeks after a latrine has been used, as has been documented in other studies (Vogt et al, 2014). Photo sequences were also used to categorize the behaviors ocelots engaged in during each latrine visit.…”

“…Scent marking using urine or feces is common in carnivore species (Macdonald, 1980) and can function in territorial spacing between individuals (Richardson, 1993), maintaining dominance hierarchies (Clapham et al, 2012) and communicating breeding condition between members of the opposite sex (Molteno et al, 1998;Rishi, 2012;Vogt et al, 2014). In the family Felidae, scent marking is widespread (Mellen, 1993;Rishi, 2012;Vogt et al, 2014), and in some species established latrine sites are repeatedly used for the deposition of urine and feces (Bailey, 1974;Manfredi et al, 2006;Marnewick et al, 2006;Soler et al, 2009). These latrine sites may play a central role in communication networks and transfer of information.…”

Long-Distance Movements of Transient Coyotes in Eastern North Carolina

“…Presumably the risk is motivated by an advantage not obtained by remaining in one's territory. Extra-territorial excursions in mammals have been described for gray wolves (Walton et al 2001), red fox (Tsukada 1997), black-backed jackals (Kaunda 2001), and feral cats Felis catus (Mcgregor et al 2016) in response to superior food resource opportunities, and by gray wolves (Fuller et al 1989), Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (Vogt et al 2014), slendertailed meerkats Suricata suricata (Doolan and Macdonald 1996), roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Debeffe et al 2014), and white-tailed deer (Karns et al 2011) to increase reproductive opportunity (temporary excursions) or reduce inbreeding (permanent dispersal from natal area). In addition, extraterritorial excursions can increase during periods of low prey density for spotted-hyenas Crocuta crocuta (Honer et al 2005) and gray wolves (Messier 1985), and may be more common for individuals of lower social status (Gese et al 1996b, Honer et al 2005).…”

Helpers influence on territory use and maintenance in Alpine marmot groups

“…the deposition of gland secretion, faeces or urine on territory spots of particular interestcan vary in time and space usually increasing during the breeding season (e.g. Canis latrans: Gese & Ruff 1997;Marmota monax: Maher 2004; Lynx lynx Vogt et al 2014). Furthermore, scent marks can have different functions depending on where they occur: close to the boundaries they serve as territory signals (e.g.…”