Using presence signs to discriminate between similar species

Santos, Sara; Mathias, Maria da Luz

doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2009.00163.x

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Since all three carnivore species may consume all potential fossorial small mammal prey [24,25,27], our prey abundance index included all of them. Gallery counts for these small mammal species are a good index of their abundance [36][37][38].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Segregation between Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Pastures in a Livestock Area of Northern Spain

Rodríguez

Urra²,

Jubete³

et al. 2020

Diversity

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Red foxes, European wildcats and domestic cats share cattle pastures for hunting in La Pernía Valley, northern Spain. To understand the mechanisms that allow the coexistence of these mesopredators in a habitat characterized by its anthropogenic modifications, we recorded sightings of these species in pastures in the summers of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. We tested if the species preferred specific areas of pastures and if they exhibited any spatial segregation in the use of pastures. Red foxes did not show consistent preferences for any area of the pastures. European wildcats preferred pasture areas closer to streams and forest edges, whereas domestic cats preferred areas closer to buildings and paved roads whilst avoiding forest edges. All species pairs showed strong spatial segregation with less than 7% overlap. We hypothesize that spatial segregation is the mechanism used by European wildcats and domestic cats to avoid dangerous interactions with other predators and which characterizes their preference of specific areas on pastures, using areas near places that may protect them from other predators. Ultimately, the influence of fox presence (and probably that of other larger potential predators) on the use of pastures by European wildcats and domestic cats is decreasing the number of interactions between them and may help to prevent hybridization in this area.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Segregation between Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Pastures in a Livestock Area of Northern Spain

Rodríguez

Urra²,

Jubete³

et al. 2020

Diversity

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“…Within each plot, 10 subterranean live-traps of multiple captures ("mole type") were set up on three consecutive nights, with apple as bait and hay for bedding. The selection of trapping plots was dependent upon finding enough surface presence signs to allow for the positioning of all 10 traps (burrow openings and/or soil mounds, Santos et al, 2009a). Thus, the number and location of trapping plots was limited by finding vole presence signs.…”

Section: Vole Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of local, landscape and spatial factors on the distribution of the Lusitanian and the Mediterranean pine voles in a Mediterranean landscape

Santos

Mathias

2011

Mammalian Biology

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a b s t r a c tThis study evaluated the relative contributions of local and landscape factors, and of spatial structure on the regional distribution of both the Lusitanian (Microtus lusitanicus Gerbe, 1879) and Mediterranean pine voles (Microtus duodecimcostatus de Selys-Longchamps, 1839) over an area of 1613 km 2 within a Mediterranean landscape in central Portugal.Three sets of explanatory variables (20 local, 23 landscape, and 6 spatial) were analysed independently by means of a generalized linear model, followed by a variance partitioning procedure.Variance in the distribution patterns of M. lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus largely was explained by fine-scale environmental factors but spatial effects also were important, especially for the distribution of M. duodecimcostatus. The close proximity of verges and the high abundance of humidity and coarse sand in the soil were the most influencing local-scale factors for the presence of M. lusitanicus; meanwhile on a larger scale, the high abundance of linear habitats was the main landscape feature determining its occurrence. Regarding the presence of M. duodecimcostatus, the close proximity of verges, high tree canopy cover and herbaceous vegetation biomass were the most influential local explanatory variables for its occurrence, while the absence of shrubs in the surrounding habitat was the main factor regulating species presence at a landscape scale. Similarities identified between the two species primarily were related to descriptors of cover, food and burrows, while differences were related to opposing spatial trends and coarse-scale descriptors.

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“…The traps were provided with apple as bait and hay for bedding. The location and selection of trapping plots was dependent on finding enough surface presence signs to allow the set up of all ten traps (burrow openings and (or) soil mounds; Santos et al 2009a). Efforts were made to sample habitats in proportion to their availability.…”

Section: Vole Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local coexistence and niche differences between the Lusitanian and Mediterranean pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus)

Santos

Mathias

2010

Ecological Research

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In the present study, we analyzed the coexistence pattern of the Lusitanian pine vole (Microtus lusitanicus) and the Mediterranean pine vole (Microtus duodecimcostatus) in a potential area of sympatry in a Mediterranean landscape (Portugal). We also determined the relative contribution of local, landscape, and spatial factors explaining the differences in the distribution patterns of the two species in the region. Using a kriging interpolation method, we obtained a map of sympatric and allopatric areas of species occurrence. The estimated sympatry area corresponded to a northwest-southeast belt representing 11.3% of the study area. Habitat niche differences were assessed with binomial GLMs followed by a variance partitioning. At a local scale, higher altitude, higher cover of shrubs, lower clay content in the soil, and lower cover of tree canopy were the most important factors distinguishing M. lusitanicus presence sites from those with M. duodecimcostatus. At a larger scale, the presence of forest landscape units and the low abundance of ''montado'' units were the most influencing landscape factors in the identification of M. lusitanicus occurrence sites when compared to M. duodecimcostatus. Our results suggested that local coexistence of M. lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus in the field is a rare event. The differences in distribution patterns of the two pine vole species were mostly explained by fine-scale environmental factors and by shared spatial effects.

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Using presence signs to discriminate between similar species

Cited by 10 publications

References 28 publications

Spatial Segregation between Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Pastures in a Livestock Area of Northern Spain

Spatial Segregation between Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Pastures in a Livestock Area of Northern Spain

The influence of local, landscape and spatial factors on the distribution of the Lusitanian and the Mediterranean pine voles in a Mediterranean landscape

Local coexistence and niche differences between the Lusitanian and Mediterranean pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus)

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