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Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration

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Abstract

The European wildcat is threatened by habitat fragmentation, illegal or incidental killings and hybridization with free-ranging domestic cats. Conservation projects should be based on a sound knowledge of the patterns of wildcat distribution, population size and dynamics. However, this information is scanty, mainly because of the species’ elusive behaviour. In this study, we tested the efficiency of a protocol that integrates the use of non-invasive genetic identifications and camera trapping for wildcat monitoring. The field work was carried out in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, a protected area in the central Italian Apennines, where wildcat presence has been recently ascertained. DNA samples were extracted from scats collected during the survey and hair tufts trapped by valerian-treated sticks. Individual genotypes were identified using 10 autosomal microsatellites, mtDNA and Y chromosome markers. Additionally, we obtained 30-s long video clips from 20 camera trap stations associated to the hair traps. Our results confirmed the presence of wildcats in the study area. We identified six to nine wildcat individuals (respectively from non-invasive genetic sampling and camera trapping survey). Some of these showed anomalous coat colour patterns (one) or genetic signatures of hybridization (three). We further identified five domestic cats that were sharing parts of wildcats’ territories. We found individual variations in the response to valerian lure. We compared and evaluated the pros and cons of these monitoring methods. We concluded that, if used simultaneously, these methods may considerably increase the efficiency of wildcat detection and the quality of collected data.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Nicole Marini for the irreplaceable help in the field and laboratory work. We are grateful to Nevio Agostini, Davide Alberti and the Research, Conservation and Development Department of the Foreste Casentinesi National Park (Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi Monte Falterona e Campigna) and the Rangers of Premilcuore (commando stazione di Premilcuore, Corpo Forestale dello Stato) for the indispensable logistic support in the fieldwork. Thanks to Stefano Anile, Cristiano Tarantini, Marco Lucchesi, Giancarlo Tedaldi, Gabriele Cristiani, Katharina Steyer, Darius Weber and all the wildlife experts that helped us to develop the methodology applied in this work. Gratitude also goes to Federica Mattucci, Francesca Davoli, Romolo Caniglia, Elena Fabbri, Chiara Mengoni, Nadia Mucci, Aritz Ruiz-Gonzàles, Silvana Lapalombella, Marco Galaverni, Valentina Rovelli, Davide Nespoli, Alessandra Palladini and all the colleagues of the Conservation Genetics Group of the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) for the assistance and the support in the laboratory. We also thank Martin Bennet for the linguistic revision. Part of the field equipment was provided by the Università di Roma Tre. The molecular analyses were funded by the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze, Università degli studi Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Edoardo Velli & Marco A. Bologna

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Via Zamboni 33, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Castelli Silvia

  3. Dipartimento di Chimica Biologia Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto, 06123, Perugia, Italy

    Bernardino Ragni

  4. Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Ca’ Fornacetta, 9, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia, BO, Italy

    Ettore Randi

  5. Section of Biology and Environmental Science, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 57, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark

    Ettore Randi

Authors
  1. Edoardo Velli
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  2. Marco A. Bologna
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  3. Castelli Silvia
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  4. Bernardino Ragni
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  5. Ettore Randi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edoardo Velli.

Additional information

Communicated by P. C. Alves

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Velli, E., Bologna, M.A., Silvia, C. et al. Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration. Eur J Wildl Res 61, 657–668 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-015-0936-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-015-0936-2

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