Abstract
Using camera-trapping techniques, the present study, conducted from 2005 to 2007, provides common genet abundance estimates in Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve (central-eastern Portugal). We estimated genet abundance using the software CAPTURE. It was possible to obtain a capture success of 1.49 captures/100 trap-nights. Considering the heterogeneity model (Mh), which presents higher biological significance, the estimated density varied between 0.50 (95% CI = 0.43–0.56 genets/km2) to 0.92 (95% CI = 0.87–0.97 genets/km2) genets/km2 with an average density value of 0.70 genets/km2 (95% CI = 0.58–0.82 genets/km2). These estimates emphasized this technique as a reliable method for assessing average genet density over large spatial scales and for monitoring future changes in genet numbers. In terms of habitat selection, genets selected Quercus rotundifolia and Arbutus unedo woodlands and avoided Erica spp. and Cistus ladanifer scrubland and Eucalyptus stands. Considering the landscape heterogeneity outside the reserve, our study emphasizes the importance of the protected area for small carnivore conservation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson JF, Chamberlain MJ (2007) Space use and habitat selection by female Louisiana black bears in the Tensas river basin of Louisiana. J Wildl Manage 71:117–126
Carbone C, Christie S, Conforti K, Coulson T, Franklin N, Ginsberg JR, Griffiths M, Holden J, Kawanishi K, Kinnaird M, Laidlaw R, Lynam A, Macdonald DW, Martyr D, McDougal C, Nath L, O’Brien T, Seidensticker J, Smith DJL, Sunquist M, Tilson R, Shahruddin WN (2001) The use of photographic rates to estimate densities of tigers and other cryptic mammals. Anim Conserv 4:75–79
Conner LM, Plowman BW (2001) Using Euclidean distances to assess nonrandom habitat uses. In: Millspaugh JJ, Marzluff JM (eds) Radiotracking and animal populations. Academic, San Diego, pp 275–290
Cruz J (2002) Gineta (Genetta genetta L.). Exploração dos recursos e organização espacial pela gineta (Genetta genetta) [Resource use and spatial organization of the genet (Genetta genetta)] MSc Dissertation. Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra
Galantinho A, Mira A (2009) The influence of human, livestock, and ecological features on the occurrence of genet (Genetta genetta): a case study on Mediterranean farmland. Ecol Res 24(3):671–685
Jackson R, Roe J, Wangchuk R, Hunter D (2006) Surveying snow leopard populations with emphasis on camera trapping: a handbook. Snow leopard conservancy, Sonoma, CA
Karanth KU, Nichols JD (1998) Estimation of tiger densities in India using photographic captures and recaptures. Ecology 79:2852–2862
Larrucea ES, Brussard PF, Jaeger MM, Barret RH (2007) Cameras, coyotes, and the assumption of equal detectability. J Wildl Manage 71:1682–1689
Mangas JG, Lozano J, Cabezas-Díaz S, Virgós E (2008) The priority value of scrubland habitats for carnivore conservation in Mediterranean ecosystems. Biodivers Conserv 17:43–51
Munuera DC, Llobet FL (2004) Space use of common genets Genetta genetta in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain: differences between sexes and seasons. Acta Theriol 49:491–502
Otis DL, Burnham KP, White GC, Anderson DR (1978) Statistical inference from capture data on closed animal populations. Wildl Monogr 62:135
Palomares F, Delibes M (1994) Spatio-temporal ecology and behavior of European genets in southwestern Spain. J Mammal 75:714–724
Palomares F, Ferreras P, Fedriani JM, Delibes M (1996) Spatial relationships between Iberian lynx and other carnivores in an area of south-western Spain. J Appl Ecol 33:5–13
Perkins MW, Conner LM (2004) Habitat use of fox squirrels in southwestern Georgia. J Wildl Manage 68:509–513
Plá A, Llimona F, Raspall A, Camps D (2001) Estudio de la gineta mediante foto-identificación. Quercus 179:20–24
Rexstad E, Burnham KP (1991) User’s guide for interactive program CAPTURE. Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Sarmento P, Cruz J, Eira C, Fonseca C (2009) Spatial colonization by feral domestic cats Felis catus of former wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris home ranges. Acta Theriol 54(1):31–38
Stanley TR, Burnham KP (1999) A closure test for time-specific capture-recapture data. Environ Ecol Stat 6:197–209
Swann D, Hass CC, Dalton D, Wolf S (2004) Infrared-triggered cameras for detecting wildlife: an evaluation and review. Wildl Soc Bull 32:357–365
Torre IC (1999) Distribution, population dynamics and habitat selection of small mammals in Mediterranean environments: the role of climate, vegetation structure, and predation risk. Ph. D. Thesis. Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, University of Barcelona, Barcelona
Trolle M, Noss AJ, Lima E, Dalponte J (2007) Camera-trap studies of maned wolf density in the Cerrado and the Pantanal of Brazil. Biodivers Conserv 16:1197–1204
Virgós E, Casanovas JG (1997) Habitat selection of genet Genetta genetta in the mountains of central Spain. Acta Theriol 42:169–177
Virgós E, García FJ (2002) Patch occupancy by stone martens Martes foina in fragmented landscapes of central Spain: the role of fragment size, isolation and habitat structure. Acta Oecol 23:231–237
Virgós E, Llorente M, Cortés Y (1999) Geographical variation in genet (Genetta genetta L.) diet: a literature review. Mamm Rev 29:117–126
Virgós E, Romer T, Mangas JG (2001) Factors determining “gaps” in the distribution of a small carnivore, the common genet (Genetta genetta), in central Spain. Can J Zool 79:1544–1551
White GC, Anderson DR, Burnham KP, Otis DL (1982) Capture-recapture and removal methods for sampling closed populations. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Zielinski WJ, Kucera TE, Barrett RH (1995) Current distribution of fisher, Martes pennanti, in California. Calif Fish Game 81:104–112
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by H. Kierdorf
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sarmento, P.B., Cruz, J.P., Eira, C.I. et al. Habitat selection and abundance of common genets Genetta genetta using camera capture-mark-recapture data. Eur J Wildl Res 56, 59–66 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0294-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-009-0294-z