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Animals
Special Issues
Conservation Strategies for Small Wild Cats
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Conservation Strategies for Small Wild Cats

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 3416

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniel G. Scognamillo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, USA
Interests: ecology and conservation of wild cats
Prof. Dr. Clayton D. Hilton

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wildlife Veterinarian and Professor, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, USA
Interests: assisted reproduction and disease dynamics in ocelots

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Most small wild cats are endangered, in need of conservation actions, or with unknown conservation status. For many species, their ecological functions within their communities are poorly understood. There is also a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on dispersal thresholds and population isolation. Urban sprawl carries negative effects for small wild cat conservation as well, effects that range from road mortality to hybridization with feral and free-ranging cats (Felis catus). Small wild cat species’ coexistence with humans depends on our understanding of the complex interactions with animal production and other economic activities. The aim of this Special Issue on conservation strategies for small wild cats is to identify and discuss the threats facing these felids and to highlight current efforts and initiatives for their conservation. Manuscripts describing innovative research on different aspects of small wild cats’ ecology and conservation, including (but not limited to) population estimate, small population ecology, genetics, captive breeding programs, road ecology, and policy, will be considered for this Special Issue.

Dr. Daniel G. Scognamillo
Prof. Dr. Clayton D. Hilton
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • small wild cats
  • conservation
  • strategy

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3956 KiB  
Article
Small Felids Coexist in Mixed-Use Landscape in the Bolivian Amazon
by Courtney Anderson, Amelia Zuckerwise, Robert B. Wallace, Guido Ayala, Maria Viscarra and Oswald J. Schmitz
Animals 2024, 14(5), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050697 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1104
Abstract
In the face of global species loss, it is paramount to understand the effects of human activity on vulnerable species, particularly in highly diverse, complex systems. The Greater Madidi Landscape in the Bolivian Amazon includes several biodiverse protected areas that were created with [...] Read more.
In the face of global species loss, it is paramount to understand the effects of human activity on vulnerable species, particularly in highly diverse, complex systems. The Greater Madidi Landscape in the Bolivian Amazon includes several biodiverse protected areas that were created with the goal of sustaining healthy and diverse ecosystems while not impeding the livelihoods of local indigenous peoples. In this study, we sought to use camera trap data and single-species occupancy analysis to assess the impacts of different forms of human activity on four species of small felids: ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), margays (Leopardus wiedii), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus). We modeled both human variables (proximity to indigenous communities, roads, and tourist camps) and non-human variables (terrain ruggedness, proximity to rivers, canopy height, prey availability, and large cat abundance). Margay occupancy was unaffected by any of these human variables and ocelots showed only weak evidence of being affected by tourism. Ocelots were particularly pervasive throughout the study area and were consistently estimated to have high occupancy probability. We did not obtain sufficient data on jaguarundi or oncilla to reliably model these effects. Our results indicate that small cats successfully coexist both with each other and with the surrounding human activity in this unique landscape, which serves as a model for global protected area management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Strategies for Small Wild Cats)
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13 pages, 2595 KiB  
Article
The Minimal Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatial Activities of Leopard Cats in Xinlong, China
by Xing Chen, Tengteng Tian, Han Pan, Yuyi Jin, Xiaodian Zhang, Qinggang Long, Ling Tang, Biao Yang and Li Zhang
Animals 2023, 13(21), 3328; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213328 - 26 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1584
Abstract
The habitat plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of wildlife. However, the increasing disturbances caused by human activities present a substantial threat to habitats, especially for species such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is a significant small [...] Read more.
The habitat plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of wildlife. However, the increasing disturbances caused by human activities present a substantial threat to habitats, especially for species such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is a significant small predator. Currently, research on leopard cats predominantly focuses on low-altitude regions within its distribution range, leaving plateau areas understudied. To enhance our understanding of the impact of human disturbances on leopard cat habitats, we undertook a study employing infrared camera trappings to monitor leopard cats’ activity in Xinlong of southwestern China between 2015 and 2023. We analyzed the spatial distribution and habitat suitability of the leopard cats by utilizing ensemble species distribution models (ESDMs). Moreover, we employed two-species occupancy models to investigate the spatial interaction between leopard cats and human disturbances. The results indicated that (1) the potential suitable habitat area for leopard cats encompassed approximately 1324.93 km2 (14.3%), primarily located along the banks of Yalong river. (2) The distribution of suitable habitat was predominantly influenced by competitors, specifically the yellow-throated marten (YTM), accounting for 52.4% of the influence, as well as environmental factors such as distance to water (DTW) at 12.0% and terrain roughness index (TRI) at 10.0%. Human interference, including cattle presence (4.6%), distance to road (DTD, 4.9%), and distance to settlement (DTS, 3.5%), had a limited impact on the habitat distribution. (3) Within a 5 km radius, habitat suitability increased with proximity to human settlements. (4) Leopard cats exhibited spatial independence from humans and domestic cattle (species interaction factor (SIF) = 1.00) while avoiding domestic horses (SIF = 0.76 ± 0.03). The relatively minor impact of human disturbances in Xinlong could be attributed to traditional cultural practices safeguarding wildlife and the leopard cat’s environmental adaptability. We recommend establishing a novel conservation paradigm based on the living dynamics of wildlife communities in Xinlong, thereby offering a more targeted approach to biodiversity preservation in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Strategies for Small Wild Cats)
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