Numerical and functional response of feral cats (Felis catus) to variations in abundance of primary prey on Stewart Island (Rakiura), New Zealand

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant A. Harper
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Functional Response ◽  
Small Mass ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Prey Biomass ◽  
Seasonal Depressions

Few studies of populations of feral cats have simultaneously monitored the seasonal abundance of primary prey and the possible ‘prey-switch’ to alternative prey when primary prey abundance declines. On Stewart Island, when the abundance of feral cats’ primary prey, rats (Rattus spp.), was very low, significantly more cats died or left the study area than when rats were abundant. Cats preferentially preyed on rats regardless of rat abundance. Birds were the main alternative prey but cats did not prey-switch to birds when rat abundance was low, possibly owing to the difficulty of capture, and small mass, of birds compared with rats. On Stewart Island numbers of feral cats are restricted by seasonal depressions in abundance of their primary prey, coupled with limited alternative prey biomass.

Feral Cats (Felis Catus L.) On New Zealand Farmland. Ii. Seasonal Activity.

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
NPE Langham
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Resident Population

The activity patterns of a resident population of 15 feral cats (Felis catus L.) on New Zealand farmland were investigated from March 1984 until February 1987 by radiotelemetry. Females could be divided into two separate groups: (1) those denning in barns and (2) those denning in the swamp and willows. Females denning in barns were mainly nocturnal except in spring and summer when rearing kittens. Barn cats moved significantly further between dusk and dawn, except in autumn-winter, than those denning in swamp and willows which were active over 24 h. When not breeding, related females occupied the same barn. In both groups, the home range of female relatives overlapped. Males ranged over all habitats, and dominant adult males moved significantly further and had larger home ranges than other males in all seasons, except in summer when they rested, avoiding hot summer days. Only adult males were active during the day in spring and autumn-winter. The importance of a Zeitgeber in synchronising cat activity with that of the prey is examined. The significance of female den site is discussed in relation to proximity of food, predators, social behaviour and male defence.

Feral Cats (Felis Catus L.) On New Zealand Farmland. I. Home Range.

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 741 ◽  
Author(s):  
NPE Langham ◽  
RER Porter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Consistent Change

The movements of a population of feral cats (Felis catus) were monitored on New Zealand farmland over three years by means of radiotelemetry. The number of resident males on the 5.2-km2 study area varied from 5 to 9, averaging 1.34 per km2, compared with 10-13 females, averaging 2.19 per km2. The average density over three years was 3.47 cats per km2. The nocturnal home range was significantly larger than the diurnal home range in both sexes. Adult female's home ranges overlapped considerably; adult males tended to occupy exclusive home ranges or territories with little overlap, but including those of several females. Adult males and females that used barns as den sites were mainly nocturnal and had larger home ranges than females denning in vegetation. Females showed no consistent change in home-range size with season, although those breeding in barns had larger home ranges in summer. Adult males had larger territories in summer and winter. Dispersing subadult males had a similar home range to adult males. Death or disappearance of a dominant male allcwed new males to occupy the vacated territory. Two subadults were tracked by day until they became adult and acquired territories within the study area.

Biology of the Feral Cat, Felis Catus (L.), On Macquarie Island.

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
NP Brothers ◽  
IJ Skira ◽  
GR Copson
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
Pregnant Females

246 feral cats were shot on Macquarie Island, Australia, between Dec. 1976 and Feb. 1981. The sex ratio ( males : females ) was 1:0.8. The percentages of animals with tabby, orange and black coats were 74, 26 and 2 resp. [sic]. Of the 64 orange cats, 56 were males . The breeding season was Oct.-Mar., with a peak in Nov.-Dec. The number of embryos in the 14 pregnant females averaged 4.7 (range = 1-9). The size of the 23 litters that were observed averaged 3 (range = 1-8). Kitten survival to 6 months of age was estimated to be <43%.

Alternative Prey and Abundance Covariance Switches an Intraguild Predator’s Functional Response

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Del Bianco Faria ◽  
Juliana Tuller ◽  
Laís Ferreira Maia ◽  
Carolina Reigada ◽  
Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Alternative Prey

scholarly journals Seasonal and spatial shifts in feral cat predation on native seabirds vs. non-native rats on Mikura Island, Japan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarara Azumi ◽  
Yuya Watari ◽  
Nariko Oka ◽  
Tadashi Miyashita
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Invasive Predators

Abstract Understanding how invasive predators impact native species is essential for the development of effective control strategies, especially in insular environments where alternative non-native prey species exist. We examined seasonal and spatial shifts in diet of feral cat Felis silvestris catus focusing on the predation on native streaked shearwaters, Calonectris leucomelas, and introduced rats, Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus, which are alternative prey to shearwaters, on Mikura Island, Japan. Streaked shearwaters breed at low elevations on the island from spring to autumn, whereas rats inhabit the island throughout the year, which makes them an alternative prey when native shearwaters are absent. Fecal analysis revealed that feral cats dramatically shifted their diets from introduced rats in winter to streaked shearwaters in seabird-season in low elevation areas of the island, while cats preyed on rats throughout the year at high altitudes on the island. This finding suggests that feral cats selectively prey on shearwaters. This is probably because of their large body size and less cautious behavior, and because introduced rats sustain the cat population when shearwaters are absent. The number of streaked shearwaters killed was estimated to be 313 individuals per cat per year, which represents an indication of top-down effects of feral cats on streaked shearwaters. Further studies on the demographic parameters and interspecific interactions of the three species are required to enable effective cat management for the conservation of streaked shearwaters on this island.

The food of the silvereye, Zosterops gouldi (Aves : Zosteropidae), in relation to its role as a vector of a granulosis virus of the potato moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae)

1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 533 ◽  
Author(s):  
JN Matthiessen ◽  
BP Springett
Keyword(s):  
Functional Response ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Response Curve ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Phthorimaea Operculella ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Granulosis Virus ◽  
Potential Vector ◽  
Large Numbers

The silvereye feeds in farmland in south-western Western Australia, eating mainly arthropods. Larvae of the potato moth are regularly a major summer food, and the silvereye shows a well-defined functional response to larval density. The silvereye functional response curve differs from the characteristic vertebrate sigmoid-shaped curve in that it lacks the initial positively accelerating portion. This is attributed to the occurrence of prey in many discrete habitats, combined with silvereye mobility and its sensitive response to low potato moth larval densities. The number of potato moth larvae that are eaten is reduced when a larger alternative prey is available, but the numerical proportion of larvae in the food remains unchanged. The silvereye is a potential vector of a granulosis virus of the potato moth through its regular predation on larvae of the potato moth, its large numbers, and its mobility.

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