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Annual and seasonal home range sizes
The annual home range data are presented in Table 4.2 with the 100% MCP and the 95% MCP estimates. Annual home range estimates (MCP 95%) in adult males (n = 4) were 7.7 ± 3.5 km2 and in adult female cats (n = 3) 3.5 ± 1.0 km2. As predicted the annual home range sizes (95% MCP) of adult male cats were significantly larger than female African wild cats (Mann Whitney U-test, Z = 2.3, P < 0.02). Adult male African wild cats exhibited annual home ranges of between 1.6 – 2.2 times larger than adult female cats.
Lindstedt et al. (1986) suggested that female home ranges are set by their metabolic demands (HRfemale), therefore male home ranges could be predicted as HRfemale x Mmale/Mfemale, where M is defined as average mass. Sandell (1989) used a similar equation to estimate male home ranges (HRmale) based on the energy requirements to sustain themselves: HRmale = (HRfemale) x (Mmale)0.75 / (Mfemale)0.75. The measured annual home ranges (MCP 95%) of male African wild cats were larger (1.6 and 1.8 times) than the predicted home ranges for energy requirements alone using both formulae respectively. However, for females the annual home ranges were 1.6 times smaller than the predicted home ranges. Seasonal home ranges did not differ significantly in either male (Mann Whitney U-test, Z = – 1.0, P = 0.3) and female cats (Mann Whitney U-test, Z = -1.3, P = 0.2). The average home ranges for males in the wet season were 4.7 ± 3.0 km2 and dry season were 7.4 ± 2.6 km2; for females were: wet season = 3.0 ± 1.7 km2 and dry season = 4.0 ± 1.1 km2 (Table 4.2).
Social organisation and spatial system
An adequate dataset for all three females enabled the calculation of overlapping ranges for females in 2004 (Table 4.3). Individual home ranges varied largely, from 5.7 km2 to 13 km2 (average = 9.3 ± 3.7 km2, n = 3 (MCP 100%)). This large variation might be due to low rodent abundances recorded during 2004 (Chapter 2). However, we found no significant differences in home range sizes of 2004 in comparison to the other years. The three females showed an average of 33.4 ± 13.4% overlap (ranges from 20.6% to 47.3%), however, comparing the 50% core area (Kernel analysis), only two females show a slight overlap (Fig. 4.2). Adult male home range overlap was calculated for the year 006 where home ranges varied from 5.5 to 9.9 km2 (average = 7.4 ± 2.2 km2, n = 4) Three adult males showed an average of 7.0 ± 6.0% overlap (ranges from 2.0% to 13.7%) and there were no overlap in the 50% core area of a Kernel analysis (Fig. 4.3). The home range of male VLO1672 did not overlap with any other male cats and were excluded in the analysis of home range overlap. The large variation can be explained by the movement patterns of male (VLO1665) that was in the process of establishing his new home range in the year 2006.
Male cat (VLO1665) was a sub-adult cat when caught and moved in a small 2.0 km2 area where no spray marking activity was evident for the first two months after collaring. Then he started to roam and spray mark over a larger area, including spray marking in the home range of male VLO1662. His movements covered 14.7 km2 (100% MCP). He became a resident adult male after 5 months with a small annual home range of 5.6 km2 that did not overlap with his initial area as sub-adult cat, 3.4 km away (straight line measurement from were he was initially caught to the centre of core area of established home range in 2006). The overlap between the roaming cat (VLO1665) and an adult male (VLO1662) decreased from 29.4% to 13.7% when he became resident (Fig. 4.4).
The ranges of resident adult male cats overlapped with up to four different females. The overlapping ranges of three habituated adult females, the location of a den of an uncollared female and two adult males from 2004 to 2005 are presented in Fig. 4.5. During 2004 – 2006 a total of 10 African wild cats were radio collared in the 53 km2 study area and three non radio collared adult cats were regularly sighted, giving a minimum density estimate of 0.25 cats/km2.
The patterns of home range use during a single observation period (male: 6.0 ± 3.4 hours and female: 4.7 ± 3.7 hours (range 1 – 14 hours)) are presented in Fig. 4.6 and 4.7 respectively, showing how female cats used a smaller and more concentrated area of their home ranges during an observation period. There was a significant difference between the actual distances moved, measured from GPS recordings, and between the sexes per hour of each observation period (t-test: t = 2.4, P = 0.03) with males: 0.6 ± 0.2 km/h and females: 0.4 ± 0.1 km/h.
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1. The African wild cat, Felis silvestris (Forster, 1780) and synonym Felis silvestris cafra (Desmarest, 1822): an overview
1.1 Phylogenetic relations and taxonomic classification
1.2 Geographical range
1.3 Domestication of wild cats
1.4 Conservation status of the African wild cat
2. This study: The African Wild Cat Project
2.1 The study site
2.2 Rationale
2.3 Objective
2.4 Key questions
2.5 The broader scientific framework of this study
2.6 Overview of thesis
3. References
CHAPTER 2 THE FEEDING HABITS OF THE AFRICAN WILD CAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS CAFRA), A FACULTATIVE TROPHIC SPECIALIST, IN THE SOUTHERN KALAHARI (KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK, SOUTH AFRICA/BOTSWANA
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Materials and methods
3.1 Study area
3.2 Climate and rainfall
3.3 Data collection
3.4 Scat analysis
3.5 Statistical analysis
4. Results
4.1 Overall diet and prey composition
4.2 Seasonal variation in the diet
4.3 Influence of changes in prey availability in the diet
4.4 Sexual differences in body size and diet of African wild cats
5. Discussion
6. References
CHAPTER 3 FORAGING BEHAVIOUR AND HABITAT USE OF THE AFRICAN WILD CAT, FELIS SILVESTRIS CAFRA IN THE KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Material and Methods
3.1 Study area
3.2 Climate and rainfall
3.3 Data collection
3.4 Definition of terms
3.5 Data analysis
4. Results
4.3 Habitat utilisation
4.4 Social and other behaviours
5. Discussion
6. References
CHAPTER 4 ASPECTS OF THE SOCIAL ORGANISATION OF THE AFRICAN WILD CAT, FELIS
SILVESTRIS CAFRA IN THE SOUTHERN KALAHARI: FACTORS AFFECTING HOME RANGE SIZE ANDNMOVEMENT PATTERNS, AND A BASIC DESCRIPTION OF SCENT MARKING BEHAVIOUR ANDNREPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Study area
3.2 Data collection
3.3 Data analysis
4. Results
4.1 Study population
4.2 Annual and seasonal home range sizes
4.3 Social organisation and spatial system
4.4 Scent marking behaviour
4.5 Breeding system and social interactions in the African wild cat
5. Discussion
6. References
CHAPTER 5 MICROSATELLITES REVEAL PATTERNS OF RELATEDNESS IN A LOCAL FRICAN WILD CAT (FELIS SILVESTRIS CAFRA) POPULATION FROM THE SOUTHERN KALAHARI, WITH LIMITED EVIDENCE OF HYBRIDISATION WITH THE DOMESTIC CAT (F. S. CATUS)
1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Sample collection and DNA extraction
3.2 Analyses of genetic variation
3.3 Population structure and admixture analyses using Bayesian cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis
3.4 Relatedness estimates within the African wild cat population
4. Results
4.1 Genetic diversity in wild and domestic cats
4.2 Admixture analyses and identification of hybrid individuals
4.3 Genetic diversity within the African wild cat population
4.4 Relatedness between Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park African wild cats
5. Discussion
6. References
CHAPTER 6 SYNTHESIS
References
