1,720,972 research outputs found
Camera trapping the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Sicily (Southern Italy): preliminary results
Full text linkThe wildcat is an elusive species that is threatened with extinction in many parts of its range. In Sicily it still lives in a wide range of habitats. During 2006, camera traps were used to investigate the distribution of the wildcat over a 660 ha wide area on the south-western slope of Mount Etna (NE Sicily). Twelve out of 18 trapping stations provided a total of 24 photographs. Nine different individuals were identified using morphological criteria. Our work confirms the suitability of camera trapping for monitoring elusive carnivores
The value of by-catch data: how species-specific surveys can serve non-target species
No full textCamera trapping has a wide range of research application, but, while research designs are often focused on the study of a single focal species, cameras can also record other non-target species. Occupancy modeling using by-catch data can be a valuable resource to gain information on these species maximizing the scientific effort and efficiency of wildlife surveys. In this study, we used by-catch data from a European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) survey in Southern Italy to assess the habitat covariates determinant for the occupancy of the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata). We recorded 33 detections at 17 out of 51 cameras (naive occupancy = 0.33). The best models fitted the data well, and porcupine occupancy estimate was 0.58 (SE +/- 0.09) with a detection probability of 0.11 (SE +/- 0.03). Average model showed that woodlands and number of shrub patches increased porcupine occupancy, while the reverse was true for altitude. Our results have improved the insights on the habitat use and ecological needs of this understudied species, and it is the first study that develops occupancy models for the porcupine using the presence/absence data obtained from a camera trap survey. Our study is an example of how camera trap surveys are often an under-exploited source of valuable information on a wider spectrum of sympatric species beyond the focal species for which camera traps were deployed. Minimum requirements for a camera trap survey to provide robust occupancy estimates for non-target species are discussed
Spatial explicity capture recapture model apply to camera trapping and genetic scat survey on the wildcat from Sicily
No full textRecent development of spatial explicit capture recapture (SECR) models have override the problem of how to calculate
the study area of which the expected density refers. The future use of such models allows for a great flexibility of the
study design (e.g. allowing individual recaptures into the same occasion or even to limit monitoring to just one sample
occasion): given that a great revolution in census methods is ongoing.
We used this new generation of model, specifically the software Density 4.4 which, trough a Maximum Likelihood
based model selection, generated density estimates in a spatial-explicit capture-recapture (SECR) framework. We
assessed density of wildcat in Sicily using data from a study where camera trapping and genetic scat survey where
conducted simultaneously on the Etna Volcano.
Genetic scat survey was conducted in order to provide both molecular data on the taxonomic status of this population
and an independent estimation of the density.
In 2010 we monitored two consecutive and adjacent trapping lines from 14 May to 11 September for a total of 18
camera stations (camera traps were placed in pair at each stations). 1080 trap-days gained 67 events from 16 stations.
The resulting pictures were compared between them and with those collected during previous camera trapping
monitoring undertaken in the same study area. We identified at least 14 wildcats (excluding two kittens) and the rate of
capture success was 1/16 trap-nights.
Scat collection was done during the camera trapping monitor and the transects were designed in order to search near the
camera stations, therefore genetic captures from scats were then assigned to the nearest camera trapping station.
4 transects (23 Km) were repeated weekly for 17 times (391 km) and 11 out of 39 fresh wildcat scats provided, using
genetic molecular tool analyses, the identification of at least 7 individuals (2 individuals were located three times whilst
the remains once).
Genotype were identified using a panel of 12 autosomal microsatellites, and assignment procedures to wildcat, domestic
cat or hybrid reference sample groups.
The software analyses performed on the two independent data set of spatial captures produced the follow results
(wildcat/100 ha): Dct= 0.31 + 0.1 (s.e), g0= 0.17410, σ=978, with 95% confidence interval of 0.17-0.54 and Dg= 0.76 +
0.4 (s.e), g0= 0.09, σ=280 with 95% confidence interval of 0.28-2.
For comparison, traditional capture-recapture model associated with FMMDM buffer results are: Dct= 0.41 + 0.35 (s.e);
Dg= 0.29 + 1.15 (s.e).
Genetic scat density is greater than that of camera trapping, probably as consequence of smallest sample size, however
the confidence intervals of the two monitoring slightly overlapped.
The goodness of camera trapping to assess the wildcat’s density is reasserted, and to our knowledge, our study is the
first that successfully performed genetic molecular analyses on the wildcat scats.
Future developments will be focus on the maximization of genetic analyses success as this non-invasive method
provides crucial data on the taxonomic status of the wildcat populations.
Camera trapping became a common tools for wildlife management and the scientific progress into the analyses and
implementation of spatial capture recapture models promise a wider range of field application.
Finally we strong suggest, when camera trapping monitors detect the presence of wildcats, to engage in the collection of
the scats and successive molecular analyses: the combination and integration of this two non invasive methods surveys
will produce a wider and more complete view on the wildcat biology, which is an essential condition to formulate
concrete and successfully conservation measures
A non-invasive monitoring on European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777) in Sicily using hair trapping and camera trapping: does scented lure work?
Full text linkAn hair trapping protocol, with camera trapping surveillance, was carried out on the south-western side of the Etna, inhabited by an abundant population of the European wildcat. We aimed to collect hair for genetic analysis on the base of a field study conducted in Switzerland, where valerian tincture had been used to attract wildcats to rub again wooden sticks and therefore leaving hairs. We placed 18 hair trapping stations, plus one camera trap per scented wooden stick, 1 km away from each other for 60 days (October 29 2010 to December 28 2010). The rate of "capture" success (1 capture / 24.5 trap-days) by camera trapping was substantially the same as those obtained during previous surveys performed in the same study area without the use of any attractants. No wildcats were photographed while rubbing against the wooden sticks, neither any wildcat was interested in the scent lure. We discuss limitations of the hair trapping, providing possible explanations on the failure of valerian tincture, while suggesting some field advices for future monitorings
Gone before its known? Camera-trapping shows alarming levels of putative hybrids in the wildcat (Felis silvestris) population of the Gargano National Park (Southern Italy)
No full textThe European wildcat is a small carnivore widespread across Europe and hybridization with the domestic cat is one of the major threats to wildcats. We estimate the population density of wild-living cats (both wildcats and putative hybrids based on pelage) in the Gargano National Park (Southern Italy). We sampled 20 stations for 540 camera days. We obtained 23 images from 17 detections at 10 cameras, and we identified 10 individuals (6 wildcats and 4 putative hybrids). Population density was estimated at 0.34 +/- 0.15 SE wild-living cats/km(2). The proportion of putative hybrids indicates an alarming hybridization for this population
Anthropogenic threats drive spatio-temporal responses of wildcat on Mt. Etna
No full textHuman expansion can cause disturbance and intrusion of invasive species, which are detrimental to small carnivores. We investigated how European wildcats responded to disturbance from mushroom collectors, cattle and feral pigs in Sicily, Italy. We used detections from 76 cameras over 2 surveys (2015–2016 and 2018; camera days = 1985) to run occupancy and co-occurrence models and estimate overlap in activity patterns between species pairs. During 2015–2016, wildcats were detected at the same location with cattle, mushroom hunters and feral pigs at 14.4%, 26.3% and 17.1% of cameras. During 2018, wildcats were detected at the same location with cattle, mushroom hunters and feral pigs at 7.8%, 19.7% and 6.5% of cameras. Dominant species (A; cattle, mushroom hunters and feral pigs) did not affect occupancy of the subordinate species (B; wildcats) during 2015–2016. In 2018, the effect of species A on wildcat occupancy was evident for cattle-wildcat and mushroom hunters-wildcat pairs and wildcat occupancy was higher at sites where species A was not present. Probabilities of detecting wildcats at sites where species A was not present or not detected were higher than probabilities of detecting wildcats at sites where species A was detected. Overlap in activity levels was low between mushroom hunters and wildcats and higher between cattle and wildcats, but varied between surveys for feral pig-wildcat pair. Although results differed between survey periods, we suggest that wildcats generally avoided cattle, feral pigs and mushroom hunters, at both temporal and spatial scales. Anthropogenic disturbance, livestock and invasive species are emerging threats to wildcats and future conservation actions should consider our results
Record of a 10-year old European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) from Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy
Full text linkWe recaptured the Wildcat after nine years, hence we think that 10 years is the minimum reasonable age estimation for this individual. This age estimate still lies at the lower range when compared to ages of captive Wildcats ranging from 12–16 year
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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