Bobcat ranging behavior in relation to small mammal abundance on Colima Volcano, Mexico
| Autor: | Andrew M. Burton, Cuahutémoc Chávez TOVAR, Sonia Navarro PÉREZ |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2003 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Universidad de Guadalajara UDG Redalyc-UDG Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM Redalyc-UNAM Anales del Instituto de Biología. Serie Zoología (México) Num.1 Vol.74 |
| Popis: | One adult male bobcat and one adult female bobcat (Lynx rufus) were captured near the summit of Colima Volcano, western Mexico. The overall home range of the adult male was 560.5 ha, which encompassed the range of the adult female at 98.9 ha. Determination of core areas from cluster analysis helped elucidate habitat preferences. The adult male centered activity on a large rocky lava flow field produced during the 1869 flank eruption of the parasitic vent, El Volcancito. A second core area was identified as the 1880 lava flow on the northern flank of the volcano, which was favored by the adult female. The female bobcat also centered activity in grassland on the western slopes of the volcano between 3100 and 3200 m. Bobcat preference for the lava flows and grassland was related to their preferred mode of hunting, involving stalking prey and lying in wait, requiring cover and vantage points, and the distribution of small mammals on the volcano. Small mammals were sampled within tree and grassland habitats on the volcano using a replicated trapping design. Abundance of small mammals was greater in grassland as opposed to wooded habitats. Seed production can be expected to be greater in grassland habitats favoring high densities of small mammals. The high abundance of the bunchgrass Calamagrostis tolucensis, along with herbs, in grassland habitats on the volcano should provide sufficient vegetative material for species such as Microtus mexicanus. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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