Environmental conditions experienced in early life may shape subsequent phenotypic traits including life history. We investigated how predation risk caused by domestic cats (
Felis silvestris catus
) ...and local breeding density affected patterns of reproductive and survival senescence in Barn Swallows (
Hirundo rustica
) breeding semicolonially in Denmark. We recorded the abundance of cats and the number of breeding pairs at 39 breeding sites during 24 years and related these to age-specific survival rate and reproductive senescence to test predictions of the life history theory of senescence. We found evidence for actuarial senescence for the first time in this species. Survival rate increased until reaching a plateau in midlife and then decreased later. We also found that survival rate was higher for males than females. Local breeding density or predation risk did not affect survival as predicted by theory. Barn Swallows with short lives did not invest more in reproduction in early life, inconsistent with expectations for trade-offs between reproduction and survival as theory suggests. However, we found that the rate of reproductive decline during senescence was steeper for individuals exposed to intense competition, and predation pressure accelerated the rate of reproductive senescence, but only in sites with many breeding pairs. These latter results are in accordance with one of the predictions suggested by the life history theory of aging. These results emphasize the importance of considering intraspecific competition and interspecific interactions such as predation when analyzing reproductive and actuarial senescence.
Assessment of abundance, survival, recruitment rates, and density (i.e., population assessment) is especially challenging for elusive species most in need of protection (e.g., rare carnivores). ...Individual identification methods, such as DNA sampling, provide ways of studying such species efficiently and noninvasively. Additionally, statistical methods that correct for undetected animals and account for locations where animals are captured are available to efficiently estimate density and other demographic parameters. We collected hair samples of European wildcat (Felis silvestris) from cheek-rub lure sticks, extracted DNA from the samples, and identified each animals' genotype. To estimate the density of wildcats, we used Bayesian inference in a spatial capture-recapture model. We used WinBUGS to fit a model that accounted for differences in detection probability among individuals and seasons and between two lure arrays. We detected 21 individual wildcats (including possible hybrids) 47 times. Wildcat density was estimated at 0.29/km2 (SE 0.06), and 95% of the activity of wildcats was estimated to occur within 1.83 km from their home-range center. Lures located systematically were associated with a greater number of detections than lures placed in a cell on the basis of expert opinion. Detection probability of individual cats was greatest in late March. Our model is a generalized linear mixed model; hence, it can be easily extended, for instance, to incorporate trap- and individual-level covariates. We believe that the combined use of noninvasive sampling techniques and spatial capture-recapture models will improve population assessments, especially for rare and elusive animals.Original Abstract: Resumen:La evaluacion de abundancia, supervivencia, tasas de reclutamiento y densidad (i. e., evaluacion poblacional) es especialmente desafiante para especies elusivas con mayor necesidad de proteccion (e.g., carnivoros raros). Los metodos de identificacion individual, tal como muestreo de ADN, proporcionan formas para estudiar tales especies eficiente y no invasivamente. Adicionalmente, se dispone de metodos estadisticos que ajustan para animales no detectados y dan cuenta de localidades donde los animales son capturados, con lo que la densidad y otros parametros demograficos son estimados eficientemente. Recolectamos muestras de pelo de gato montes europeo (Felis silvestris) en varas con atrayentes para tallar mejillas, extrajimos ADN de las muestras e identificamos el genotipo de cada animal. Para estimar la densidad de gatos monteses, utilizamos inferencia Bayesiana en un modelo espacial de captura-recaptura. Utilizamos WinBUGS para ajustar un modelo que incluyo diferencias en la probabilidad de deteccion entre individuos y temporadas y entre dos conjuntos de atrayentes. Detectamos a 21 gatos individuales (incluyendo posibles hibridos) 47 veces. La densidad de gatos monteses fue estimada en 0.29/km2 (ES 0.06), y se estimo que 95% de la actividad de los gatos monteses ocurrio a 1.81 km del centro de su rango de hogar. Los atrayentes localizados sistematicamente se asociaron con un mayor numero de detecciones que los atrayentes colocados en una celda con base en la opinion de expertos. La probabilidad de deteccion de gatos individuales fue mayor a fines de marzo. Nuestro modelo es un modelo lineal generalizado mixto; por lo tanto, puede ser extendido facilmente, por ejemplo, para incorporar covariables a nivel trampa e idnividual. Consideramos que el uso combinado de tecnicas de muestreo no invasivo y modelo espaciales de captura-recaptura mejorara las evaluaciones poblacionales, especialmente para animales raros y elusivos.
Based on morphological and genetic characteristics, we describe a new species of Hepatozoon in the European wild cat (Felis silvestris silvestris), herein named Hepatozoon silvestris sp. nov. The ...study also provides the first data on the occurrence of H. felis in this wild felid. Hepatozoon meronts were observed in multiple cross-sections of different organs of four (44%) cats. Additionally, extracellular forms, resembling mature gamonts of Hepatozoon, were found in the spleen and myocardium of two cats. Furthermore, tissues of six animals (67%) were positive by PCR. Hepatozoon felis was identified infecting one cat (11%), whereas the 18S rRNA sequences of the remaining five cats (56%) were identical, but distinct from the sequences of H. felis. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that those sequences form a highly supported clade distant from other Hepatozoon spp. Future studies should include domestic cats from the areas where the wild cats positive for H. silvestris sp. nov. were found, in order to investigate their potential role to serve as intermediate hosts of this newly described species. Identification of its definitive host(s) and experimental transmission studies are required for elucidating the full life cycle of this parasite and the possible alternative routes of its transmission.
Angiostrongylus chabaudi (Strongylida, Angiostrongylidae) is a parasitic nematode described for the first time last century from the pulmonary arteries of six European wildcats (Felis silvestris ...silvestris) in central Italy. Since then, this parasite remained practically unknown until recently, when immature A. chabaudi have been reported from one wildcat in Germany and two domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Italy. The present report describes the first record of A. chabaudi in Greece and, most importantly, the first known case of patent infection by A. chabaudi. The necropsy of a road-killed F. s. silvestris found near the lake Kerkini, in the municipality of Serres (Macedonia, Greece), revealed the presence of nematodes of both sexes in the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery of the heart. All parasites were mature adults and numerous eggs were present in the uteruses of females. The morphological characteristics of the parasites were consistent with those of A. chabaudi. Moreover, Angiostrongylus-like first stage larvae (L1) were present in the faeces of the animal that was negative for any other cardio-pulmonary parasite. Genetic examination of adult parasites and L1 confirmed the morphological identification as A. chabaudi. Histopathological examination of the lungs showed severe, multifocal to coalescing, chronic, interstitial granulomatous pneumonia due to the presence of adult parasites, larvae and eggs. These findings demonstrate for the first unequivocal time that this nematode reproduces in the European wildcat which should be ultimately considered a definitive host of A. chabaudi. Finally, the L1 of A. chabaudi are described here for the first time, opening new prospects for further studies on this neglected parasite.
The ancestor of all modern domestic cats is the wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica, with archaeological evidence indicating it was domesticated as early as 10,000 years ago in South-West Asia. A recent ...study, however, claims that cat domestication also occurred in China some 5,000 years ago and involved the same wildcat ancestor (F. silvestris). The application of geometric morphometric analyses to ancient small felid bones from China dating between 5,500 to 4,900 BP, instead reveal these and other remains to be that of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). These data clearly indicate that the origins of a human-cat 'domestic' relationship in Neolithic China began independently from South-West Asia and involved a different wild felid species altogether. The leopard cat's 'domestic' status, however, appears to have been short-lived-its apparent subsequent replacement shown by the fact that today all domestic cats in China are genetically related to F. silvestris.
•A subjective method of evaluating cat temperament is described.•Five significant dimensions of cat temperament were found.•Four of the five dimensions were also found in other studies.•Several ...independent variables affected the temperament dimensions.•Further study is needed, especially standardization and generalization.
The study of personality or temperament is well developed in many species, but in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) it has lagged behind. We applied one common methodology, subjective surveys, performed by their owners, to investigate the dimensions of cat temperament. To do this, we developed an eighteen question survey covering common behavioral traits of cats, and had the evaluators rank their cat on a seven point Likert scale for trait. The responses were analyzed with factor analysis, and resulted in six significant dimensions of temperament across the 251 surveys. The six dimensions, in order of importance, are: Cat Social, Active, Human Nonsocial, Human Aggressive, and Intense. Supplemental questions were also included in all the surveys, and MANOVA analysis of these showed that outdoor usage, feeding style (ad-lib vs. meal fed), living with other cats, sex, duration of ownership, and previous history as a stray all had effects on at least one of the dimensions of cat temperament. Future work is clearly needed to fully validate our model and to further investigate our findings.
•We observed six groups of 15 domestic cats housed at three different available floor areas.•We recorded social interactions between cats, Cat-Stress-Score and use of resources.•Cats performed more ...solitary play, had more friendly interactions and moved more between different resources with increasing space.•There was no difference in Cat-Stress-Score between different areas.
The domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) originates from the solitary living African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica). However, through domestication, the domestic cat has become more social towards conspecifics and group housing of cats is common, for example in cat shelters in some countries. In Sweden the animal welfare legislation allows the keeping of up to 15 adult cats in the same room. However, keeping several cats in a small area may increase the level of conflicts between the cats and the social stress. In this study we examined the social and spatial behaviour in large groups of cats, as well as stress related body postures (using the Cat-Stress-Score) and if there were any changes within a stable group of 15 cats kept at different floor areas (1m2, 2m2 and 4m2 per cat). Cats in the study were collected as groups from two shelters and housed in a research facility. Cats from different shelters and groups were never mixed. Cats performed more solitary play (p=0.0016) and moved more between different resources (p=0.03) in the largest floor area. Based on our results we conclude that increasing the area for group housed cats promote more play and general activity. Play can be an indicator of positive welfare for the cats.
A concern in animal welfare is the degree to which the animals in our charge experience stress during everyday procedures. Central to this is how to appropriately assess stress in relevant daily ...contexts. As one of the most popular companion animals worldwide, the domestic cat Felis silvestris catus is a good example. The cat may experience situations in daily life which can be considered stressful, such as confinement in a pet carrier for veterinary visits or to accompany its owners on holiday. It was therefore our aim in the present study to assess the response of pet domestic cats to brief confinement in a standard pet carrier during which we employed two behavioural and one non-invasive physiological measure thought to be indicators of stress. We investigated the presence of individual differences in 74 kittens’ responses before weaning (before 2 months of age) and the stability of these across development to adulthood in a subset of the same individuals tested after adoption in their new homes at 6, 12 and 18 months of age. Individuals were tested by placing them alone for 2 min in a pet carrier in an isolated room. Motor activity and vocalisation were continuously recorded, and eye and nose temperature were registered immediately before and after each test using a thermal camera. Statistical analyses showed stable (repeatable) individual differences for various measures of vocalisation and to a lesser extent for motor activity within and across age classes, but no relation between measures of the two. Thermographic measures of eye temperature showed no consistent pattern of thermal response to the test, and only weak and contradictory patterns of change in the temperature of the nose. In conclusion, we suggest measures of vocalisation to be a good indicator of individual differences of stress in response to such everyday procedures in the cat, although still needing validation from physiological measures. Facial thermography presently does not seem sufficiently reliable in this regard. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of conducting repeated tests across time to identify and develop reliable indicators of stress in whatever species.
•Response to acute stress was evaluated in a longitudinal study in the domestic cat.•Individual differences in vocalisation were repeatable across development.•Repeatability of temperature change was low for the nose and absent for the eyes.•There was no association between vocal and thermal responses to acute stress.•Vocalisation is a promising tool for the assessment of acute stress in cats.
The increasing focus on infections in domestic cats (Felis catus) has raised questions about lungworm distribution in wild hosts. To enhance knowledge of the occurrence of lungworms in enzootic ...regions of central Italy, we examined the carcasses of 16 European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris). Adult nematodes, feces, respiratory flushings, and pulmonary tissues were collected at necropsy and then microscopically and genetically analyzed. Fourteen wildcats had single or mixed lungworm species. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was the most common parasite retrieved, followed by Troglostrongylus brevior. In addition, three specimens of Angiostrongylus chabaudi were found in the pulmonary arteries of one wildcat. Histologically, the most common lesions were a mild-to-severe chronic catarrhal bronchitis and a chronic interstitial pneumonia with smooth muscle hypertrophy, associated with T. brevior and A. abstrusus, respectively. These results demonstrate that the European wildcats may harbor several species of lungworms that may impair their health and welfare. Also, F. s. silvestris is a potential reservoir for respiratory nematodes in domestic cats.
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