An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem
One of the most successful predators on island ecosystems is the domestic cat, which is considered responsible for the decline of numerous species’ populations. This can be estimated by the analysis of cats’ dietary habits, yet prey identification is not always possible, and thus, in cases where pre...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/24 |
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| author | Yiannis G. Zevgolis Apostolos Christopoulos Ioannis Ilias Kalargalis Stylianos P. Zannetos Iosif Botetzagias Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos |
| author_facet | Yiannis G. Zevgolis Apostolos Christopoulos Ioannis Ilias Kalargalis Stylianos P. Zannetos Iosif Botetzagias Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos |
| author_sort | Yiannis G. Zevgolis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the most successful predators on island ecosystems is the domestic cat, which is considered responsible for the decline of numerous species’ populations. This can be estimated by the analysis of cats’ dietary habits, yet prey identification is not always possible, and thus, in cases where precise prey identification is required, one of the most accurate methods derives from observing the hunting process. However, the cryptic nature of the feral cats and the constant vigilance of the species that are preyed upon make the observation process difficult, especially when the prey has a low population density. Here, we report for the first time such a case: a feral cat that has ambushed, killed, and consumed a regionally near-threatened species, the Persian squirrel. This incidental observation happened in the squirrel’s westernmost end of its distribution, the island of Lesvos, Greece. Due to the unexpectedness of the event, in the following days, we estimated both the squirrels’ and cats’ population density. Results showed that while the density of the squirrels is moderate, the population density of the feral cats is almost fifteen times higher. For this reason, management actions need to be taken in an effort to minimize the impacts of feral cats on the native species of the island. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:12:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8283b7302e68433fab99329f600eef5f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:12:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8283b7302e68433fab99329f600eef5f2023-11-16T14:18:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-12-011312410.3390/ani13010024An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular EcosystemYiannis G. Zevgolis0Apostolos Christopoulos1Ioannis Ilias Kalargalis2Stylianos P. Zannetos3Iosif Botetzagias4Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos5Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceDepartment of Zoology and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceBiodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceLaboratory for Environmental Policy and Strategic Environment Management, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceBiodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceOne of the most successful predators on island ecosystems is the domestic cat, which is considered responsible for the decline of numerous species’ populations. This can be estimated by the analysis of cats’ dietary habits, yet prey identification is not always possible, and thus, in cases where precise prey identification is required, one of the most accurate methods derives from observing the hunting process. However, the cryptic nature of the feral cats and the constant vigilance of the species that are preyed upon make the observation process difficult, especially when the prey has a low population density. Here, we report for the first time such a case: a feral cat that has ambushed, killed, and consumed a regionally near-threatened species, the Persian squirrel. This incidental observation happened in the squirrel’s westernmost end of its distribution, the island of Lesvos, Greece. Due to the unexpectedness of the event, in the following days, we estimated both the squirrels’ and cats’ population density. Results showed that while the density of the squirrels is moderate, the population density of the feral cats is almost fifteen times higher. For this reason, management actions need to be taken in an effort to minimize the impacts of feral cats on the native species of the island.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/24<i>Sciurus anomalus</i><i>Felis catus</i>predation eventinvasive speciesislandsLesvos |
| spellingShingle | Yiannis G. Zevgolis Apostolos Christopoulos Ioannis Ilias Kalargalis Stylianos P. Zannetos Iosif Botetzagias Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem Animals <i>Sciurus anomalus</i> <i>Felis catus</i> predation event invasive species islands Lesvos |
| title | An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem |
| title_full | An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem |
| title_fullStr | An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem |
| title_short | An (Un)Expected Threat for a Regionally Near-Threatened Species: A Predation Case of a Persian Squirrel on an Insular Ecosystem |
| title_sort | un expected threat for a regionally near threatened species a predation case of a persian squirrel on an insular ecosystem |
| topic | <i>Sciurus anomalus</i> <i>Felis catus</i> predation event invasive species islands Lesvos |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/24 |
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