Integrating geodiversity in animal spatial ecology : microhabitat selection of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in a karst landscape

Čonč, Špela (author), Oliveira, Teresa (author), Hočevar, Lan (author), Černe, Rok (author), Breg Valjavec, Mateja (author), Krofel, Miha (author)

Geodiversity, encompassing various geophysical elements, can have an important impact on species distribution and affect animal behaviour patterns. Although many wild felids are attracted to rugged terrain and conspicuous relief features, most previous research was limited to general topographical characteristics (e.g., slope or terrain ruggedness) and rarely considered the effects of specific microhabitat characteristics. This gap is primarily due to the limited availability of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) and relief features data at larger scales. However, LiDAR DTMs can be used in combination with various automatic methods to detect relief features, enabling non-contact and accurate mapping of large, remote and densely-forested areas. Here, we investigated the selection patterns of various karstic relief features, as well as topographic, anthropogenic and vegetation characteristics, by two sympatric felids, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), in the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. We used LiDAR DTMs to calculate topographic characteristics and detect karst relief features based on automatic methods. We compared the selection of these features between the GPS-collared lynx and wildcats under a use-availability approach. We also investigated the differences in the selection of these features by lynx based on their origin and experience (remnant vs. translocated and naive vs. experienced, respectively). We observed significant impact of relief features on space use by both felids and detected distinct selection patterns between the two species. Lynx selected rugged terrain and proximity of caves, cliffs, karst depressions, ridges, small rocky outcrops, and roads, but avoided human settlements and forest edges. Wildcats selected areas with lower surface slope, closer to main roads, forest edges, caves and ridges, but avoided cliffs, forest roads and human settlements. We observed stronger selection/avoidance patterns among the translocated compared to the remnant lynx, while the differences in experience levels were less important. Our study demonstrates the potential of integrating remote sensing techniques and information on geodiversity into the study of animal spatial ecology. Furthermore, our results indicate that specific relief features provide important abiotic microhabitats for felids and may influence habitat segregation between sympatric species. Our findings provide further evidence for the importance of geodiversity conservation and the need to incorporate abiotic microhabitat features in wildlife habitat selection studies.

• Language: English
• Keywords: LiDAR, relief features, geomorphology, remote sensing, spatial ecology, carnivores
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 26 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 54, article no. e03138
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-165627
• UDC: 599.742.734+599.742.731(234.422.1)
• ISSN on article: 2351-9894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03138
• COBISS.SI-ID: 204151811
• Publication date in RUL: 11.12.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Global ecology and conservation
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2351-9894
• COBISS.SI-ID: 520381209

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: LiDAR, reliefne strukture, geomorfologija, daljinsko zaznavanje, divja mačka, evrazijski ris