Spatial ecology of the European wildcat in a Mediterranean ecosystem: dealing with small radio‐tracking datasets in species conservation

摘要: Despite some populations of European wildcat Felis silvestris in central Europe are stable or increasing, the Iberian subpopulation is decline and listed as ‘vulnerable’. In Portugal, little known about populations, making conservation policies extremely difficult to define. Furthermore, secretive behaviour these mammals, along with low population densities, make data collection complicated. Thus, it crucial develop efficient analytical tools interpret existing for this species. study, we determine home-range size environmental factors related spatial ecology a Mediterranean ecosystem using combined analysis habitat selection maximum entropy (Maxent) modelling. Simultaneously, test feasibility radio-tracking locations construct an ecologically meaningful distribution model. Six wildcats were captured tracked. The average (MCP95) was 2.28 km2 females 13.71 km2 one male. Maxent model built from indicated that abundance rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus limited human disturbance most important correlates presence. Habitat revealed tend use scrubland areas significantly more than expected by chance. A mosaic scrublands agricultural areas, higher proportion former, benefits presence study area; however, species mainly constrained availability prey resting sites. validation camera-trapping highly adequate performance. This technique may prove useful recovering small datasets provides new alternative handling maximizing ecological information on target population, which can then be used planning.