Habitat use and sensitivity to fragmentation in America’s smallest wildcat

摘要: Fragmentation and human-wildlife conflicts represent severe threats to wildcats such as the kodkod cat (Leopardus guigna), endemic heavily impacted Chilean temperate rainforest. Here we assess which extent this vulnerable forest specialist is able use altered habitat (agricultural matrix, edge, human presence) by studying its home ranges, use, patch selection in privately owned rainforest remnants. We radio-tracked five individuals over 33–376 days. Mean 95% kernel ranges were 623 ha, with a mean 50% core area of 191 ha. Ecological-niche Mahalanobis distance factor analysis confirmed forest-dependency revealed that made intensive edges, close water. They did not avoid houses. Generalized linear mixed models showed monitored kodkods selected elongated woodland patches. conclude compensated non-forest space maintaining larger making efficient edges probably due higher prey availability. Future studies should identify ecological traps, describe connectivity source-sink dynamics agricultural matrix develop long-term conservation efforts for smallest Americas.