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Baales M, Heuschen W, Kehl M, Manz A, Nolde N, Riemenschneider D, Rittweger H, Orschiedt J. Western visitors at the Blätterhöhle (city of Hagen, southern Westphalia) during the Younger Dryas? A new final palaeolithic assemblage type in western Germany. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284479. [PMID: 37134047 PMCID: PMC10156063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Until now, it was considered certain that the last reindeer hunters of the Ahrensburgian (tanged point groups) existed exclusively in northwestern Central Europe during the Younger Dryas Cold Period (~ Greenland Stadial 1). The excavations carried out since 2006 on the forecourt (Vorplatz) of the small Blätterhöhle in Hagen on the northern edge of the Sauerland uplands of southern Westphalia (North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany) have now changed this view. Beneath a surprisingly extensive sequence of Mesolithic find horizons, Pleistocene sediments could be reached whose excavations yielded a Final Palaeolithic lithic ensemble of the Younger Dryas, unusual for the region and beyond. It is characterised by numerous backed lithic projectile points of high variability. Comparisons suggest a typological-technological connection with the Western European Laborian / Late Laborian. Neither in the nearer nor in the wider surroundings has a comparable lithic find ensemble been found so far. In addition, there is a lack of clear evidence for the reindeer in the fauna. Surprisingly, the vast majority of radiocarbon dates of bones and charcoals from the investigated archaeological horizon of the Final Pleistocene proved to be significantly older than expected from their stratigraphic position. This phenomenon has not yet been clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Baales
- Department Olpe, LWL-Archaeology for Westphalia (State Office for Archaeology Westphalia), Olpe, Germany
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistory, Department of Archaeological Sciences, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Heuschen
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistory, Department of Archaeological Sciences, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- City Office for Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology, Hagen, Germany
| | - Martin Kehl
- Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Annika Manz
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistory, Department of Archaeological Sciences, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nadine Nolde
- Institute of Pre- and Protohistory, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Riemenschneider
- Department Olpe, LWL-Archaeology for Westphalia (State Office for Archaeology Westphalia), Olpe, Germany
| | - Holger Rittweger
- MObiles LAndschaftsMUseum, Office for Landscape- and Palaeo-Ecology, Waldbrunn, Germany
| | - Jörg Orschiedt
- State Office for Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Department of History and Cultural Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Ferretti F, Lazzeri L, Sforzi A. Spatio-temporal patterns of the European wildcat in a Mediterranean coastal area. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00317-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
AbstractLike most small felids, the European wildcat Felis silvestris is a rather elusive species, poorly detectable in the wild, due to several aspects of its biology. Camera trapping can represent a suitable tool to understand temporal activity patterns and habitat preferences of such elusive species. We used intensive camera trapping over two full years to investigate spatio-temporal patterns of the wildcat in a Mediterranean coastal protected area (Maremma Regional Park, central Italy). At the seasonal scale, the wildcat showed a marked twilight activity in summer and winter (mating period), and nocturnal activity in autumn. Conversely, a peak of activity during the day, i.e., in broad daylight, was reported in spring. Reproductive females may limit their nocturnal movements in spring to increase protection from predators to their kittens at the den, although further data are required to support this conclusion. At seasonal, semestral, and yearly temporal scales, the frequency of wildcat detections increased along with availability of shrubwood. These results emphasise the importance for this small felid of areas with dense vegetation cover (Mediterranean maquis and shrubwood, in our study area). Areas densely covered with shrubby vegetation are expected to provide benefits to this elusive small cat in terms of reduced human disturbance (included tourists), availability of prey (e.g., small mammals), as well as shelter, essential to ensure protection towards potential larger predators.
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Ruiz‐Villar H, Urra F, Jubete F, Morales‐González A, Adrados B, Revilla E, Rivilla JC, Román J, Seijas J, López‐Bao JV, Palomares F. Presence of pastoral fields in mountain landscapes influences prey consumption by European wildcats. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Ruiz‐Villar
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, CSIC‐UO‐PA) Oviedo University – Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
| | - F. Urra
- Asociación de Naturalistas Palentinos Fuentes de Nava Spain
| | - F. Jubete
- Asociación de Naturalistas Palentinos Fuentes de Nava Spain
| | - A. Morales‐González
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - B. Adrados
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - E. Revilla
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - J. C. Rivilla
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - J. Román
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
| | - J. Seijas
- C/Rio Sil 140, Golpéjar de la Sobarriba León Spain
| | - J. V. López‐Bao
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, CSIC‐UO‐PA) Oviedo University – Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
| | - F. Palomares
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Seville Spain
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Lazzeri L, Fazzi P, Lucchesi M, Mori E, Velli E, Cappai N, Ciuti F, Ferretti F, Fonda F, Paniccia C, Pavanello M, Pecorella S, Sangiuliano A, Sforzi A, Siclari A, Spada A. The rhythm of the night: patterns of activity of the European wildcat in the Italian peninsula. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00276-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe European wildcat is a threatened carnivore, whose ecology is still scarcely studied, especially in Mediterranean areas. In this study, we estimated activity rhythm patterns of this felid, by means of camera-trapping at three spatial scales: (i) whole country (Italy); (ii) biogeographical areas; (iii) latitudinal zones. The activity rhythms patterns were also calculated according to temporal scales: (1) warm semester; (2) cold semester and (3) seasonal scales. Lastly, we also tested whether the effect of moon phases affected the wildcat activity. We conducted the analysis on a total of 975 independent events collected in 2009–2021, from 285 locations, in ~ 65,800 camera days. We showed that the wildcat in Italy exhibits a > 70% nocturnal behaviour, with 20% of diurnal activity, at all spatial scales, and throughout the whole year, with peaks at 10.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. We observed a high overlap of wildcat activity rhythms between different biogeographical and latitudinal zones. The wildcat was mainly active on the darkest nights, reducing its activity in bright moonlight nights. Diurnal activity was greater in the warm months and decreased with the distance from shrubs and woodlands, most likely according to activity rhythms of its main prey, water presence in summer, the care of offspring and the availability of shelter sites. Conversely, the distance to paved roads seems to have no significant effects on diurnal activity, suggesting that, in presence of natural shelters, the wildcat probably may tolerate these infrastructures. We suggested limited plasticity in activity rhythm patterns of the wildcat, emphasizing the importance of dark hours for this species.
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Landscape genetic connectivity in European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris): a matter of food, shelters and demographic status of populations. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01443-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Matias G, Rosalino LM, Rosa JL, Monterroso P. Wildcat population density in
NE
Portugal: A regional stronghold for a nationally threatened felid. POPUL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Matias
- cE3c‐Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Luís Miguel Rosalino
- cE3c‐Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - José Luís Rosa
- Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas Bragança Portugal
| | - Pedro Monterroso
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos Universidade do Porto Vairão Portugal
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Anile S, Devillard S, Ragni B, Rovero F, Mattucci F, Valvo ML. Habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic factors affect wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris occupancy and detectability on Mt Etna. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Anile
- S. Anile, (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8871-9615) ✉ , Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Sebastien Devillard
- S. Devillard, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Bernardino Ragni
- B. Ragni, Dipto di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie, Univ. degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Rovero
- F. Rovero, Dept of Biology, Univ. of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and: Sezione di Biodiversità Tropicale, MUSE – Museo delle Scienze di Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Federica Mattucci
- F. Mattucci, Laboratorio di Genetica, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Lo Valvo
- M. Lo Valvo, Dipto STEBICEF, Univ. di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Habitat requirements and differential abundance of the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) in the high Andes of southern Ecuador. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1255-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Integrating space and time in predator-prey studies: The case of wildcats and rabbits in SE Spain. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Mattucci F, Oliveira R, Lyons LA, Alves PC, Randi E. European wildcat populations are subdivided into five main biogeographic groups: consequences of Pleistocene climate changes or recent anthropogenic fragmentation? Ecol Evol 2015; 6:3-22. [PMID: 26811770 PMCID: PMC4716505 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Extant populations of the European wildcat are fragmented across the continent, the likely consequence of recent extirpations due to habitat loss and over‐hunting. However, their underlying phylogeographic history has never been reconstructed. For testing the hypothesis that the European wildcat survived the Ice Age fragmented in Mediterranean refuges, we assayed the genetic variation at 31 microsatellites in 668 presumptive European wildcats sampled in 15 European countries. Moreover, to evaluate the extent of subspecies/population divergence and identify eventual wild × domestic cat hybrids, we genotyped 26 African wildcats from Sardinia and North Africa and 294 random‐bred domestic cats. Results of multivariate analyses and Bayesian clustering confirmed that the European wild and the domestic cats (plus the African wildcats) belong to two well‐differentiated clusters (average ФST = 0.159, rst = 0.392, P > 0.001; Analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA]). We identified from c. 5% to 10% cryptic hybrids in southern and central European populations. In contrast, wild‐living cats in Hungary and Scotland showed deep signatures of genetic admixture and introgression with domestic cats. The European wildcats are subdivided into five main genetic clusters (average ФST = 0.103, rst = 0.143, P > 0.001; AMOVA) corresponding to five biogeographic groups, respectively, distributed in the Iberian Peninsula, central Europe, central Germany, Italian Peninsula and the island of Sicily, and in north‐eastern Italy and northern Balkan regions (Dinaric Alps). Approximate Bayesian Computation simulations supported late Pleistocene–early Holocene population splittings (from c. 60 k to 10 k years ago), contemporary to the last Ice Age climatic changes. These results provide evidences for wildcat Mediterranean refuges in southwestern Europe, but the evolution history of eastern wildcat populations remains to be clarified. Historical genetic subdivisions suggest conservation strategies aimed at enhancing gene flow through the restoration of ecological corridors within each biogeographic units. Concomitantly, the risk of hybridization with free‐ranging domestic cats along corridor edges should be carefully monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Mattucci
- Laboratorio di Genetica Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia Bologna Italy
| | - Rita Oliveira
- InBio - Laboratório Associado Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO) Universidade do Porto Campus de Vairão 4485-661 Vairão Portugal; Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto 4099-002 Porto Portugal
| | - Leslie A Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia 65211 Missouri USA
| | - Paulo C Alves
- InBio - Laboratório Associado Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO) Universidade do Porto Campus de Vairão 4485-661 Vairão Portugal; Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto 4099-002 Porto Portugal; Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences University of Montana Missoula 59812 Montana USA
| | - Ettore Randi
- Laboratorio di Genetica Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia BolognaItaly; Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering Aalborg University 9000 Aalborg Denmark
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Non-invasive monitoring of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777): comparative analysis of three different monitoring techniques and evaluation of their integration. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-015-0936-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Anile S, Ragni B, Randi E, Mattucci F, Rovero F. Wildcat population density on the Etna volcano, Italy: a comparison of density estimation methods. J Zool (1987) 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Anile
- Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ‘Marcello La Greca’; Università di Catania; Catania Italy
| | - B. Ragni
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare ed Ambientale; Università degli Studi di Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - E. Randi
- Laboratorio di genetica; Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA); Ozzano dell'Emilia BO Italy
| | - F. Mattucci
- Laboratorio di genetica; Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA); Ozzano dell'Emilia BO Italy
| | - F. Rovero
- Sezione di Biodiversità Tropicale; MUSE - Museo delle Scienze; Trento Italy
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Lozano J, Virgós E, Cabezas-Díaz S. Monitoring European wildcat Felis silvestris populations using scat surveys in central Spain: are population trends related to wild rabbit dynamics or to landscape features? Zool Stud 2013. [DOI: 10.1186/1810-522x-52-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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