Topographical and vegetational characteristics of lynx kill sites in Slovenian Dinaric Mountains

Authors

  • Miha Krofel Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana
  • Hubert Potočnik Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana
  • Ivan Kos Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.9.1.25-36

Keywords:

Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx, predation, kill sites, Dinaric Mts, Slovenia

Abstract

We report on topographical and vegetational characteristics of 13 sites where Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) killed its prey in the Dinaric mountain range in Slovenia. The results suggest that lynx does not necessarily need dense vegetation and rugged terrain to successfully hunt its prey, however, it may influence its hunting success. A large part of the successful hunts took place on steep slopes and rugged terrain. 39% of kill sites were located in dolines, implying the potential importance of these karst structures for the hunting of large carnivores on ungulates in karst areas such as Dinaric Mountains.

References

Branch L.C. (1995): Observations of predation by pumas and Geoffroy's cats on the plains vizcacha in semi-arid scrub of central Argentina. Mammalia 59/1: 152-156.

Bothma J.du P., Rooyen N.van, Theron G.K., le Riche E.A.N. (1994): Quantifying woody plants as hunting cover for southern Kalahari leopards. J. Arid Environ. 26: 273-280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1994.1029

Funston P.J., Mills M.G.L., Biggs H.C. (2001): Factors affecting the hunting success of male and female lions in the Kruger National Park. J. Zool., Lond. 253: 419-431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0952836901000395

Hucht-Ciorga I. (1988): Studien zur Biologie des Luchses: Jagdverhalten, Beuteausnutzung, innerartliche Kommunikation und an den Spuren fassbare Körpermerkmale. Ferdinand Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, 177 pp.

Husseman J.S., Murray D.L., Power G., Mack G., Wenger C.R., Quigley H. (2003): Assessing differential prey selection patterns between two sympatric large carnivores. Oikos 101: 591-601. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12230.x

Jobin A., Molinari P., Breitenmoser U. (2000): Prey spectrum, prey preference and consumption rates of Eurasian lynx in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Acta Theriol. 45: 243-252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4098/AT.arch.00-26

Kladnik D. (1998): [Dinaric area.] In: Perko D., Orožen Adamič M. (Eds.), Slovenija: pokrajine in ljudje. Založba Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, pp. 296-310. [in Slovenian]

Kordiš, F. (1993): [Dinaric fir-beech forests in the Republic of Slovenia.] Oddelek za gozdarstvo, Biotehniška fakulteta, Ljubljana, 139 pp. [in Slovenian with English abstract]

Kos I., Potočnik H., Skrbinšek T., Skrbinšek Majić A., Jonozovič M., Krofel M. (2005): [The lynx in Slovenia, 2. edition.] Oddelek za biologijo, Biotehniška fakulteta, Ljubljana, 272 pp. [in Slovenian with English summary]

Krofel M. (2006): [Predation and feeding habits of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Slovenian Dinaric Mountains, graduation thesis.] Oddelek za biologijo, Univerza v Ljubljani, Ljubljana, 100 pp. [in Slovenian with English abstract]

Krofel M., Potočnik H., Skrbinšek T., Kos, I. (2006): [Movement and predation patterns of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) on Menišija and Logatec plateau (Slovenia).] Veterinarske novice 32: 11-17. [in Slovenian with English abstract]

Murray D.L., Boutin S., O'Donoghue M., Nams V.O. (1995): Huntung behaviour of a sympatric felid and canid in relation to vegetative cover. Anim. Behav. 50: 1203-1210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(95)80037-9

Pedersen V.A., Linnell J.D.C., Andersen R., Andrén H., Lindén M., Segerström P. (1999): Winter lynx Lynx lynx predation on semi-domestic reindeer Rangifer tarandus in northern Sweden. Wildl. Biol. 5: 203-211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.1999.025

Podgorski T. (2006): [Selection and characteristics of resting and kill sites of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Białowieża Primeval Forest, master thesis]. Wydział Nauk Przyrodniczych, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, 45 pp. [in Polish with English abstract]

Ross P. I., Jalkotzy M. G., Daoust P.-Y. (1995): Fatal trauma sustained by cougars, Felis concolor, while attacking prey in southern Alberta. Can. Field-Nat. 109, 2: 261-263.

Ross P. I., Jalkotzy M. G., Festa-Bianchet M. (1997): Cougar predation on bighorn sheep in southwestern Alberta during winter. Can. J. Zool. 75: 771-775. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/z97-098

Sand H., Wilkenros C., Wabakken P., Liberg O. (2006): Effects of hunting group size, snow depth and age on the success of wolves hunting moose. Anim. Behav. 72/4: 781-789. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.11.030

Sunquist M. E., Sunquist F. C. (1989): Ecological constraints on predation by large felids. V: Gittleman J. L. (ed.). Carnivore Behaviour, Ecology, and Evolution. New York, Cornell University Press. Str. 283-301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4716-4_11

Downloads

Published

30.06.2007

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2007)

Section

Scientific paper

License

Copyright (c) 2007 Zveza za tehnično kulturo Slovenije

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Krofel, M., Potočnik, H., & Kos, I. (2007). Topographical and vegetational characteristics of lynx kill sites in Slovenian Dinaric Mountains. Natura Sloveniae, 9(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.9.1.25-36

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>