Activity patterns of European wildcat (Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777) in Cantabrian Cordillera (NE de España) and interactions with sympatric carnivores.

Abstract

Abstract Activity pattern of animals is a very important factor for understanding their behavior. The use of time among sympatric species is usually distributed, especially among those that interact in predator-prey or competitive relationships. With the use of photo-trapping cameras the time at which different species are active can be recorded, providing a very useful tool for this type of research. In this study, we analyzed photo-trapping cameras data collected over five years in the Cantabrian Cordillera with the aim of explore the activity pattern of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) and compare it with sympatric species. More than 22,000 photographs were obtained, representing more than 9,000 wildlife events, including 20 mammal species. Of these, 464 corresponded to European wildcats. With these data, we observed that the species activity pattern is mainly crepuscular- nocturnal, although activity data for the species can be observed throughout the day. Differences in activity patterns at different times of the year were detected and could be related to breeding season, prey availability or human activities. Pattern comparison with other sympatric mesocarnivores revealed important insights into potential interspecific relationships within the study area.