Food habits of feral cats (Felis silvestris catus L.) in insular semiarid environments (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Félix M. Medina ◽  
Marta López-Darias ◽  
Manuel Nogales ◽  
Rafael García
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Felis Silvestris Catus ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Semiarid Environments ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Trophic Overlap ◽  
Canarian Archipelago ◽  
Morisita's Index

In this study, we present the first data on diet and impacts of feral cats on a semiarid island (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands). A total of 614 prey was identified in the 209 scats analysed. Introduced mammals, especially rabbits and mice, were the most consumed vertebrate prey and constituted more than 90% of biomass. Barbary ground squirrels, Algerian hedgehogs, and rats were preyed upon less even though they were abundant on the island. Invertebrates, mainly Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Odonata, were the second most important prey items (in terms of actual numbers) but they contributed only minimally with respect to biomass (<1.1%). The presence of terrestrial molluscs in the diet was interesting because they are a rare prey in an insular context. Birds and reptiles occurred at a low frequency. A total of 677 seeds was counted, mainly belonging to Lycium intricatum (Solanaceae) and two unidentified plant species. Levin’s niche breadth was narrow due to the high consumption of mammals. Morisita’s index showed a similar trophic overlap in diet with respect to the other xeric habitats of the Canarian archipelago. Considering that more than 90% of biomass corresponded to introduced mammals, we conclude that feral cats are not having a large direct impact on the native prey species.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in feral cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

2009 ◽  
Vol 165 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 323-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Millán ◽  
Oscar Cabezón ◽  
Marcela Pabón ◽  
J.P. Dubey ◽  
Sonia Almería
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Balearic Islands ◽  
Felis Silvestris ◽  
Felis Silvestris Catus ◽  
Feral Cats

Diet of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) around Macquarie Island, South Pacific Ocean

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Goldsworthy ◽  
M. Lewis ◽  
R. Williams ◽  
X. He ◽  
J. W. Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Fishing Ground ◽  
Fish Prey ◽  
Macquarie Island ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Patagonian Toothfish ◽  
Myctophid Fish ◽  
Dissostichus Eleginoides

A total of 1423 stomach samples were taken from Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, caught by bottom trawls at two fishing grounds near Macquarie I., over three fishing seasons. Fish were caught at depths ranging from 500 to 1290 m, and ranged in size from 310 to 1490 mm total length. The 462 stomach samples (32%) that contained prey items indicated that toothfish preyed on a broad range of species including fish, cephalopods and crustaceans (58%, 32% and 10% biomass, respectively), suggesting that they are opportunistic predators. The bathypelagic fish Bathylagus sp. was the most important fish prey (14% dietary biomass); however, nototheniid, macrourid, morid and myctophid fish were also taken. The squid Gonatus antarcticus was also an important prey species (16% biomass), and many other cephalopod species were taken in low frequency. Prawnlike crustaceans (Nematocarcinidae, Mysididae, Sergestidae and Euphausiidae) were the most important crustaceans taken (9% of prey biomass). Significant inter-seasonal and inter-fishing-ground differences in diet were found, but dietary composition was not related to fishing depth, fish size (with the exception of one fishing ground in one season) or the time of day of capture. Comparison with other studies reveals biogeographical differences in the diet of toothfish.

scholarly journals The demography of the Canary Islands from a genetic perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Fregel ◽  
Alejandra C Ordóñez ◽  
Javier G Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Demographic History ◽  
American Continent ◽  
North African ◽  
European Colonization ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time ◽  
Canarian Archipelago ◽  
North African Origin

Abstract The establishment of European colonies across the world had important demographic consequences because it brought together diverse and distant civilizations for the first time. One clear example of this phenomenon is observed in the Canary Islands. The modern Canarian population is mainly the result of the admixture of natives of North African origin and European colonizers. However, additional migratory flows reached the islands due to the importation of enslaved Africans to cultivate sugarcane and the intense commercial contact with the American continent. In this review, we evaluate how the genetic analysis of indigenous, historical, and current populations has provided a glimpse into the Canary Islands’ complex genetic composition. We show that each island subpopulation’s characterization is needed to fully disentangle the demographic history of the Canarian archipelago. Finally, we discuss what research avenues remain to be explored to improve our knowledge of the impact that the European colonization had on its native population.

scholarly journals Endemics Versus Newcomers: The Ladybird Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Fauna of Gran Canaria

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 641
Author(s):  
Jerzy Romanowski ◽  
Piotr Ceryngier ◽  
Jaroslav Vĕtrovec ◽  
Marta Piotrowska ◽  
Karol Szawaryn
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Ladybird Beetle ◽  
Ladybird Beetles ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Canarian Archipelago

Research on the fauna of beetles (Coleoptera) of the Canary Islands has a long tradition, which enables tracking changes in their species composition and arrival of new species. In this paper, we provide new faunistic data on the ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) recorded on Gran Canaria, one of the central islands of the archipelago, and then analyze available information on the Gran Canarian ladybird fauna from geographical and historical points of view. The field survey resulted in recording 1402 ladybird individuals belonging to 30 species. Ten of these species were new to Gran Canaria and three of them, Chilocorus bipustulatus (Linnaeus), Nephus bisignatus (Boheman), and Nephus ulbrichi Fürsch, had not previously been reported to be on any of the islands of the Canarian archipelago. Tetrabrachys tinerfensis (Hodgson) is synonymized with T. deserticola (Wollaston). Our survey and literature reports allowed us to recognize 42 species of Coccinellidae so far recorded on Gran Canaria. Seventeen of them (40%) belonged to the Canarian endemic and subendemic species, and 21 (50%) were newcomers and presumed newcomers. Colonization of Gran Canaria and other islands of the archipelago by ladybird species of various origins seems to be a frequent phenomenon that may pose a threat to the unique communities of the native Canarian species.

Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in feral cats on the Island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Costa Viegas de Lima ◽  
Fernando Jorge Rodrigues Magalhães ◽  
Muller Ribeiro Andrade ◽  
José Givanildo da Silva ◽  
Eduardo Guelfer Ferrer de Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Neuromuscular Diseases ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Fernando De Noronha ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Neospora Agglutination Test

Abstract Neospora caninum is a protozoan responsible for abortions, stillbirths (mainly among cattle) and neuromuscular diseases in dogs. Its importance in wild species and its impact on the environmental preservation of different ecosystems have been little described. This study aimed to investigate the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in feral cats on the island of Fernando de Noronha and contribute epidemiological data on this disease in these animals and its impact on the environmental preservation of the island. Serum samples from 257 feral cats on the island were analyzed through the Neospora agglutination test (NAT) to search for anti-Neospora caninum antibodies. Among the 257 serum samples analyzed, 8 (3.11%) were positive in the NAT. The antibody titers were 20 in seven animals (87.5%) and 40 in one animal (12.5%). These results demonstrate that feral cats are exposed to infection by N. caninum on the island of Fernando de Noronha, at a low frequency. Greater knowledge on this infection in this animal species in this insular environment is important for elucidating its impact on the conservation of species and the maintenance of this parasite on the island.

Diet of the Feral Cat (Felis catus) in Central Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Paltridge ◽  
David Gibson ◽  
Glenn Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Southern Half ◽  
Central Australia

Feral cats (Felis catus) occur throughout central Australia. In this study, we analysed the stomach contents of 390 feral cats collected between 1990 and 1994 from the southern half of the Northern Territory. Cats fed on a wide variety of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals, including animals up to their own body mass in size. Mammals were the most important prey but reptiles were regularly eaten in summer and birds were important in winter. Invertebrates were present in the diet in all seasons. Carrion appeared in stomach samples during dry winters only and this has implications for future control of feral cats.

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