Preliminary data on the distribution of free-ranging dogs in a Bulgarian National Park

Doykin, N., Popova, E., Zlatanov, V., Petrov, P., & Zlatanova, D. 2016. Preliminary data on the distribution of free-ranging dogs (Canis familiaris L.) in NP Vitosha, Bulgaria. Annuaire de l’Université de Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridski” Faculte de Biologie 2016, volume 101, livre 4, pp. 11-22. Youth Scientific Conference “Kliment’s Days”, Sofia 2015

Free-ranging dogs often leave the urbanized areas and stray into nearby mountainous habitats, even entering protected areas. This causes problems for the wildlife due to either direct predation or disturbance. Our camera trap survey (July 2013 - November 2014) in NP Vitosha, Bulgaria resulted in a total of 199 independent registrations of free-ranging dogs in 81 locations. In this preliminary study, we present the distribution, habitat selection, and distance from settlements and activity of free ranging dogs in Vitosha NP. The free-ranging dogs in Vitosha are predominantly diurnal, and show preference towards coniferous and mixed forests, mostly closed. Their distribution and activity patterns are influenced by human presence, which is due to the fact that they at least partially rely on human-sourced food. Some data for observations of wild animals influenced by dogs is also discussed. 

An Ecological and Evolutionary Framework for Commensalism in Anthropogenic Environments

Hulme-Beaman, A., Dobney, K., Cucchi, T., & Searle, J. B. (2016). An Ecological and Evolutionary Framework for Commensalism in Anthropogenic Environments. Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Commensalism within anthropogenic environments has not been extensively discussed, despite its impact on humans, and there is no formal framework for assessing this ecological relationship in its varied forms. Here, we examine commensalism in anthropogenic environments in detail, considering both ecological and evolutionary drivers. The many assumptions about commensalism and the nature of anthropogenic environments are discussed and we highlight dependency as a key attribute of anthropogenic commensals (anthrodependent taxa). We primarily focus on mammalian species in the anthropogenic-commensal niche, but the traits described and selective pressures presented are likely fundamental to many species engaged in intense commensal relationships with humans. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this largely understudied interaction represents an important opportunity to investigate evolutionary processes in rapidly changing environments.

Stray dog bite menace

Dhiman, A. K., Mazta, S. R. & Thakur, A. (2016) Stray dog bite menace: an open invitation to rabies in Shimla city, Himachal Pradesh, India. Int J Community Med Public Health, 3 (6), 1683-1684. doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161651

Shimla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla acts as a hub for India's tourism sector. It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in India. City is grappling with the problem of stray dog menace. Stray dogs have established their habitats around the restaurants, hotels, hostels, hospitals and clubs here. There are around 3500-4000 stray dogs in Shimla City. In localities like the Mall Road, the Ridge, Jakhu and Summer Hill etc. the free roaming dogs are seen barking on the people.

Stray dogs life in Quetta city of Balochistan

Taj, M. K., Taj, I., Mustafa, M. Z., Hassani, T. M., Samad, A., Asadullah, A. A., ... & Samreen, Z. Stray dogs life in Quetta city of Balochistan. HFSP Journal - HFSP Publishing, 9 (7), 36-40.

Different life style aspects of the stray dog population were investigated in Quetta city (Balochistan/Pakistan). The living of stray dogs is influenced by the cultural and eating habits of the human population. In residential area garbage stack provide leftover food, while in commercial area hotels, bakeries, fast food points contribute to stray dog feeding. City poultry retailers and local slaughter houses also play an important role in feeding stray dogs. Stray dogs live in groups that are basically one family units. Group size in stray dogs varies greatly, ranging from 3-6 individuals per group. Behavioral observations revealed forming occasional groups with hierarchical dominance for communal defense of a territory and development of long-term affiliative bonds among group members. In groups stray dogs cause extensive damage once they begin attack livestock. The most common diseases found in stray dogs are fleas, ear mites, mange, worms and rabies. Stray dogs breed twice a year and all the mating recorded in this study took place between August and December with a peak in late monsoon months (September to November) showing a prolonged mating period.

Dog diet and interaction with wildlife in Colombia

Manjarrés Rodríguez, T. S. (2015). Dieta del perro (Canis familiaris) y sus interacciones con la fauna silvestre de la cuenca alta del Río Otún-Risaralda (Colombia). Trabajo de grado presentado para optar al titulo de: Magister en Conservación y Uso de la Biodiversidad (Modalidad de investigación) 

The dog (Canis familiaris) interact with the wild life mainly through depredation, competition and disease transmission. However, it is not known very clearly how these interactions occur. To answer this question, this work identified the dog's diet and the presence of disease Parvovirus (CPV). From this information, contrasted with the knowledge of the residents of the study area, the possible interactions with the dog can keep wildlife in the study area were determined. The diet analysis showed that dog consumed waste, followed by the rest of medium and small mammals, and finally to a lesser extent vegetation and insects. The community also identified the consumption of birds and reptiles in a low percentage. Neither dog feces showed the presence of CPV, possibly in part because community mentioned that all domestic dogs were vaccinated. However the perception of the community on predation dog does not resemble reality obtained in this study, so it is recommended to do session about esterilizaton and vaccination, and to awareness the workers and community about dog control and prohibit the entry of those coming with tourists in the study area.

Do scavenging dogs still prefer meat?

Bhadra, A., Bhattacharjee, D., Paul, M., Singh, A., Gade, P. R., Shrestha, P., & Bhadra, A. (2015). The meat of the matter: a rule of thumb for scavenging dogs?. Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 1-14.

Animals that scavenge in and around human settlements need to utilise a broad range of resources, and thus generalist scavengers are likely to be better adapted to human-dominated habitats. In India, free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) live in close proximity with humans in diverse habitats, from forest fringes to metropolises, and are heavily dependent on humans for their food. It has been argued that the ability to digest carbohydrates was one of the driving forces for dog domestication. Though dogs are better adapted to digest carbohydrates than other canids, pet dogs show a clear preference for animal proteins. Our observations on streets of urban and semi-urban localities show that the free-ranging dogs are scavengers which primarily receive carbohydrate-rich food from humans. Their source for animal protein is typically garbage bins and leftovers, and such resources are rare. Using a series of field-based experiments, we test if the free-ranging dogs have adapted to a generalist scavenging lifestyle by losing preference for animal protein. Our experiments show that the free-ranging dogs, which are descendants of the decidedly carnivorous gray wolf (Canis lupus lupus), have retained a clear preference for meat, which is manifested by their choice of anything that smells of meat, irrespective of the actual nutrient content. The plasticity in their diet probably fosters efficient scavenging in a competitive environment, while a rule of thumb for preferentially acquiring specific nutrients enables them to sequester proteins from the carbohydrate-dominated environment.

Pet food as an attractant for domestic and wild mesocarnivores

Theimer, T. C., Clayton, A. C., Martinez, A., Peterson, D. L., & Bergman, D. L. (2015). Visitation rate and behavior of urban mesocarnivores differs in the presence of two common anthropogenic food sources. Urban Ecosystems, 1-12.

Cat food left out for feral and domestic cats and bird seed spilled from backyard bird feeders are two common anthropogenic food sources that may attract non-target animals like urban mesocarnivores but no studies have quantified mesocarnivore visitation at these food sources. We used motion-activated video cameras to monitor mesocarnivore use of spilled bird seed below 25 bird feeders maintained by residents in four neighborhoods in Flagstaff, Arizona, June-September 2012 and 2014. During the first five nights of monitoring only seed that spilled naturally below feeders was available. On each of the subsequent five nights, we placed a bowl of commercially available dry cat food below feeders so that both spilled seed and cat food were present. In both years, after cat food was added, the number of visits by striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), raccoons (Procyon lotor) and domestic cats (Felis cattus) doubled and the number of times two animals were present simultaneously also increased. Aggressive interactions, in the form of displays or contacts, increased for all species combinations but significantly only between skunks in the presence of cat food. These results demonstrate that both spilled bird seed and cat food may be exploited frequently by urban mesocarnivores and that the type of food can elicit different behavioral responses that could have important implications for human-wildlife conflict and disease transmission.

Management recommendations for feral cat within an urban conservancy in South Africa

Tennent, J., Downs, C.T., & Bodasing, M. 2009. Management Recommendations for Feral Cat (Felis catus) Populations Within an Urban Conservancy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 39(2): 137–142.

The ability of cats (Felis catus) to colonize most land habitats worldwide led to an increasing number of feral cat populations in many areas where food resources are easily available. High densities of feral cats in urban areas, particularly in conservancies, have the potential to impact negatively on both human and local wildlife populations. Of particular interest was the Howard College Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a registered conservancy where there are differing opinions concerning the resident feral cat population. Consequently methods of controlling feral cat populations and the implications of these methods were reviewed. Despite various methods of feral cat population control existing there are two basic categories: either eradication or reproductive regulation. It is suggested that to control the feral cat population effectively in this urban conservancy, a suitable and ongoing sterilization programme, that is run in conjunction with a feral cat feeding programme, needs to be Implemented. Both programmes need to be long-term and overseen by management. The feral cat population needs to be maintained at a level that allows the lowest migration rate into the conservancy, as well as a predation rate that will not negatively affect the resident wildlife populations. This may require some removal of feral cats at the start of a programme. Whatever management actions are followed, a monitoring programme must be put in place to document how effective the actions are.

Feeding cats deplates native fauna

Hawkins, C.C., W.E. Grant & M.T. Longnecker. 1999. Effect of subsidized house cats on California birds and rodents. Transactions of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, 35: 29-33

Cat advocates are establishing feeding stations in public parks, often claiming that well-fed cats pose little threat to wildlife. This claim was tested east of San Francisco, California, in a cat area and a no-cat area. In 1995, more harvest mice were trapped in the no-cat area. In 1996, more harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis) and deer mice (Peromyscus sp.) were trapped in the no-cat area, and more house mice were trapped in the cat area. The numbers of trapped California meadow voles (Microtus californicus) were not different between the areas in either year. More native rodents were trapped in the no-cat area. Birds present during the breeding season were seen more often in the no-cat area. California quail (Callipepla californicus) and California thrashers (Toxostoma redivivum) were present in the no-cat area and absent in the cat area. Cats at artificially high densities, sustained by supplementary feeding, reduced the abundance or native rodent and bird populations, changed the rodent species composition, and may have facilitated the expansion of the house mouse into new areas. Thus we recommend that the feeding of cats in parks should be strictly prohibited. 

Demography and ecology of free-ranging dogs in North America

Daniels, T. J., & Bekoff, M. (1989). Population and social biology of free-ranging dogs, Canis familiaris. Journal of Mammalogy, 70 (4) 754-762.

Population size and density, age structure, survivorship patterns, sex ratios, and social organization of urban, rural, and feral dog (Canis familiaris) populations were examined in Cd. Juarez, Mexico (urban site) and on the Navajo reservation (rural and wild sites) between June 1983 and December 1984. Urban and rural dogs were less social than expected whereas feral dogs characteristically lived in packs. Seasonal variation in the structure of feral dog packs was influenced by reproduction, both directly (pups born into the pack) and indirectly (pregnant females may temporarily emigrate form the pack to give birth).



Daniels, T. J., & Bekoff, M. (1989). Spatial and temporal resource use by feral and abandoned dogs. Ethology, 81(4), 300-312.

We compared spatial and temporal patterns of resource use by feral and abandoned domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) on the Navajo reservation in Arizona and New Mexico. Community dumps provide locally abundant food resources utilized both by feral dogs and dogs abandoned at the dump site. Although population parameters were much the same for feral and abandoned dogs, the use of space varied distinctly and reflected behavioral differences in the way each population responded to the absence of human control, the need to acquire food, and the developmental state of pups. Temporal use of resources by feral dogs varied seasonally with the age of pups in one pack, but not in a second pack. Priority of access to local resources may be influenced by aggressive interactions among dogs at a dump. Barking may serve to warn dogs already present at a dump that competitors have arrived.

Humans and stray cats in NY

Haspel, C., & Calhoon, R. E. (1990). The interdependence of humans and free-ranging cats in Brooklyn, New York. Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, 3(3), 155-161.

Based on the responses of 177 participants in a survey conducted in Brooklyn, New York, it was ascertained that 22.0% of the respondents fed free-ranging cats (2.8% daily and 19.2% occasionally). The food provided by feeders alone was estimated to support 1.71 to 2.10 cats per acre (4.2 to 5.2 cats per hectare), a density that is 1.35 times greater than the actual cat population. Other resources provided (e.g., shelter, medical help, adoption) were also estimated. Daily feeders were devoted to their cats. They continued to feed them despite the disapproval of their neighbors, financial constraints, or social obligations. Free-ranging cats appear to be in a mutually life-enhancing relationship with their feeders.

Myths and facts about “managed” cat colonies

Winter, L. (undated). Myths and facts about “managed” cat colonies. ABC

1. Cat colonies don't just die out in one or two years: Although promoters of Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) often claim that the colonies die out through attrition in just a few years, there is very little evidence to support this claim. Even the Adams Morgan cat colony of only 30 original cats in the District of Columbia, which was "managed" by the founders of Alley Cat Allies, took 10 years to die out. It is often difficult to trap all of the cats, the cat food that is left out attracts more cats, and cat colonies often become dumping grounds for unwanted pets (Donald, R.L. 1992. Should Feral Cats Be Euthanized? Shelter Sense: 3-7). Volunteers can become overwhelmed and may not have all of the financial resources or the manpower needed to trap and alter every cat in a colony (Passamsi, w.c., D.W. Macdonald. 1990. The Fate of Controlled Feral Cat Colonies. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Hertfordshire, England. 48).
Please note the following: "It's just so overwhelming. I'm in over my head. I can't even afford to eat or buy clothes or do anything. I wake up in the morning hoping I can make it through the day." (Puzzanghera, J. 1995. So Many Cats, So Little Time, San Jose Mercury News, July 19, 1995.)

2. TNR is not meant to eliminate colonies of cats: The purpose of TNR is NOT to eliminate cat colonies, but to perpetuate them because cat feeders believe that if a neutered colony is removed, an intact colony will move in and take it's place.
Please see the following: "You will never get rid of the cats in that area, and it is not advisable to do that. Because if you're doing a neutering to eradicate the cats by neutering, and remove them completely from the area, you are just being the same as somebody who wishes to go and trap them out and kin them. All you're doing is delaying the day Of death." (From a presentation by Roger Tabor, Alley Cat Allies Seminar, "Focus on Ferals," July 8, 1994, Washington, DC.)
More cats may move into an area ONLY if the food source remains. If cats are trapped out and the food source is removed, a cat colony will not reform in that location. This is exactly what occurred at Riverside National Park where over 25 cats were being fed daily. Over the strong objections of the cat feeders and Alley Cat Allies, and in the face of a negative media campaign, the National Park Service removed the cats, the feeding was stopped, and no additional cats have congregated in the area. The Cats were not euthanized, but taken to a local Shelter (Sealy, D. 1996. Removal of a Colony of Free-Ranging Cats From an Area Administered by the National Park Service: A Case History, in: Proceedings of the 1995 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Conference, Virginia Beach, VA. Pp 75-77).

3. Cat colonies attract other predators: The cat food left out attracts raccoon, skunk, opossum, fox, coyote, and rats, all predators of birds and carriers of diseases that can be transmitted to other cats, wildlife, or humans, such as rabies. No one is neutering and giving rabies vaccinations to these animals to control their populations and the spread of disease. I have personally witnessed a huge rat hole right under a cat feeding station, and studies have shown that cats do not do a very good job of Controlling rat populations (Childs, J. E. 1991. And the Cat Shall Lie Down With the Rat, Natural History: 16 - 19).
I also have slides of raccoons at cat feeding stations, and e-mail messages from cat feeders discussing the problem of raccoon and opposum at their stations.

4. The cats are not always tested or vaccinated for fatal feline diseases: Some groups, such as the Feral Cat Coalition (http://www.feralcat.com/tpolicy.html), do not follow the American Veterinary Medical Association's guidelines which state that cats in a "managed" cat colony should be tested and vaccinated for infectious diseases and adopted or euthanized if positive. Thus, diseased cats in "managed" cat colonies could come in contact with and infect free-roaming pet cats. Cats with fatal feline diseases will suffer and die a miserable death, calling into question the very humaneness of this practice.

5. Domestic cats are not strictly territorial: Cat feeders will often say that altered cats defend their territory, and do not let other cats join the colony. There is scant scientific evidence to support this claim either. It is well-known that the home ranges of domestic cats overlap. In fact, Dr. Carol Haspel, who conducted a number of studies of cat colonies in Brooklyn, NY, says that cats occupying a certain area "absolutely do not" keep others out, "particularly if there is a feeder." (Donald, R.L. 1992. Should Feral Cats Be Euthanized? Shelter Sense: 3-7).

6. Well-fed, altered cats still kill birds and can impact wildlife populations: It has been extensively documented that domestic cats can severely impact seabird populations on islands (Moors, P.J. and I.A.E. Atkinson. 1984. Predation on seabirds by introduced animals, and factors affecting its severity. ICBP Technical Publication 2:667-690), and well-fed Cats still kill wildlife (Adamec, R.E. 1976. The interaction of hunger and preying in the domestic cat (Felis catus): an adaptive hierarchy? Behavioral Biology 18: 263-272.)
Cats and other predators can also have an impact on songbird populations in fragmented and isolated habitat (Wilcove, D.S. 1985. Nest predation in forest tracts and the decline of migratory songbirds. Ecology 66: 1211- 1214.)

Please see the following quote regarding a scientific study conducted in two California parks-one with over 20 cats that were fed daily, and one without cats:
Cats at artificially high densities, sustained by supplemental feeding, reduced the abundance of native rodent and bird populations, changed the rodent species composition, and may have facilitated the expansion of the house mouse into new areas. Thus we recommend that the feeding of cats in parks Should be Strictly prohibited. (Hawkins, C.C., W.E. Grant, М.Т. Longnecker. 1999. Effect of Subsidized House Cats on California Birds and Rodents. 1999 Transactions of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society 35: 29-33.)

Semi-ownership and sterilisation of cats and dogs in Thailand

Toukhsati, S. R., Phillips, C. J., Podberscek, A. L., & Coleman, G. J. (2012). Semi-Ownership and Sterilisation of Cats and Dogs in Thailand. Animals, 2(4), 611-627.


The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of cat and dog semi-ownership in Thailand and factors that predict sterilisation. Semi-ownership was defined as interacting/caring for a companion animal that the respondent does not own, such as a stray cat or dog. A randomised telephone survey recruited 494 Thai nationals residing in Thailand. The findings revealed that 14% of respondents (n = 71) engaged in dog semi-ownership and only 17% of these dogs had been sterilised. Similarly, 11% of respondents (n = 55) engaged in cat semi-ownership and only 7% were known to be sterilised. Using Hierarchical Multiple Regression, the findings showed that 62% and 75% of the variance in intentions to sterilise semi-owned dogs and cats, respectively, was predicted by religious beliefs, and psychosocial factors such as attitudes, perceived pressure from others, and perceived behavioural control. Community awareness campaigns that approach the issue of sterilisation in a way that is consistent with cultural and religious traditions using Thai role models, such as veterinarians, may go some way in reducing stray animal population growth.

Bird assemblage and cat density

Victoria Sims, Karl L. Evans, Stuart E. Newson, Jamie A. Tratalos and Kevin J. Gaston. 2008.  Avian assemblage structure and domestic cat densities in urban environments. Diversity and Distributions, 14, 387–399

While there is intense debate regarding the impact of domestic cat populations on wildlife, its resolution is hindered by the lack of quite basic information. Domestic cats are generalist and obligate predators that receive supplementary food, and their population density reflects that of humans more than the density of their prey. In such a predator–prey system there is the potential for cat populations to have negative impacts on avian assemblages, which may be indicated by negative correlations between cat density and avian species richness and density. Here we report on the nature of such correlations across urban areas in Britain both for groups of species classified regarding their vulnerability to cat predation and individual species.
Taking the availability of green space into account, we find negative relationships between cat densities and the number of bird species breeding in urban 1 km × 1 km squares. These relationships are particularly strong among groups of species that are vulnerable to cat predation. We find positive correlations between cat and avian densities; these have low explanatory power and shallow slopes among the species groups that are particularly vulnerable to cat predation. Evidence that the densities of individual species that are vulnerable to cat predation are negatively correlated with cat densities is equivocal, with at least half the species showing no marked pattern, and the remainder exhibiting contrasting patterns. Our results appear not to be confounded by the density of nest-predating corvids (carrion crow, magpie, and jay), as the density of these species was not strongly negatively correlated with avian species richness or density. The general lack of marked negative correlations between cat and avian densities at our focal spatial scale may be a consequence of consistently high cat densities in our study areas (minimum density is 132 cats per square kilometre), and thus uniformly high impacts of cat populations on urban avian assemblages.

Feral cats in a urban conservancy in South Africa

Tennent, J., & Downs, C. T. (2008). Abundance and home ranges of feral cats in an urban conservancy where there is supplemental feeding: a case study from South Africa. African Zoology, 43(2), 218-229.

There is much debate surrounding the impact of feral cats (Felis catus) on wildlife. Conservancies are usually areas where indigenous flora and fauna are protected and aliens excluded or managed. The University of KwaZulu-Natal's Howard College campus (HCC) is an urban conservancy containing feral cats that are presently not managed, and little is known about their ecology and behaviour. Consequently a feral cat population census was conducted, and their home range investigated. Estimates of the overall campus feral cat population numbers ranged between 23.4–40.0 cats/km²  with a minimum of 55 identified as resident. They were not randomly distributed in the study area, with spacing patterns being related to resource availability. Home range area and core distribution of eight radio-collared cats were determined over 13 months. Total home range areas were relatively small, with considerable overlap between them. Home ranges were clustered in areas with permanent feeding stations and these were also within the cats' core ranges. Supplemental food resources appear to have a major influence on numbers, home and core range area, and behavior of cats. It is clear that cat densities grow to high levels with reliable and abundant food supply and only ad hoc sterilization. This has implications for their management in the HCC urban conservancy.

Diet of feral cats at a rubbish dump

Hutchings, S. 2003. The diet of feral house cats (Felis catus) at a regional rubbish tip, Victoria. Wildlife Research, 30:103-110.

The diet of feral cats (Felis catus) inhabiting a regional rubbish tip (dump) in Victoria was studied to determine whether cats utilised garbage or live prey from the surrounding heathlands for food. Between 30 and 50 cat scats were collected from the tip over two years in each of four sampling periods: spring 1997, autumn 1998, spring 1998 and autumn 1999. The scats were analysed to determine major dietary components, dietary breadth and seasonal overlap of diet. Bone fragments from meat scraps were the most frequent dietary item detected in the scats. Vertebrate prey species occurred less often in the cats' diet but a variety of both introduced and native species were represented. Analysis of dietary breadth confirmed that cats selected mainly meat and chicken scraps from the garbage but indicated that vertebrates were hunted opportunistically. Control measures are suggested to reduce cat numbers at regional rubbish tips to relieve potential impact on native wildlife.

Social and genetic analysis of a population of free-living cats at a waste disposal site

Denny, E., Yakovlevich, P., Eldridge, M. D., & Dickman, C. (2002). Social and genetic analysis of a population of free-living cats (Felis catus L.) exploiting a resource-rich habitat. Wildlife Research, 29(4), 405-413.

Free-living cats (Felis catus L.) exploiting a waste-disposal site in rural Australia were studied for two years to investigate population structure and dynamics, and the relatedness of constituent individuals. The density of the population was equivalent to 700–750 cats  km^-2  the sex ratio was heavily skewed towards males, breeding occurred from July to April, and kitten survival rates were low. A combination of observational data, biometrics and microsatellite loci analyses was used to assess the relatedness of individuals in the population; these methods yielded highly congruent results. Thus, a female kin-group of three was identified, there was no female immigration, the average relatedness amongst the population was high and there was no indication of male dominance. The results indicate that cats at the site formed a tightly structured group, rather than an ad hoc collection of individuals. The stable, resource-rich habitat of waste-disposal sites may generally support high densities of group-forming cats in rural Australia, and pose broad-scale but previously unrecognised problems for effective management of free-living cats.

Rapid assessment of feral cats and other invasive mammals in Santa María key, Cuba

BORROTO, R., PLASENCIA, I. R., & ALBERNAS, J. H. 2013. Valoración rápida de gatos ferales y otros mamíferos invasores en cayo Santa María, norte de Villa Clara, Cuba. Solenodon, 11: 120-130. (In Spanish, with English abstract)

The presence of cats in touristic and natural areas was evaluated in Santa María key, North of Villa Clara, Cuba. Trapping methods in touristic areas produced a low index of 0.1 cats/trap-night, possibly due to the cat rejection of traps; however, visual counts resulted in a high index of 42.8 cats/ha, with a minimum of 1.7 cat/ha in two hotels. Trapping in natural areas was not successful due to the consumption of bait by ants, other reasons for trap failure are discussed, and the cat evaluation was indirectly evaluated. In touristic areas the dog/ha index varied from 11.3 to 0.1 and the dogs entered protected areas constantly. The presence of black rats was detected indirectly by skeletal and pellet remains in a cave and owl perchs (Tyto alba). The implication of the presence of cats and other invasive mammals in touristic areas and the importance of control and management to avoid faunal impacts in the protected area are discussed.

Effect of feral dogs and cats on native mammals of Isla de Cedros

Cortés-Calva, P., Gallo-Reynoso, J. P., Delgadillo-Rodríguez, J., Lorenzo, C., & Álvarez-Castañeda, S. T. (2013). The Effect of Feral Dogs and Other Alien Species on Native Mammals of Isla de Cedros, Mexico. Natural Areas Journal,33(4), 466-473.

We report the status of alien species on Isla de Cedros, Mexico, and analyze the information from different years that together with a collaborative effort between academic biologists, Mexican governmental agencies, and local individuals has resulted in major information about the alien species on this island. We also report species richness of distinct endemic mammal species and the presence of feral dogs (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus), which is the principal problematic situation in this “Marine Priority Region.” The possible origin of feral dogs could be the migratory movement of stray dogs to find food in the inner part of the island, first moving to garbage dumps, reproducing in the area, and later hunting goats (Capra aegagrus hircus Linnaeus) in packs. The combination of the high density of stray dogs, urban and industrial food garbage dumps, and the large number of marine resources scattered along the seashore made ideal conditions for the establishment of feral dog packs that are affecting native species. The island does not have any natural mammal predator, but the presence of feral species, dogs and cats (Felis silvestris catus Schreber), could disturb the occurrence of endemic fauna as it has happened on other islands in the world.

Dog evolution as commensal

Axelsson, E., Ratnakumar, A., Arendt, M.-L., Maqbool, K., Webster, M.T., Perloski, Liberg, O., Arnemo, J.M., Hedhammar, Å & Lindblad-Toh, K. (2013). The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature, 495, 360–364.

The domestication of dogs was an important episode in the development of human civilization. The precise timing and location of this event is debated (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and little is known about the genetic changes that accompanied the transformation of ancient wolves into domestic dogs. Here we conduct whole-genome resequencing of dogs and wolves to identify 3.8 million genetic variants used to identify 36 genomic regions that probably represent targets for selection during dog domestication. Nineteen of these regions contain genes important in brain function, eight of which belong to nervous system development pathways and potentially underlie behavioural changes central to dog domestication (6). Ten genes with key roles in starch digestion and fat metabolism also show signals of selection. We identify candidate mutations in key genes and provide functional support for an increased starch digestion in dogs relative to wolves. Our results indicate that novel adaptations allowing the early ancestors of modern dogs to thrive on a diet rich in starch, relative to the carnivorous diet of wolves, constituted a crucial step in the early domestication of dogs.