Free-roaming domestic cats near conservation areas in Chile: Spatial movements, human care and risks for wildlife

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dc.contributor.authorJose Lopez-Jara, Maria
dc.contributor.authorSacristan, Irene
dc.contributor.authorFarias, Ariel A.
dc.contributor.authorMaron-Perez, Francisca
dc.contributor.authorAcuna, Francisca
dc.contributor.authorAguilar, Emilio
dc.contributor.authorGarcia, Sebastian
dc.contributor.authorContreras, Patricio
dc.contributor.authorSilva-Rodriguez, Eduardo A.
dc.contributor.authorNapolitano, Constanza
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-20T22:10:47Z
dc.date.available2025-01-20T22:10:47Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractFree-roaming domestic cats can negatively affect wildlife, and understanding how they use space is fundamental to predict their potential impacts. In this study we describe the use of space of 48 owned free-roaming cats and assess the level of care provided by owners in rural areas near priority conservation areas in southern Chile. Additionally, we use camera trap data from two protected areas to assess spatial overlap with wild vertebrates, particularly the guigna (Leopardus guigna), a vulnerable forest-dwelling felid. Cat home ranges were variable (1-47.2 hectares) and their activity was mostly concentrated within 100 meters of the household, with maximum foray distances up to 2.5 km. Cats used wooded areas (12% of fixes on average), mostly native forest, where spatial overlap with endemic and/or threatened species was documented. Nonetheless cats were infrequently detected in nearby protected areas (1.7% of GPS locations and 1% of the cameras). The use of wooded areas was strongly associated with the distance from the household to the forest edge and home range areas were negatively associated with house density. Our findings suggest that in areas isolated from households (>200 m), the problem of cats is marginal and restricted to the edges. Management was in general deficient, observing birth control in only 13% of cats and lack of preventive health care in 86% of cats. Cat impacts could be exacerbated under increasing land subdivision in southern Chile where, without population control strategies, cats may become an emergent threat for native wildlife.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.pecon.2021.02.001
dc.identifier.issn2530-0644
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2021.02.001
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/94388
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000684303700017
dc.issue.numero3
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final398
dc.pagina.inicio387
dc.revistaPerspectives in ecology and conservation
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectFree-roaming domestic cats
dc.subjectFelis catus
dc.subjectGPS tracking
dc.subjectThreats to wildlife
dc.subjectLeopardus guigna
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods14 Life Below Water
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa14 Vida submarina
dc.titleFree-roaming domestic cats near conservation areas in Chile: Spatial movements, human care and risks for wildlife
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen19
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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