| Summary: | Optimal foraging theory assumes that animals increase fitness by maximizing net rate of energy intake. Therefore, it should be advantageous for predators if they can consume prey items as completely as possible. Large carnivores generally hunt large prey species, which provide them with food for several nights. In this case, patterns of prey consumption may also be affected by habitat structure and human activities at the kill site. Resting is another important biological function and access to safe resting sites is fundamental, particularly for felids which spend several hours per day inactive. In the Bohemian Forest,we investigated prey consumption and choice of daytime resting sites for the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). In the field, we located large killed prey, and daytime resting sites, for 10 GPS collared lynx and recorded the habitat features at both types of site. We calculated how many nights, and how many hours,in one night lynx fed at a single prey and we checked whether these two parameters varied depending on prey size, sex and status of the lynx, habitat characteristics and intensity of recreational activities around the kill sites. By comparing habitat characteristics and intensity of recreational activities between lynx daytime resting sites and a set of randomly chosen locations, we tested whether these factors affected habitat selection by resting lynx. Both prey consumption and choice of daytime resting sites were influenced by habitat features and the intensity of recreational activities. These results should be taken into consideration when planning forest managemen to perations and tourism development in areas where Lynx are present.
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