Scent-marking behaviour and social dynamics in a wild population of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx.

• Main Authors: Breitenmoser, Urs, Kölliker, Mathias, Zimmermann, Fridolin, Vogt, Kristina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2014
• Subjects: 630 Agriculture; Lynx; Lynx lynx lynx
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7892/boris.65485; http://boris.unibe.ch/65485/

Scent-marking is widespread among mammals and has been observed in many felid species. Although the behaviour is well-described, little is known about its function in wild felid populations. We investigated patterns of scent-marking and its role in intra- and intersexual communication among resident and non-resident Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx by observing interactions among wild lynx at natural marking sites by means of infrared camera traps. Marking activity of resident animals showed a peak during the mating season and was lowest during the time when females gave birth and lactated. Both sexes scent-marked, but male lynx visited marking sites much more often than females and marked relatively more often when visiting a site. Most visits to marking sites were by residents but we also observed scent-marking by non-residents. Juveniles were never observed marking. We found no evidence of lynx regularly renewing scent-marks after a certain 'expiry date' but the presence of a strange scent-mark triggered over-marking. Males responded similarly to the presence of another individual's scent-mark, irrespective of whether it was the top- or the underlying scent-mark in a mixture of scent-marks they encountered. Our results suggest that marking sites could serve as 'chemical bulletin boards', where male lynx advertise their presence and gain information on ownership relationships in a given area. Females placed their urine marks on top of the ones left by resident males, but further studies are needed to explain the functions of over-marking in females.