Temporal Preference of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in a Highland Forest in Northwestern Anatolia in Relation to Other Medium and Large Mammal Species

• Published in: Mammal Study
• Main Authors: Ayaş, Zafer, Akbaba, Burak
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Lynx; Lynx lynx lynx
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3106/ms2020-0103; https://avesis.hacettepe.edu.tr/publication/details/0a0fe4ee-67e6-48ed-b393-296c2c478a3a/oai

In this study, we aimed to determine the daily activitypatterns and seasonal activity variations of the Eurasian lynx in differenthabitats (forests and open lands) in a geographical region where there arerelatively few data on its ecological characteristics. Survey effort totaled 10102 camera trap days, with 24 camera trap stations covering an area ofapproximately 650 km2. Our results showed no significant differences in thehabitat preference of the lynx throughout the entire study area or between seasons.The crepuscular and nocturnal activity preferences of the lynx were similar tothose of the wolf, red fox, and the European hare. The lynx's daily activitypattern peaked during 20:00–22:00 and 04:00–06:00 hours, and did not showsignificant variation between seasons. Kernel density estimation was used inorder to reveal the temporal overlap of other carnivore and herbivore specieswith the lynx. The highest temporal overlap (coefficient of overlapping: 0.90)was seen with the European hare. Our findings also indicated higher temporaloverlaps with the wolf, red fox, wild boar, and brown bear, and lower overlapswith the red deer, Southwest Asian badger, and Martes spp., which improvedunderstanding of their interactions and co-existence with the lynx.