El gat salvatge, Felis silvestris (Schreber, 1777), al Prepirineu oriental: densitat de les poblacions del Lluçanès i el Bisaura

Abstract

Obtaining data on predator abundance is important to inform about the state of ecosystems, as they have a key role in several of its processes. Among the carnivores of Catalonia, the wildcat (Felis silvestris) is one of the most unknown, mostly because of its elusive behaviour and its great resemblance to the domestic cat. During the last decades, camera trapping has been a useful tool for the study of the most elusive mammal species. Here, we use this technique to estimate the wildcat population density of two different localities in the eastern Pre-Pyrenees, at the north of Osona region. Although the wildcat was detected in both localities, the estimated density was much higher in the agroforestal area of Lluçanès (0.40 individuals/km2) than in the mixed forest of Bisaura (0.21 individuals/km2). Overall, the wildcat was the fourth carnivore in terms of observation frequency, albeit it only represents a 2 % of all mammal detections. This work highlights that some other regions within the Pre-Pyrenes might exist where, like in the Lluçanès and Bisaura areas, wildcat populations are relatively abundant but have not been detected yet because of insufficient surveying effort. Therefore, putting some more effort to obtain accurate information about the distribution and density of carnivore populations, such as the wildcat, will be of utmost importance to inform future conservation policies.