1. Scent-marking behaviour and social dynamics in a wild population of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx
- Author
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Urs Breitenmoser, Mathias Kölliker, Kristina Vogt, and Fridolin Zimmermann
- Subjects
Male ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,Eurasian lynx ,Ecology ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Population ,Zoology ,General Medicine ,Chemical communication ,Competition (biology) ,Pheromones ,Animal Communication ,Behavioral Neuroscience ,Social dynamics ,Sexual Behavior, Animal ,biology.animal ,Lynx ,Seasonal breeder ,Animals ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Female ,education ,Social Behavior ,media_common - Abstract
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.
- Published
- 2014