Behavioural response of Eurasian Lynx

Behavioural response of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
on diverse scents applied to hair catchers
Lampe, Tanja 1); Mestemacher, Uwe 2); Anders, Ole 1); Ditmar Huckschlag 3); Rühe, Ferdinand 2)
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Introduction
Results
Within surveys of presence-absence or even population dynamics
collecting non invasive genetic samples is an established method
in wildlife biology. One way of DNA sampling is the use of haircatchers. Concerning this rubbing behaviour of the examined
animals could be helpful. In this study diverse scents were tested
for initiating rubbing behaviour in encaged Eurasian lynx in Lower
Saxony.
There was a high frequency of sniffing at all scent stations.
Rubbing behaviour was shown less often and mainly at a few
preferred scents.
Mean frequency of rubbing behaviour per scent station
test 1
test 2
test 3
long term test
frequency
3
2
1
0
m
eu ..
or ni
st at
ca e+c
e r ur
..
av ct
e.
as
be tin
v
sh m ne +
i
u
fre re el r e
s
..
sto va ctu
+.
m
ca y + tin
eu
rr m
or
cu reu
st
ca
sto
er
ca
rry av
cu be
um
sh
er ore
fr e
nd ast
wo c
h er
nc av
fre be
sh
e
fr e y
ur
rr ce ct
m
cu sau tin
eu
h um
or
fi s re
st
sto
ip
ca
n
ca
er
at
av
+c
be l
re
re
sh oi ctu
tu
fre rian tin ture tinc
le um c n
va ore tin eria
st um a l
c a re + v
sto um
c a re
sto
ca
e
ur
ct )
ro tin rb.
ze rian (he ture
le i l nc
va or o ti
st um
ca ore ay
st pr
ca ip s
tn
ca
scents
Foto: U. Mestemacher
Fresh beaver castoreum turned out to provoke rubbing behaviour
for the longest period of time. The lynxes spent most of their total
rubbing time at stations with fresh beaver castoreum in the shortterm tests and at stations with fresh beaver castoreum plus
vaseline in the long-term test.
Percentage of rubbing duration
per scent station
Methods
100%
For this examination of scent influences eight adult lynxes (4;4) of
three different enclosures were available (Nationalpark Harz 1;1/
Wildpark Neuhaus 1;2/ Tierpark Thale 2;1).
80%
Four tests with different scents took place in every enclosure. We
used wooden posts (1.3m) as scent stations and included pieces
of carpet with twisted loops of wire. The scent was placed on the
carpet For the last test (long term test) we prepared the scent
stations one week before to examine whether there is still an
effect. During 1.5 to 2h of observation we recorded frequencies of
sniffing and rubbing behaviour and the duration of rubbing.
20%
60%
5
46
76
18
3
58
castoreum
tincture
fresh
beaver
castoreum
68
40%
33
curry
0%
test 1
test 2
test 3
long term
test
fresh
beaver
castoreum
+Vaseline
Conclusion
T e s te d S c e n ts
C a tn ip s p ra y
V a le ria n o il
F re s h b e a ve r c a s to re u m
F re s h b e a ve r c a s to re u m + va s e lin e
C a s to re u m tin ctu re
C a s to re u m tin ctu re + va s e lin e
C a s to re u m tin ctu re + C a tn ip s p ra y
C a s to re u m tin ctu re + va le ria n tin c tu re
C a s to r o il (h e rb a l)
V a le ria n tin ctu re
F ish s a u c e
C u rry
C u rry + va s e lin e
F re n c h w o n d e r (u n k n o w n c o m p o u n d )
“Z e ro ” w ith o u t sc e n t
T est 1 T est 2 T est 3 T est 4
(lo n g te rm )
The duration of rubbing seems to be a suitable indicator for a
successful use of scents applied to hair catchers since longer
rubbing may result in getting more hair.
Fresh beaver castoreum promised to be an effective hair catcher
lure. However, the shown results should be confirmed in a more
extensive study to gain statistical evidence.
Moreover, it is now necessary to proof their applicability to free
ranging lynxes.
1)
Nationalpark Harz
2)Forschungsanstalt
3)Institut
für Waldökologie und Forstwirtschaft Rheinland-Pfalz
für Wildbiologie und Jagdkunde der Universität Göttingen