Too hot to hunt: Mechanistic predictions of thermal refuge from cat predation risk
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(Published version)
Date
2022
Authors
Briscoe, N.J.
McGregor, H.
Roshier, D.
Carter, A.
Wintle, B.A.
Kearney, M.R.
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Journal article
Citation
Conservation Letters, 2022; 15(5):e12906-1-e12906-10
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Natalie J. Briscoe, Hugh McGregor, David Roshier, Andrew Carter, Brendan A. Wintle, Michael R. Kearney
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Abstract
Many threatened species depend on climatic microrefugia, but places with harsh climates for predators may also play a refugial role. Feral cats threaten many native species in arid Australia. Although cats can persist in regions with no free water, their abundance should depend on the availability of microclimates that protect them from harsh environmental conditions. We developed a bio-physical model of feral cat heat stress and used it to explore how behavior and microhabitat features influence water requirements and activity. Tests of model predictions against fine-scale GPS and microclimate data highlight the importance of refuges, particularly rabbit burrows. Continent-wide simulations show large but temporally varying areas of the arid zone that would be lethal for cats without access to deep or shaded burrows. Our approach can identify locations that may act as natural refuges for native prey, and where habitat management strategies may be effective in controlling cat abundance.
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First published: 29 June 2022
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© 2022 The Authors. Conservation Letters published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of theCreative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided theoriginal work is properly cited