IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Hertwig, S.T.; Stepanow, S.; Jungnickel, A.; Krger, M.; Jetschke, G.; Mhlich, T.; Vogel, B.; Fischer, M.S. | |
| The Wildcat (_Felis silvestris_, Carnivora, Felidae) in Thuringia - a Combined Morphological and Genetic Study | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
To investigate the population structure of and variability within the fragmented Thuringian wildcat population as well as its degree of hybridisation with domestic cats, we analysed morphological and molecular characters in a complementary approach. We first examined 49 morphological characters in 69 specimens from the collection of the Phyletisches Museum, Jena. Statistical analysis of the data yielded few characters unambiguously separating the two taxa (e.g., intestine length). A complementary analysis based on two independent molecular marker systems (an established set of 11 microsatellites and a stretch of the mitochondrial D-Loop) in 33 wildcats and 19 domestic cats supported the diagnostic value of these morphological characters. Our results from both morphological and molecular data indicate the separation of domestic and wildcats in Thuringia today, in contrast to the results of previous studies of the wildcat in Scotland, Bulgaria and Hungary. Despite the fragmented distribution of small populations in isolated habitats, we found no signs of inbreeding effects or a serious loss of genetic variability. The findings of our study indicate that only a few diagnostic morphometric traits are needed for the successful identification of pure wildcats. Moreover, our conclusions provide a basis for conservation management strategies. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |