Hybridization between Felis silvestris silvestris and Felis silvestris catus in two contrasted environments in France.

ABSTRACT: European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) populations are fragmented throughout most of the whole range of the subspecies and may be threatened by hybridization with the domestic cat F.s. catus. The underlying ecological processes promoting hybridization remain largely unknown. In France, wildcats are mainly present in the northeast and signs of their presence in the Pyrenees have been recently provided. However, no studies have been carried out in the French Pyrenees to assess their exposure to hybridization. We compared two local populations of wildcats, one living in a continuous forest habitat in the French Pyrenees, the other living in a highly fragmented forest-agricultural landscape in northeastern France to get insights into the variability of hybridization rates

SUBMITTER: Beugin MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6972816 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature