Impact of Domestic Cats on Wildlife
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Impact of Domestic Cats on Wildlife

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Questions and Answers

What percentage of mammalian prey was found to be native in suburban and rural areas?

  • 0-25%
  • 75-100% (correct)
  • 25-50%
  • 50-75%

    • What is suggested as a necessary step for understanding mortality estimates in free-ranging cats?

  • Evaluating the diets of free-ranging cats
  • Conducting sensitivity analyses of owned cats
  • Comparing predation rates in urban and rural settings
  • Further research on un-owned cats (correct)

    • Which types of prey were primarily observed in densely populated urban areas?

  • Birds and reptiles
  • Insects and amphibians
  • Native small mammals
  • Non-native species of rats and mice (correct)

    • What is the primary focus of the studies referenced regarding cat predation?

    <p>Examining patterns of predation among mammal species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated to improve fat estimates of mortality caused by cats?

    <p>Continuous sensitivity analyses of un-owned cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant factor that may differ in cat predation rates across different regions?

    <p>Type of prey available</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the research suggest about the actual number of birds killed by free-roaming cats?

    <p>It could be greater than the minimum estimates provided.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group of animals has documented extinctions related to cat predation?

    <p>Reptiles and amphibians</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major anthropogenic stressors threaten reptile and amphibian populations in the US?

    <p>Climate change and habitat loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the estimated annual predation rate for individual un-owned cats regarding mammals?

    <p>More than 200 mammals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is research on cat predation specifically on reptiles and amphibians sparse in the US?

    <p>Lack of funding for related studies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best characterizes cat predation patterns observed in other regions?

    <p>Cats consistently prefer to prey on mammals over other taxa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one reason the estimates of cat predation rates might not accurately reflect the true rates?

    <p>Exclusion of high local predation rates in calculations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What management strategy for feral cats is supported by full-year studies?

    <p>Trap-neuter-return</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which seasons is predation by cats expected to be higher?

    <p>Spring and summer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method was used to estimate annual mortality from cat predation?

    <p>Multiplying predation rates by cat abundance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the sample size of studies estimating predation rates for birds?

    <p>14</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach is said to improve the assumption about mortality during unsampled periods?

    <p>Correcting to full-year mortality estimates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which types of cats were analyzed separately in the predation study?

    <p>Owned and un-owned cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What additional data was used to augment the small sample of US studies?

    <p>Predation rates from Europe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What publication provides a summary of bird mortality from anthropogenic causes?

    <p>Scientific Report—Wildlife N.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on birds in the United States?

    <p>1.3–4.0 billion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of domestic cats are responsible for the majority of wildlife mortality?

    <p>Un-owned cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not mentioned as an anthropogenic threat to wildlife?

    <p>Natural predation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the systematic review conducted by the authors?

    <p>To quantitatively estimate mortality caused by cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on mammals in the United States?

    <p>6.3–22.3 billion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organization is one of the affiliations of the authors involved in this study?

    <p>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which category of species does the article claim domestic cats fall under?

    <p>Invasive species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What intervention do the authors suggest is needed to reduce wildlife mortality caused by cats?

    <p>Scientific conservation and policy intervention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the variable 'mp' represent in the cat predation model?

    <p>Annual mortality from owned cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the correction factor 'cor' in the mortality model?

    <p>Accounts for owned cats not returning all prey to owners</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the mortality model, what does 'fpr' stand for?

    <p>Annual predation rate by unowned cats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following variables is NOT part of the equation for annual mortality from owned cats?

    <p>phh</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between 'mp' and 'mf'?

    <p>They are summative for total cat predation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which parameter represents the number of unowned cats in the contiguous United States?

    <p>nfc</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following variables reflects the proportion of owned cats granted outdoor access?

    <p>pod</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the overall purpose of using these models in cat predation studies?

    <p>To assess the impact of cats on wildlife mortality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Impact of Domestic Cats on Wildlife

    • Domestic cats are introduced globally and are among the 100 worst invasive species
    • Free-ranging cats have caused wildlife extinctions on islands and may have a substantial impact on mainland areas
    • A systematic review was conducted to estimate the impact of free-ranging cats on US wildlife
    • It was estimated that free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.3–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals annually
    • Un-owned cats, as opposed to owned pets, cause the majority of this mortality
    • The study findings suggest this high prevalence of mortality likely makes cats the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for US birds and mammals
    • The study used predation rate distributions that were augmented with predation rates from Europe and all temperate zones
    • The study found that cats preferentially depredate mammals over other taxa
    • Further research on mammals is needed to clarify patterns of predation by both owned and un-owned cats across different landscape types

    Cat Predation on Reptiles & Amphibians

    • There is a lack of US studies on cat predation of reptiles and amphibians
    • This study used a model of cat predation with estimates from studies in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to approximate US predation rates on reptiles and amphibians
    • Additional research is needed to clarify impacts of cats on US herpetofauna, especially given numerous anthropogenic stressors impacting these populations

    Cat Predation on Birds and Mammals

    • Annual mortality in the contiguous United States was estimated by multiplying data-derived probability distributions of predation rates by distributions of estimated cat abundance
    • Calculations were conducted separately for owned and un-owned cats and for birds and mammals
    • The study used a model of cat predation to calculate annual mortality from owned and un-owned cats
    • The study found substantially greater wildlife mortality from cats than previously thought
    • The study concluded that scientists and policy makers should intervene to reduce the negative impact of cats on wildlife populations.

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    PDF The Impact of Free-Ranging Domestic Cats on Wildlife of the United States

    Description

    This quiz explores the significant impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife, especially in the US. It discusses the species extinction caused by these invasive creatures and estimates the staggering number of birds and mammals killed annually. Additionally, it highlights the difference in predation patterns between owned and un-owned cats.

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