Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of mammalian prey was found to be native in suburban and rural areas?
What percentage of mammalian prey was found to be native in suburban and rural areas?
What is suggested as a necessary step for understanding mortality estimates in free-ranging cats?
What is suggested as a necessary step for understanding mortality estimates in free-ranging cats?
Which types of prey were primarily observed in densely populated urban areas?
Which types of prey were primarily observed in densely populated urban areas?
What is the primary focus of the studies referenced regarding cat predation?
What is the primary focus of the studies referenced regarding cat predation?
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What is indicated to improve fat estimates of mortality caused by cats?
What is indicated to improve fat estimates of mortality caused by cats?
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What is a significant factor that may differ in cat predation rates across different regions?
What is a significant factor that may differ in cat predation rates across different regions?
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What does the research suggest about the actual number of birds killed by free-roaming cats?
What does the research suggest about the actual number of birds killed by free-roaming cats?
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Which group of animals has documented extinctions related to cat predation?
Which group of animals has documented extinctions related to cat predation?
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What major anthropogenic stressors threaten reptile and amphibian populations in the US?
What major anthropogenic stressors threaten reptile and amphibian populations in the US?
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What was the estimated annual predation rate for individual un-owned cats regarding mammals?
What was the estimated annual predation rate for individual un-owned cats regarding mammals?
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Why is research on cat predation specifically on reptiles and amphibians sparse in the US?
Why is research on cat predation specifically on reptiles and amphibians sparse in the US?
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Which of the following best characterizes cat predation patterns observed in other regions?
Which of the following best characterizes cat predation patterns observed in other regions?
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What is one reason the estimates of cat predation rates might not accurately reflect the true rates?
What is one reason the estimates of cat predation rates might not accurately reflect the true rates?
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What management strategy for feral cats is supported by full-year studies?
What management strategy for feral cats is supported by full-year studies?
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During which seasons is predation by cats expected to be higher?
During which seasons is predation by cats expected to be higher?
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What method was used to estimate annual mortality from cat predation?
What method was used to estimate annual mortality from cat predation?
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What was the sample size of studies estimating predation rates for birds?
What was the sample size of studies estimating predation rates for birds?
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Which approach is said to improve the assumption about mortality during unsampled periods?
Which approach is said to improve the assumption about mortality during unsampled periods?
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Which types of cats were analyzed separately in the predation study?
Which types of cats were analyzed separately in the predation study?
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What additional data was used to augment the small sample of US studies?
What additional data was used to augment the small sample of US studies?
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What publication provides a summary of bird mortality from anthropogenic causes?
What publication provides a summary of bird mortality from anthropogenic causes?
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What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on birds in the United States?
What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on birds in the United States?
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Which type of domestic cats are responsible for the majority of wildlife mortality?
Which type of domestic cats are responsible for the majority of wildlife mortality?
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Which of the following is not mentioned as an anthropogenic threat to wildlife?
Which of the following is not mentioned as an anthropogenic threat to wildlife?
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What was the purpose of the systematic review conducted by the authors?
What was the purpose of the systematic review conducted by the authors?
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What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on mammals in the United States?
What is the estimated annual mortality caused by free-ranging domestic cats on mammals in the United States?
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Which organization is one of the affiliations of the authors involved in this study?
Which organization is one of the affiliations of the authors involved in this study?
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Which category of species does the article claim domestic cats fall under?
Which category of species does the article claim domestic cats fall under?
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What intervention do the authors suggest is needed to reduce wildlife mortality caused by cats?
What intervention do the authors suggest is needed to reduce wildlife mortality caused by cats?
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What does the variable 'mp' represent in the cat predation model?
What does the variable 'mp' represent in the cat predation model?
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What is the purpose of the correction factor 'cor' in the mortality model?
What is the purpose of the correction factor 'cor' in the mortality model?
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In the mortality model, what does 'fpr' stand for?
In the mortality model, what does 'fpr' stand for?
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Which of the following variables is NOT part of the equation for annual mortality from owned cats?
Which of the following variables is NOT part of the equation for annual mortality from owned cats?
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What is the relationship between 'mp' and 'mf'?
What is the relationship between 'mp' and 'mf'?
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Which parameter represents the number of unowned cats in the contiguous United States?
Which parameter represents the number of unowned cats in the contiguous United States?
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Which of the following variables reflects the proportion of owned cats granted outdoor access?
Which of the following variables reflects the proportion of owned cats granted outdoor access?
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What is the overall purpose of using these models in cat predation studies?
What is the overall purpose of using these models in cat predation studies?
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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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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.
