title: Scent-marking behaviour and social dynamics in a wild population of Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx.
abstract: Scent-marking is widespread among mammals and has been observed in many felid species. Although the behaviour is well-described, little is known about its function in wild felid populations. We investigated patterns of scent-marking and its role in intra- and intersexual communication among resident and non-resident Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx by observing interactions among wild lynx at natural marking sites by means of infrared camera traps. Marking activity of resident animals showed a peak during the mating season and was lowest during the time when females gave birth and lactated. Both sexes scent-marked, but male lynx visited marking sites much more often than females and marked relatively more often when visiting a site. Most visits to marking sites were by residents but we also observed scent-marking by non-residents. Juveniles were never observed marking. We found no evidence of lynx regularly renewing scent-marks after a certain 'expiry date' but the presence of a strange scent-mark triggered over-marking. Males responded similarly to the presence of another individual's scent-mark, irrespective of whether it was the top- or the underlying scent-mark in a mixture of scent-marks they encountered. Our results suggest that marking sites could serve as 'chemical bulletin boards', where male lynx advertise their presence and gain information on ownership relationships in a given area. Females placed their urine marks on top of the ones left by resident males, but further studies are needed to explain the functions of over-marking in females.
authors.affiliation: KORA, Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology and Evolution, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: k.vogt@kora.ch.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.affiliation: KORA, Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fridolin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology and Evolution, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kölliker
authors.affiliation: KORA, Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management, Thunstrasse 31, CH-3074 Muri, Switzerland; Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Breitenmoser
mesh_terms: D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D046008:Lynx / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones
keywords: Camera trapping; Chemical communication; Competition; Lynx lynx; Over-marking; Scent-marking