Co-existence between Iberian lynx and Egyptian mongooses: estimating interaction strength by structural equation modelling and testing by an observational study

FRANCISCO PALOMARES; PABLO FERRERAS; ALEJANDRO TRAVAINI; MIGUEL DELIBES

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: London; Año: 1998 vol. 67 p. 697 - 978

0021-8790

We used path analysis to investigate the causal relationships between Iberian lynx and Egyptian mongoose track numbers, and to estimate the direct effect of the former on the latter in the Doñana area (2750 square Km), south-western Spain. Relative abundance of rabbits, shrub cover and protection level were also considered in the path analysis. An observational study consisting of repeated track survey with a split-plot design was also carried out betwen 1990 and 1996 to independently test the results obtained by path analysis. The repeated track censuses confirmed that lynx presence significantly affects number of mongoose tracks. In areas without lynx, mean number of mongoose tracks were 3,6 times higher than in areas with lynx.