The wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris): a test for a multidisciplinary method of population study

"The wildcat is one of the most elusive mammalian carnivores in the Italian peninsula. The main threats for its conservation are the habitat fragmentation and especially the hybridization with the domestic cat. Efforts for its conservation are strictly related to a good knowledge of its ecology and genetic status. The aim of the project was to define a well replicable and standardized method for the study of the Italian peninsular population of the wildcat. The study had two main goals: (i) to set up a functional sampling method trying to mix up different strategies (hair-trapping with scent marked lures, scat sampling, cameratrapping) in the study area of Foreste Casentinesi National Park; and , (ii) to enhance the power of hybrids detection by using new genetic markers such mtDNA (ND5 region) and Y linked markers (one STR and one SNP)."