The Iberian Lynx: Habitat, Features and Endangerment

The Iberian catamount Habitat, Features and EndangermentJosue FlanquinThe Fate of the Iberian mountain lionAmong the many an(prenominal) carnivore species that experience in Europe, the Iberian catamount and the European mink-Mustela lutreola ar the only cardinal indigenous species of the continent. In 1992, after series of c beful observations and head deem by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Iberian Lynx was quickly considered critically endangered, to see one of them go extinct is inacceptable. despite the many researches, money and time spent in their protection and conservation, insofar non much improvement has been shown in their survival.The Iberian painter, alike cognise as lynx of Spain and as lynx pardinus, will be the primary member of the feline species to go extinct since the extinction of the Saber-toothed tiger 10,000 years ago. Being part of the wildcat family, the lynx pardinus displays many of their characteristics in cluding colossal legs, ruff beard-like fur and tufted ears but unlike many opposite wildcats, the Iberian lynx coat is spotted, colored and shorter.Geographical RangeThe Iberian Lynx is know to be a native of Spain and Portugal, of import(prenominal)ly in the Southern of the Iberian Peninsula. It is thought that before, they were well-spread all everywhere the area, however, or so a century and a half ago, their depart has diminish tremendously. Before, their presence was cognize to be noticeable mainly in the south but also in some northern part of the area. Rapidly inside 50 years they started to become extinct in the north Iberian voice and an intense deny in density also began to ravage the south. From 1960 to 1990, the even up had become more extreme, and more prominent in south Spain and Portugal with about 80% with only 2% of their previous original strand remained occupied. (Ferreras, et al., 2004) ii surveys were published, one in 1988 and the other in 2008. The first one estimated in that respect were in a very fragmented range, about 800 to 1100 Iberian lynxes (adult) alive in golf-club populations. And the other survey that was done in the more recent years has shown a much pitifuler estimated head amount to confirm that their presence were only spotted in the southwestern land of the Iberian peninsula. The total estimated number of Iberian lynx spotted and report was among 475 to 680 Iberian lynxes living in five populations instead of nine populations as previously reported. In instal to protect them, they are macrocosm kept in the Donana National Park. The species characterd to be very jet in Portugal, but now its thought to be extirpated since their presence was bear reported in January 1992. (Delibes, et al., 2000 Ferreras, et al., 2004)HabitatLike many wild felids, the Iberian lynx requires a wide range of terrains, especially below 1300 meters that pay mosaic of closed scrubland that is scattered among open pat ches of grassland. The reasons for choosing such landscapes are beca routine it provides a great balance between wide-open space and shrub cover. Mostly, lynxes use scrubland as shelter and cause while other areas that are not totally covered tend to become a shelter for their prey, more specifically their mainstay pray the European Rabbits, also know as genus Oryctolagus Cuniculus, which is very prominent in these locations. Unfortunately beside the many qualified habitat locations that are available, the species name been extinct from those areas presumably due to the low availability of their main prey (Ferreras et al., 2004). ace of the features observed from felids is that they are very solitary and depend on a distributed demographic structure among populations where inbreeding is avoided. This requires passages between areas that meet the criteria of the suitable territory. Those passages allow the lynx to look for new habitats away of the tending(p) endemic territory t hat fits their living condition. (Pedro Sarmento, et al., 2008)Physical DescriptionThe family Felidae family has many other lynx species in their genus that includes the Canadian lynx (Lynx Canadensis), the Eurasiatic lynx and the Bobcat (Lynx rufus). The common family traits explain their resemblance and relativeness to each other, for example, although they are very similar in size as the Canadian lynx and the Bobcat lynx but yet smoother than the Eurasian lynx and wispy shorted-tipped tails. However, the Iberian lynx has some unique features of their own they eat up small heads and flat faces, black tufted ears and jowls-bearded appearance and tawny pelage. Those differences have been used recently in the configuration and characterization of their size, shape and enthusiasm of those distinctions in mark to determine the degree of diversity genetically within the species. (Beltrn and Delibes, 1993 Cope, 1879 Delibes, et al., 2000 Meachen-Samuels and Van Valkenburgh, 2009) T he mortality rate mark of the Iberian lynx is high than their reproduction rate. According to a study led by Delibes, et al 2000, 40% of their mortality happens while scattered over the land. The lifespan of the species and their higher status of captive individual are unknown. The oldest Iberian lynx as of determine died at 13 years of age.The Iberian lynx has a straighten-reduced skull, small muzzles long jaws that give each bite the force of a littler canines. Those features are very beneficial adaptations for the Iberian lynx, they help them in patrimonial small, fast prey and also enable them with the ability to kill their order with a single bite in the posterior region of the sleep with in order to puncture and damage the preys spinal anaesthesia cord, as opposed to suffocating bite practice by big lynx. (Cope, 1879 Beltran and Delibes, 1993 Meachen-Samuels and Valkenburgh, 2009)ReproductionThe Iberian lynx is known to be a monogamous polygynous species when observed in the Donana National Park, a close-up metapopulation at its carrying content density. With the total availability of suitable territories diminishing, Intra knowledgeable interaction has become very competitive, resulting in the male Iberian lynx to have smaller territories that can be easily defended against other surrounding rivals looking for mates. Therefore, such circumstance turns the Iberian lynx to become more of a monogamy community since the males are forced to put all their strength on defending avoiding approach shot to a particular, exclusive single effeminate of that community. The Iberian lynx a good deal reach sexual maturity within a period of nine months to a year after birth. Though even after sexual maturity the females will not breed until they have secured a muckle territory of their own. After maturity mating is always the next step, given the fact that females estrus peak is in January so breeding commonly happens from January to July since it is the only time that the males and females interact. Although males territories might overlap with those of the females, aggressive interaction over mating right is uncommon however the prominence of the population dictates the wavering rates of aggressive intrasexual, the higher the density rate, the higher the population rate will be and vice versa. (Fernndez, et al., 2003)Food Habit The Iberian Lynx is a specialized feeder, its diet consist of 80%-100% Oryctolagus cunicuus. One adult Iberian lynx requires between 700 and 1100 kilocalories per day in order to gain the approximate amount of naught needed to function. By consume their primary prey, the European rabbit. the Iberian lynx get that amount of energy from one single rabbit. One can imagine that an adult female with younger lynxes will require up to triple rabbits per day. Because of their distinctive diet, it makes unrea appointic or hardly do they show geographic variation.Threat to their optionThe Iberian lynx species h as made it on the top of the red list of critically endangered species facing extinction, tally to the IUNC. Many argument and debates are circulating over who or what is responsible for the Iberian lynx decline with barely 150 left in the Iberian Peninsula (see table 1). The three main cause of their wipeout include but not hold to the decline in the Rabbit population, human catch and human fragmentation. The rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is wild invasive animal. This rabbit has been flagged as nearly endangered species in the IUNC red list due to the disease myxomatosis, habitat loss and human- generate mortality (Smith and Boyer 2008). Many Spaniards enjoy hunting. It is part of their way of life also their a way to make a living. Although the politics of Spain and Portugal, both have passed laws that prohibits the hunting of the Iberian lynx, many locals still continue those habits. They would hunt them in order to used get their skin to directly sell them in the black mar ket or to use them to make fur coats. Another main threat to the survival of the Iberian lynx is land fragmentation. During the beginning the twentieth century when everything including culture start to get influenced by the western world, many rich companies moved to Spain due to low tax or shrive tax deal. The government allows big companies such as lumber industries to use portions of the iberian lynx habitat to be converted as stands for timbers, or also they have allowed the construction and development of tower-buildings, tracks and highways, shopping malls and new-fangled recreational public parks, invading huge part of the forests ecosystem and damaging the lynxes native habitat. Part of the life cycle of an Iberian lynx is inter-population dispersal, they use habitat corridors as passage, so with new roads being built that also take its toll on the species.Among the many diverse researches out there, there have not been enough evidence back up the idea that human frag mentation as the main cause of death. However, check to Delibes, et al., 2000, most recent mortalities have been reported to be human induced which includes traffic collisions from roads, illegal hunting (5% annually), caught in traps (6% annually), and forest fires. Therefore according to the IUNC 2006, the rabbits decline remains the primary cause of death and extinction of the Iberian lynx.http//ge09d-geography-2010.wikispaces.com/file/view/Decline_in_Iberian_Lynx_Numbers_2.1.png/123004189/Decline_in_Iberian_Lynx_Numbers_2.1.pnConservation Status The Iberian lynx is the most threatened species in Europe. This carnivore has fewer than 200 breeding individuals left. They have suffered not only a huge decline in their population rate and a decline in their preys availability but also a massive lost of range contraction. The preservation of this species requires immediate intervention from both government, Spain and Portugal accordingly, in order for it to be favored. Many captive breeding political platforms have begun but little is known about their success and may need to be thoroughly investigated.The inability of the species to disperse due to habitat fragmentation, has led to their isolation. Habitat fragmentation includes road construction, urban development, agriculture and elimination of corridors. Inter-population dispersal is very measurable in the species life cycle to disperse they use habitat corridors. Another important step that need to be taken into consideration is the restoration of habitat corridors, their protection is important in the recovery of the iberian lynx, if we need re-establish successful inter-population connectivity Pedro Sarmento, et al., 2008).Furthermore, poaching remains on the list as one of the main threat of death of the Iberian lynx with 5% of annual mortality. Spain government in 1973 and Portugal in 1974 have long passed laws prohibiting exploitation and trade of the Iberian lynx by humans, because such activitie s are kept secret, sensitivity program has been put in place to inform the locals not to partake in such activities and report them. (Beltrn and Delibes, 1993)CitationsSmith, A.T. Boyer, A.F. 2008. Oryctolagus cuniculus. In IUCN 2013. 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