Effects of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) on olfactory communication of Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) in the Altai Mountains, Mongolia

Maximilian Allen (Author), Francesco Rovero (Author), Valentina Oberosler (Author), Claudio Augugliaro (Author), Miha Krofel (Author)

Abstract

Olfactory communication is important for many solitary carnivores to delineate territories and communicate with potential mates and competitors. Pallas’s cats (Otocolobus manul) are small felids with little published research on their ecology and behaviour, including if they avoid or change behaviours due to dominant carnivores. We studied their olfactory communication and visitation at scent-marking sites using camera traps in two study areas in Mongolia. We documented four types of olfactory communication behaviours, and olfaction (sniffing) was the most frequent. Pallas’s cats used olfactory communication most frequently at sites that were not visited by snow leopards (Panthera uncia) and when they used communal scent-marking sites, they were more likely to use olfactory communication when a longer time had elapsed since the last visit by a snow leopard. This suggests that Pallas’s cats may reduce advertising their presence in response to occurrence of snow leopards, possibly to limit predation risk.

Keywords

foto past;Mongolija;manul;snežni leopard;markiranje;behaviour;camera trap;Mongolia;Otocolobus manul;Panthera uncia;scent marking;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2023
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL BF - Biotechnical Faculty
UDC:	630*15
COBISS:	160273667
ISSN:	1568-539X
Views:	233
Downloads:	26
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	foto past;Mongolija;manul;snežni leopard;markiranje;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 807–815
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ160
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ8/9
Chronology:	2023
DOI:	10.1163/1568539X-bja10229
ID:	19691640