Multi-scale modeling of continent-wide tracking data confirms the importance of landscape mosaics for the European wildcat

Abstract Context Land use change is a major threat to the persistence of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes, making the knowledge of the amount and spatial configuration of suitable habitat essential for conservation. The European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) currently persists in fragmented populations and faces ever increasing human pressure. Objectives We modeled and mapped suitable wildcat habitats at the continental scale, to identify opportunities and constraints for its conservation. Methods We compiled a large telemetry dataset comprising 200 wildcats across Europe and developed multi-scale habitat suitability models using Maxent. Habitat selection was analyzed at two hierarchical levels: home-range placement within the wider landscape and selection within the established home ranges. Results At both levels, wildcats selected broadleaved forests, mixed forests, and grasslands, while avoiding landscapes dominated by large continuous forests. For home-range placement, they preferred lower terrain ruggedness and less intensive agriculture. Within the home ranges, wildcats selected forest edges and small woody features. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneous forest–grassland mosaics habitats. More than half of the predicted suitable habitat occurred outside protected areas, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies beyond their borders. Predictions of suitable areas should, however, be interpreted cautiously in regions where environmental conditions extend beyond those represented in the calibration data. By providing the first continental-scale habitat suitability map based on a large European telemetry dataset, our study offers a spatial foundation for identifying conservation priorities and supporting the long-term connectivity and recovery of wildcat populations.

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Journal
Landscape Ecology
Published
2026-11-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-026-02481-1
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
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article

Multi-scale modeling of continent-wide tracking data confirms the importance of landscape mosaics for the European wildcat

Francisço Palomares, Fernando Jubete, Florian Härtig, Peter Gerngross et al.
2 links
Landscape Ecology
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

Multi-scale modeling of continent-wide tracking data confirms the importance of landscape mosaics for the European wildcat

Francisço Palomares, Fernando Jubete, Florian Härtig, Peter Gerngross, Joe Premier, Marco Heurich, Teresa Oliveira, Olaf Simon, Héctor Ruiz‐Villar, María Alejandra Cuentas Romero, Jasja Dekker, Matteo Luca Bastianelli, Pedro Monterroso, Stefano Anile, Lea Maronde, Saskia Jerosch, Axel Krannich, Manfred Trinzen, Tobias Kuemmerle, Julian Oeser, Analena Severon, Miha Krofel, Teresa Fee Nava, Sabrina Streif, Despina Migli, Johannes Lang, Lan Hočevar, Markus Dietz, René Janssen, José María López‐Martín, Mathias Herrmann, Eva Sanchez Arribas, Malte Götz, Fermín Urra
article en

Abstract

Abstract Context Land use change is a major threat to the persistence of wildlife in human-dominated landscapes, making the knowledge of the amount and spatial configuration of suitable habitat essential for conservation. The European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) currently persists in fragmented populations and faces ever increasing human pressure. Objectives We modeled and mapped suitable wildcat habitats at the continental scale, to identify opportunities and constraints for its conservation. Methods We compiled a large telemetry dataset comprising 200 wildcats across Europe and developed multi-scale habitat suitability models using Maxent. Habitat selection was analyzed at two hierarchical levels: home-range placement within the wider landscape and selection within the established home ranges. Results At both levels, wildcats selected broadleaved forests, mixed forests, and grasslands, while avoiding landscapes dominated by large continuous forests. For home-range placement, they preferred lower terrain ruggedness and less intensive agriculture. Within the home ranges, wildcats selected forest edges and small woody features. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneous forest–grassland mosaics habitats. More than half of the predicted suitable habitat occurred outside protected areas, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies beyond their borders. Predictions of suitable areas should, however, be interpreted cautiously in regions where environmental conditions extend beyond those represented in the calibration data. By providing the first continental-scale habitat suitability map based on a large European telemetry dataset, our study offers a spatial foundation for identifying conservation priorities and supporting the long-term connectivity and recovery of wildcat populations.

Landscape EcologyVol. 41(12)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (DE), University of Ljubljana (SI), Generalitat de Catalunya (ES), University of Freiburg (DE), Universidade do Porto (PT), Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR), Bavarian Forest National Park (DE), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE), Estación Biológica de Doñana (ES), University of Inland Norway (NO), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE), Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt Baden-Württemberg (DE), Departament d'Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural (ES), Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (PT), Orekan - Gestión Ambiental de Navarra (ES), Technische Universität Berlin (DE), University of Regensburg (DE), Technische Universität Dresden (DE), Universidad de León (ES)
Life on land
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
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