19th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Microhabitat selection of the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in northeast Missouri.
Chris R. Tickner
Dr. Scott Burt, Faculty Mentor
Five bobcats were live trapped, collared and tracked in northeast Missouri during the spring and summer of 2005. Although telemetry work yielded individual animal locations via triangulation, these point locations do not indicate the specific types of habitats that they are using. We were interested in determining the vegetative and geographic structure of the immediate areas around the bobcat locations in the hopes of determining microhabitat preferences. Multiple habitat variables were assessed for four bobcats at 23 separate 100 m2 sites including vegetative heights, distance to rock outcroppings/roads/water/ and change in habitat, slope, different types of ground cover, canopy and shrub cover, as well as tree heights and densities. Kruskall-Wallis tests were performed to detect for significant differences among each bobcats’ microhabitats. The sites were characterized by a dense understory, canopy cover, and a close proximity to water.
Keywords: Bobcat, Lynx rufus, Microhabitat
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 40-5
Location: VH 1432
Time: 2:15