(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
How Did Cats Get to Australia?
“A new study aims to settle the debate about how & when this invasive species was introduced to the island country.
...in some places cats are officially considered an invasive species. Like Australia...
Of the 22 invasive mammalian species found in Australia, 2 of them are predators – the European red fox & the domestic cat...
Feral cats – wild cats that live independently of humans, but are descended from domestic ones – have established invasive populations over large swaths of Australia, but there has long been debate about just where in fact they came from, Australia being an island & all. There have been several theories. One is that they hitched a ride on 19th century sailing vessels, where they served as resident mousers or companion animals. Another theory suggests that cats came there with European explorers in the late 18th century. And yet another postulates that cats accompanied Malaysian fisherman in the 17th century.
Knowing when cat populations were founded would increase the understanding of how the species has affected Australia, & thus researchers from the Senckenberg Biodiversity & Climate Research Centre & the University of Koblenz-Landau in Germany set out to get some answers. They analyzed genetic samples from 269 Australian feral cats from 6 mainland & 7 island locations to explore their evolutionary history & dispersal patterns.
What they determined is that Australia’s feral cats likely came along with Europeans in the 19th century. While there was some evidence of a secondary influx from Southeast Asia, there was no indication of a stable feral cat population coming entirely from Asia.
‘The analysis of genetic structure & diversity of Australian feral cat populations answered the question of the time of feral cat introduction to Australia & revealed that remnants of the historically introduced cat genotypes are still discernible on isolated islands,’ says Katrin Koch... ‘These findings have implications for invasive species management, since our study determined a specific time frame for the arrival of cats to Australia, allowing us to link the time of introduction with the decline & extinction of several native species.’”
Melissa Breyer
December 16, 2015
care2.com
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
8 Species At-Risk
"8 endangered species on Canada’s ‘at risk’list...
1. Rusty-patched bumblebee
The rusty-patched bumblebee...hasn’t been glimpsed in this country since 2009.
2. Burrowing owl Populations of burrowing owls...are dwindling for reasons that remain unclear.
3. Taylor’s checkerspot butterflyThe Taylor’s checkerspot was thought to have completely vanished from Canada before it was rediscovered in the Northern Gulf Islands of British Columbia.
4. Blanding turtleThe endangered Blandings turtle...was the chief concern in a recent court case that stopped a major wind farm project in Ontario.
5. Wolverine (Eastern Population)
The wolverine is a trickster in First Nations mythology...
6. Greater sage-grouse
The Greater sage-grouse, found in dwindling numbers in Alberta & Saskatchewan, is known for its spectacular courtship displays.
7. Whooping Cranes
Majestic whooping cranes...now number in the hundreds after declining to less than 2 dozen birds toward the end of the Second World War.
8. White Sturgeon
The white sturgeon...is struggling today even though its ancestors thrived for almost 200 million years....”
The Montreal Gazette
Oct. 31/2015
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
7 Strange Facts About Praying Mantises
“...praying mantis...refers to the insects’ imposing front legs that are bent at an angle as if they are folded in prayer. There are approximately 2,000 different species of praying mantises throughout the world, & their mystique is global.
French folklore suggests a praying mantis can point a lost child back to her home. In Arabic & Turkish cultures, a mantis was thought to point towards Mecca. In Africa, the mantis was fabled to restore life to the dead. And they are used to treat a number of illnesses in China, such as impotence & thyroid enlargement...
Most mantises in the U.S. are not native.The vast majority of mantises live in the tropics. Only 18 native species have ever been discovered on the entire North American continent...
They’re the only insect able to turn its head 180 degrees side-to-side.Praying mantises have a unique, flexible joint between their head & prothorax that allows them to swivel their heads...
They can see movement up to 60 feet away.
The praying mantis is the only insect known to have the ability to see in 3 dimensions, the same as humans...
Females sometimes eat their mates.
...females are known to devour their mates during intercourse...
Gory details aside, most instances of sexual cannibalization occur in a laboratory setting. In the wild, scientists believe the male only gets eaten 5-30% of the time...
They’re not selective eaters.
Mantises...have a huge appetite & have been known to eat up to 16 crickets per day. Mantises prey on many different types of insects, including...bees & ladybugs, as well as small birds, frogs, lizards, & occasionally other mantises.
Mantises overwinter as eggs in colder climates.
Praying mantis adults typically live 6-12 months. In colder climates, the females will lay around 100 to 400 eggs in the fall...
Mantises’ cannibalistic tendencies start young. When the eggs hatch in spring, their first meal is often their own sibling.
Mantises are close relatives of cockroaches.
...praying mantises, termites, & cockroaches are all closely related. Entomologists believe these insects
have all descended from a common ancestor...”
Zoe Blarowski
November 18, 2015
www.care2.com
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
Cat Behavior 101
“Did you know cats played a large role in ancient Egyptian society? They even became deities; Mafdet (goddess of justice) & Bast (goddess of war)...there is still an aura of mystery & a particular presence cat carry...
...feral (wild) cats have their own territories & are responsible for their own food, water, & safety. This autonomy & feeling of self-preservation is also seen in domesticated cats to a certain degree. Some people may even call cats aloof or unfriendly because of this.
However, for all the times you find your cat alone doing "cat things"... there are plenty of occasions when your cat is quite social.
...Cats know when their owner is coming home & are often found waiting patiently by the front door when the owner arrives. Most cats also love to jump on laps & be cuddled & stroked, while others are content to sit nearby their human companion. And some cats are even high-tech, loving to help with any computer work — though this usually consists of sitting on the keyboard or walking across it.
...did you know cats rub their heads against objects & humans alike...rubbing their scent on things is another way of marking property.
...Cats are often labeled "lazy" because they like to sleep for about 16 hours a day. But they are almost never completely asleep during that time. Make a sudden noise or movement, & you’ll find your cat alert & with its eyes open... The cat is a natural hunter that needs to conserve energy for quick, intense movements in order to catch prey.
... If you’ve ever found yourself walking through a room...& suddenly- pow! your ankle has been captured, don't worry, your cat is not angry... it is merely playing with you...Cats are just playful creatures that love to hone their hunting skills, & you have just become a passing target...you can avoid any future assaults by distracting kitty with some feathers or other "chase & catch" type toys. Play with your cat for a little while. Your cat will absolutely love you for it...
...Strange cat behavior isn’t that strange after all. It is merely natural instincts coming through. And just because we don't put cats on pedestals anymore doesn't mean they don't like it up there. Indeed, you'll find that the higher the pedestal, the happier your cat will be...”
petmd.com
Jan. 19/2016
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