SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IBERIAN LYNX AND OTHER CARNIVORES IN ANAREA OF SOUTH-WESTERN SPAIN

1. Spatial relationships between Iberian lynx and other carnivores wer e studied by radio-tracking and/or track censusing in two adjacent are as of Donana (south-western Spain). 2. Both radio-tracking and track c ensusing showed that lynx were restricted to an undisturbed area of Pi stacia lentiscus shrubs called Matasgordas. Minimum and maximum lynx d ensity in Matasgordas were estimated as 0 . 55 and 0 . 75 ind. km(-2). 3. Egyptian mongoose tracks were mainly detected outside Matasgordas (83% of tracks), European badger tracks were detected most often insid e Matasgordas (76% of tracks), and red fox tracks were frequently dete cted both outside (54%) and inside (46%) Matasgordas. Surveys of track s and faeces undertaken in other 14 areas where P. lentiscus shrubs al so dominated corroborated the census data obtained inside and outside Matasgordas. 4. Trapping and radio-tracking of mongooses and common ge nets indicated that both species avoided use of Matasgordas. They were almost exclusively trapped (24 out of 25 mongooses and all of 11 gene ts) and mainly radio-located (94 . 5% and 95 . 4% of times, for mongoo ses and genets, respectively) in the areas of P. lentiscus shrubs situ ated outside Matasgordas. Their densities were estimated as 0 . 2 and 0 . 03 ind. km(-2) inside, and as 2 . 0 and 0 . 7 ind. km(-2) outside Matasgordas for mongooses and genets, respectively. 5. Lynx may kill m ongooses, genets, and foxes; thus, the avoidance of Matasgordas by sma ller carnivores (mongooses and genets) could be related to the risk of lynx predation. It is suggested that the decline of the lynx in the D onana area may have caused the increase in the population size of smal ler, previously rarer carnivores. 6. The true relationship between lyn x and foxes remains unclear, and badgers were apparently indifferent t o lynx presence or absence.