Felids
Do male and female lions kill more prey when environmental temperatures increase?
Mountain lion (Puma concolor)
African lion (Panthera leo)
Overview:
The felids represent one of the most diverse mammalian groups in terms of range of body size, hunting behaviors, morphology, locomotor performance and diversity of habitats in which they live. From 4 kg domestic cats to 300 kg Siberian tigers, this group of carnivores often place enormous pressure on their prey populations due to inherently high energetic (caloric) demands. Consequently, many of the larger wild cats including African lions, tigers, snow leopards, Iberian lynx, and cheetahs are listed as endangered or vulnerable to extinction due to habitat degradation and conflicts with humans. Our laboratory is conducting some of the first metabolic measurements and analyses of precise movement patterns across landscapes for large wild felids.
The goal is to develop conservation plans and critical habitat maps based on the unique biological needs of these charismatic cats to preserve them for future generations.
Primary Lab Member(s):
Terrie M. Williams, Principal Investigator
Caleb M. Bryce, PhD Candidate
Key Collaborators
Dr. Christopher C. Wilmers
Associate Professor, Environmental Studies University of California, Santa Cruz
