Abstract：
One of the most successful predators on island ecosystems is the domestic cat, which is considered responsible for the decline of numerous species\' populations. This can be estimated by the analysis of cats\' dietary habits, yet prey identification is not always possible, and thus, in cases where precise prey identification is required, one of the most accurate methods derives from observing the hunting process. However, the cryptic nature of the feral cats and the constant vigilance of the species that are preyed upon make the observation process difficult, especially when the prey has a low population density. Here, we report for the first time such a case: a feral cat that has ambushed, killed, and consumed a regionally near-threatened species, the Persian squirrel. This incidental observation happened in the squirrel\'s westernmost end of its distribution, the island of Lesvos, Greece. Due to the unexpectedness of the event, in the following days, we estimated both the squirrels\' and cats\' population density. Results showed that while the density of the squirrels is moderate, the population density of the feral cats is almost fifteen times higher. For this reason, management actions need to be taken in an effort to minimize the impacts of feral cats on the native species of the island.
摘要：
岛上生态系统中最成功的捕食者之一是家猫，这被认为是造成众多物种种群减少的原因。这可以通过分析猫的饮食习惯来估计，然而猎物识别并不总是可能的，因此，在需要精确的猎物识别的情况下，最准确的方法之一来自观察狩猎过程。然而,野猫的隐蔽性和对被捕食物种的持续警惕使得观察过程变得困难，尤其是当猎物的种群密度较低时。这里,我们第一次报道这样的案例:一只被伏击的野猫，被杀,并消耗了一种区域濒临灭绝的物种，波斯松鼠.这种偶然的观察发生在松鼠分布的最西端，莱斯沃斯岛,希腊。由于事件的意外，在接下来的日子里，我们估计了松鼠和猫的种群密度。结果表明，松鼠的密度适中，野猫的种群密度几乎高出15倍。出于这个原因,需要采取管理行动，以尽量减少野猫对岛上本地物种的影响。
