Integrating ecophysiological and behavioural discoveries in conservation and management plans is essential to preserve scarce and elusive species such as the European wildcat (Felis silvestris). The purpose of this study was to characterize the monthly variation in the steroid reproductive hormone metabolite levels (oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone) in this species and to test its possible association with a monthly pattern of faecal marking. By collecting fresh faecal samples in Montes do Invernadeiro Natural Park (Galicia, Northwest Spain) each month, we obtained a total of 110 samples belonging to 25 different individuals. We conducted enzyme immunoassays which allowed us to track the annual variation in reproductive hormone excretion patterns in wildcat scats. Furthermore, we also evaluated the possible relation between the faeces used as marks and the reproductive hormone levels. We found that oestradiol and progesterone metabolite levels exhibited a distinct pattern, both increasing during the breeding months. Oestradiol metabolite larger peaks were found during March and April, whereas the highest concentration of progesterone metabolites appeared in July. On the contrary, testosterone metabolite levels did not significantly change depending on the month. Moreover, we did not find any evidence that the faecal marking behaviour pattern was associated with reproductive hormone metabolite levels. It seems that other factors related to habitat and food resources could be more important in the performance of this behaviour.

中文翻译：

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自由放养的欧洲野猫的生殖激素每月变化：与粪便标记缺乏关联

将生态生理和行为发现整合到保护和管理计划中对于保护稀有和难以捉摸的物种（例如欧洲野猫（Felis silvestris））至关重要）。这项研究的目的是表征该物种中类固醇生殖激素代谢产物（雌二醇，孕酮和睾丸激素）的每月变化，并检验其与每月粪便标记方式的关联。通过每月在Montes do Invernadeiro自然公园（西班牙西北加利西亚）收集新鲜的粪便样本，我们获得了属于25个不同个体的总共110个样本。我们进行了酶免疫分析，使我们能够追踪野猫粪便中生殖激素排泄方式的年度变化。此外，我们还评估了用作标记的粪便与生殖激素水平之间的可能关系。我们发现雌二醇和孕酮代谢物水平表现出独特的模式，在繁殖月份均增加。雌二醇代谢物在3月和4月发现更大的峰，而孕酮代谢物的最高浓度出现在7月。相反，睾丸激素代谢物水平没有根据月份而显着变化。而且，我们没有发现任何证据表明粪便标记行为模式与生殖激素代谢产物水平有关。似乎与栖息地和粮食资源有关的其他因素在这种行为的执行中可能更为重要。我们没有发现任何证据表明粪便标记行为模式与生殖激素代谢产物水平有关。似乎与栖息地和粮食资源有关的其他因素在这种行为的执行中可能更为重要。我们没有发现任何证据表明粪便标记行为模式与生殖激素代谢产物水平有关。似乎与栖息地和粮食资源有关的其他因素在这种行为的执行中可能更为重要。