Sigmund Gärtner’s scientific contributions

Threat of Wildcat (Felis silvestris) by traffic in Thuringia SIEGFRIED KLAUS , MANUELA PASTOHR and SIGMUND GÄRTNER Abstract: Between 1982-2004 102 killed wildcats were recorded in the data collection of the “Thuringian agency of environment and Geology Jena” and the kill sites mapped. 89 kill sites located in Südharz, Alter Stolberg, Kyffhäuser, Schmücke, Hohe Schrecke, Finne, Windleite, Hainleite, Dün, Bleicheröder Berge, Ohmgebirge, Oberes Eichsfeld, Werra-Weser-Bergland and Hainich with know coordinates were visited and the road situation around the sites analyzed. 71 % of the wildcats were killed by traffic, 5 % by hunting, 1 % by fences, 1 % by narcosis, in a telemetry project, 22 % unknown. Since 1990 a continuous increase of road kills was observed. In 1995-2004 a mean of six killed wildcats / year and in 2005-2010 a mean of seven road kills were recorded. 84 % of the killed cats were found in a more fragmented landscape (habitat patch size < 2000 ha). Only 16 % were found in a lesser fragmented landscape (habitat patch size > 2000 ha). Most wildcats killed by road traffic were found in month with higher activity (March-April) and October (dismigration of juveniles). Straight segments of roads allowing higher speed to traffic were more dangerous than segments with limited sight of driver and wildcat (curves, slopes, ditches along road). Different technical improvements of the road situation in order to reduce road kills are recommended. Key words: wildcat, road kills, habitat fragmentation, Thuringia, wildcat, road kills, habitat fragmentation, Thuringia

Zusammenfassung: Von 1982 bis 2004 wurden 102 Wildkatzentotfunde an der Thüringer Landesanstalt für Umwelt und Geologie Jena erfasst und kartiert. Davon wurden 89 Fundorte im Südharz, Alten Stolberg, Kyffhäusergebirge, Schmücke, in der Hohen Schrecke, der Finne, Windleite, Hainleite, im Dün, den Bleicheröder Bergen, Ohmgebirge, im Oberen Eichsfeld, Werra-Weser-Bergland und im Hainich im Gelände aufgesucht, die Straßensituation analysiert und statistisch ausgewertet. Der Straßenverkehr war mit 71 % die häugste Todesursache. Bei 22 % der Totfunde konnte die Todesursache nicht aufgeklärt werden. Jagdlich bedingte Verluste, Verluste durch Narkose (Telemetrieprojekt) und Drahtzaun haben einen geringen Anteil (7 %). Seit den 1990er Jahren stiegen die Verkehrsverluste stetig an. Im Jah-resdurchschnitt wurden von 1995 bis 2004 jährlich sechs Wildkatzen überfahren gefunden, danach gab es bis 2010 sieben Totfunde / Jahr. In stärker fragmentierter Landschaft (Größe unzerschnittener Räume < 2000 ha) lagen wesentlich mehr (84 %) Unfallorte als in größeren unzerschnittenen Räumen (16 %). In den Monaten März, April und Oktober (Dismigration) sind die Wildkatzen durch den Straßenverkehr am stärksten gefährdet. An unübersichtlichen Straßenabschnitten (Täler, Hänge, Gräben) und Bereichen, die hohe Kfz-Geschwindig-keiten ermöglichen, sind Wildkatzen am stärksten gefährdet. Es werden Vorschläge zur Minderung der verkehrsbeding-ten Gefahren gemacht. Abstract: Between 1982-2004 102 killed wildcats were recorded in the data collection of the "Thuringian agency of environment and Geology Jena" and the kill sites mapped. 89 kill sites located in Südharz, Alter Stolberg, Kyff-häuser, Schmücke, Hohe Schrecke, Finne, Windleite, Hainleite, Dün, Bleicheröder Berge, Ohmgebirge, Oberes Eichs-feld, Werra-Weser-Bergland and Hainich with know coordinates were visited and the road situation around the sites analyzed. 71 % of the wildcats were killed by trafc, 5 % by hunting, 1 % by fences, 1 % by narcosis, in a telemetry project, 22 % unknown. Since 1990 a continuous increase of road kills was observed. In 1995-2004 a mean of six killed wildcats / year and in 2005-2010 a mean of seven road kills were recorded. 84 % of the killed cats were found in a more fragmented landscape (habitat patch size < 2000 ha). Only 16 % were found in a lesser fragmented landscape (habitat patch size > 2000 ha). Most wildcats killed by road trafc were found in month with higher activity (March-April) and October (dismigration of juveniles). Straight segments of roads allowing higher speed to trafc were more dangerous than segments with limited sight of driver and wildcat (curves, slopes, ditches along road). Different technical improvements of the road situation in order to reduce road kills are recommended.