Ecological Flexibility of the Top Predator in an Island Ecosystem - Food Habit of the Iriomote Cat

Iriomote cats, as top predators in the island ecosystems of Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, northern Okinawa, and Iriomote Islands, exhibit remarkable ecological flexibility in response to prey availability. Unlike specialized predators that strictly follow prey density fluctuations, these cats demonstrate functional responses by dynamically switching their diet based on the abundance and distribution of alternative prey. This adaptability suggests a sophisticated foraging strategy that allows them to thrive in environments with temporal and spatial variations in resource availability.

Watanabe, S. (2012). Ecological Flexibility of the Top Predator in an Island Ecosystem - Food Habit of the Iriomote Cat. Diversity of Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.5772/38368