20.500.12556/DKUM-95414 Kronobiološka aktivnost prostoživeče mačke; upravljavske in varstvene implikacije magistrsko delo Chronobiologic activity of free- ranging domestic cats: management and protection implications Domače mačke, zlasti prostoživeče, so visoko prilagodljive živali, ki lahko pomembno vplivajo na populacije divjih in sinantropnih vrst ter posledično na ekosisteme in varnost prehrane. Namen te magistrske naloge je bil raziskati kronobiološke vzorce prostoživečih domačih mačk in oceniti njihovo vlogo kot naravnih regulatorjev sinantropnih vrst v kontekstu trajnostne varnosti hrane. Študija je potekala dve leti (2020–2022) na gozdnem koridorju v Sloveniji, pri čemer je bilo z avtomatskimi lovskimi kamerami zabeleženih 2081 opažanj mačk, od tega 59 s plenom. Aktivnost mačk smo analizirali glede na cirkadiane, lunarne in sezonske cikle z uporabo programskega paketa Oriana, Rayleigh-ovega in Rao-ovega testa. Rezultati so pokazali bimodalno cirkadiano aktivnost z vrhovi pozno zvečer in zgodaj zjutraj ter izrazito nočno oziroma krepuskularno vedenje, pri čemer je bila plenilska aktivnost največja v temnem delu dneva. Najvišja aktivnost je bila zabeležena spomladi, medtem ko so lunarne faze vplivale predvsem na nočno aktivnost, s povečano pojavnostjo mačk v mlaju. Pojav mačk s plenom ni pokazal jasne povezave z luninim ciklom. Rezultati poudarjajo, da imajo prostoživeče domače mačke izrazite dnevne, mesečne in sezonske vzorce aktivnosti, ki omogočajo učinkovito regulacijo sinantropnih vrst, hkrati pa je ohranjanje njihove dobrobiti ključno za družbeno sprejemljive strategije upravljanja. Naloga prispeva k razumevanju vedenja domačih mačk, njihove ekološke funkcije in pomena za trajnostno varnost prehrane ter predstavlja podlago za oblikovanje uravnoteženih pristopov k nadzoru prostoživečih mačk. Domestic cats, especially wild ones, are highly adaptable animals that can significantly affect populations of wild and synanthropic species and consequently ecosystems and food security. The aim of this master's thesis was to investigate the chronobiological patterns of wild domestic cats and assess their role as natural regulators of synanthropic species in the context of sustainable food security. The study was conducted over two years (2020-2022) in a forest corridor in Slovenia, during which 2081 cat sightings were recorded with automatic hunting cameras, of which 59 with prey. The activity of cats was analyzed according to circadian, lunar and seasonal cycles using the Oriana software package, Rayleigh and Rao tests. The results thus show bimodal circadian activity with peaks in the late evening and early morning and pronounced nocturnal/crepuscular behavior, with predatory activity being highest in the dark part of the day. The highest activity was recorded in spring, while lunar phases mainly influenced nocturnal activity, with increased occurrence of cats during the new moon. The occurrence of cats with prey did not show a clear link to the lunar cycle. The results highlight that feral domestic cats have distinct daily, monthly and seasonal activity patterns that enable effective regulation of synanthropic species, while maintaining their welfare is key to socially acceptable management strategies. The work contributes to the understanding of domestic cat behavior, their ecological function and importance for sustainable food security, and provides a basis for the development of balanced approaches to feral cat control. domače mačke kronobiologija dnevno-nočni cikel lunarni cikel sezonski cikel plenjenje domestic cats chronobiology day-night cycle lunar cycle seasonal cycle predation true true false N. Merčnik Slovenski jezik Angleški jezik Magistrsko delo/naloga 2025-09-17 09:35:58 2025-10-29 09:00:35 2025-10-30 03:15:35 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 Maribor 0 Maribor 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (V, 20 str.)) 0000-00-00 NiDoloceno NiDoloceno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 636.8(043)=163.6 255156995 MAG_Mercnik_Neva_2025.pdf MAG_Mercnik_Neva_2025.pdf 1 4881FC22E86E30F41AFF57D25EA35A0D e2da208d4d4ce379fc49cb017fa023a23a5f1d5b34c1bffda8b084418721eb05 e4e4bb90-939b-11f0-821d-00155d000105 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=198658 Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede 0 0 0