Abstract
This paper examines cougars (Felis concolor), bobcats (Felix rufus) and lynxes (Felis lynx canadensis) - the cats of Yellowstone National Park and its surrounding ecosystem. The paper describes the special characteristics of each cat and looks at their similarities and differences. Photographs and explanatory graphs are included with the paper.

Table of Contents:
Lynx (Felis lynx canadensis)
Bobcat (Felix lynx rufus)
Cougar (Felis Concolor)

From the Paper
"All the large cats of Yellowstone and the GYE as well as those in surrounding parts of the country are finally making a comeback. It would be disastrous for their populations to decline again because of the ignorance of those who live in their habitats or developing the last bits of habitat that they have. There needs to be so much more study of these animals to determine a way to continue to live in harmony with these cats. There has been a good start made with surveys and radiotracking collars that tell us more about them. There is no way that we can live in harmony with the predators without knowing anything about them. Study and research is the only way that we will save the cougars, bobcats and lynx."

Tags:habitat, extinction, prey

Abstract
This paper discusses the factors that regulate the population size of the lynx canadensis, the Canadian lynx that is common to boreal forests in nearly all of Canada, Alaska and the northern contiguous United States. It specifically looks at environmental, predation, competition and food availability factors. The paper includes graphs in its explanations.

From the Paper
"When the hare population begins to increase, the Lynx population follows the trend, as there is more prey available to feed on. Once the point where there are more hares being killed than are being born is reached, the prey population begins to fall. Due to the decreasing food supply, the Lynx population begins to suffer and declines as well. This is crucial in understanding why the lynx species does not grow out of control or suffer extinction (King & Schaffer 2001). During the low cycle of the hare population, the Lynx switches to hunting red squirrels; this shows the adaptive capabilities of the lynx that prevent the species from going completely extinct. However, as the hare population begins to rebound, the Lynx return to the hare as its primary source of prey and the cycle begins again (O'Donoghue et. al. 1998). The Lynx shows clear functional responses to changes in the densities of hares. Kill rates of the lynx varied from 0.3 to 1.2 hares per day, with the highest kill rate being one year after the peak in hare density (King & Schaffer 2001). This cyclic concept is illustrated in Figure 2."

Tags:species, bobcat, predator