The role of the environment in the spatial dynamics of an extensive hybrid zone between two neotropical cats

Identifying factors that create and maintain a hybrid zone is of great interest to ecology, evolution and, more recently, conservation biology. Here, we investigated the role environmental features in shaping spatial dynamics between southern tigrina, Leopardus guttulus, Geoffroy's cat, L. geoffroyi, testing for exogenous selection as main force acting on its maintenance. These Neotropical felid species are mainly allopatric, with restricted area sympatry ecotone Atlantic Forest Pampa biomes. As both biomes have experienced high rates anthropogenic habitat alteration, also analysed influence conversion structure. To do this, used 13 microsatellite loci identify potential hybrids generated ecological niche models them their parental species. We compared variables occurrence calculated amount overlap among them. Parental showed different requirements predicted co-occurrence was forest-grassland mosaic ecotone. However, were found beyond this area, range geoffroyi. Hybrids demonstrated higher tolerance alteration than types, probability positively related mosaics cropland areas remnants natural vegetation. results indicate alone does not drive zone, influences structure, potentially favouring over