ORIGINAL: Howler
So, you think a lynx can't catch a cottontail, or pheasant! I've seen house cats do that, so why would a lynx not be able to do it, and there for live where it has ample cover and ample food, even though the food source isn't snow shoe. There's no doubt that the lynx will eat more than just snowshoe rabbits.
Mtn. lions are being found in places that don't have mule deer, but historically, they live in mtns. and mule deer is thier main course! So, how can that be? Could it be that they are adabtable toother land scapes and food sources?
Look at elk, for another example. They used to live in the plains, BUTnow you see very very few any where except the mountains!
Stop using the straw man fallacy. Stop attacking points that I didn't make.
I never stated that lynx couldn't catch a cottontail, or that they only preyed on snowshoe hares. I stated that: The only place we find viable populations are where there are good populations of snowshoe hares.
Historically, mt. lions didn't prey soley on mule deer. They are specialized to prey on deer yes, but not just mule deer. They hunt everything from porcupines to bighorn sheep but you don't see them in areas with no deer.
As far as your elk metaphor. Well they aren't as specialized, so I would expect them to be quite adaptable. All hind-gut ruminents can consume a variety of plant matter and still thrive. Now, if they were specialized for a certain plant like for instance koalas and eucalyptus then that would be a different story wouldn't it?
Also, there is a big difference between a few individual cats
surviving in an area and an acutal population
thriving in an area. I'm sure a lynx could run around a grassland and kill gallanious birds and make it ok. But as far as a long term viable population? No sorry.
I don't expect you guys to know all about specialized predators and habitats, but it should be logical. If lynx could thrive in a variety of habitats, they would have occupied those habitats and we would have seen that historically.
Believe me or not, I'm just trying to add some knowledge. I am a biologist.