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Ferreira EM, Cunha MV, Duarte EL, Mira A, Pinto D, Mendes I, Pereira AC, Pinto T, Acevedo P, Santos SM. Mapping high-risk areas for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria transmission: Linking host space use and environmental contamination. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176053. [PMID: 39244050 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
In many Mediterranean ecosystems, animal tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, an ecovar of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), is maintained by multi-host communities. It is hypothesised that interspecies transmission is mainly indirect via shared contaminated environments. Therefore, identifying spatial areas where MTBC bacteria occur and quantifying space use by susceptible hosts might help predict the spatial likelihood of transmission across the landscape. Here, we aimed to evaluate the transmission risk of MTBC in a multi-host system involving wildlife (ungulates and carnivores) and cattle (Bos taurus). We collected eighty-nine samples from natural substrates (water, soil, and mud) at 38 sampling sites in a TB endemic area within a Mediterranean agroforestry system in Portugal. These samples were analysed by real-time PCR to detect MTBC DNA. Additionally, host-specific space use intensity maps were obtained through camera-trapping covering the same sampling sites. Results evidenced that a significant proportion of samples were positive for MTBC DNA (49 %), suggesting that the contamination is widespread in the area. Moreover, they showed that the probability of MTBC occurrence in the environment was significantly influenced by topographic features (i.e., slope), although other non-significant predictor related with soil conditions (SMI: soil moisture index) incorporated the MTBC contamination model. The integration of host space use intensity maps with the spatial detection of MTBC showed that the red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) exhibited the highest percentages of high-risk areas for MTBC transmission. Furthermore, when considering the co-occurrence of multiple hosts, transmission risk analyses revealed that 26.5 % of the study area represented high-risk conditions for MTBC transmission, mainly in forest areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo M Ferreira
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal; IIFA - Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 7002 - 554 Évora, Portugal; Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Elsa L Duarte
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal.
| | - António Mira
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal; Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Inês Mendes
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André C Pereira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Pinto
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal; IIFA - Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 7002 - 554 Évora, Portugal; Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
| | - Pelayo Acevedo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Sara M Santos
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of Évora, Mitra, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal; IIFA - Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Palácio do Vimioso, Largo Marquês de Marialva, 7002 - 554 Évora, Portugal; Conservation Biology Lab, Department of Biology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
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2
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Greenspan E, Montgomery C, Stokes D, K'lu SS, Moo SSB, Anile S, Giordano AJ, Nielsen CK. Occupancy, density, and activity patterns of a Critically Endangered leopard population on the
Kawthoolei‐Thailand
border. POPUL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Evan Greenspan
- Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative Willagee Western Australia Australia
| | - Clara Montgomery
- Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative Willagee Western Australia Australia
| | - Demelza Stokes
- Karen Wildlife Conservation Initiative Willagee Western Australia Australia
| | - Saw Say K'lu
- Kawthoolei Forestry Department Chiang Mai Thailand
| | | | - Stefano Anile
- Forestry Program and Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois USA
| | | | - Clayton K. Nielsen
- Forestry Program and Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois USA
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3
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Fornitano L, Gouvea JA, Costa RT, Bianchi RDC. Ocelot occupancy in fragmented areas of the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2022.2099694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Fornitano
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (Fcav), Jaboticabal, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Abonizio Gouvea
- Programa de Pós-graduação Interunidades em Ecologia Aplicada, “Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ)/Centro de Energia Nuclear (CENA) – Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Theodoro Costa
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (Fcav), Jaboticabal, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Rita de Cassia Bianchi
- Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (Fcav), Jaboticabal, Brazil
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4
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Hernandez-Puentes C, Torre I, Vilella M. Spatio-temporal interactions within a Mediterranean community of Mesocarnivores. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00230-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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5
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de Souza DA, Gonçalves ALS, von Muhlen EM, da Silva VMF. Estimating occupancy and detection probability of the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), in Central Amazon, Brazil. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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6
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Grajera J, Vilella M, Torre I. A pilot study of the use of dry dog food as an alternative attractant in mesocarnivore studies. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Dry dog food is a potential attractant for carnivores, but it is scarcely used in mesocarnivore studies. We tested its efficiency by placing 50 independent sampling stations consisting in trios of camera traps baited with either dry dog food and valerian extract and a control without any attractant. We obtained 84 independent contacts including 39 mesocarnivore sightings in 150 camera-night samples. Community composition estimates were affected by attractants: diversity was higher and dominance smaller when using dry dog food than when using valerian extract. Dry dog food elicited three times more contacts than control cameras (mean ± SE = 0.48 ± 0.04 vs 0.15 ± 0.02 contacts/camera). Our results suggest the potential efficiency of dry dog food as an alternative attractant, either alone or used in combination with other traditional inedible baits in mesocarnivore studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Grajera
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers , c/ Francesc Macià 51, 08402 Granollers , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Marc Vilella
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers , c/ Francesc Macià 51, 08402 Granollers , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Ignasi Torre
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers , c/ Francesc Macià 51, 08402 Granollers , Barcelona , Spain
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Gil-Sánchez JM, Mañá-Varela B, Herrera-Sánchez FJ, Urios V. Spatio-temporal ecology of a carnivore community in middle atlas, NW of Morocco. ZOOLOGY 2021; 146:125904. [PMID: 33691263 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In species that live in sympatry, some dimensions of their ecological niche can overlap, but coexistence is possible thanks to segregation strategies, being the differential use of space and time one of the most frequent. Through a pioneer study in North-West Africa based on a camera-trapping survey, we studied ecology features of a carnivores' community in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco. We focused on how species shared (or not) the territory and their activity patterns. Camera trapping detected five carnivorous species: African golden wolf (Canis lupaster), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), genet (Genetta genetta) and African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica). Generalized Linear Models confirmed different habitat selection patterns between these species. The presence of a small protected area or prey availability apparently were not determinant factors in the abundance of these species. Spatial segregation patterns were observed between the red fox with the domestic dog and between the red fox with the genet. Kernel density estimates showed strong temporal segregation of red fox and African golden wolf with regard to domestic dog, and suggested avoidance mechanisms for the triad red fox, genet and African golden wolf. Despite the influence of interspecific competition in the assembly of the community, human pressure was apparently the most relevant factor related with the spatio-temporal segregation in this territory.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Gil-Sánchez
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. de Fuente Nueva, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Brais Mañá-Varela
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. de Fuente Nueva, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - F Javier Herrera-Sánchez
- Harmusch, Association for the Study and Conservation of Wildlife. C/ San Antón 15, 1º. E 13580 Almodóvar del Campo, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Vicente Urios
- Grupo de Investigación Zoología de Vertebrados, Universidad de Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig, Edificio Ciencias III, Alicante 03080, Spain
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8
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Sebastián-González E, Morales-Reyes Z, Naves-Alegre L, Durá Alemañ CJ, Gonçalves Lima L, Machado Lima L, Sánchez-Zapata JA. Which bait should I use? Insights from a camera trap study in a highly diverse cerrado forest. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01439-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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9
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Twining JP, Montgomery WI, Tosh DG. Declining invasive grey squirrel populations may persist in refugia as native predator recovery reverses squirrel species replacement. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P. Twining
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University of Belfast Belfast UK
| | - W. Ian Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences Queen's University of Belfast Belfast UK
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10
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Monterroso P, Díaz-Ruiz F, Lukacs PM, Alves PC, Ferreras P. Ecological traits and the spatial structure of competitive coexistence among carnivores. Ecology 2020; 101:e03059. [PMID: 32333382 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Competition is a widespread interaction among carnivores, ultimately manifested through one or more dimensions of the species' ecological niche. One of the most explicit manifestations of competitive interactions regards spatial displacement. Its interpretation under a theoretical context provides an important tool to deepen our understanding of biological systems and communities, but also for wildlife management and conservation. We used Bayesian multispecies occupancy models on camera-trapping data from multiple sites in Southwestern Europe (SWE) to investigate competitive interactions within a carnivore guild, and to evaluate how species' ecological traits are shaping coexistence patterns. Seventeen out of 26 pairwise interactions departed from a hypothesis of independent occurrence, with spatial association being twice as frequent as avoidance. Association behaviors were only detected among mesocarnivores, while avoidance mainly involved mesocarnivores avoiding the apex predator (n = 4) and mesocarnivore-only interactions (n = 2). Body mass ratios, defined as the dominant over the subordinate species body mass, revealed an important negative effect ( β ^ = - 0.38 ; C I 95 = - 0.81 t o - 0.06 ) on co-occurrence probability, and support that spatially explicit competitive interactions are mostly expressed by larger species able to dominate over smaller ones, with a threshold in body mass ratios of ~4, above which local-scale intraguild coexistence is unlikely. We found a weak relationship between pairwise trophic niche overlap and the probability of coexistence ( β ^ = - 0.19 ; C I 95 = - 0.58 t o 0.21 ), suggesting that competition for feeding resources may not be a key driver of competition, at least at the scale of our analysis. Despite local-scale avoidance, regional-scale coexistence appears to be maintained by the spatial structuring of the competitive environment. We provide evidence that SWE ecosystems consist of spatially structured competitive environments, and propose that coexistence among near-sized species is likely achieved through the interplay of "facultative" and "behavioral" character displacements. Factors influencing carnivore coexistence likely include context-dependent density and trait-mediated effects, which should be carefully considered for a sound understanding of the mechanisms regulating these communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Monterroso
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quinta 7, Vairão, 3385-661, Portugal
| | - Francisco Díaz-Ruiz
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, Ciudad Real, 12071, Spain.,Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Avda. Cervantes 2, Málaga, 29071, Spain
| | - Paul M Lukacs
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Paulo C Alves
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quinta 7, Vairão, 3385-661, Portugal.,Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA.,Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre S/N, Edificio FC4, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Pablo Ferreras
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC, CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, Ciudad Real, 12071, Spain
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11
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12
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Santos F, Carbone C, Wearn OR, Rowcliffe JM, Espinosa S, Lima MGM, Ahumada JA, Gonçalves ALS, Trevelin LC, Alvarez-Loayza P, Spironello WR, Jansen PA, Juen L, Peres CA. Prey availability and temporal partitioning modulate felid coexistence in Neotropical forests. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213671. [PMID: 30861045 PMCID: PMC6413900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnivores have long been used as model organisms to examine mechanisms that allow coexistence among ecologically similar species. Interactions between carnivores, including competition and predation, comprise important processes regulating local community structure and diversity. We use data from an intensive camera-trapping monitoring program across eight Neotropical forest sites to describe the patterns of spatiotemporal organization of a guild of five sympatric cat species: jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) and margay (Leopardus wiedii). For the three largest cat species, we developed multi-stage occupancy models accounting for habitat characteristics (landscape complexity and prey availability) and models accounting for species interactions (occupancy estimates of potential competitor cat species). Patterns of habitat-use were best explained by prey availability, rather than habitat structure or species interactions, with no evidence of negative associations of jaguar on puma and ocelot occupancy or puma on ocelot occupancy. We further explore temporal activity patterns and overlap of all five felid species. We observed a moderate temporal overlap between jaguar, puma and ocelot, with differences in their activity peaks, whereas higher temporal partitioning was observed between jaguarundi and both ocelot and margay. Lastly, we conducted temporal overlap analysis and calculated species activity levels across study sites to explore if shifts in daily activity within species can be explained by varying levels of local competition pressure. Activity patterns of ocelots, jaguarundis and margays were similarly bimodal across sites, but pumas exhibited irregular activity patterns, most likely as a response to jaguar activity. Activity levels were similar among sites and observed differences were unrelated to competition or intraguild killing risk. Our study reveals apparent spatial and temporal partitioning for most of the species pairs analyzed, with prey abundance being more important than species interactions in governing the local occurrence and spatial distribution of Neotropical forest felids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Santos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia/Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Department of Mastozoology—Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Chris Carbone
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver R. Wearn
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Santiago Espinosa
- Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Jorge A. Ahumada
- Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, United States of America
| | - André Luis Sousa Gonçalves
- Grupo de Pesquisas de Mamíferos Amazônicos (GPMA), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | - Patricia Alvarez-Loayza
- Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Wilson R. Spironello
- Grupo de Pesquisas de Mamíferos Amazônicos (GPMA), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Patrick A. Jansen
- Center for Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Leandro Juen
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação/Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Carlos A. Peres
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Curveira-Santos G, Pedroso NM, Barros AL, Santos-Reis M. Mesocarnivore community structure under predator control: Unintended patterns in a conservation context. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210661. [PMID: 30653547 PMCID: PMC6336399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Across the Mediterranean, conservation programmes often operate concomitantly with hunting interests within game-lands. Carnivore guilds lie at the interface between contrasting management goals, being simultaneously fundamental components of ecosystems and targets of predator control to reduce predation on game species. Here, we evaluate the composition and spatial structure of a mesocarnivore community in a protected area of Southeast Portugal, with high economic investment in conservation and significant hunting activity. Between June and August 2015, we deployed 77 camera-traps across a ~80 km2 area. We report on interspecific disparities in mesocarnivore occupancy and associated environmental determinants. Contrasting occupancy states suggest an unbalanced community, biased towards the widespread occurrence of the red fox Vulpes vulpes ([Formula: see text]) compared to other species (stone marten Martes foina, European badger Meles meles, Egyptian mongoose Herpestes ichneumon, common genet Genetta genetta, and Eurasian otter Lutra lutra) exhibiting spatially-restricted occupancy patterns ([Formula: see text]). The feral cat Felis silvestris catus was the exception ([Formula: see text]) and, together with the stone marten, exhibited a positive association with human settlements. These findings are consistent with theoretical predictions on how mesocarnivore communities are shaped by the effects of non-selective predator control, paradoxically favouring species with higher population growth rates and dispersal abilities, such as the red fox. Our results reinforce the need to understand the role of predator control as a community structuring agent with potential unintended effects, while exposing issues hindering such attempts, namely non-selective illegal killing or biased/concealed information on legal control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Curveira-Santos
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Nuno M. Pedroso
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
- CENA, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Luísa Barros
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarida Santos-Reis
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
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15
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Li X, Bleisch WV, Jiang X. Unveiling a wildlife haven: occupancy and activity patterns of mammals at a Tibetan sacred mountain. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1213-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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16
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Marinho PH, Bezerra D, Antongiovanni M, Fonseca CR, Venticinque EM. Estimating occupancy of the Vulnerable northern tiger cat Leopardus tigrinus in Caatinga drylands. MAMMAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-017-0330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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17
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Bender LC, Rosas-Rosas OC, Weisenberger ME. Seasonal occupancy of sympatric larger carnivores in the southern San Andres Mountains, south-central New Mexico, USA. MAMMAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-017-0318-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Blake JG, Mosquera D, Loiselle BA, Swing K, Romo D. Long-term variation in abundance of terrestrial mammals and birds in eastern Ecuador as measured by photographic rates and occupancy estimates. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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19
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Nagy-Reis MB, Nichols JD, Chiarello AG, Ribeiro MC, Setz EZF. Landscape Use and Co-Occurrence Patterns of Neotropical Spotted Cats. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0168441. [PMID: 28052073 PMCID: PMC5215768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small felids influence ecosystem dynamics through prey and plant population changes. Although most of these species are threatened, they are accorded one of the lowest research efforts of all felids, and we lack basic information about them. Many felids occur in sympatry, where intraguild competition is frequent. Therefore, assessing the role of interspecific interactions along with the relative importance of landscape characteristics is necessary to understand how these species co-occur in space. Here, we selected three morphologically similar and closely related species of small Neotropical cats to evaluate the roles of interspecific interactions, geomorphometry, environmental, and anthropogenic landscape characteristics on their habitat use. We collected data with camera trapping and scat sampling in a large protected Atlantic forest remnant (35,000 ha). Throughout occupancy modeling we investigated whether these species occur together more or less frequently than would be expected by chance, while dealing with imperfect detection and incorporating possible habitat preferences into the models. We used occupancy as a measure of their habitat use. Although intraguild competition can be an important determinant of carnivore assemblages, in our system, we did not find evidence that one species affects the habitat use of the other. Evidence suggested that proximity to the nature reserve (a more protected area) was a more important driver of Neotropical spotted cats' occurrence than interspecific interactions or geomorphometry and environmental landscape characteristics-even though our entire study area is under some type of protection. This suggests that small felids can be sensitive to the area protection status, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and creating reserves and other areas with elevated protection for the proper management and conservation of the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana B. Nagy-Reis
- Department of Animal Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - James D. Nichols
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Adriano G. Chiarello
- Department of Biology, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Milton Cezar Ribeiro
- Spatial Ecology and Conservation lab (LEEC), Department of Ecology, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eleonore Z. F. Setz
- Department of Animal Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Cruz J, Sarmento P, White PCL. Influence of exotic forest plantations on occupancy and co-occurrence patterns in a Mediterranean carnivore guild. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Ramesh T, Downs CT. Impact of land use on occupancy and abundance of terrestrial mammals in the Drakensberg Midlands, South Africa. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2014.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Das S, Dutta S, Sen S, A. S. J, Babu S, Kumara HN, Singh M. Identifying regions for conservation of sloth bears through occupancy modelling in north-eastern Karnataka, India. URSUS 2014. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-14-00008.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Ramesh T, Kalle R, Sankar K, Qureshi Q. Factors affecting habitat patch use by sloth bears in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. URSUS 2012. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-11-00006.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Occupancy, colonization and extinction patterns of rabbit populations: implications for Iberian lynx conservation. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0599-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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