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Effects of camera trap placement on photo rates of jaguars, their prey, and competitors in northwestern Costa Rica. WILDLIFE SOC B 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
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Montalvo VH, Sáenz-Bolaños C, Carrillo E, Fuller TK. A review of environmental and anthropogenic variables used to model jaguar occurrence. NEOTROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e98437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Jaguars (Panthera onca) are a landscape species of conservation importance and our understanding of environmental and anthropogenic drivers of jaguar occurrence is necessary to improve conservation strategies. We reviewed available literature to simply describe environmental and anthropogenic variables used and found to be significant in occurrence modeling. We reviewed 95 documents published from 1980 to 2021 that focused on jaguar occurrence and that used 39 variable types (21 anthropogenic, 18 environmental) among different techniques, scales, and approaches. In general, these variables included both anthropogenic (roads, land use, human activities, and population) and environmental (climate, vegetation, ecological interactions, topographic, water, and others) factors. Twelve variables were identified as affecting jaguar occurrence overall, eleven at local scale and seven at broad scales (regional and continental). Focusing more specifically on the variables that correlate with occurrence should help researchers to make better predictions in areas without quantitative jaguar data.
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Fragoso CE, Rampim LE, Quigley H, Buhrke Haberfeld M, Ayala Espíndola W, Cabral Araújo V, Rodrigues Sartorello L, May Júnior JA. Unveiling demographic and mating strategies of Panthera onca in the Pantanal, Brazil. J Mammal 2023; 104:239-251. [PMID: 37032705 PMCID: PMC10075339 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
We conducted the first long-term and large-scale study of demographic characteristics and reproductive behavior in a wild jaguar (Panthera onca) population. Data were collected through a combination of direct observations and camera trapping on a study area that operates both as a cattle ranch and ecotourism destination. Jaguars exhibited two birth peaks: April/May and October/November, that are the end and the beginning of the wet season in the Pantanal, respectively. The average litter size was 1.43 ± 0.65. Single cubs made up a total of 65.7% of the births, and we found a slight predominance of females (1.15:1 ratio) in litters. The mean age at independence was 17.6 ± 0.98 months, with sex-biased dispersal, with all males (n = 27) leaving the natal home range and 63.6% of females exhibiting philopatry. The interbirth intervals were 21.8 ± 3.2 months and the mean age at first parturition was 31.8 ± 4.2 months. Our results estimated a lifetime reproductive success for female jaguars of 8.13 cubs. Our observations also indicate that female jaguars can display mating behavior during cub rearing or pregnancy, representing 41.4% of the consorts and copulations recorded. We speculate that this behavior has evolved as a defense against infanticide and physical harm to the female. To our knowledge, this is the first time that such behavior is described for this species. All aggressive interactions between females involved the presence of cubs, following the offspring–defense hypothesis, that lead to territoriality among females in mammals, regardless of food availability. In the face of growing threats to this apex predator, this work unveils several aspects of its natural history, representing a baseline for comparison with future research and providing critical information for population viability analysis and conservation planning in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Eduardo Fragoso
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Lilian Elaine Rampim
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Howard Quigley
- Panthera Corporation , 8 West 40th Street 18th Floor, New York, New York 10018 , USA
| | - Mario Buhrke Haberfeld
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
- Panthera Corporation , 8 West 40th Street 18th Floor, New York, New York 10018 , USA
- Instituto SOS Pantanal , Rua Alberto Neder, 328, Centro, 79002-160 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul , Brazil
| | - Wellyngton Ayala Espíndola
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Valquíria Cabral Araújo
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Leonardo Rodrigues Sartorello
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Joares Adenilson May Júnior
- Associação Onçafari , Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 153, Conjunto 14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, 05428-000 São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
- Panthera Corporation , 8 West 40th Street 18th Floor, New York, New York 10018 , USA
- Laboratório de Protozoologia e Rickettsioses Vetoriais, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, RS , Brazil
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Montalvo VH, Sáenz-Bolaños C, Cruz-Díaz JC, Carrillo E, Fuller TK. The Use of Camera Traps and Auxiliary Satellite Telemetry to Estimate Jaguar Population Density in Northwestern Costa Rica. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192544. [PMID: 36230285 PMCID: PMC9559622 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We used data from a grid of camera traps, combined with satellite telemetry data from one female jaguar, to estimate jaguar population density in northwestern Costa Rica. Our estimate of 2.6 females and 5.0 males per 100 km2 was influenced by camera placement and sex of the jaguar, and indicated the importance of telemetry data to improve field design and parameter estimation. We recommend population assessments of at least 3 consecutive months, expanding the survey area to one several times the size of an individual’s home range, and including sex and camera placement considerations to reduce bias in jaguar density estimates. Abstract Regular evaluation of jaguar (Panthera onca) population status is an important part of conservation decision-making. Currently, camera trapping has become the standard method used to estimate jaguar abundance and demographic parameters, though evidence has shown the potential for sex ratio biases and density overestimates. In this study, we used camera trap data combined with satellite telemetry data from one female jaguar to estimate jaguar population density in the dry forest of Santa Rosa National Park in the Guanacaste Conservation Area of northwestern Costa Rica. We analyzed camera trap data collected from June 2016 to June 2017 using spatial capture-recapture methods to estimate jaguar density. In total, 19 individual jaguars were detected (11 males; 8 females) with a resulting estimated population density of 2.6 females (95% [CI] 1.7–4.0) and 5.0 male (95% [CI] 3.4–7.4) per 100 km2. Based on telemetry and camera trap data, camera placement might bias individual detections by sex and thus overall density estimates. We recommend population assessments be made at several consecutive 3-month intervals, that larger areas be covered so as not to restrict surveys to one or two individual home ranges, as in our case, and to carry out long-term camera monitoring programs instead of short-term studies to better understand the local population, using auxiliary telemetry data to adjust field designs and density estimations to improve support for jaguar conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor H. Montalvo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Namá Conservation, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
- Correspondence:
| | - Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica
- Namá Conservation, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
| | - Juan C. Cruz-Díaz
- Namá Conservation, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
- Amazon Conservation Team, Arlington, VA 22203, USA
| | - Eduardo Carrillo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Namá Conservation, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
| | - Todd K. Fuller
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Density, habitat use and activity patterns of the last giant armadillo population in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00277-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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González–Gallina A, Equihua M, Pérez-Garduza F, Iglesias-Henández JA, Oliveras de Ita A, Chacón-Hernández A, Vázquez-Zúñiga O, Hidalgo-Mihart MG. Jaguar (Panthera onca) spatial ecology outside protected areas in the Selva Maya. ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.32800/abc.2022.45.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Jaguars (Panthera onca) are endangered in several countries and a priority species for conservation action. Despite extensive research efforts in Mexico most studies have been associated with natural protected areas far from human habitation. Because protected areas are too few to conserve the jaguar population over the long–term, a landscape approach that includes both protected and unprotected lands is needed. This is the case in Quintana Roo State where an ecological corridor linking two protected areas (Yum Balam and Sian Ka'an) is at risk of disappearing due to tourism–driven activities. Between 2013 and 2015, four male jaguars were captured and monitored using satellite telemetry inside the corridor. The mean home range size (± SD) was 101.5 km2 (± 75.9 km2) for the dry season and 172 km2 (± 107.29 km2) for the rainy season. The mean core area size (± SD) was 17.54 km2 (± 16.21 km2) for the dry season and 29.07 km2 (± 16.19 km2) for the rainy season. No significant seasonal differences were found for home ranges or for core areas. As expected, we observed that jaguars preferred forest or young secondary growth over profusely disturbed areas, using whatever vegetation was available in their home ranges. Although it is not protected, a biological corridor linking Yum Balam and Sian Ka'an still holds its own jaguar population, a population that has learned to coexist with human presence. Conservation actions are recommended at landscape level to maintain what remains of tropical mature forest and to promote the development of long–term secondary growth into close tree canopy
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Equihua
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Veracruz, Mexico
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González-Maya JF, Rojano C, Ávila R, Gómez-Junco GP, Moreno-Díaz C, Hurtado-Moreno AP, Paredes-Casas CA, Lemus-Mejía L, Zárrate-Charry DA. Puma concolor potential distribution and connectivity in the Colombian Llanos. MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding species distribution to target biodiversity conservation actions in countries with high biodiversity, scarce data availability and low study sites accessibility is very challenging. These issues limit management and conservation actions even on charismatic and potentially conflictive species like large carnivores. We developed a geographic assessment of the potential distribution, core patches and connectivity areas for Puma concolor in the Colombian Llanos (Orinoco region). To create this geographic representation, we used methodological approaches that work with scarce information and still provide a spatially-explicit distribution that could be used by stakeholders. Our results show the importance that the Llanos region has for the conservation of the species and the potential role that can have to ensure a resident long-term population. Based on our approach, more than 50,000 km2 (near to 30% of the study area) can be still considered as core habitats for the species, and most of them are still connected, with spatial gaps lower than the estimated dispersal distance of the species and several remaining steppingstones. Further research is required to validate our analysis and we expect our results can target research and conservation priorities within the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F. González-Maya
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales , CBS, Universidad, Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma , Av. de las Garzas No. 10, Col. El Panteón. C.P, 52005 , Lerma de Villada , Estado de México , Mexico
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Cesar Rojano
- Fundación Cunaguaro and Cunaguaro Consultores SA , Calle 20 #28-06 , Yopal , Casanare , Colombia
| | - Renzo Ávila
- Fundación Cunaguaro and Cunaguaro Consultores SA , Calle 20 #28-06 , Yopal , Casanare , Colombia
| | - Ginna P. Gómez-Junco
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Catalina Moreno-Díaz
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Angela P. Hurtado-Moreno
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Camilo A. Paredes-Casas
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Leonardo Lemus-Mejía
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Diego A. Zárrate-Charry
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
- World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Colombia , Carrera 10 A # 69 A – 44 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
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Aguirre Sierra L, Zárrate-Charry DA, Lemus-Mejía L, Morales-Perdomo J, González-Maya JF. Not only range, but quality: human influence and protected areas within the distribution of mammal species subject to use in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.48.77722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Mammal conservation in transformed landscapes depends heavily on the role of protected areas, especially for species used by local communities both within and around these areas. We evaluated the level of representation and the magnitude of the influence of humans, via human footprint, across the range of mammals used by local communities in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. We emphasised the differences of the human influence at a department scale and inside Protected Areas (PA). The definition of species used by local communities refers to using a resource for its economic, religious and/or traditional value. Specifically, we addressed whether there is a difference between the magnitude of human influence inside and outside the PAs and if the impact is greater on threatened species, species with greater or lesser representation or according to their use. We found 43 species subject to use in our analysis, with low values of representation when compared with global targets (X̄ ± CD = 10.69% ± 4.99) and with high values of vulnerability, based on the mean value of the Spatial Human Footprint Index (HSFI) (57 ± 2.74). We found a difference of 10.72 points between the average HSFI of the Department and that of the PAs (X̄ ± CD = 10.73 ± 5.98%). This shows that the status of each species’ habitats is less impacted by human activities within PAs and that the conservation areas for all species depend largely on their presence in largely transformed landscapes. Although this seems an expected outcome, the Department of Cundinamarca is one of the less represented on PAs at a national level and has suffered from severe fragmentation; thus, our results highlight the need for improving and expanding the current PA system as most species, especially those subject to use, will depend on their existence for their conservation on the long run.
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de Azevedo FCC, Pasa JB, Arrais RC, Massara RL, Widmer CE. Density and habitat use of one of the last jaguar populations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Is there still hope? Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8487. [PMID: 35136550 PMCID: PMC8809435 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The jaguar (Panthera onca) plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes. We evaluated the status of a jaguar population in one of the last stronghold habitats for its conservation in the Atlantic Forest, the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP). We used a random survey design from 2016/17 to estimate jaguar abundance and density as well as its occupancy and detection probabilities in the entire Park's area. To monitor for temporal fluctuations in density and abundance, we used a systematic survey design in the southern portion of the Park where jaguars were more recorded when using the random approach. We then conducted two surveys in 2017/18 and 2020. Our 2016/17 random survey revealed that jaguar density (0.11 ± SE 0.28 individuals/100 km2) was the lowest obtained for the species across the Atlantic Forest. We noticed that jaguar density increased three times from 2017/18 (0.55 ± SE 0.45 individuals/100 km2) to 2020 (1.61 ± SE 0.6 individuals/100 km2). Jaguar occupancy and detection probability were 0.40 and 0.08, respectively. The low jaguar occupancy probability was positively associated with smaller distances from lakes and records of potential prey. The detection probability was positively associated with prey detection, the rainy season, and smaller distances from lakes. Our work contributes to a growing awareness of the potential conservation value of a protected area in a human-dominated landscape as one of the last strongholds for jaguars across the Atlantic Forest.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juliana Benck Pasa
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em EcologiaUniversidade Federal de São João del ReiSão João del ReiBrasil
| | - Ricardo Corassa Arrais
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida SilvestreDepartamento de Genética, Ecologia e EvoluçãoInstituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrasil
| | - Rodrigo Lima Massara
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida SilvestreDepartamento de Genética, Ecologia e EvoluçãoInstituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisBelo HorizonteBrasil
| | - Cynthia Elisa Widmer
- Departamento de Ciências NaturaisUniversidade Federal de São João del ReiSão João del ReiBrasil
- Projeto Carnívoros do Rio Doce – PCRDParque Estadual do Rio DoceMarliériaBrasil
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Thompson JJ, Morato RG, Niebuhr BB, Alegre VB, Oshima JEF, de Barros AE, Paviolo A, de la Torre JA, Lima F, McBride RT, Cunha de Paula R, Cullen L, Silveira L, Kantek DLZ, Ramalho EE, Maranhão L, Haberfeld M, Sana DA, Medellin RA, Carrillo E, Montalvo VH, Monroy-Vilchis O, Cruz P, Jacomo ATA, Alves GB, Cassaigne I, Thompson R, Sáenz-Bolaños C, Cruz JC, Alfaro LD, Hagnauer I, Xavier da Silva M, Vogliotti A, Moraes MFD, Miyazaki SS, Araujo GR, Cruz da Silva L, Leuzinger L, Carvalho MM, Rampim L, Sartorello L, Quigley H, Tortato FR, Hoogesteijn R, Crawshaw PG, Devlin AL, May Júnior JA, Powell GVN, Tobler MW, Carrillo-Percastegui SE, Payán E, Azevedo FCC, Concone HVB, Quiroga VA, Costa SA, Arrabal JP, Vanderhoeven E, Di Blanco YE, Lopes AMC, Ribeiro MC. Environmental and anthropogenic factors synergistically affect space use of jaguars. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3457-3466.e4. [PMID: 34237270 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Large terrestrial carnivores have undergone some of the largest population declines and range reductions of any species, which is of concern as they can have large effects on ecosystem dynamics and function.1-4 The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the apex predator throughout the majority of the Neotropics; however, its distribution has been reduced by >50% and it survives in increasingly isolated populations.5 Consequently, the range-wide management of the jaguar depends upon maintaining core populations connected through multi-national, transboundary cooperation, which requires understanding the movement ecology and space use of jaguars throughout their range.6-8 Using GPS telemetry data for 111 jaguars from 13 ecoregions within the four biomes that constitute the majority of jaguar habitat, we examined the landscape-level environmental and anthropogenic factors related to jaguar home range size and movement parameters. Home range size decreased with increasing net productivity and forest cover and increased with increasing road density. Speed decreased with increasing forest cover with no sexual differences, while males had more directional movements, but tortuosity in movements was not related to any landscape factors. We demonstrated a synergistic relationship between landscape-scale environmental and anthropogenic factors and jaguars' spatial needs, which has applications to the conservation strategy for the species throughout the Neotropics. Using large-scale collaboration, we overcame limitations from small sample sizes typical in large carnivore research to provide a mechanism to evaluate habitat quality for jaguars and an inferential modeling framework adaptable to the conservation of other large terrestrial carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Thompson
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay and CONACYT, Parque Ecológico Asunción Verde, Asunción, Paraguay; Insituto Saite, Asunción, Paraguay.
| | - Ronaldo G Morato
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP 12952011, Brazil
| | - Bernardo B Niebuhr
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP 12952011, Brazil; Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservação LEEC, Rio Claro, SP 13506900, Brazil; Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vanesa Bejarano Alegre
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservação LEEC, Rio Claro, SP 13506900, Brazil
| | - Júlia Emi F Oshima
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservação LEEC, Rio Claro, SP 13506900, Brazil
| | - Alan E de Barros
- Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, no. 321, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Agustín Paviolo
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones and CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | - J Antonio de la Torre
- Programa Jaguares de la Selva Maya, Bioconciencia A.C., Ciudad de México, México; School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Fernando Lima
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservação LEEC, Rio Claro, SP 13506900, Brazil; IPÊ-Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas, Nazaré Paulista, SP 12960000, Brazil
| | - Roy T McBride
- Faro Moro Eco Research, Estancia Faro Moro, Departamento de Boquerón, Paraguay
| | - Rogerio Cunha de Paula
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP 12952011, Brazil
| | - Laury Cullen
- IPÊ-Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas, Nazaré Paulista, SP 12960000, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel L Z Kantek
- Estacao Ecológica Taiamã, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Cáceres, MT 78210625, Brazil
| | - Emiliano E Ramalho
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé, AM 69553225, Brazil
| | - Louise Maranhão
- Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Tefé, AM 69553225, Brazil
| | - Mario Haberfeld
- Associação Onçafari, Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 221, Cj.14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05428-000, Brazil; Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; Instituto SOS Pantanal, R. Gutemberg, 328 Centro, Campo Grande, MS 79002-160, Brazil
| | - Denis A Sana
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 91501970, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A Medellin
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and CONACyT, Ciudad Universitaria, México D.F. 04318, México
| | - Eduardo Carrillo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica
| | - Victor H Montalvo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica; Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Octavio Monroy-Vilchis
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario 100, Col. Centro C.P. 50000, Toluca, Estado de México
| | - Paula Cruz
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones and CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | | | - Giselle B Alves
- Instituto Onça Pintada, Mineiros, GO 75830000, Brazil; Instituto de Biologia, Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos LEMA, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG 38408100, Brazil
| | | | - Ron Thompson
- Primero Conservation, Box 1588, Pinetop, AZ 85935, USA
| | - Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica; Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Cruz
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Namá Conservation, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
| | - Luis D Alfaro
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia 1350-3000, Costa Rica
| | - Isabel Hagnauer
- Rescate Animal Zooave, Fundación Restauración de la Naturaleza, Apdo 1327-4050, Alajuela, Costa Rica
| | | | - Alexandre Vogliotti
- Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85851970, Brazil
| | | | - Selma S Miyazaki
- Estacao Ecológica Taiamã, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Cáceres, MT 78210625, Brazil
| | - Gediendson R Araujo
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brasil; Instituto Onças do Rio Negro, Fazenda Barranco Alto, Aquidauana, MS 79208000, Brazil
| | - Leanes Cruz da Silva
- Instituto Onças do Rio Negro, Fazenda Barranco Alto, Aquidauana, MS 79208000, Brazil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570, Brazil
| | - Lucas Leuzinger
- Instituto Onças do Rio Negro, Fazenda Barranco Alto, Aquidauana, MS 79208000, Brazil
| | - Marina M Carvalho
- Instituto de Defesa e Preservação dos Felídeos Brasileiros, Corumbá de Goiás, GO 72960000, Brazil
| | - Lilian Rampim
- Associação Onçafari, Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 221, Cj.14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05428-000, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Sartorello
- Associação Onçafari, Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 221, Cj.14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05428-000, Brazil
| | - Howard Quigley
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA
| | | | | | - Peter G Crawshaw
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP 12952011, Brazil
| | - Allison L Devlin
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Joares A May Júnior
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Associação Onçafari, Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 221, Cj.14, Sala 4, Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05428-000, Brazil; Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Tubarão, SC 88704-900, Brazil
| | - George V N Powell
- Wildlife Protection Solutions, 2501 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80205, USA
| | - Mathias W Tobler
- San Diego Zoo Global, Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Samia E Carrillo-Percastegui
- San Diego Zoo Global, Institute for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Estebán Payán
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA
| | - Fernando C C Azevedo
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Universidade Federal de São João del Rei, Departamento de Ciências Naturais, São João del Rei, MG 36301160, Brazil
| | - Henrique V B Concone
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, SP 12945010, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia, Manejo e Conservação de Fauna Silvestre, Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Ecologia Aplicada, Universidade de São Paulo ESALQ/CENA, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Verónica A Quiroga
- Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Centro de Zoología Aplicada, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas CONICET, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sebastián A Costa
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones and CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | - Juan P Arrabal
- Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical ANLIS, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Vanderhoeven
- Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical ANLIS, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | - Yamil E Di Blanco
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones and CONICET, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina; Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones 3370, Argentina
| | - Alexandre M C Lopes
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Conservação de Tamanduás do Brasil, Parnaíba, PI 64200025, Brazil
| | - Milton Cezar Ribeiro
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecologia Espacial e Conservação LEEC, Rio Claro, SP 13506900, Brazil
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11
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Contreras-Díaz CA, Soria-Díaz L, Gómez-Ortiz Y, Carrera-Treviño R, Astudillo-Sánchez CC, Chacón-Hernández JC, Martínez-García LF. Temporal and spatial segregation of top predators (Felidae) in a Mexican tropical Biosphere Reserve. ZOOLOGIA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.38.e63231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Jaguars, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), and pumas, Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) are the largest felids in the neotropics. Both can overlap in niche axes (time, space and prey), and are therefore potentially competing species. Segregation mechanisms presented by a low overlap in one of these axes of niche can facilitate the coexistence. Our aim was to analyze jaguar and puma temporal and spatial overlap for understanding their segregation mechanisms. Between 2015 and 2017, twenty-six camera trap stations were located in five habitat types of El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (ECBR) in northeastern Mexico. Temporal activity was analyzed using circular statistics and time overlap analysis. Spatial overlap was calculated with the Pianka index and a selectivity habitat analysis. Our results showed that jaguars and pumas were nocturnal and that the temporal overlap was high (∆4 = 0.77). We found an intermediate spatial overlap (Pianka index = 0.61). Jaguars were more selective and preferred the deciduous forest. In comparison, pumas preferred oak-pine forest, but also used oak and deciduous forest. Our results indicate that spatial segregation best explains the coexistence of jaguars and pumas in our study area, probably due to both habitat diversity in the reserve and the generalist habits of the puma.
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12
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Figel JJ, Botero-Cañola S, Sánchez-Londoño JD, Racero-Casarrubia J. Jaguars and pumas exhibit distinct spatiotemporal responses to human disturbances in Colombia’s most imperiled ecoregion. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Coexistence of sympatric felids is facilitated by mutual avoidance and the partitioning of habitats, prey, and time. Anthropogenic disturbances disrupt this coexistence in fragmented landscapes, potentially triggering cascading influences in ecological communities. We used photographic data from 8,717 trap nights (November 2014–June 2016) at 87 camera trap sites in Colombia’s middle Magdalena River basin to compare spatiotemporal overlap among jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), their prey, and humans, at sites of high and low disturbance, as determined by the human influence index. Human disturbance events (e.g., domestic dogs, livestock, and humans, including armed hunters) comprised 38% of all photographs at high disturbance sites and 29% of all photographs at low disturbance sites. Differential spatiotemporal overlaps were recorded between felids and their prey at high versus low disturbance sites, with jaguars exhibiting only 13% temporal overlap with humans at high disturbance sites. Among prey, temporal overlap was greater than spatial overlap for both felids across the study area. Compared to jaguars, pumas displayed more temporal overlap with all anthropogenic variables and more spatial overlap with most anthropogenic variables, suggesting lesser sensitivity to human disturbances. This study provides the first insights into the responses of a threatened large carnivore, jaguar, to camera trap-derived human disturbance variables in an unprotected landscape. It also highlights the importance of using multiple disturbance types for evaluating human impacts on large carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe J Figel
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Sebastián Botero-Cañola
- Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Instituto de Biología, Grupo de Mastozoología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan David Sánchez-Londoño
- Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
- Fundación BioDiversa Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Javier Racero-Casarrubia
- Fundación Hidrobiológica George Dahl, Barranquilla, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación Biodiversidad, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
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13
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Cruz C, Zarza H, Vidal‐Mateo J, Urios V, Ceballos G. Top predator ecology and conservation: Lesson from jaguars in southeastern Mexico. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Cruz
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Fauna Silvestre Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Coyoacan Mexico
- Grupo de investigación Zoología de Vertebrados Universidad de Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Heliot Zarza
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales. Lerma de Villada Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana ‐ Unidad Lerma, CBS Lerma Mexico
| | - Javier Vidal‐Mateo
- Grupo de investigación Zoología de Vertebrados Universidad de Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Vicente Urios
- Grupo de investigación Zoología de Vertebrados Universidad de Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Gerardo Ceballos
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conservación de Fauna Silvestre Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Coyoacan Mexico
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14
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Foster RJ, Harmsen BJ, Urbina YL, Wooldridge RL, Doncaster CP, Quigley H, Figueroa OA. Jaguar ( Panthera onca) density and tenure in a critical biological corridor. J Mammal 2020; 101:1622-1637. [PMID: 33505226 PMCID: PMC7816682 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We estimated jaguar density and tenure, and investigated ranging behavior, using camera traps across the Maya Forest Corridor, a human-influenced landscape in central Belize that forms the only remaining connection for jaguar populations inhabiting two regional forest blocks: the Selva Maya and the Maya Mountain Massif. Jaguars were ubiquitous across the study area. Similar to the neighboring Selva Maya, mean density ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 jaguars per 100 km2, estimated by spatial capture-recapture models. Cameras detected almost twice as many males as females, probably reflecting detection bias, and males ranged more widely than females within the camera grid. Both sexes crossed two major rivers, while highway crossings were rare and male-biased, raising concern that the highway could prevent female movement if traffic increases. Jaguars were more transient where the landscape was fragmented with settlements and agriculture than in contiguous forest. Compared with jaguars in the protected forests of the Maya Mountains, jaguars in central Belize displayed a lower potential for investment in intraspecific communication, indicative of a lower quality landscape; however, we did detect mating behavior and juveniles. Tenure of individuals was shorter than in the protected forests, with a higher turnover rate for males than females. At least three-quarters of reported jaguar deaths caused by people were male jaguars, and the majority was retaliation for livestock predation. Jaguars seem relatively tolerant to the human-influenced landscape of central Belize. However, intensification of game hunting and lethal control of predators would threaten population persistence, while increased highway traffic and clear-cutting riparian forest would severely limit the corridor function. Our results show that the viability of the corridor, and thus the long-term survival of jaguar populations in this region, will depend on appropriate land-use planning, nonlethal control of livestock predators, enforcement of game hunting regulations, and wildlife-friendly features in future road developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Foster
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
| | - B J Harmsen
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
- Government of Belize, Market Square, Belmopan, Belize
| | - Y L Urbina
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
| | - R L Wooldridge
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
| | - C P Doncaster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - O A Figueroa
- Government of Belize, Market Square, Belmopan, Belize
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15
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Montalvo VH, Fuller TK, Saénz‐Bolaños C, Cruz-Díaz JC, Hagnauer I, Herrera H, Carrillo E. Influence of sea turtle nesting on hunting behavior and movements of jaguars in the dry forest of northwest Costa Rica. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor H. Montalvo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
| | - Todd K. Fuller
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
| | - Carolina Saénz‐Bolaños
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
| | - Juan Carlos Cruz-Díaz
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
| | - Isabel Hagnauer
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
- ZooAve Fundación Restauración de la Naturaleza Alajuela Costa Rica
| | - Hansell Herrera
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
| | - Eduardo Carrillo
- Instituto Internacional en Conservación y Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidad Nacional Heredia Costa Rica
- Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst MA USA
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Escamilla Molgora JM, Sedda L, Atkinson PM. Biospytial: spatial graph-based computing for ecological Big Data. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa039. [PMID: 32391910 PMCID: PMC7213554 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The exponential accumulation of environmental and ecological data together with the adoption of open data initiatives bring opportunities and challenges for integrating and synthesising relevant knowledge that need to be addressed, given the ongoing environmental crises. FINDINGS Here we present Biospytial, a modular open source knowledge engine designed to import, organise, analyse and visualise big spatial ecological datasets using the power of graph theory. The engine uses a hybrid graph-relational approach to store and access information. A graph data structure uses linkage relationships to build semantic structures represented as complex data structures stored in a graph database, while tabular and geospatial data are stored in an efficient spatial relational database system. We provide an application using information on species occurrences, their taxonomic classification and climatic datasets. We built a knowledge graph of the Tree of Life embedded in an environmental and geographical grid to perform an analysis on threatened species co-occurring with jaguars (Panthera onca). CONCLUSIONS The Biospytial approach reduces the complexity of joining datasets using multiple tabular relations, while its scalable design eases the problem of merging datasets from different sources. Its modular design makes it possible to distribute several instances simultaneously, allowing fast and efficient handling of big ecological datasets. The provided example demonstrates the engine's capabilities in performing basic graph manipulation, analysis and visualizations of taxonomic groups co-occurring in space. The example shows potential avenues for performing novel ecological analyses, biodiversity syntheses and species distribution models aided by a network of taxonomic and spatial relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Escamilla Molgora
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Library Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing and Statistics (CHICAS), Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Furness Building, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Luigi Sedda
- Lancaster Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Furness Building, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Peter M Atkinson
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Lancaster University, Old Engineering Building, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
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17
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Menchaca A, Rossi NA, Froidevaux J, Dias-Freedman I, Caragiulo A, Wultsch C, Harmsen B, Foster R, de la Torre JA, Medellin RA, Rabinowitz S, Amato G. Population genetic structure and habitat connectivity for jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation in Central Belize. BMC Genet 2019; 20:100. [PMID: 31881935 PMCID: PMC6933898 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0801-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize. RESULTS We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE = 0.61, HO = 0.55, and NA = 9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Menchaca
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA.
| | - Natalia A Rossi
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, New York City, USA
| | - Jeremy Froidevaux
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Anthony Caragiulo
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA
| | - Claudia Wultsch
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA
- City University of New York, New York City, USA
| | - Bart Harmsen
- Panthera, New York City, USA
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
- Southampton University, Southampton, UK
| | - Rebecca Foster
- Panthera, New York City, USA
- Southampton University, Southampton, UK
| | - J Antonio de la Torre
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Rodrigo A Medellin
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Salisa Rabinowitz
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA
| | - George Amato
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA.
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19
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Wooldridge RL, Foster RJ, Harmsen BJ. The functional role of scent marking in the social organization of large sympatric neotropical felids. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Wooldridge
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Bart J Harmsen
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA
- Environmental Research Institute, University of Belize, Belmopan, Belize
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20
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First assessment of the conservation status of the jaguar Panthera oncain the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Mexico. ORYX 2019. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605318000558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAlthough the Near Threatened jaguarPanthera oncaranges from the south-west USA to central Argentina, populations outside Amazonia are generally small and isolated. One such area, the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, is potentially an important area for jaguar conservation but information on the species in this region is limited and its conservation status is unknown. In this study we documented the occurrence and abundance of jaguars in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas complex. We compiled all available records of the species within the region and conducted a camera-trap survey during August 2015–December 2016. Interviews were conducted to determine the perception of the jaguar by cattle owners and to obtain information on any livestock predation. We found that jaguars still occur throughout the Sierra Madre de Chiapas landscape, including the plains on the Pacific Coast of Chiapas, but its abundance in the region is low. On the basis of our findings we have incorporated the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in Mexico's National Jaguar Conservation Strategy, and recommend that international organizations include this area in their priorities for jaguar conservation. To improve coexistence between jaguars and the communities of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, strategies need to be developed, in collaboration with the local communities, to improve livestock practices for reduction of predation by jaguars, to strengthen government conservation policies and to implement educational and communication programmes about the importance of this species in the region.
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21
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A structural equation modeling approach for formalizing and evaluating ecological integrity in terrestrial ecosystems. ECOL INFORM 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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