ABSTRACT
Habitat characteristics and human activities are known to play a major role in the occupancy of jaguars Panthera onca across their range, however the key variables influencing jaguar distribution in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, have yet to be identified. This study evaluated jaguar occupancy in Tortuguero National Park and the surrounding area. Jaguar detection/non-detection data was collected using digital camera traps distributed within the boundaries of the protected area. Local community members were also interviewed to determine jaguar occurrence in the Parks buffer zone. Occupancy models were then applied to identify the habitat characteristics that may better explain jaguar distribution across the study area. From June 2012 to June 2013, a total of 4 339 camera trap days were used to identify 18 individual jaguars inside the protected area; 17 of these jaguars were exclusively detected within the coastal habitat, whilst the remaining individual was detected solely within the interior of the Park. Interviewees reported 61 occasions of jaguar presence inside the buffer zone, between 1995 and 2013, with 80% of these described by the communities of Lomas de Sierpe, Barra de Parismina and La Aurora. These communities also reported the highest levels of livestock predation by jaguars (85% of attacks). In the study area, jaguar occurrence was positively correlated with the seasonal presence of nesting green turtles Chelonia mydas, and negatively correlated with distance to the Park boundary. Our findings suggested that the current occupancy of the jaguar in the study area may be a response to: 1) the vast availability of prey (marine turtles) on Tortuguero beach, 2) the decline of its primary prey species as a result of illegal hunting inside the Park, and 3) the increase in anthropogenic pressures in the Park boundaries. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (4): 1449-1458. Epub 2014 December 01.
Las características del hábitat y las actividades humanas juegan un papel importante en la presencia del jaguar Panthera onca en toda su área de distribución, sin embargo, las variables clave que influyen en la distribución del jaguar en el Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica, aún no se han identificado. Por lo tanto se evaluó la presencia del jaguar Panthera onca en este parque nacional y su área de amortiguamiento. Se recolectaron datos de detección/no detección del jaguar mediante cámaras trampa ubicadas dentro del parque, y se realizaron encuestas en las comunidades del área de amortiguamiento. Posteriormente, se emplearon modelos de ocupación para identificar los atributos del hábitat que mejor explicaban la presencia del felino en el área. Se identificaron 18 jaguares dentro del parque, de los cuales 17 estuvieron exclusivamente en el hábitat costero. En el área de amortiguamiento, las comunidades con una mayor presencia del felino (Lomas de Sierpe, Barra de Parismina y La Aurora) coincidieron con las zonas más conflictivas, en relación a la cacería y la depredación de jaguar sobre el ganado. La probabilidad de ocupación del jaguar se incrementa a medida que aumenta la presencia de la tortuga verde Chelonia mydas, y disminuye conforme la distancia al límite del parque se incrementa. Nuestros resultados indican que la actual presencia del jaguar se debe a: 1) la alta disponibilidad de presas (tortugas marinas) en el hábitat costero, 2) la disminución de las principales especies presa como resultado de la cacería y 3) al incremento de las actividades humanas en el área de amortiguamiento del parque.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Conservation of Natural Resources , Ecosystem , Panthera/classification , Costa Rica , Population Density , Population Dynamics , Panthera/physiology , SeasonsABSTRACT
Este trabalho faz parte de um projeto de restauro de bacias e baseia-se em uma pré-classificação do estado ecológico das mesmas através da metodologia KT, que permite a divisão do sistema fluvial em segmentos fluviais designados Unidades Fisiográficas Homogêneas e a identificação do nível de degradação dos mesmos através da mensuração das pressões humanas locais. A partir dos dados obtidos, podem ser propostas as medidas de recuperação fluvial necessárias para um "bom estado" ecológico de cada unidade. O projeto busca cumprir os objetivos das convenções internacionais de proteção ao meio ambiente e atingir as metas da Diretiva Quadro da Água. Este trabalho desenvolve uma carta sintética expondo o estado de conservação dos segmentos fluviais das bacias da Ribeira do Falcão e da Ribeira da Mata (região das Ribeiras do Oeste, Litoral Centro de Portugal), caracterizando e quantificando o seu nível de degradação, identificando suas respectivas causas e propondo soluções. .
This working paper is part of a watershed restoration project and is based on a pre-classification of ecological status of same by KT methodology, which allows the division of the river system in river segments designated Physiographic Units Homogeneous and identifies the level of their degradation by measuring the local human pressures. From the data obtained may be proposed river restoration measures needed for a "good status" of each ecological unit. The project seeks to achieve the objectives of international conventions to protect the environment and achieve the goals of the Water Framework Directive. This paper develops a synthetic letter exposing the state of conservation of the segments of the river basins of the Hawk and Ribeira da Mata da Ribeira (Ribeira region of West, Central Coast of Portugal), characterizing and quantifying the level of degradation, identifying their respective causes and proposing solutions.