RESUMO
In the face of global species loss, it is paramount to understand the effects of human activity on vulnerable species, particularly in highly diverse, complex systems. The Greater Madidi Landscape in the Bolivian Amazon includes several biodiverse protected areas that were created with the goal of sustaining healthy and diverse ecosystems while not impeding the livelihoods of local indigenous peoples. In this study, we sought to use camera trap data and single-species occupancy analysis to assess the impacts of different forms of human activity on four species of small felids: ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), margays (Leopardus wiedii), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus). We modeled both human variables (proximity to indigenous communities, roads, and tourist camps) and non-human variables (terrain ruggedness, proximity to rivers, canopy height, prey availability, and large cat abundance). Margay occupancy was unaffected by any of these human variables and ocelots showed only weak evidence of being affected by tourism. Ocelots were particularly pervasive throughout the study area and were consistently estimated to have high occupancy probability. We did not obtain sufficient data on jaguarundi or oncilla to reliably model these effects. Our results indicate that small cats successfully coexist both with each other and with the surrounding human activity in this unique landscape, which serves as a model for global protected area management.
RESUMO
Of the 12 wild felid species found in China, Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is one of the least studied species. This medium-sized cat with a prominently polymorphic coat was once distributed across much of southern China, but is believed to have experienced severe decline and range contraction during the past decades, primarily due to anthropogenic pressures. A lack of knowledge of its current distribution, ecology, and natural history has greatly hindered the implementation of conservation and management actions for this species. In this study, for the first time, we compiled the state-wide occurrence records (N = 409), mainly from the camera-trapping surveys, of Asiatic golden cats from 2008 to 2019, and predicted its distribution across the country through species distribution modeling using random forest algorithm. The results showed that the predicted habitats were mainly located in southwest China and suggested a rather low probability of possible current distribution across its vast historic range in central, eastern, and southern China. We divided its current range into four geographic regions (i.e., Qinling Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, East Himalayas, and southern Yunnan region) and considered the cats in each region as a regional population within the country. From the 287 camera-trapping detections with photographs and/or videos collected across all populations, we identified six coat morphs and determined their occurrence percentages: common golden (47.4%), spotted (20.9%), red (13.6%), dark cinnamon (10.1%), melanistic (7.0%), and gray (1.0%). The complexity of coat morph composition within regional populations showed an increasing gradient from northeast to southwest. Among the four regional populations, the East Himalayas hosted the highest abundance and coat variation with all six morphs recorded. Our study results update the current distribution and coat morphology variations of this elusive cat in China and provide important knowledge to guide future research and conservation planning for this threatened species.
RESUMO
Considerando que as espécies de felídeos brasileiros encontram-se ameaçadas de extinção, a coleta de dados comportamentais é de prioridade máxima. O objetivo desse trabalho foi elaborar um catálogo comportamental de Leopardus tigrinus em cativeiro, a menor espécie de felídeo do Brasil. Um macho e uma fêmea foram estudados no criadouro científico da Klabin S.A. (Telêmaco Borba, PR), região do médio Tibagi, centro-leste do Estado do Paraná. Entre março e julho de 2003 foram feitas 40 horas de observações qualitativas, para as definições das categorias e identificação dos atos comportamentais. As observações quantitativas seguiram o método "Animal Focal", e ocorreram entre agosto de 2003 a junho de 2004, com uma periodicidade de coleta de três dias corridos por mês, totalizando 11 períodos de observações (33 dias), com 107,2 horas para o macho e 42,4 horas para a fêmea. Cada sessão durou 15 minutos, iniciada sempre no começo de cada hora (das 06:00 às 18:00 horas), com intervalos de 5 minutos entre a observação dos indivíduos. As categorias encontradas foram locomoção (05 atos comportamentais), parado (06), cuidados corporais (03), conforto (02), exploratório (04), marcação (04), eliminação (02), vocalização (05), interações agonísticas (06), interações pacíficas (02), comportamentos relativos à obtenção de alimento (05) e comportamentos relacionados com a reprodução (04). Catálogo comportamental é catalogação dos comportamentos da espécie da espécie, ou seja, uma parcela dos possíveis comportamentos observados para tal. Existem várias possibilidades e perspectivas para sua utilização, sendo uma importante ferramenta para a compreensão dos padrões comportamentais, além de auxiliar estudos posteriores com Leopardus tigrinus.
Considering that most species of Brazilian felids are threatened with extinction and poorly known, understanding their behavior is of special interest. This research aimed to create a behavioral catalog in captivity for the Little spotted cat Leopardus tigrinus, the smallest felid species from Brazil. A male and a female were studied at the private collection of wild animals of Klabin S.A. (Telemaco Borba, PR. -24º 12' S and 50º 33' W), in the mid Tibagi region, east-central Paraná State. From March to July, 2003, 40 hours of qualitative observations were carried out to define the categories and identify the behavior. The quantitative observations followed the Focal animal method (Altmann, 1974). They took place during three consecutive days and 11 observation periods (33 days), with 107.2 hours for the male and 42.4 hours for the female. Each session lasted 15 minutes, and started at the beginning of each hour (from 06:00 AM to 06:00 PM), with five-minute intervals between individual recording. The categories found were: moving (05 behavioral acts), still (06), body care (03), comfort (02), exploratory (04), marking (04), excretory (02), vocal (05), agonistic interactions (06), peaceful interactions (02), acts related to the acquisition of food (05) and reproductive acts (04). The catalog is a compilation of all behavioral acts of the species. There are many possibilities and perspectives for the use of this catalog. It could be an important tool to better understand the behavioral patterns and help the management and well being of the species in captivity.
