Carnivore occurrence: do interview-based surveys produce unreliable results?

Caruso, Nicolás; Vidal, Estela Luengos; Guerisoli, María de Las Mercedes; Lucherini, Mauro

doi:10.1017/s0030605315001192

Cited by 27 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…These results are also in agreement with the observation that local informants may overestimate the presence of conflictive and charismatic species, such as the puma (Caruso et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Surplus killing by pumas Puma concolor: rumours and facts

2018

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Surplus killing (i.e. predation in which predators kill more prey than necessary to satiate their hunger) appears to be widespread in carnivores and has the potential to exacerbate human–carnivore conflict. Nevertheless, little is known about the frequency of surplus killing or about its impact on livestock. We review the information available on surplus killing by pumas Puma concolor and use data from central Argentina to quantify its impact on ranching and to analyse both its causes and its implications for puma–human conflicts. We reviewed 73 publications and found nine mentions of surplus killing events from six countries. The sheep was by far the most commonly affected livestock species. In central Argentina, surplus killing was reported by 25–33% of the ranchers. In this region, the number of livestock killed during each event ranged from seven to 160 (median = 23) for the literature reports and from two to 70 (median = 7) in the records we personally collated. The number of individual animals killed per event was greater for interview‐based second‐hand reports than for first‐hand reports and verified events. Our results indicate that although surplus killing by pumas is uncommonly reported in the literature, it may be locally recurrent. Although surplus killing may be overestimated in interview‐based reports, it can produce significant losses for sheep and goat ranchers, may strongly exacerbate puma–human conflicts, and should be considered in puma–human conflict mitigation strategies. Ranchers typically attributed surplus killing to female pumas teaching kittens to hunt. However, there is little evidence supporting this interpretation. Surplus killing by pumas may be more likely to occur in situations where the predator's ‘normal’ hunting sequence is disrupted by the accessibility of large numbers of easy prey. Confinement, stormy weather and poor antipredator behaviour may favour the occurrence of surplus killing events on livestock.

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“…These results are also in agreement with the observation that local informants may overestimate the presence of conflictive and charismatic species, such as the puma (Caruso et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Surplus killing by pumas Puma concolor: rumours and facts

2018

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“…Although this information was not acquired systematically, this method has been considered to be a relatively reliable approach in determining the species’ distribution (e.g. Brown & López González, 2001; Zeller et al, 2011; but see Caruso et al, 2016, regarding possible biases in interviews with local people). Nevertheless, the presence of jaguars passing through Chicbul should not be ruled out, as in other parts of south-eastern Mexico jaguars have been killed in areas dominated by agricultural and livestock activities and that are located at a considerable distance from forest covered areas (Hidalgo-Mihart et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of the Calakmul–Laguna de Terminos corridor for jaguarsPanthera oncain south-eastern Mexico

Hidalgo‐Mihart

Contreras‐Moreno

Cruz

et al. 2017

Oryx

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The fragmentation of jaguarPanthera oncapopulations as a result of habitat loss is considered to be one of the main challenges for the conservation of the species. Corridors have been proposed as a means of maintaining connectivity and the long-term viability of jaguar populations. The corridor that connects the jaguar conservation units of Calakmul and Laguna de Terminos in Mexico has been considered to be a link for the movement of individuals between these units but its functionality had yet to be verified. During 2012–2014 we divided the corridor into four sections, where we used camera traps to verify the corridor's functionality. We obtained 106 photographs of jaguars, proving the presence of jaguars (including resident jaguars and females) in three of the corridor sections. We did not record any individuals in more than one section of the corridor. The presence of several resident jaguars and females throughout the corridor suggests that portions of the corridor should be incorporated into the Calakmul and Laguna de Terminos jaguar conservation units. Nevertheless, to confirm that the corridor is fully functional it is necessary to obtain evidence of movement of jaguars among the various sections of the corridor. Our results suggest that the area should be included in regional conservation strategies.

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“…Local ecological knowledge has been used to provide information on species’ distributions and status over large landscapes, with moderate effort (Taubmann et al, 2016). However, there are limitations and caveats regarding its use (Caruso et al, 2017), especially when dealing with populations of large carnivores for which detectability is almost certainly < 1 (Louvrier et al, 2018), which can lead to false negatives (Kéry, 2011). Falsely assuming perfect detection can lead to an underestimation of the species’ distribution (Lahoz-Monfort et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using questionnaire surveys and occupancy modelling to identify conservation priorities for the Critically Endangered Balkan lynxLynx lynx balcanicus

Melovski¹,

Arx²,

Avukatov³

et al. 2018

Oryx

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With an estimated < 50 adult individuals remaining, the Critically Endangered Balkan lynx Lynx lynx balcanicus is one of the rarest, most threatened and least-studied large carnivores. To identify priority conservation areas and actions for the subspecies, during 2006–2014 we conducted 1,374 questionnaire surveys throughout the potential range of the Balkan lynx to (1) evaluate human–lynx interactions and identify potential threats, and (2) determine the probability of site use in 207 grid cells through occupancy modelling. Human–lynx interactions were related mainly to poaching of lynx, and damage to livestock by lynx. Poaching was intense throughout the potential range of the subspecies, apparently having affected 50–100% of the total estimated extant population. Damage to livestock was recorded only in relation to sheep, mainly in the southern part of the lynx's potential range. Occupancy modelling indicated 108 grid cells with high probability of site use, which was affected mainly by increased terrain ruggedness and reduced forest cover. Based on the combined results of our study we identified five priority areas for conservation, as well as in situ habitat protection, community participation in the conservation of the subspecies, and the improvement and implementation of the existing legal framework as the priority conservation actions for the Balkan lynx.

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Carnivore occurrence: do interview-based surveys produce unreliable results?

Cited by 27 publications

References 22 publications

Surplus killing by pumas Puma concolor: rumours and facts

Surplus killing by pumas Puma concolor: rumours and facts

Validation of the Calakmul–Laguna de Terminos corridor for jaguarsPanthera oncain south-eastern Mexico

Using questionnaire surveys and occupancy modelling to identify conservation priorities for the Critically Endangered Balkan lynxLynx lynx balcanicus

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