Ecological interactions between ocelots and sympatric mesocarnivores in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil

Massara, Rodrigo Lima; Paschoal, Ana Maria O.; Bailey, Larissa L.; Doherty, Paul F.; Chiarello, Adriano Garcia

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw129

Cited by 43 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The presence–absence of prey might be a key and more immediate factor than forest cover or water availability in explaining ocelot habitat use pattern. There are some studies focused on the sympatric species or prey of ocelot (Massara, de Oliveira Paschoal et al., ; Massara et al., ; Massara, Paschoal et al., ; Pratas‐Santiago et al., ; Supporting Information Table ), in the future they could be studied using multispecies occupancy models (Rota et al., ) and piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM; Geary, Ritchie, Lawton, Healey, & Nimmo, ; Grace et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since 2000, studies of ocelot using camera traps have proliferated (Blake et al., ; de Oliveira et al., ; Paviolo et al., ; Pratas‐Santiago, Gonçalves, da Maia Soares, & Spironello, ; Wang, ), in particular, those estimating the species’ abundance and density (Di Bitetti, Paviolo, De Angelo, & Di Blanco, ; Di Bitetti et al., ; Dillon & Kelly, ; Penido et al., ; Rocha, Sollmann, Ramalho, Ilha, & Tan, ). These studies have revealed various aspects of ocelot ecology (Supporting Information Table ), and three of them used the occupancy modeling framework: two of them investigated the interactions between ocelots and sympatric species (Massara, Paschoal, Bailey, Doherty, & Chiarello, ; Massara, de Oliveira Paschoal et al., ; Massara, Paschoal et al., ), the third investigated how an attractant affected detection (Cove, Spinola, Jackson, & Saenz, ). Other studies report that ocelot densities correlate with forest cover (Paviolo et al., ), precipitation (Maffei, Noss, Cuéllar, & Rumiz, ; Rocha et al., ), and latitude (Di Bitetti et al., ; Rocha et al., ); in addition, ocelots may have an affinity for some specific matrices, such as eucalyptus plantation (Massara, de Oliveira Paschoal et al., ; Massara, Paschoal et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat use of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazilian Amazon

Wang

Rocha

Abrahams³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Amazonia forest plays a major role in providing ecosystem services for human and sanctuaries for wildlife. However, ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation in the Brazilian Amazon has threatened both. The ocelot is an ecologically important mesopredator and a potential conservation ambassador species, yet there are no previous studies on its habitat preference and spatial patterns in this biome. From 2010 to 2017, twelve sites were surveyed, totaling 899 camera trap stations, the largest known dataset for this species. Using occupancy modeling incorporating spatial autocorrelation, we assessed habitat use for ocelot populations across the Brazilian Amazon. Our results revealed a positive sigmoidal correlation between remote‐sensing derived metrics of forest cover, disjunct core area density, elevation, distance to roads, distance to settlements and habitat use, and that habitat use by ocelots was negatively associated with slope and distance to river/lake. These findings shed light on the regional scale habitat use of ocelots and indicate important species–habitat relationships, thus providing valuable information for conservation management and land‐use planning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazilian Amazon

Wang

Rocha

Abrahams³

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…In the Atlantic Forest, where temperatures are generally less intense, Massara et al . () observed more diurnal behavior in the northern tiger cat, possibly in response to the presence of the larger felids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…, Cruz et al ., ). On the contrary, where the landscape was characterized by small and isolated fragments of forest, the northern tiger cat did not segregate spatially from ocelots, but became more active during the day (Massara et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In this case, trophic and spatial overlap between members of the carnivore guild may support temporal segregation (Oliveira & Pereira, ). A number of previous studies have shown that the northern tiger cat may become more diurnal or cathemeral where it co‐exists with larger felids (Di Bitetti et al ., ; Oliveira‐Santos et al ., ; Massara et al ., ). In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, for example, the ocelot does not influence the spatial distribution of the northern tiger cat, which may nevertheless avoid encounters through temporal segregation (Massara et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Feline predator–prey relationships in a semi‐arid biome in Brazil

et al. 2019

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The spatiotemporal distribution of a predator within an environment tends to be synchronized with that of its prey, to maximize the efficiency of its hunting behavior. However, small predators may also be obliged to avoid potentially agonistic encounters with larger predators due to interspecific competition and intraguild predation. We used occupancy models and indices of temporal overlap to evaluate whether the occurrence of prey species, ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and top predators (puma Puma concolor and jaguar Panthera onca) influenced the habitat use and activity patterns of the northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) in a region of the semi‐arid Caatinga biome in Bahia, northeastern Brazil. The occurrence of prey had a positive influence on the use of habitat by the small felids. The northern tiger cat was nocturnal‐crepuscular and presented a high degree of temporal overlap with Spix's cavy (Galea spixii) and the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris). The jaguarundi was diurnal, by contrast and overlapped temporally with the agouti (Dasyprocta nigriclunis). The occurrence of the ocelot did not influence the habitat or daily activity pattern of the jaguarundi, but presented a high degree of temporal overlap with the northern tiger cat, which adopted a strategy of spatial segregation to avoid direct contact with this dominant competitor. The top predators did not influence the spatiotemporal distribution of the small felids, indicating that their niches are segregated by dietary parameters related to differences in body size. Our results indicate that the availability of prey has a more profound influence on the spatiotemporal ecology of the small felids than the occurrence of the top predators, although the presence of the northern tiger cat appeared to be correlated negatively with that of the ocelot. We believe that environmental factors, such as the conservation status, size and isolation of native habitats, may have a fundamental influence on the strategies adopted by the northern tiger cat to mediate its coexistence with the ocelot.

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Co‐occurrence of bobcats, coyotes, and ocelots in Texas

Lombardi

MacKenzie

Tewes

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Interspecific competition among carnivores has been linked to differences in behavior, morphology, and resource use. Insights into these interactions can enhance understanding of local ecological processes that can have impacts on the recovery of endangered species, such as the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). Ocelots, bobcats (Lynx rufus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) share a small geographic range overlap from South Texas to south‐central Mexico but relationships among the three are poorly understood. From May 2011 to March 2018, we conducted a camera trap study to examine co‐occurrence patterns among ocelots, bobcats, and coyotes on the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch in South Texas. We used a novel multiseason extension to multispecies occupancy models with ≥2 interacting species to conduct an exploratory analysis to examine interspecific interactions and examine the potential effects of patch‐level and landscape‐level metrics relative to the occurrence of these carnivores. We found strong evidence of seasonal mutual coexistence among all three species and observed a species‐specific seasonal trend in detection. Seasonal coexistence patterns were also explained by increasing distance from a high‐speed roadway. However, these results have important ecological implications for planning ocelot recovery in the rangelands of South Texas. This study suggests a coexistence among ocelots, bobcats, and coyotes under the environmental conditions on the El Sauz Ranch. Further research would provide a better understanding of the ecological mechanisms that facilitate coexistence within this community. As road networks in the region expand over the next few decades, large private working ranches will be needed to provide important habitat for ocelots and other carnivore species.

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Ecological interactions between ocelots and sympatric mesocarnivores in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil

Cited by 43 publications

References 59 publications

Habitat use of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazilian Amazon

Habitat use of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazilian Amazon

Feline predator–prey relationships in a semi‐arid biome in Brazil

Co‐occurrence of bobcats, coyotes, and ocelots in Texas

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