Home range and habitat use by Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) in a wet grassland in Argentina

Abstract

Geoffroy's cat Oncifelis geoffroyi is a little-known South American small felid. We report data on the spatial ecology of four adults (two males and two females) that were radiotracked in an area of wet grassland of the Argentine Pampas from February 2000 to April 2001. The mean home range size varied from 248 ha [90% minimum convex polygon (MCP)] to 342 ha (100% MCP), with male home ranges c. 2.5 larger than those of females. Home range overlap averaged 44.7%, and was more extensive between males than between females but it decreased markedly when outliers were excluded. Forest patches were used more than expected by their availability within home ranges. These patches hosted many large defecation sites, possibly acting as 'communication centres' where information was exchanged among individuals in the form of scent marks. Despite the lack of a clear preference for tall grasslands, this was the most frequently used habitat. We argue that natural grasslands in the Pampas ecoregion are important for O. geoffroyi and that their alteration can affect the conservation status of this cat. The comparison of our data with those reported previously suggests that Geoffroy's cat can show a certain degree of flexibility in its spatial behaviour.

Home range and density of three sympatric felids in the Southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil

“…However, the Southern tiger cat uses an average area of 21.85 km 2 (or 7.18 km 2 MCP), a relatively large area for a cat with such a small body size (average of 3.00 kg). For comparison, a larger cat like Geoffroy's cat, which weights up to 7.80 kg, have home ranges varying between 2.48 to 3.42 km 2 (MCP) in Argentina (Manfredi et al, 2006). Even ocelot, weighting 8-15 kg (Oliveira and Cassaro, 2005) presents smaller home ranges in locations such as Texas (Haines et al, 2006).…”

“…Another technique available for investigating felid population densities is radio telemetry, which provides significant data on home range sizes, and individual use and selection of habitats, and enables better understanding of the spatial ecology of felid species. Again, just a limited numbers felid species in South America such jaguars (Crawshaw Junior and Quigley, 1991;Soisalo and Cavalcanti, 2006), mountain lions (Puma concolor) (Franklin et al, 1999;Mark et al, 2009), ocelots (Konecny, 1989;Dillon and Kelly, 2008) and Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) (d'Orbigny & Gervais, 1844) (Manfredi et al, 2006;Pereira, 2010) were subject of studies.…”

Land use change and ecosystem service provision in Pampas and Campos grasslands of southern South America

“…The native grasslands of Río de la Plata grasslands region support several mammal species, such as the Molina's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga) (Castillo et al 2011, 2012), the Coypu (Myocastor coypus) (Guichon and Cassini 1999), Geoffroy's cats (Oncifelis geoffroyi) (Manfredi et al 2006(Manfredi et al , 2012) and short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis dimidiata) (Baladrón et al 2012). Landscape perturbation and land use change had different effects on the diversity, abundance, and distribution of rodent species depending on the initial fragmentation status of the landscape.…”

Factores que afectan el tamaño del ámbito hogareño de felinos (Mammalia, Carnívora), con énfasis en tres especies americanas

“…With the exception of Panthera leo (lions) and Acinonyx jubatus (cheetahs), most adult felids are intolerant to others adults of the same sex (Bekoff et al 1984). Adult males keep exclusive territories that show little overlap with those of other males, but they may cover the home ranges of several females (Sunquist 1981;Manfredi et al 2006). Males usually disperse farther than females, whereas females have smaller home ranges (Greenwood 1980;Sweanor et al 2000).…”

“…We also expect that sexual differences in the body mass and home range size will occur because these trends have been previously reported for some 234 RF MACHADO ET AL. felids species (Sweanor et al 2000;Grigione et al 2002;Manfredi et al 2006). Moreover, phylogeny could eventually have a weak influence on the home range size of felids, as sex and habitat could play a more important role on it (Grigione et al 2002).…”