Landscape Metrics Associated With Habitat Use by Ocelots in South Texas

Abstract

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are listed as endangered federally and by the state of Texas. Preference for closed canopy habitat has been shown in previous studies, but preference for patch size has not been reported. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery were used to compare areas in south Texas used by radio-collared ocelots to areas with no known use. We hypothesized that ocelots would prefer large patches of closed canopy habitat and avoid large patches of unsuitable habitat. Areas used by ocelots had a greater degree of fragmentation (i.e., larger number of patches, smaller size, and more edge) than did those not used. Further investigation revealed that ocelots preferred patches of closed canopy over other types of land cover and that this land cover type exhibited a greater degree of fragmentation. Results of this study were used to designate areas for conservation of ocelot habitat and can be applied to the management of other threatened or endangered wildlife. JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 69(2):733-738; 2005

Historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover in and around Prince Albert National Park: land management implications

“…Hargis et al, 1998;Southworth et al, 2002;Burnside et al, 2003;Jackson et al, 2005). Total area, patch number, area-weighted mean patch size, mean nearest neighbor, mean shape index To further assess changes in landscape configura¬ tion, we used results from resource selection func¬ tion analyses presented in Dyke (2008) which shown a greater selection of mature coniferous and treed muskegs away from avoided habitat types such as hardwood mixedwood.…”

U.S. Wildlife Management Plan: Recovery of the Endangered Ocelot(Leopardus pardalis) in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas

“…Jackson et al [5] discovered that key habitat for ocelots occupying Texas consisted mainly of medium to large sized patches with dense thorn scrub vegetation, heavy canopy cover, small water bodies, and quality corridors. As a result of human transformation of key habitat to agricultural landscape, ocelot populations have become isolated and are in danger of going extinct [5].…”

“…Jackson et al [5] discovered that key habitat for ocelots occupying Texas consisted mainly of medium to large sized patches with dense thorn scrub vegetation, heavy canopy cover, small water bodies, and quality corridors. As a result of human transformation of key habitat to agricultural landscape, ocelot populations have become isolated and are in danger of going extinct [5]. The conversion of closed canopy vegetation to the open canopy of agricultural fields and the loss of connectivity through manmade structures and roads has limited resource availability, reduced breeding success and genetic variability, and negatively affects adult and juvenile survivorship [5].…”

“…As a result of human transformation of key habitat to agricultural landscape, ocelot populations have become isolated and are in danger of going extinct [5]. The conversion of closed canopy vegetation to the open canopy of agricultural fields and the loss of connectivity through manmade structures and roads has limited resource availability, reduced breeding success and genetic variability, and negatively affects adult and juvenile survivorship [5]. As a predatory species, ocelots require thick vegetation and canopy cover for nutritional requirements including small mammals, lizards, and birds [1].…”

Multivariate bathymetry-derived generalized linear model accurately predicts rockfish distribution on Cordell Bank, California, USA

“…reserves) (MacMahon 1997, Scott et al 2002, Leathwick et al 2008, Pittman et al 2009. A variety of threats to marine ecosystems, including pollution, resource extraction and climate change, have contributed to significant decreases in distribution, abundance and health of organisms (Jackson et al 2005, Dunn & Halpin 2009). In response, marine spatial planning is being widely adopted as a more promising tool for effective marine conservation, including the implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs).…”