Native, exotic, and livestock prey: assessment of puma Puma concolor diet in South American temperate region

Guerisoli, María de Las Mercedes; Gallo, Orlando; Martinez, S Perez-Fadon; Vidal, Estela Maris Luengos; Lucherini, Mauro

doi:10.1007/s13364-020-00549-0

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…We infer cougar occurrence at this observed northeast boreal range edge is strongly associated with the relative activity of snowshoe hare. Although ungulates are the primary prey source for cougars across North America, cougars are opportunistic hunters that exploit alternative prey when available (Clark et al., 2014 ; Guerisoli et al., 2021 ; Moss, Alldredge, Logan, & Pauli, 2016a ; Moss, Alldredge, & Pauli, 2016b ; Smith et al., 2016 ). Female cougars raising offspring are especially reliant on small‐bodied prey (Stoner et al., 2021 ), such as hares, and will select habitats that provide opportunistic hunting opportunities to support high‐energetic demands (Clark et al., 2014 ; Smereka et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although population declines and range restrictions have been observed across taxa (Burgar et al, 2019;Fisher & Burton, 2018;Tattersall et al, 2020b;Nagy-Reis et al, 2021;Wittische et al, 2021;Frey et al, 2022), shifting resource availability from anthropogenic development is facilitating geographic range expansions in some adaptable species that can exploit these novel landscapes Lanszki et al, 2022;Pattison et al, 2020;Tattersall et al, 2020a). Some large carnivores recovering in increasingly developed landscapes include grizzly bears (Ursus arctos; Clark et al, 2019;Clark et al, 2022;Mace et al, 2012;Pyare et al, 2004), black bears (Ursus americanus; Gantchoff et al, 2022), gray wolves (Canis lupus; Latham et al, 2011;Mech, 2017) Cougars are solitary, opportunistic carnivores that inhabit a variety of habitat types and climates, from mountains to tropical rainforests to deserts (Comiskey et al, 2002;Guerisoli et al, 2021;Kertson et al, 2011;Monroy-Vilchis et al, 2009;Robins et al, 2019). Prior to the late 1800s, cougars spanned from southeast Alaska in North America to southern Chile in South America (Jung & Merchant, 2005;Matte et al, 2013;Smereka et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cougars are solitary, opportunistic carnivores that inhabit a variety of habitat types and climates, from mountains to tropical rainforests to deserts (Comiskey et al., 2002 ; Guerisoli et al., 2021 ; Kertson et al., 2011 ; Monroy‐Vilchis et al., 2009 ; Robins et al., 2019 ). Prior to the late 1800s, cougars spanned from southeast Alaska in North America to southern Chile in South America (Jung & Merchant, 2005 ; Matte et al., 2013 ; Smereka et al., 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

Gaston,

Barnas,

Smith

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Many large carnivores, despite widespread habitat alteration, are rebounding in parts of their former ranges after decades of persecution and exploitation. Cougars (Puma concolor) are apex predator with their remaining northern core range constricted to mountain landscapes and areas of western North America; however, cougar populations have recently started rebounding in several locations across North America, including northward in boreal forest landscapes. A camera‐trap survey of multiple landscapes across Alberta, Canada, delineated a range edge; within this region, we deployed an array of 47 camera traps in a random stratified design across a landscape spanning a gradient of anthropogenic development relative to the predicted expansion front. We completed multiple hypotheses in an information‐theoretic framework to determine if cougar occurrence is best explained by natural land cover features, anthropogenic development features, or competitor and prey activity. We predicted that anthropogenic development features from resource extraction and invading white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianius) explain cougar distribution at this boreal range edge. Counter to our predictions, the relative activity of native prey, predominantly snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), was the best predictor of cougar occurrence at this range edge. Small‐bodied prey items are particularly important for female and sub‐adult cougars and may support breeding individuals in the northeast boreal forest. Also, counter to our predictions, there was not a strong relationship detected between cougar occurrence and gray wolf (Canis lupus) activity at this range edge. However, further investigation is recommended as the possibility of cougar expansion into areas of the multi‐prey boreal system, where wolves have recently been controlled, could have negative consequences for conservation goals in this region (e.g. the recovery of woodland caribou [Rangifer tarandus caribou]). Our study highlights the need to monitor contemporary distributions to inform conservation management objectives as large carnivores recover across North America.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

Gaston,

Barnas,

Smith

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Ecological and molecular associations between neotropical wild felids and Taenia (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in the Atlantic Forest: a new report for Taenia omissa

Arrabal,

Arce,

Macchiaroli

et al. 2023

Parasitol Res

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Ecological associations between wild felids and parasites from the Taeniidae family are slightly related to predator-prey interactions, where felids act as de nitive hosts and their prey, herbivores and/or omnivores, are intermediate hosts in the cycle. In the Atlantic Forest, six neotropical felid species coexist in sympatry, but the ecological parasite-host interactions remain poorly studied. Taenia omissa is a tapeworm associated with cougar (Puma concolor) as the only de nitive host and its ungulate prey as intermediate host. The aim of this study was to perform an integrated analysis for the identi cation of tapeworms from road-killed fauna using both molecular and morphological characteristics. Tapeworms from a cougar, a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) and two ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and metacestodes from a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and a wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were analyzed. Taenia omissa individuals were identi ed in the cougar and in the red brocket deer through morphological analysis of rostellar hooks and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial genetic marker COX1, demonstrating the presence of a complete host-parasite life cycle in the Atlantic Forest region. This new report expands the geographic distribution of T. omissa and shows the southernmost record. In addition, isolates of Taenia genus divergent from those described so far in molecular databases were reported and propose a wild cycle that involves the jaguarundi and agouti as de nitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. These results show the complexity of the tapeworm population in the region and the need to study them with both morphological and molecular approaches.

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Puma density, habitat use, and activity patterns across a mosaic landscape of ranches, game reserves, and a protected area in central Argentina

et al. 2023

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Native, exotic, and livestock prey: assessment of puma Puma concolor diet in South American temperate region

Cited by 8 publications

References 56 publications

Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

Ecological and molecular associations between neotropical wild felids and Taenia (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in the Atlantic Forest: a new report for Taenia omissa

Puma density, habitat use, and activity patterns across a mosaic landscape of ranches, game reserves, and a protected area in central Argentina

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