Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Density in Central Amazonia

Abstract

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are presumed to be the most abundant of the wild cats throughout their distribution range and to play an important role in the dynamics of sympatric small-felid populations. However, ocelot ecological information is limited, particularly for the Amazon. We conducted three camera-trap surveys during three consecutive dry seasons to estimate ocelot density in Amanã Reserve, Central Amazonia, Brazil. We implemented a spatial capture-recapture (SCR) model that shared detection parameters among surveys. A total effort of 7020 camera-trap days resulted in 93 independent ocelot records. The estimate of ocelot density in Amanã Reserve (24.84 ± SE 6.27 ocelots per 100 km2) was lower than at other sites in the Amazon and also lower than that expected from a correlation of density with latitude and rainfall. We also discuss the importance of using common parameters for survey scenarios with low recapture rates. This is the first density estimate for ocelots in the Brazilian Amazon, which is an important stronghold for the species.

Spatial density estimates of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the French Jura and Vosges Mountains

“…For one of the two study areas in the French Jura mountains in years 2011 and 2013, we detected only a few individuals (see the columns Doubs in Table ). To increase the effective sample size, we combined the data from these two sampling areas using common detection and spatial parameters for both areas, while estimating density separately (e.g., Rocha, Sollmann, Ramalho, Ilha, & Tan, ). We defined a state‐space, that is, the area encompassing all potential activity centers of the observed individuals, by building a grid that buffered outermost camera trap locations by 15 km (corresponding to at least 2 σ ; Royle et al, ) with a resolution of 1.5 km (or pixels of area 2.25 km 2 ).…”

“…separately (e.g., Rocha, Sollmann, Ramalho, Ilha, & Tan, 2016). We defined a state-space, that is, the area encompassing all potential activity centers of the observed individuals, by building a grid that buffered outermost camera trap locations by 15 km (corresponding to at least 2σ; Royle et al, 2014) with a resolution of 1.5 km (or pixels of area 2.25 km 2 ).…”

Spatial density estimates of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the French Jura and Vosges Mountains

“…For one of the two study areas in the French Jura Mts in years 2011 and 2013, we detected only few individuals. To increase the sample size, we shared information between the two sampling areas by estimating density separately for each study area but using common detection and spatial parameters for both areas (e.g., [28]). We defined a state-space, i.e.…”

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

“…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., ). Ocelots have been recorded in a great variety of habitats, from heavily logged and fragmented forests, to early and late successional forests, the outskirts of major cities and towns, disturbed scrub/woodland Savannah and agricultural areas (de Oliveira et al., ).…”

“…Nevertheless, ocelot, a mesopredator, has been studied much less than larger, more charismatic, felids, such as jaguar ( Panthera onca ) and puma ( Puma concolor ). 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, ).…”