Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae), home range in the Lowland Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The ocelot is an important Neotropical mesopredator and information on its spatial ecology remains scarce. Here we estimated the ocelot home range in a remnant of Lowland Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. The data were collected by camera traps installed at eight known ocelot latrines. We estimated the home range both based on the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and the 95% adaptive Kernel density estimator (95%K) to compare with other published studies. We identified 22 ocelots (adult males = 8; adult females = 12; cubs = 2). Six males were recorded at more than one latrine, while all females were recorded at only one sampling point. In addition to male ocelots being recorded at a large number of points, they showed greater intrasexual spatial overlap as they used the same latrines, suggesting larger home ranges than females. The mean home range size for males was 12.1 ± SE 4.4 km2 (range = 6.2 to 20.8 km2) using MCP, and 19.9 ± SE 9.5 km2 (range = 10.1 to 38.9 km2) applying 95%K. Despite our estimates representing an approximation of the total area used by males, both values are consistent with those reported from other locations. Our data complemented the gradient of vegetation type sampled for ocelots in Atlantic Forest and support the suggestion that this environmental variable and, consequently, its effect on prey availability, influence the home range size of ocelot. Information on population ecology and other spatial ecology data are also presented.

Integrated index to evaluate the conservation status and commercial interest of ornamental fish imported to Costa Rica

“…Although no negative ecological effects have been reported when these species have been introduced into nonnative ecosystems, most of these species have shown high adaptability, as well as accelerated reproduction rates (Magalhães & Jacobi, 2013). Additionally, most of these species are extremely prone to the spread of pathogens (Mendoza & Aguilera, 2015), as well as a series of environmental problems, such as the displacement of native species (Mendoza & Aguilera, 2015), and ecosystem dynamics alteration (Capps & Flecker, 2013;Daga et al, 2015;Knight, 2010;Magalhães & Jacobi, 2008).…”