The importance of forests for an apex predator: spatial ecology and habitat selection by pumas in an agroecosystem

Abstract

The maintenance of viable carnivore populations along human‐dominated landscapes depends on the understanding of the species requirements that are critical to the design of global actions focused on their conservation. Using resource selection function and a spatial analysis approach, we evaluated large carnivore habitat use in a disturbed landscape by studying pumas in a rapidly developing region in Southeast Brazil. Pumas had a mean home‐range size of 203.7 ± 39.8 km2 and showed pronounced territorial behavior through intrasexual overlap (males 22% and females 60%). Our results also revealed a strong habitat association with forest vegetation both at population and individual levels, followed by pasture with shrubs, a type of anthropized habitat that offers cover and prey; the use of this type of landcover was more frequent during night hours. Our study is the first robust home‐range estimation of pumas in Brazil and fills a gap in puma's ecology knowledge in anthropized tropical environments, highlighting the importance of natural habitat patches to this predator along human‐modified areas and reinforcing the species demand for vast and forested areas to thrive. In areas where conservation goals include the maintenance or increase in large predator populations, identifying the limits imposed by anthropogenic landscape changes, and ensuring that these are not exceeded, is paramount for conservation initiatives.

Mammals of Cajuru State Forest and surroundings: a neglected but important Protected Area for the Cerrado conservation in the São Paulo state, Brazil

“…The presence of interconnected patches of native vegetation in the landscape can facilitate animal dispersion and provide habitat and resources for many species, including large terrestrial mammals (Kremen & Merenlender 2018). As observed in previous studies, the presence of native vegetation areas is fundamental for large and vulnerable mammals' species living in agroecosystems, such as giant anteaters, maned wolves, and pumas (Coelho et al 2008, Vynne et al 2011, Magioli et al 2014, Azevedo et al 2020, Versiani et al 2021. Thus, our result reinforces the importance of buffer zones around PAs and dialogues with other studies that indicate that these areas are used by mammals, especially the larger ones, which need extensive home ranges (Salafsky 1993, Vynne et al 2011, Massara et al 2012, Bamford et al 2014.…”

Large Felid and Peccary Habitat Use in Isolated and Contiguous Forest in Panamá: Implications for Conservation

“…The consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation are serious and far-reaching for long-term population persistence of mammals. In particular, populations of large-bodied mammals are unlikely to be sustained by small habitat fragments (Azevedo et al, 2020; Kinnaird et al, 2003; Peres, 2001). Large mammals are vulnerable to local extinction in fragmented habitats because they typically live at lower densities, need much larger areas to survive than smaller mammals, and are often exploited excessively by humans (Crooks, 2002; Urquiza-Haas et al, 2009).…”