scholarly journals The ecological role of native and introduced species in the diet of the puma Puma concolor in southern Patagonia

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ignacio Zanón Martínez ◽  
Alejandro Travaini ◽  
Sonia Zapata ◽  
Diego Procopio ◽  
Miguel Ángel Santillán
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
Main Prey ◽  
Argentine Patagonia ◽  
Lesser Rhea ◽  
Southern Patagonia ◽  
North Western

AbstractThere is evidence for the ecological extinction of the native prey of the puma Puma concolor in north-western Argentine Patagonia. In this study we examine whether this is also the case in southern Patagonia. From 2004 to 2007 we examined the puma’s diet in three protected areas and two sheep ranches in Santa Cruz province. A total of 282 puma scats were analysed. In two of the protected areas and in the ranches 60–74% of the puma’s diet was native prey. Prey species were primarily guanaco Lama guanicoe, followed by Patagonian mara Dolichotis patagonum, lesser rhea Pterocnemia pennata pennata, Patagonian pichi Zaedyus pichiy and Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus. In the third protected area the main prey was the European hare Lepus europaeus. Our results show a clear difference in the diet of the puma in southern compared to north-western Patagonia. Large native herbivores (i.e. guanaco and lesser rhea) maintain their role as the main prey species for the puma in southern Patagonia. We suggest, therefore, that native prey could be restored to those areas of Argentine Patagonia, such as the north-west, where they are currently ecologically extinct. Facilitating native species recovery and/or restoration and applying more rigorous controls to prevent the introduction of potential alien prey species of the puma both, within and outside protected areas, needs to be evaluated as a regional strategy.

scholarly journals History of canids in Chile and impacts on prey adaptations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamín Silva ◽  
Meredith Root-Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
South American ◽  
Antipredator Defense ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
Hunting Dogs ◽  
Feral Dogs ◽  
Group Hunting

Artiodactyl prey species of Chile, especially guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are reported to be very susceptible to predation by pack hunting feral dogs. It has been previously suggested that guanacos and endemic South American deer may have evolved in the absence of pack-hunting cursorial predators. However, the paleoecology of canid presence in southern South America and Chile is unclear. Here, we review the literature on South American and Chilean canids, their distributions, ecologies and hunting behaviour. We consider both wild and domestic canids, including Canis familiaris breeds. We establish two known antipredator defense behaviours of guanacos: predator inspection of ambush predators, e.g. Puma concolor, and rushing at and kicking smaller cursorial predators, e.g. Lycalopex culpaeus. We propose that since the late Pleistocene extinction of hypercarnivorous group-hunting canids east of the Andes, there were no native species creating group-hunting predation pressures on guanacos. Endemic deer of Chile may have never experienced group hunting selection pressure from native predators. Even hunting dogs (or other canids) used by indigenous groups in the far north and extreme south of Chile (and presumably the center as well) appear to have been used primarily within ambush hunting strategies. This may account for the susceptibility of guanacos and other prey species to feral dog attacks. We detail seven separate hypotheses that require further investigation in order to assess how best to respond to the threat posed by feral dogs to the conservation of native deer and camelids in Chile and other parts of South America.

scholarly journals History of canids in Chile and impacts on prey adaptations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamín Silva ◽  
Meredith Root-Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
South American ◽  
Antipredator Defense ◽  
Hunting Behaviour ◽  
Hunting Dogs ◽  
Feral Dogs ◽  
Group Hunting

Artiodactyl prey species of Chile, especially guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are reported to be very susceptible to predation by pack hunting feral dogs. It has been previously suggested that guanacos and endemic South American deer may have evolved in the absence of pack-hunting cursorial predators. However, the paleoecology of canid presence in southern South America and Chile is unclear. Here, we review the literature on South American and Chilean canids, their distributions, ecologies and hunting behaviour. We consider both wild and domestic canids, including Canis familiaris breeds. We establish two known antipredator defense behaviours of guanacos: predator inspection of ambush predators, e.g. Puma concolor, and rushing at and kicking smaller cursorial predators, e.g. Lycalopex culpaeus. We propose that since the late Pleistocene extinction of hypercarnivorous group-hunting canids east of the Andes, there were no native species creating group-hunting predation pressures on guanacos. Endemic deer of Chile may have never experienced group hunting selection pressure from native predators. Even hunting dogs (or other canids) used by indigenous groups in the far north and extreme south of Chile (and presumably the center as well) appear to have been used primarily within ambush hunting strategies. This may account for the susceptibility of guanacos and other prey species to feral dog attacks. We detail seven separate hypotheses that require further investigation in order to assess how best to respond to the threat posed by feral dogs to the conservation of native deer and camelids in Chile and other parts of South America.

Activity pattern of puma (Puma concolor) and its main prey in central Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leroy Soria-Díaz ◽  
Octavio Monroy-Vilchis ◽  
Zuleyma Zarco-González
Keyword(s):  
Activity Pattern ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Dasypus Novemcinctus ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Main Prey ◽  
Nasua Narica

Predator–prey dynamics are primarily determined by the predator’s ability to hunt and the prey’s strategies to avoid it. This dynamic can be influenced by ecological, environmental or anthropogenic factors. We analyzed the activity pattern of puma (Puma concolor) and its main prey species, armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), coati (Nasua narica) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by means of photographic records. The pattern of activity of the predator species is not distributed uniformly throughout the day. No dependence of the activity pattern of the species on the moon phase was found. In addition, a statistically significant relationship between the activity pattern of puma and its main prey (armadillo) was obtained.

scholarly journals Biogeographic Distribution of Cedrela spp. Genus in Peru Using MaxEnt Modeling: A Conservation and Restoration Approach

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Alexander Cotrina Sánchez ◽  
Nilton B. Rojas Briceño ◽  
Subhajit Bandopadhyay ◽  
Subhasis Ghosh ◽  
Cristóbal Torres Guzmán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
National Service ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Entropy Model ◽  
Probability Of Occurrence ◽  
Bioclimatic Variables ◽  
Population Sizes

The increasing demand for tropical timber from natural forests has reduced the population sizes of native species such as Cedrela spp. because of their high economic value. To prevent the decline of population sizes of the species, all Cedrela species have been incorporated into Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The study presents information about the modeled distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru that aims to identify potential habitat distribution of the genus, its availability in areas protected by national service of protected areas, and highlighted some areas because of their conservation relevance and the potential need for restoration. We modeled the distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru using 947 occurrence records that included 10 species (C. odorata, C. montana, C. fissilis, C. longipetiolulata, C. angustifolia, C. nebulosa, C. kuelapensis, C. saltensis, C. weberbaueri, and C. molinensis). We aim to identify areas environmentally suitable for the occurrence of Cedrela that are legally protected by the National Service of Protected Areas (PAs) and those that are ideal for research and restoration projects. We used various environmental variables (19 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic factors, 9 edaphic factors, solar radiation, and relative humidity) and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to predict the probability of occurrence. We observed that 6.7% (86,916.2 km2) of Peru presents a high distribution probability of occurrence of Cedrela, distributed in 17 departments, with 4.4% (10,171.03 km2) of the area protected by PAs mainly under the category of protection forests. Another 11.65% (21,345.16 km2) of distribution covers areas highly prone to degradation, distributed mainly in the departments Ucayali, Loreto, and Madre de Dios, and needs immediate attention for its protection and restoration. We believe that the study will contribute significantly to conserve Cedrela and other endangered species, as well as to promote the sustainable use and management of timber species as a whole.

scholarly journals Nesting, Sex Ratio and Natural Enemies of the Giant Resin Bee in Relation to Native Species in Europe

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Sara Straffon Díaz ◽  
Luca Carisio ◽  
Aulo Manino ◽  
Paolo Biella ◽  
Marco Porporato
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Trap Nests ◽  
Native Bee ◽  
New Locations ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Set Up ◽  
North Western

Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) is the first exotic bee species in Europe. Its remarkably fast expansion across this continent is leading to a growing concern on the extent of negative impacts to the native fauna. To evaluate the interactions of exotic bees with local wild bees, we set up trap nests for above-ground nesting bees on a semi-urban area of north-western Italy. We aimed to investigate the interaction in artificial traps between the exotic and native wild bees and to assess offspring traits accounting for exotic bee fitness: progeny sex ratio and incidence of natural enemies. We found that the tunnels occupied by exotic bees were already cohabited by O. cornuta, and thus the cells of later nesting alien bees may block the native bee emergence for the next year. The progeny sex ratio of M. sculpturalis was strongly unbalanced toward males, indicating a temporary adverse population trend in the local invaded area. In addition, we documented the presence of three native natural enemies affecting the brood of the exotic bee. Our results bring out new insights on how the M. sculpturalis indirectly competes with native species and on its performance in new locations.

Protected areas and unpaved roads mediate habitat use of the giant anteater in anthropogenic landscapes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia F Versiani ◽  
Larissa L Bailey ◽  
Nielson Pasqualotto ◽  
Thiago F Rodrigues ◽  
Roberta M Paolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Unpaved Roads ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Model Average

Abstract The drastic reduction of the Brazilian Cerrado has transformed this savanna hotspot into vast swaths of commodity-based agriculture fields, mainly soybean, sugarcane, and beef-production pasturelands. The resulting habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal factors underlying population decline of native species inhabiting the Cerrado, particularly those with a high demand for space, low population density, and specialized diet, such as the endangered giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Although the species has been studied in protected areas, we know much less about its ability to endure in disturbed landscapes. Here, we analyzed camera-trapping data to estimate a proxy of habitat use (ψ^; occupancy) and detection probabilities of the giant anteater, identifying environmental covariates influencing these parameters in landscapes with intensive agriculture and commercial forestry. We found this species using about half of the study area (model average ψ^ = 0.51, CI = 0.40–0.62), with two predictors strongly influencing habitat use: protected areas and unpaved roads. In turn, detection probability correlates positively with area of open Cerrado and negatively with area of settlements. The species is more likely to use unpaved roads inside protected areas (ψ^ = 0.90, CI = 0.47–0.75), compared to off road sites in the surrounding areas (ψ^ = 0.19, CI = 0.10–0.34). Our findings indicate that giant anteaters are dependent on nature reserves and native vegetation areas existing on private properties, whose protection is regulated by the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law. Given the relative paucity of state-owned protected areas in the Brazilian Cerrado, increasing the adherence of rural owners to this law is, therefore, key for the conservation of the giant anteater. The intense use of unpaved roads might reflect travelling and/or foraging optimization, a behavioral response that, nevertheless, may compound this species’ susceptibility to suffer mortality from roadkill.

scholarly journals Distribución de felinos en áreas naturales protegidas de Honduras

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Hector Orlando Portillo Reyes ◽  
Fausto Elvir
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Leopardus Pardalis ◽  
Analysis Of Similarity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Local Extirpation ◽  
Nmds Analysis

RESUMENEn Honduras ocurren cinco especies de felinos, jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), caucel (Leopardus wiedii) y el yaguarundí (Puma yagouaroundi). Se comparó la composición de las cinco especies de felinos en 15 áreas naturales  protegidas, las cuales se agruparon en tres regiones con diferentes zonas de vida, ecosistemas y gradientes altitudinal siendo estas; la región Moskitia, la región Central y la región Caribe. Se evaluó la detección de felinos con la presencia/ausencia en cada área. Se realizó un dendrograma y un análisis no métrico multidimensional para comparar la similitud entre áreas protegidas y especies. El hallazgo significativo es la ausencia del jaguar en las áreas protegidas de la región Central de Honduras, donde posiblemente se ha dado su extirpación. El puma, el ocelote, el caucel y el yaguarundí, se registran en las tres regiones del país. Al comparar la composición de los felinos en las tres regiones usando el análisis de similitud, este presentó diferencias significativas entre las áreas protegidas evaluadas. La región Central mostró menor composición que la región del Caribe y la Moskitia. La región de la Moskitia hondureña se muestra como la región con mayor resilencia para mantener las cinco especies de felinos.Palabras clave: Composición, conglomerados, escalamiento multi-dimesional no métrico (nmds), análisis de similitud (anosim), disimilitud, Moskitia. ABSTRACTHonduras is territory of five species of cats, jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii) and the yaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). The composition of the five cats in 15 protected areas was compared grouped in three regions:  the Moskitia, Caribbean and Central region with different life zones, ecosystems and altitudinal levels. Cat detection was evaluated by presence/absence in each protected area. Cluster analysis and non- metric multidimentional scaling were used to compare similarity between protected areas and species. The significant finding is the absence of the jaguar in protected areas in the Central Region of Honduras confirming local extirpation. Puma, ocelots, margay and the yaguarundi are present in the three regions.  Comparing composition of cats between the three region using similarity analysis this presented significant difference between protected areas. The Central region showed a lower composition in cat structure that The Caribbean and Moskitia region. The Honduran Moskitia region showed a higher resilience to maintain the five cats.Key words: Composition, conglomerates, non-metric multidimentional scaling (nmds), analysis of similarity (anosim), dissimilarity, Moskitia.

scholarly journals Habitat selection when killing primary versus alternative prey species supports prey specialization in an apex predator

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Cristescu ◽  
S Bose ◽  
LM Elbroch ◽  
ML Allen ◽  
Heiko Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Apparent Competition ◽  
Selection Function ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus Columbianus ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Selection Of

© 2019 The Zoological Society of London Many predators specialize on one or several prey species that they select from the range of potential prey. Predator specialization on primary versus alternative prey is driven in part by encounter rates with prey and a predator’s habitat selection. Although habitat selection changes with behavioural state, this has not been well-recognized in the resource selection function (RSF) literature to date, often because auxiliary data on the predator’s behavioural states (e.g. hunting) are absent. We monitored habitat selection of pumas Puma concolor in a multi-prey system in northern California, where pumas specialized on black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. We employed multiple RSF analyses on different datasets to test the following three hypotheses: (1) Pumas utilize habitats in proportion to their availability; (2) Pumas select specific habitat features when killing black-tailed deer, their primary prey; (3) Pumas do not select distinct habitats from those identified under hypothesis 1 when killing alternative prey. We found that pumas in our study selected for specific habitats and habitat features in general, but that their selection was more pronounced when killing black-tailed deer. In summer, kill sites of deer were associated with rugged terrain, but gentle slopes and northerly aspects. In winter, pumas killed deer at low elevations, on gentle slopes and on northerly and westerly aspects. Overall, evidence suggested that pumas tracked their primary prey across seasonal migrations, which were short in distance but resulted in pronounced changes in elevation. When killing alternative prey, pumas showed little evidence of habitat selection, suggesting they may kill alternative prey opportunistically. Our results hold implications for how data should be partitioned when modelling baseline habitat selection of predators, hunting habitat selection and predation risk for prey species, as well as for how we model ecological processes such as apparent competition.

scholarly journals Observations of Interactions between Puma, Puma concolor, and Introduced European Red Deer, Cervus elaphus, in Patagonia

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner T. Flueck
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Antipredator Behavior ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Natural Predation ◽  
Large Predators

Direct observations of interactions between native Puma (Puma concolor) and introduced European Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in Patagonia are discussed with respect to the absence of evolutionary sympatry. Although the founding stock of European Red Deer had been lacking natural predation pressure for considerable time due to the previous extinction of large predators, these observations suggested that inherent antipredator behavior of European Red Deer toward this novel predator, once detected, was effective and may partially explain the success of European Red Deer as an invasive species. Puma behavior supported the view that they are a generalist predator which opportunistically utilizes new prey species like European Red Deer.

Seawater warming at the northern reach for southern species: Gulf of Genoa, NW Mediterranean

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Nike Bianchi ◽  
Francesco Caroli ◽  
Paolo Guidetti ◽  
Carla Morri
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Ligurian Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
Southern Species ◽  
North Western

Global warming is facilitating the poleward range expansion of plant and animal species. In the Mediterranean Sea, the concurrent temperature increase and abundance of (sub)tropical non-indigenous species (NIS) is leading to the so-called ‘tropicalization’ of the Mediterranean Sea, which is dramatically evident in the south-eastern sectors of the basin. At the same time, the colder north-western sectors of the basin have been said to undergo a process of ‘meridionalization’, that is the establishment of warm-water native species (WWN) previously restricted to the southern sectors. The Gulf of Genoa (Ligurian Sea) is the north-western reach for southern species of whatever origin in the Mediterranean. Recent (up to 2015) observations of NIS and WWN by diving have been collated to update previous similar inventories. In addition, the relative occurrences of both groups of southern species have been monitored by snorkelling between 2009 and 2015 in shallow rocky reefs at Genoa, and compared with the trend in air and sea surface temperatures. A total of 20 southern species (11 NIS and 9 WWN) was found. Two WWN (the zebra seabream Diplodus cervinus and the parrotfish Sparisoma cretense) and three NIS (the SW Atlantic sponge Paraleucilla magna, the Red Sea polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum, and the amphi-American and amphi-Atlantic crab Percnon gibbesi) are new records for the Ligurian Sea, whereas juveniles of the Indo-Pacific bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii have been found for the first time. While temperature has kept on increasing for the whole period, with 2014 and 2015 being the warmest years since at least 1950, the number of WWN increased linearly, that of NIS increased exponentially, contradicting the idea of meridionalization and supporting that of tropicalization even in the northern sectors of the Mediterranean basin.

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