Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Density in Central Amazonia

PLoS One. 2016 May 18;11(5):e0154624. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154624. eCollection 2016.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Felidae*
  • Population Density*
  • Population Surveillance

Grants and funding

Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (www.mamiraua.org.br) provided financial and logistic support to this study, Grant: "Felinos 3.1.2009 - Din. Pop. Onça" (EER). Centro Nacional de Desenvolvmento Ciêntifico e Tecnologico (www.cnpq.br) provided Masters fellowship (DGR). Recanati–Kaplan Foundation provided Diploma fellowship (DGR). D. Macdonald provided a bursary (DGR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.