Jaguar interactions with pumas and prey at the northern edge of jaguars' range.

ABSTRACT: We present the first study that evaluates jaguar-puma interactions in the arid lands of northern Mexico, where jaguars have their northernmost breeding population and both predators are persecuted for livestock depredation. We tested whether jaguars are the dominant species in this unique ecosystem, where: (1) pumas outnumber jaguars, (2) pumas are better adapted to arid environments, and (3) jaguars and pumas are of similar size. We analyzed four years of data with two approaches; a two species conditional occupancy model and an activity patterns analysis. We used camera location and prey presence as covariates for jaguar and puma detection and presence probabilities. We also explored overlap in activities of predators and prey. Where both species were detected, peccary presence was posit

SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Gonzalez CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5248577 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature