Density and activity patterns of ocelots in the greater lacandona ecosystem

Abstract

The ocelot is the third largest cat that occurs in Mexico. Despite all the information that has been collected regarding its distribution in the country, little is known about its basic ecology in Mexico. In this study we estimated population density of ocelots and their activity patterns for the Greater Lacandona Ecosystem region. Data were obtained through camera traps. We used 33 camera trap stations that were active during 60 consecutive days. The effective sampling effort was 1,920 trap days. Population density was estimated through Bayesian Spatial Explicit Capture-Recapture Models. In addition, the activity pattern of ocelots was determined by the time recorded of all photographs obtained. We estimated a minimal density of 12.9 ± 5.39 ocelots for each 100 km² for the southern Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. According with the photographic records we identified that ocelots were active both day and night. Our results are similar to those obtained in other areas located in the tropical rain forests of Central America with the classic capture-recapture methods.In addition, this study shows the potential of this preserved area for maintaining long-term population of ocelots in the tropical rain forest of the Greater Lacandona Ecosystem. More information about this species needs to be obtained, especially for regions characterized by habitat fragmentation and human perturbation.El ocelote es el tercer felino más grande que habita en México. A pesar de que recientemente se ha publicado mucha información acerca de la distribución de esta especie en el país, aún se desconoce muchos aspectos de su ecología básica en México. Con la finalidad de contribuir en el conocimiento de la ecología poblacional de esta especie en las zonas tropicales de México, en este estudio reportamos la densidad del ocelote para la región de la Selva Lacandona, así como sus patrones actividad. El estudio se hizo mediante trampas-cámara. Utilizamos 33 estaciones de foto-trampeo que estuvieron activas durante 60 días consecutivos, teniendo un esfuerzo efectivo de muestreo de 1,920 días-trampa. El análisis de densidad se hizo a partir de modelos espacialmente explícitos bayesianos. El patrón de actividad de los ocelotes se determinó por medio de la hora que registraron todas las fotografías que se obtuvieron de la especie. Estimamos una densidad mínima de 12.9 ± 5.39 SE ocelotes/100 km² para el sur de la Reserva de la Biosfera Montes Azules. De acuerdo con las fotografías obtenidas, los ocelotes mostraron picos de actividad tanto en el día como en la noche. Estos resultados son similares a otras densidades poblacionales reportadas para esta especie con métodos de captura-recaptura clásicos para los bosques tropicales húmedos de Centroamérica. El presente estudio ilustra el el potencial de las zonas conservadas de la región de la Selva Lacandona para mantener una población de ocelotes viable a largo plazo. Hace falta ampliar el conocimiento de la especie, especialmente en regiones caracterizadas por la fragmentación y la perturbación humana.

Ocelots thrive in a non-typical habitat of northwestern Mexico

“…Foster & Harmsen 2012, de la Torre et al 2016, our average MMDM value for ocelots (Table 4) is similar to those obtained in Chiquibul, Belize, using radio-telemetry (Dillon & Kelly 2008). We lacked radio-telemetry data for ocelots in this region, but consider that our ESA is large enough for the estimation of an unbiased MMDM.…”

Moderate anthropogenic impacts alter temporal niche without affecting spatial distribution of ocelots in the Amazon rainforest

“…Our results suggest that in matrix habitat ocelots are adapting their realized niche by shifting to more nocturnal activity in areas of mixed land‐use, likely to facilitate spatial coexistence with humans in these more disturbed areas. This is consistent with other research on ocelots which has shown they decrease diurnal activity in areas with more human disturbance (Cruz et al., 2018; de la Torre et al., 2016) and are more likely to use human trails during the night than during the day (Bolze et al., 2021). This shift to more nocturnal activity has been seen in many species globally (Gaynor et al., 2018) and the consequences of these shifts extend beyond species fitness and population persistence.…”

Interannual and daily activity patterns of mid-sized mammals in Maracaibo Lake Basin, Venezuela

“…Daily activity patterns often reflect the effect of the energy balance (food demand and supply) and the relationship between predators and prey (Schaik and Griffiths 1996), and can be altered by hunting pressure and modifications of the habitat that affect resource availability. The activity pattern of Leopardus pardalis showed a most intense activity at night, plus records in twilight hours, and isolated events during the day; this is consistent with the activity pattern reported by several authors (Ayala et al 2010;Hernández-Pérez et al 2015;Mosquera-Munoz et al 2015;De la Torre et al 2016). This pattern is probably influenced by the nocturnal activity of its potential preys, such as Didelphis marsupialis, Dasypus novenmcinctus, Tamandua mexicana and Sylvilagus floridanus (Martinez 2013).…”