Feeding ecology of carnivores (Mammalia, Carnivora) in Atlantic Forest remnants, Southern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract:The diet of some sympatric carnivore species in three Atlantic Forest remnants of Southern Brazil was studied in order to assess their food niche. We conducted monthly field trips between February 2003 and January 2004 to collect fecal samples that were subsequently examined together with others collected sporadically between November 1994 and January 2003. Of the 416 samples analysed, 198 had the "author" species identified through microscopic analysis guard hairs, which revealed the presence of 10 carnivores and some information about their diet. Puma yagouaroundi had the largest dietary niche breadth, whereas Leopardus tigrinus and Nasua nasua showed the lowest values. Extensive niche overlap was observed between L. tigrinus and N. nasua, L. tigrinus and L. wiedii, and between L. tigrinus and L. pardalis. Data presented here not only increases the understanding of carnivore feeding ecology, but also contributes towards their conservation in the study region and other fragmented landscapes in Brazil and neighboring countries.

Galictis cuja (Mammalia): an update of current knowledge and geographic distribution

“…It is perhaps typical of a mustelid in diet, eating small mammals (ebenspeRgeR et al, 1991;diuk-WasseR & Cassini, 1998;delibes et al, 2003;kRaus & Rödel, 2004), and occasionally eggs, birds, reptiles, and amphibians (Yensen & TaRifa, 2003). It has a broad distribution across South America: southern Peru, western Bolivia, central and southern Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and southeastern Brazil (Yensen & TaRifa, 2003;boRndholdT et al, 2013), at elevations from sea level to 4200 m (nabTe et al, 2009), and including habitats from Atlantic forest (RoCha-Mendes et al, 2010), and cold steppe in Patagonia (pRevosTi & TRavaini, 2005) to exotic forest plantations in Chile (Zúñiga et al, 2009). However, it appears to be rare in all habitats, as reflected in the low frequency of records (sanTos et al, 2004;kaspeR et al, 2007;MaRTíneZ et al, 2008;andRade-núñeZ & aide, 2010).…”

Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) predation by puma (Puma concolor) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…Pumas feed mainly on medium-and large-sized prey (> 1 kg) (Brito 2000, Azevedo 2008, Martins et al 2008, while jaguarundis consumes preferentially small vertebrates (< 1 kg) (Bianchi et al 2011, Silva-Pereira et al 2011. In modified areas, this antagonist interaction could have a higher possibility of happening, since pumas include a large percentage of small vertebrates in their diet (Rocha et al 2010, Magioli et al 2014. Then, it will be more reasonable to think that the pumas would be competing with other small felids for territory and/or prey.…”

Helminth parasites of Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae), from localities in the Atlantic forest of Brazil

“…It is restricted to South America, with distribution from northeastern Brazil to southern Peru, western Bolivia, central and southern Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and southeastern Brazil, at elevations from sea level to 4200 m, and habitats from Atlantic Forest, and cold steppe in Patagonia to exotic forest plantations in Chile (YENSEN & TARIFA, 2003;PREVOSTI & TRAVAINI, 2005;NABTE et al, 2009;ZÚÑIGA et al, 2009;ROCHA-MENDES et al, 2010;BORNHOLDT et al, 2013;POO-MUÑOZ et al, 2014). According to the IUCN (2016), this species is not included in the main endangered categories, and its conservation status is of "least concern".…”