Monitoring jaguar populationsPanthera oncawith non-invasive genetics: a pilot study in Brazilian ecosystems

Abstract

The global population of jaguars Panthera onca has decreased significantly since the beginning of the 20th century. Given the scarcity of demographic and biological information, estimating population parameters is critical for the design of conservation measures. The jaguar's elusive behaviour makes it impossible to estimate and monitor populations by direct observation. We propose a noninvasive genetic sampling approach and demonstrate its potential for large-scale monitoring. Sex identification was optimized for faecal samples of jaguars and other felids. We also optimized a set of 11 microsatellite markers for reliable identification of individuals. We estimated the effectiveness of faecal sample genotyping in two distinct Brazilian biomes: the Pantanal and the semi-arid Caatinga. Almost 90% of the samples that were molecularly identified as jaguar (n 5 90) were successfully genotyped and were assigned to 30 individuals. Genetic diversity was generally high but was significantly lower in the Caatinga population. We show that non-invasive genetic sampling can be a reliable tool to study population parameters and to monitor the genetic status of jaguar populations in different habitats. It may also be useful for future surveys of jaguars that address ecological, behavioural and conservation issues, and could provide a baseline for non-invasive genetic studies of other wild felid populations.

Conservation implications of harpy eagle Harpia harpyja predation patterns

“…This is strongly violated by sloths, the main harpy prey. Some success has been achieved in estimating populations of cryptic mammals by mtDNA (which can be accessed by means of studies of feces to genotype individuals), and such methods could help greatly in future sloth population estimates (Miotto et al 2014, Roques et al 2014. Drones are also changing wildlife monitoring practices and can be combined with infrared cameras to make sloths detectable in line transects (Tang & Shao 2015).…”

Modeling the effects of deforestation on the connectivity of jaguar Panthera onca populations at the southern extent of the species’ range

“…The implications for the isolation of jaguar populations are supported by several recent studies of jaguar genetic diversity, which demonstrate drift-induced loss of genetic heterogeneity within populationsparticularly the smaller, more isolated ones -resulting from habitat loss and fragmentation (Haag et al 2010, Valdez et al 2015, Roques et al 2014. The expected continuation of habitat conversion, combined with the precarious status of jaguar populations throughout much of the study area, indicates an urgent need to address habitat loss, reductions in connectivity and other conservation threats (i.e.…”

“…This uncertainty over jaguar movement ecology and landscape genetics emphasizes the critical need for GPS-based telemetry that addresses age and sexspecific differences in habitat use and movements (Elliot et al 2014) and regional-scale genetics research (Haag et al 2010, Roques et al 2014, Valdez et al 2015, Wultsch et al 2016, to better quantify jaguar movement, dispersal behavior and genetic diversity in the context of anthropogenic factors. Moreover, the need for data-based reassessments of the delineation of JCUs (such as that by De Angelo et al 2013) is evident in the face of the rapid and extensive changes in land use that are occurring in the region, and in the updated delineations of JCUs that we used in this analysis.…”

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Belize

“…After a century of being persecuted and suffering habitat loss, jaguars are now restricted to the less than 30% remaining intact patches of forest in Central and South America (4)(5)(6). To further reduce the risk of extinction, adequate management of jaguar populations requires connecting them through habitat corridors that allow individuals to disperse and exchange genes (7)(8)(9). Habitat deterioration, human-wildlife conflict and the complex dynamics of jaguar populations are rapidly shaping the patterns of genetic diversity we see today (2,10,11).…”