The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon
Abstract Understanding the distribution patterns of threatened species is central to conservation. The Amazonian distribution of the northern tiger cat (N-tiger cat, Leopardus tigrinus) and its interspecific relationship with the ocelot, its potential intraguild killer, are intriguing. Here, we comb...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21412-z |
| _version_ | 1811328521364045824 |
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| author | Tadeu G. de Oliveira Lester A. Fox-Rosales Evi A. D. Paemelaere Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz |
| author_facet | Tadeu G. de Oliveira Lester A. Fox-Rosales Evi A. D. Paemelaere Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz |
| author_sort | Tadeu G. de Oliveira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding the distribution patterns of threatened species is central to conservation. The Amazonian distribution of the northern tiger cat (N-tiger cat, Leopardus tigrinus) and its interspecific relationship with the ocelot, its potential intraguild killer, are intriguing. Here, we combined presence/absence records with species distribution models (SDMs) to determine N-tiger cat occurrence in the Amazon. We also modeled ocelot density from 46 published estimates. The N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon was negatively influenced by ocelot density and net primary productivity and positively influenced by savannas and precipitation in the driest month. The best-fitting model predicted highly patchy N-tiger cat occurrence over an area of 236,238.67 km2, almost exclusively in savanna enclaves. Additionally, 312,348 camera trap-days at 49 sites in the Amazon revealed no N-tiger cats. The ocelot densities were significantly higher in areas with denser vegetation cover and warmer habitats, with predicted densities ≥ 0.6 ind/km2 throughout most of the biome. The lowest ocelot densities (≤ 0.06 ind/km2) were observed along the predicted range of N-tiger cats. Our findings highlight that the N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon is restricted to savannas and highly influenced by ocelot density, emphasizing the importance of including species interactions in SDMs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:26:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c09b311eca14cb5ab86ee744ebf2a2c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:26:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c09b311eca14cb5ab86ee744ebf2a2c2022-12-22T02:41:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-11-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-21412-zThe dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the AmazonTadeu G. de Oliveira0Lester A. Fox-Rosales1Evi A. D. Paemelaere2Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz3Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA), Campus Paulo VIPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade PPGECB/PPG Em Ciência Animal da Universidade Estadual Do Maranhão, Cidade Universitária Paulo VIPantheraDepartamento de Ciências Florestais, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São PauloAbstract Understanding the distribution patterns of threatened species is central to conservation. The Amazonian distribution of the northern tiger cat (N-tiger cat, Leopardus tigrinus) and its interspecific relationship with the ocelot, its potential intraguild killer, are intriguing. Here, we combined presence/absence records with species distribution models (SDMs) to determine N-tiger cat occurrence in the Amazon. We also modeled ocelot density from 46 published estimates. The N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon was negatively influenced by ocelot density and net primary productivity and positively influenced by savannas and precipitation in the driest month. The best-fitting model predicted highly patchy N-tiger cat occurrence over an area of 236,238.67 km2, almost exclusively in savanna enclaves. Additionally, 312,348 camera trap-days at 49 sites in the Amazon revealed no N-tiger cats. The ocelot densities were significantly higher in areas with denser vegetation cover and warmer habitats, with predicted densities ≥ 0.6 ind/km2 throughout most of the biome. The lowest ocelot densities (≤ 0.06 ind/km2) were observed along the predicted range of N-tiger cats. Our findings highlight that the N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon is restricted to savannas and highly influenced by ocelot density, emphasizing the importance of including species interactions in SDMs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21412-z |
| spellingShingle | Tadeu G. de Oliveira Lester A. Fox-Rosales Evi A. D. Paemelaere Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon Scientific Reports |
| title | The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon |
| title_full | The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon |
| title_fullStr | The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon |
| title_short | The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon |
| title_sort | dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat leopardus tigrinus in the amazon |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21412-z |
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