Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict
We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia
2012-04-01
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| Series: | Zoologia (Curitiba) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702012000200003 |
| _version_ | 1797971998460084224 |
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| author | Luiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos Maurício E. Graipel Marcos A. Tortato Carlos A. Zucco Nilton C. Cáceres Fernando V. B. Goulart |
| author_facet | Luiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos Maurício E. Graipel Marcos A. Tortato Carlos A. Zucco Nilton C. Cáceres Fernando V. B. Goulart |
| author_sort | Luiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:41:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d997d85c129049c3a7d4413040f9e106 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1984-4670 1984-4689 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:41:30Z |
| publishDate | 2012-04-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Zoologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zoologia (Curitiba) |
| spelling | doaj.art-d997d85c129049c3a7d4413040f9e1062023-01-02T03:48:02ZengSociedade Brasileira de ZoologiaZoologia (Curitiba)1984-46701984-46892012-04-01292115120doi: 10.1590/S1984-46702012000200003Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflictLuiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-SantosMaurício E. GraipelMarcos A. TortatoCarlos A. ZuccoNilton C. CáceresFernando V. B. GoulartWe investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702012000200003Activity patterncamera trapintraguild competitionlittle spotted catNeotropical felid guild |
| spellingShingle | Luiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos Maurício E. Graipel Marcos A. Tortato Carlos A. Zucco Nilton C. Cáceres Fernando V. B. Goulart Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict Zoologia (Curitiba) Activity pattern camera trap intraguild competition little spotted cat Neotropical felid guild |
| title | Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| title_full | Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| title_fullStr | Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| title_full_unstemmed | Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| title_short | Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| title_sort | abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla leopardus tigrinus carnivora felidae appear to reflect avoidance of conflict |
| topic | Activity pattern camera trap intraguild competition little spotted cat Neotropical felid guild |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1984-46702012000200003 |
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