IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Napolitano, O.; Galvez, N.; Bennett, M.; Acosta-Jamett, G.; Sanderson, J. | |
| _Leopardus guigna,_ Gui¤a | |
| 2015 Full Book | |
Relative to Neotropical cats and felids in general, the tiny Gui¤a has a restricted extent of occurrence (300,000 kmý). Most of the species area of occupancy is suffering from increasing landscape fragmentation due to logging, habitat conversion to pine plantations, agricultural and livestock activities. An annual forest loss rate of 4.5% per year (67% reduction of total forest area) for the period 1975-2000 was estimated for Chilean temperate rainforests. Future trends predict similar forest loss rates for the period 2010-2020. Given that vegetation cover is one of the most important ecological requirements for Gui¤as, there is an evident threat through ongoing habitat deterioration and reduction. Evidence suggests landscape fragmentation is associated to reduced genetic diversity and population size decline. Also, various Gui¤a subpopulations may be going through a current size reduction, as inferred by a pattern of Ne >> N (bottleneck). Retaliatory killings for poultry predation and road kills are frequent death causes in fragmented landscapes, decreasing Gui¤a population numbers. In fragmented landscapes, Gui¤a home ranges are larger than in pristine areas and density is lower. Emerging diseases facilitated by increased contact probabilities with domestic cats in fragmented landscapes, along with climate change may also constitute important potential threats for Gui¤as. Based on the best supporting evidence, this species qualifies for Vulnerable under criteria A2abc. Index of abundance used to apply Criteria A2a is based on DNA samples, camera-trapping and radio-tracking data. Index of abundance used to apply Criteria A2b followed data based on multiple lines of evidence as mentioned above. Data used to apply Criteria A2c is based on the decline in area of occupancy (AOO) and habitat quality as estimated on the annual forest loss rate of 4.5% per year for the period 1975-2000. Based on thisestimate, a population decline of at least 30% is suspected in the past over three generations (18 years). We used realistic input data to estimate plausible lower and upper bounds for the total number of mature individuals, which range from 5,980 to 92,092. Following the Red List Guidelines, we used a precautionary approach by considering the lower bound estimates. In the case of total number of mature individuals, the lower bound is <10,000 individuals. For each subpopulation, four of the six geographic groups have .1,000 mature individuals. Based on the best supporting evidence, this species qualifies for Vulnerable under criteria C2a(i). However, if we use the higher population bounds, two of the six geographic groups with >1,000 estimated mature individuals, or if the rate of decline is lower than suspected, Near Threatened may also be a possible category for Gui¤a. |
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(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |