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Porfirio, G.; Foster, V.C.; Sarmento, P.; Fonseca, C.
Camera traps as a tool for carnivore conservation in a mosaic of protected areas in the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil
2018  Nature Conservation Research (3): 57-67

Although known globally for its biodiversity, only around 5% of the Brazilian Pantanal is protected. The Network for Protection and Conservation of Amolar Mountain Ridge is an informal initiative that legally protects over 2000 km2 of the Pantanal biome. Several camera-trapping surveys were carried out at Amolar Mountain Ridge from August 2011 to September 2013 in order to increase our knowledge of the species occurrence and its ecological requirements. The aims of this study were: 1) to inventory the carnivore species occurring within this network of protected areas; 2) to describe their activity patterns and 3) to discuss threats for those species' conservation in the region. We used the Kernel density method to describe the species' activity patterns. We obtained 764 records (from 12703 camera-days) of eight carnivores, including endangered species in Brazil, such as the jaguar (_Panthera onca_), puma (_Puma concolor_), and ocelot (_Leopardus pardalis_), that were among the most frequently recorded by camera traps. The other species detected were the South America coati (_Nasua nasua_), the tayra (_Eira barbara_), the crab-eating raccoon (_Procyon cancrivorus_) and the jaguarundi (_Puma yagouaroundi_). We provided information on activity patterns of the jaguar and puma, which exhibited cathemeral activity patterns, on the ocelot and crab-eating fox, which were mostly nocturnal, and on the Southern coati and jaguarundi, which were diurnal. Scansorial and species that occur naturally in low densities as the tayra and the crab-eating raccoon were difficult to be detected with the used camera trapping setting. However, due to the natural characteristics of the study area, camera trapping is among the most appropriate tools for providing data about carnivores and their prey. This information is essential to delineate conservation plans for Amolar Mountain Ridge.

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