IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Baron, S.; McCarthy, J.; McCarthy, K.P.; Ehinola, K.; McGonigle, S.; Perea, J.; Yacelga, M.; Craighead, K. | |
| Jaguarundi occupancy and interaction with sympatric felids in Panama | |
| 2023 Cat News (77): 40-47 | |
Though jaguarundi _Herpailurus yagouaroundi_ are considered a species of "Least Concern," the data dictating this status is limited owing to few targeted studies of the felid. In Panama, expanding the knowledge of jaguarundi ecology is essential to inform conservation decisions as the country continues to experience habitat conversion. With a decrease in habitat availability, it is important to elucidate interactions and resource partitioning between jaguarundi and sympatric felids. In this study, we used presence-only data from camera traps deployed in the Mamon¡ Valley of Panama and in the Guna Yala Comarca, in a maximum entropy framework as an index of occurrence probability for jaguarundi. We included habitat variables as covariates to evaluate their relative importance to jaguarundi occupancy. Using spatial and temporal data, we then assessed the co-occurrence of jaguarundi with four sympatric felid species: margay _Leopardus wiedii_, ocelot _Leopardus pardalis_, puma _Puma concolor_, and jaguar _Panthera onca_. Models indicated that jaguarundi were more likely to occur in secondary forests at lower slopes, and avoided open pasture land. Only the distribution of the ocelot affected modelled jaguarundi occurrence, and this relationship was positive. Jaguarundis had a likelihood of coexisting with all felid species in 57% of the jaguarundi's predicted occurrence range at the 0.5 threshold, and this was likely facilitated by temporal and ecological niche partitioning among the sympatric species. The data from this research suggest that though jaguarundis occur sympatrically with other felid species, their habitat use is unique from larger, charismatic species and targeted conservation efforts may be necessary to ensure the conservation of jaguarundis in Panama. |
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