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Species occurrence in the landscape is influenced by habitat characteristics such as vegetation structure and resource availability. Habitat fragmentation causes a reduction or elimination of required resources, leading to the decline or disappearance of populations and species. Among carnivores, variables such as vegetation characteristics, prey availability, and human infrastructure were strongly associated with species occupancy. However, the relationship between these variables and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) occupancy in fragmented landscapes remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of habitat characteristics, prey availability, and human infrastructure on ocelot occupancy in the protected areas of São Paulo. We sampled 55 sites using unbaited camera traps from October 2012 to August 2017 with a sampling effort of 10.175 trap-nights. We fitted models to determine how vegetation characteristics, prey availability, and human infrastructure affect ocelot occupancy. Ocelots were detected in 40% of sites, with a higher occupancy probability in sites with a greater relative abundance of prey and a farther distance from urban areas; however, there was no significant relationship with native vegetation. Thus, preservation of the ocelot requires the reduction of human impacts on these landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation facilitate the presence of domestic dogs (Canis l. familiaris) in natural habitats, posing risks to native wildlife through predation and competition. The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) faces increased vulnerability to dog attacks due to frequent pursuits. Aims: We evaluate the effect of predator presence (exotic and native) on the activity pattern and temporal avoidance behaviour of nine-banded armadillos in the Northeast region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Methods: We analysed camera trap data (2020–2022) for co-occurrence activity between nine-banded armadillos and domestic dogs, and native predators. We also investigated temporal variations between armadillo detections in response to the presence of predators. Key results: Nine-banded armadillos and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) exhibited nocturnal activity, whereas domestic dogs and jaguarundis (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) were diurnal. The activity pattern of nine-banded armadillos remained consistent in the presence of domestic dogs and native predators, although the time between detections increased at sites frequented by dogs and ocelots. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that armadillos may avoid areas frequented by domestic dogs and ocelots over time, even without direct interactions. Implications: Our research may assist conservationists and policymakers in developing domestic dog control to mitigate the impact of domestic dogs on nine-banded armadillos. Controlling domestic dog populations and raising awareness among owners to confine their pets are crucial measures. We investigated the effects of domestic dogs (Canis l. familiaris) and native predators on the activity period and avoidance behaviour of nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in human-altered landscapes in São Paulo State, Brazil. Domestic dog presence increased the time between detections of armadillos, suggesting that they temporally avoid areas used by dogs. Our results highlight the need for measures to control domestic dog populations to mitigate their impact on wildlife. Photograph by Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Free-ranging dogs (Canis familiaris) negatively impact wildlife worldwide. Yet despite being members of the order Carnivora, we have relatively little information on the role that dogs play in carnivore communities. To evaluate if activity patterns of wild carnivores are influenced by the activity of dogs and if the latter is influenced by the activity of pumas (Puma concolor), we placed camera traps in eight protected areas in São Paulo State and in six in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, from 2011 to 2017. We obtained 551 photo-captures of dogs in 20,524 trap nights in 11 of the 14 protected areas. Dogs were active primarily during the day and therefore overlapped mainly with diurnal carnivores, such as tayras (Eira barbara) and coatis (Nasua nasua). Mesocarnivore temporal activity did not appear affected by the activity of dogs, since the activity patterns of tayras, coatis, maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) were similar (from 67 to 82% of overlap) in areas with and without dogs. Further, the activity of dogs was not influenced by puma activity; dog activity patterns in areas with pumas and without pumas overlapped by 84%, with minimal differences. While mesocarnivores might alter their spatial behavior to avoid overlap with dogs, it appears that dog use of protected areas does not result in shifts in the temporal activity of mesocarnivores. Further, we hypothesize that dogs that use protected areas are mostly provisioned by humans (owners), and therefore, their activity patterns may be more related to that of their owners than to the presence of native carnivore species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]