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Identifying mechanisms of population change is fundamental for conserving small and declining populations and determining effective management strategies. Few studies, however, have measured the demographic components of population change for small populations of mammals (, This research investigates population dynamics in two adjacent but genetically and geographically distinct, threatened brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, following the caseation of hunting in that area. Differences in independent female and cub survival between the populations resulted in population increase in the larger, partially connected population, and population decrease in the smaller, isolated population. We suggest that when populations are small and isolated, population growth is rare and, even with intensive management, becomes prohibitive for population recovery.

Due to climate change and past logging and fire suppression, the western US are experiencing increasingly large and frequent wildfires. Understanding how wildlife respond to these mega-fires is becoming increasingly relevant to protect and manage these populations. However, the lack of predictability inherent in such events makes studies difficult to plan. We took advantage of a large high-severity wildfire that burned adjacent to an ongoing study of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on their summer range upslope of the fire to investigate their displacement onto our study area both immediately and upon their return to summer range the following year. We used spatial capture-recapture models in conjunction with noninvasive fecal DNA sampling to estimate density and non-spatial Pradel robust-design models to estimate apparent survival and recruitment rates. Compared to density before the fire, we observed an increase in deer density and an increase in per-capita recruitment rates one month after the fire. These findings suggest that the immediate response of at least some deer was to flee the fire upslope onto the study area rather than to downslope toward their winter range. These changes did not carry over into the following year, however, suggesting that deer formerly using the burned area as summer range may have returned there despite the high severity of the fire, or may have chosen new areas for their summer range. This suggests that, at least in the short term, the fire did not negatively affect the deer population.

The savannah enclaves (i.e. patches) in the southern Brazilian Amazonia are among the most threatened and poorly surveyed sites in Amazonia. As part of an extensive mammal survey, we set camera traps in three of these savannah enclaves. We obtained 23 independent records of pampas deer Ozotoceros bezoarticus, a medium sized Neotropical cervid that is strongly associated with open habitats and categorized as Vulnerable on the Brazilian Red List of threatened species. These savannah enclaves with confirmed populations of pampas deer lie outside the species’ previously presumed historical range and are at least 350 km from any known extant population. Together, these savannah enclaves add c. 4,000 km2 to the pampas deer's currently known range. The small pampas deer populations in these enclaves are probably isolated by a matrix of Amazon forest, raising questions about spatial genetic structure and meta-population dynamics, and making them vulnerable to local extinction. We highlight the need for further studies, particularly genetic, to assess the conservation status of these populations, the results of which could potentially inform management decisions in other areas of the heavily fragmented range of this species.

We conducted DNA capture-recapture monitoring of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) from 5 to 17 years after hunting was stopped in two adjacent but genetically distinct populations in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. We used spatial capture-recapture and non-spatial Pradel robust design modelling to estimate population density, trends, and the demographic components of population change for each population. The larger population had 21.5 bears/1000 km2 and was growing (λPradel = 1.02 ± 0.02 SE; λsecr = 1.01 ± 4.6 × 10−5 SE) following the cessation of hunting. The adjacent smaller population had 6.3 bears/1000 km2 and was likely declining (λPradel = 0.95 ± 0.03 SE; λsecr = 0.98 ± 0.02 SE). Estimates of apparent survival and apparent recruitment indicated that lower recruitment was the dominant factor limiting population growth in the smaller population. Factors limiting reproductive rates and population density could include poor habitat quality, particularly the abundance of high-energy foods, genetic Allee effects due to a long period of population isolation, or demographic effects affecting infanticide rates. The cessation of hunting was insufficient to promote population recovery for the low density, isolated population. Our research highlights the importance of considering mortality thresholds in addition to small population effects and habitat quality when recovering large carnivore populations.

The Annamite mountains of Viet Nam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao) are an area of exceptional mammalian endemism but intensive poaching has defaunated much of the region, creating an extinction crisis for the endemic species. To make efficient use of limited conservation resources, it is imperative that conservation stakeholders obtain basic information about poorly known and threatened endemics. We present the first comprehensive information on the ecology, distribution and status of the little-known endemic Annamite striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi. We used a systematic camera-trapping design to study the species in five areas in Viet Nam and Lao. In 29,180 camera-trap-nights we recorded 152 independent events at 36 of 266 stations. We obtained an additional 143 independent detections across 12 stations from a supplementary non-systematic survey. We analysed activity patterns and social behaviour. We also used single-species occupancy models to assess factors that influence occupancy at the landscape scale. We used N-mixture models to obtain local abundance estimates in one target area. The Annamite striped rabbit was found to be nocturnal and primarily solitary. Species occupancy was best explained by a proxy for past hunting pressure, with no significant relationships to current anthropogenic or environmental factors. Local abundance was 0.57 individuals per camera-trap station for one of our sites, and estimated to be zero at the other site where hunting appears to have been more intense. Our results provide information on priority areas for targeted anti-poaching efforts and give the first conservation baseline for the species.

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species.

The Sunda stink-badger Mydaus javanensis is one of the most frequently recorded carnivore species in portions of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. However, its current distribution on Borneo is patchy, with recent records lacking from areas where the species was previously considered common. We assessed the hypothesis that occurrence of Sunda stink-badgers is restricted to areas of high earthworm density. We also assessed the influence of forest disturbance on occurrence, as the species is thought to be disturbance-tolerant. We compiled camera-trap data from three commercial forest reserves in central Sabah collected during 2008–2010 and 2014–2015. We used single season occupancy modeling to estimate probability of occupancy and detection. We obtained 323 detections of Sunda stink-badger over 19,875 trap-nights. We found no fine-scale association between occurrence and earthworm abundance, suggesting that Sunda stink-badgers have broader diets than currently assumed, or that earthworm density potentially influences their occurrence at larger scales. The influence of forest disturbance on occurrence was mixed; although our results suggested that Sunda stink-badgers might have a higher probability of occupancy in more disturbed forests, it is possible that a disturbance threshold exists where extreme forest conversion (e.g., oil palm plantations, human settlements) results in lower occupancy. We did not find strong associations with proximity to water, oil palm plantation, bare earth, or shrub landcovers, suggesting that Sunda stink-badgers are not affected by edge effects or the proximity of disturbed areas. Despite our large dataset across three forest reserves, this study is only a first step in understanding the current irregular distribution of Sunda stink-badgers on Borneo. Further studies across a larger gradient of habitat disturbance are needed to determine potential habitat disturbance thresholds, which will aid in management of this species as the landscape on Borneo continues to undergo anthropogenic change.

Activity patterns reflect adaptations to local biological and physical conditions. We estimated the activity patterns of 3 mesocarnivore species in a semiarid environment in northeastern Brazil: the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus). We compared the overlap of daily activity among these species and to apex predators. We also estimated nighttime activity of these mesocarnivores during 2 years and compared activity peaks with those of apex predators and potential prey. All 3 mesocarnivores were nocturnal, with ocelots having only 1 record during daytime. Coefficients of overlap with larger predators were high (Δ1 > 0.7) for all pairwise comparisons, since all species were very nocturnal. Nighttime-only activity comparisons (Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests) showed that activity of oncillas differed from that of both larger mesocarnivores and jaguar activity, suggesting temporal segregation. Contrary to our expectations, rodent activity was dissimilar from that of ocelots and crab-eating foxes, but activity of rodents and oncillas was relatively synchronous. Activity of both cat species seems limited to the cooler nighttime, and nocturnal behavior of oncillas more likely reflects activity of potential prey rather than regulation by intraguild predators. Future studies in arid regions should consider climatic factors when estimating activity patterns.

Coarse-scale patterns of distribution and abundance of species are the outcome of processes occurring at finer spatial scales, hence the conservation of species depends on understanding their fine-scale ecology. For Bornean carnivores, little is known about fine-scale predictors of species occurrence and it is assumed that the two main threats to wildlife on Borneo, habitat disturbance and hunting, also impact their occurrence. To increase our understanding of the Borneo carnivore community, we deployed 60 cameras in a logging concession in northern Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, where different landscape covariates, both natural and anthropogenic, were present. We built single-species occupancy models to investigate fine-scale carnivore occupancy. Overall, forest disturbance had a negative effect on Hose’s civet (Diplogale hosei), banded civet (Hemigalus derbyanus) and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula). Further, banded civet had greater occupancy probabilities in more remote areas. Logging roads had the most diverse effect on carnivore occupancy, with Hose’s civet and masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) negatively affected by roads, whereas Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga), short-tailed mongoose (Herpestes brachyurus) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) showed higher occupancy closer to roads. Canopy height, canopy closure, number of trees with holes (cavities) and distance to nearest village also affected occupancy, though the directions of these effects varied among species. Our results highlight the need to collect often overlooked habitat variables: moss cover and ‘kerangas’ (tropical heath forest) were the most important variables predicting occurrence of Hose’s civet. The preservation of such forest conditions may be crucial for the long-term conservation of this little-known species. Our results confirm that logged forests, when left to regenerate, can host diverse carnivore communities on Borneo, provided less disturbed habitat is available nearby, though human access needs to be controlled. We recommend easy-to-implement forest management strategies including maintaining forest next to logging roads; preserving fruiting trees and trees with cavities, both standing and fallen; and blocks of remote, less disturbed, mid- to high-elevation forest with understorey vegetation.

This study investigated the presence of Hepatozoon spp. in jaguars ( Panthera onca ) and domestic animals in the Cerrado, Amazon, and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. Between February 2000 and January 2010, blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars, 129 domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris), and 22 domestic cats ( Felis catus ) for molecular tests. All of the jaguars from the Pantanal (n = 22) and Cerrado (n = 4) and 3 of 4 jaguars from the Amazon were positive for Hepatozoon spp. Domestic dogs (62.8%) and cats (31.8%) were also positive for the agent. Hepatozoon nucleotide sequences from jaguars and domestic cats grouped with other Hepatozoon felis, whereas Hepatozoon from domestic dogs showed high similarity to Hepatozoon canis. Different species of Amblyomma were identified as parasitizing the jaguars and may act as vectors for Hepatozoon spp. Jaguars from the 3 sites were healthy and did not seem to be threatened by the hemoparasite within its population or environments. Most likely, jaguars play an important role in the maintenance of Hepatozoon spp. in nature.

Human-induced environmental changes, particularly climate change, pose a threat to many tropical montane species, making the identification of optimal future habitat a conservation priority. Here we used maximum entropy (Maxent) and boosted regression trees to predict suitable habitat of the threatened Bornean highland endemic Hose's civet (Diplogale hosei), that is currently available, and for future time periods (2050s and 2080s), considering future land cover and climate change predictions. Next, we identified areas that were consistently suitable under current and future model predictions as forest refuges. Our analysis predicted that Hose's civet is restricted mainly to the highlands of Borneo to an area less than 20,000 km2 (about 2% of the entire island of Borneo). Changes in land cover have little impact on predicted suitable area for the species. However, we predicted habitat loss due to climate change to approximate 86% by 2080, except under a “green economy scenario” which showed stable or increasing suitable habitat. Refuges were small, about 11% of 2010 habitat, and mostly restricted to lower montane forest. About 28–35% of refuges lie within the current protected area network though much is designated as commercial forests within the proposed Heart of Borneo (HoB). For the conservation of Hose's civet and likely other Bornean highland endemics, we recommend increased wildlife and forest law enforcement in identified protected refuges and sustainable timber harvesting practices in surrounding commercial forests, both within the HoB and the extensions we identified. Results of our green model showed that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will likely contribute immensely to the long-term conservation of highland species such as Hose's civet. Keywords: Biomod2, Climate change, Conservation planning, IPCC, Species distribution modelling, Southeast Asia

Even with intensive sampling effort, data often remain sparse when estimating population density of elusive species such as the Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi. An inadequate number of recaptures can make it difficult to account for heterogeneity in detection parameters. We used data from large-scale camera-trapping surveys in three forest reserves in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, to (1) examine whether a high-density camera-trap network increases the number of recaptures for females, which tend to be more difficult to detect, thus improving the accuracy of density estimates; (2) compare density estimates from models incorporating individual heterogeneity in detection parameters with estimates from the null model to evaluate its potential bias; and (3) investigate how the size of the camera-trap grid affects density and movement estimates. We found that individual heterogeneity could not be incorporated in the single-site data analysis and only conservative null model estimates could be generated. However, aggregating data across study sites enabled us to account for individual heterogeneity and we estimated densities of 1.27–2.82 individuals/100 km2, 2–3 times higher than estimates from null models. In light of these findings, it is possible that earlier studies underestimated population density. Similar densities found in well-managed forest and recently selectively logged forest suggest that Sunda clouded leopards are relatively resilient to forest disturbances. Our analysis also revealed that camera-trapping grids for Sunda clouded leopard density estimations should cover large areas (c. 250 km2), although smaller grids could be appropriate if density or detectability are higher.

In the dry forests of the western United States frequent fires historically maintained a diversity of habitats in multiple seral stages. Over the past century, fire suppression and preferential harvest of large trees has led to a densification and homogenization of forests, making them more prone to larger and more severe wildfires. In response, fuel reduction treatments have become common practice in the management of dry western forests. However, the effect of fuel reduction treatments on late seral forest species, such as the Northern flying squirrels, remains a management concern. We captured and marked Northern flying squirrels within mixed conifer forest in the Stanislaus–Tuolumne Experimental Forest (California) on a continuous trapping grid (∼1400 traps) spanning a 120-ha study landscape in which 24 4-ha units were subject to different fuel reduction treatments (variable thin, even thin, and control, all with or without prescribed burning). The study spanned two pre-thinning and three post-thinning years. We divided the study landscape into three blocks (two with treatments, one control only). For each block we analyzed data with spatial capture–recapture models to estimate Northern flying squirrel density, and tested whether canopy closure before and after thinning and percent area burned were important predictors of density. Northern flying squirrel densities varied from 0.168 (SE 0.086) to 0.808 (SE 0.094) individuals/ha across blocks and years. Densities varied by year, independent of treatments. Percent area burned was not an important predictor of density. The effect of canopy closure was variable, but more consistently positive after thinning reduced overall canopy closure. When considered by treatment type, densities were highest in control and burn only units, and lowest in thinned units. Whereas thinning had negative effects on Northern flying squirrel density on the scale of a thinning treatment unit, our results suggest that these effects were largely absorbed by the heterogeneous landscape, as animals shifted their distribution into un-thinned areas without a decline in overall density. This highlights the need to incorporate the landscape context when evaluating the effects of forest management on wildlife.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:09:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-06-01 Earthwatch Institute This study investigated the occurrence of Cytauxzoon felis and Babesia spp. in free-ranging jaguars (Panthera onca), domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and domestic cats (Felis catus) from the Cerrado, Amazon and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars, 129 dogs and 22 cats for detection of the 18S rRNA genes of piroplasmids. All of the jaguars from the Pantanal (n = 22) and Cerrado (n = 4) and three of four jaguars from the Amazon were positive for C. felis, but no dogs or cats were positive for the agent. All of the jaguars and domestic cats were negative for Babesia spp., while dogs from the Cerrado (7.9%; 5/63) and Amazon (10.6%; 5/47) biomes tested positive for the hemoparasite. Cytauxzoon nucleotide sequences detected were closely related to C. felis; and Babesia nucleotide sequences showed 100% of identity with Babesia vogeli. Although the pathogenicity of Cytauxzoon spp. genotypes that circulate in Brazil is still unknown, free-ranging jaguars probably play an important role in the maintenance of C. felis in nature. In addition, even though there is no evidence of the circulation of Babesia spp. between jaguars and dogs, the presence of this hemoparasite should be monitored in jaguar populations. Jaguar Conservation Fund/Instituto Onça-Pintada, Caixa Postal 193 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87 Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu UNESP—Universidade Estadual Paulista Campus de Botucatu Departamento de Parasitologia, Distrito de Rubião Júnior Instituto de Biologia Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua Ceará, s/n Department of Wildlife Fish and Conservation Biology University of California Davis, 1088 Academic Surge, One Shields Ave Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu UNESP—Universidade Estadual Paulista Campus de Botucatu Departamento de Parasitologia, Distrito de Rubião Júnior

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:45:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-02-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Earthwatch Institute Memphis Zoo Species of hemoplasmas have been described worldwide, but little information is available for wild felids. Between February 2000 and January 2010, blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars (Panthera onca) and 22 domestic cats (Fells catus) from the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes of Brazil. In all samples molecular tests were performed for Mycoplasma haemofelis/Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhf/Mhc), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMhm) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' (CMt). Twenty-two (73.4%) jaguars and four domestic cats (18.2%) tested positive for infection with at least one feline hemoplasma: 73.4% jaguars from the three areas were positive for CMhm, 13.6% jaguars from the Pantanal and 50.0% from the Amazon were positive for Mhf/Mhc, and 9.1% of individuals from the Pantanal tested positive for CMt. Domestic cats from the Cerrado (28.6%) and the Pantanal (30.0%) were positive for feline hemoplasma. All but one jaguar from the three sites are healthy. One female adult jaguar showed low body weight and dehydration. This is the first record of feline hemoplasmas in free-ranging jaguars. The high prevalence of CMhm suggest the participation of jaguars in the maintenance of this hemoplasma in nature. Although susceptible to Mhf/Mhc and CMt, jaguars did not appear to participate in the maintenance of these agents in the environment. The involvement of domestic cats in the transmission of any of these hemoplasmas cannot be excluded. Inst Oncapintada, Jaguar Conservat Fund, Caixa Postal 193, BR-75830000 Mineiros, GO, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Av Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Parasitol, Campus Botucatu, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Inst Biol, R Ceara S-N, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG, Brazil Univ Calif Davis, Dept Wildlife Fish & Conservat Biol, Davis, CA 95616 USA Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Parasitol, Campus Botucatu, BR-18618000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2007/50941-5 FAPESP: 2007/50942-1

Diet of the jaguar Panthera onca in the Cerrado, central Brazil, was investigated based on a sample of genetically identified jaguar scats. At least nine prey species were observed in 35 scat samples. Giant anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla contributed more than 75 % of biomass to the observed diet. Tapirs Tapirus terrestris and peccaries Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu contributed approximately 6 % to jaguar diet each, and small mammals contributed least to the jaguar diet. At 0.121, dietary niche breadth was narrower than reported in most other studies. Due to their physical characteristics and abundance, giant anteaters are likely the most profitable prey for jaguars in Emas National Park, and as an important prey, they should be included in jaguar conservation efforts. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Camera-traps are a widely applied to monitor wildlife populations. For individually marked species, cap- ture–recapture models provide robust population estimates, but for unmarked species, inference is often based on relative abundance indices (RAI, number of records per trap effort), although these do not account for imperfect and variable detection. We use a simulation study and empirical camera-trapping data to illustrate how ecological and sampling-related factors can bias RAIs. Our simulations showed that (1) differences in detection between species led to bias in RAI ratios toward the more detectable species, especially at low detection levels, (2) species with larger home ranges were photographed more often, inflating RAIs, (3) species specific responses to different types of trap setup biased RAI ratios, and (4) changes in detection over time blurred true population trends inferred from RAIs. Empirical data for leop- ard cats Prionailurus bengalensis and common palm civets Paradoxurus hermaphroditus showed that traps set up along roads led to higher RAIs than off-road traps, but targeting roads increased detection more for leopard cats than for common palm civets. Comparing RAIs of Sunda clouded leopards Neofelis diardi and leopard cats with spatial capture–recapture based density estimates across sites, RAIs did not reflect dif- ferences in density. Analytical options for estimating density from camera-trapping data of unmarked populations are limited. Consequently, we fear that RAIs will continue to be applied. This is alarming, since these measures often form the basis for conservation and management decisions. We suggest con- sidering alternative analytical and survey methods, especially when dealing with threatened species.

White-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) are important seed predators and dispersers throughout the Neotropics. Because they occur in groups as large as 300 individuals, they need large areas to persist. We investigated homerange size and overlap of 13 groups using radiotelemetry data from 3 years of monitoring in the Emas National Park and surrounding farmland in central Brazil. Average home-range sizes were 1,710.64 ha for 50% of the locations and 8,659.99 ha for 95% based on minimum convex polygons and 790.38 ha for 50% of the locations and 7,986.92 ha for 95% based on the fixed kernel estimator. Home-range size did not correlate with group size, the monitoring period, or the number of locations obtained. Home ranges were larger during the wet season than the dry season. Average home-range overlap among groups was 31%; there were no significant differences in overlap between seasons. Home ranges varied seasonally, most likely in response to the dynamic landscape of crop plantations surrounding the park. Although the peccaries fared well in the heterogeneous agricultural landscape surrounding the park, conflict with farmers due to crop damage and landscape changes due to expansion of sugarcane plantations need to be addressed by conservation strategies.

The small (2- to 7-kg) leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is the most common cat species in Asia. Although it occurs in a wide range of habitats and seems to adapt well to anthropogenic habitat changes, surprisingly little is known about this species in the wild. All studies have focused on protected areas, although a large proportion of Southeast Asian forests are timber concessions. During this study, we used large camera-trapping data sets (783 records of 124 individuals) from 3 commercially used forests to investigate consequences of different logging regimes on density and habitat associations of the leopard cat. We applied spatial capture–recapture models accounting for the location of camera-traps (on or off road) to obtain estimates of leopard cat density. Density was higher in the 2 more disturbed forest reserves (X = 12.4 individuals/100 km2 ± 1.6 SE and 16.5 ± 2 individuals/100 km2) than in the sustainably managed forest (9.6 ± 1.7 individuals/100 km2). Encounter rates with off-ro...

The impact of deforestation and fragmen- tation upon ecologically important and poorly known groups is currently an important issue for conservation biology. Herein we describe xenathran communities across the Brazilian Cerrado and study the effects of habitat fragmentation on occupancy and activity patterns on these assemblages. Our hypothesis was that larger and specialized species would be more ecologically sensitive, and likely to exhibit shifts in their activity patterns in more deforested areas as a way of dealing with the myriad of effects involved in the fragmentation process. The study was conducted by camera trapping in ten Cerrado sites. Five species were analyzed: Priodontes maximus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Dasypus novemcintus (Order Cingulata), Tamandua tetradactyla and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Order Pilosa). Fragmentation was quantified by landscape metrics, calculated on scales that matched the species' home ranges. Occupancy and detection probability analyses were conducted to test for shifts in occupancy under different fragmentation condi- tions. A mixed-effects model analysis was conducted to test for shifts in species' frequency of records related to time of day, controlling for spatial autocor- relation by means of eigenvector-based spatial filters for the models' residuals. There were no changes in activity pattern between more and less fragmented areas, so that our behavioural plasticity hypothesis was not corroborated for this group. The lack of changes in the patterns could be explained by a species' time-lag response, or by the lack of a wide enough fragmen- tation gradient in our study.

The planning of protected areas take into consideration the current distributions of target species, disregarding possible future range shifts under climate change. This study tested potential shifts in the distribution of three xenarthran species (the giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla ; the giant armadillo, Priodontes maximus ; and the three-banded armadillo, Tolypeutes tricinctus ) due to the effects of climate change under different dispersal scenarios. In addition, we tested the adequacy of the current Brazilian protected areas in preserving these species under future climate changes (future distribution for the year 2050), under full and null dispersal scenarios. The final occurrence maps were then confronted with two Brazilian reserve systems for the year 2010: one consisting of reserves for integral protection only (IPCU), and one that included also reserves for sustainable use and indigenous reserves (SUCU). In the IPCU system, none of the species have or will have ⩾10% of their distributions protected, under neither dispersal scenario. Including SUCU, however, M. tridactyla and P. maximus already are, and will still be, adequately protected in the future. T. tricinctus , which is endemic to the Brazilian semi-arid, will not reach the 10% goal under neither dispersal scenario, even under the SUCU system. We stress the need for management actions in the northeastern and central parts of Brazil. Opportunities for the creation of more reserves are highlighted, considering the potential range shifts and the natural habitats still present in these regions.

Recently the Sunda clouded leopard Neofelis diardi was recognized as a separate species distinct from the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa of mainland Asia. Both species are categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Little is known about the newly identified species and, in particular, information from forests outside protected areas is scarce. Here we present one of the first density estimates calculated with spatial capture–recapture models using camera-trap data. In two commercial forest reserves in Sabah (both certified for their sustainable management practices) the density of the Sunda clouded leopard was estimated to be c. 1 per 100 km2 (0.84±SE 0.42 and 1.04±SE 0.58). The presence of the Sunda clouded leopard in such forests is encouraging for its conservation but additional studies from other areas, including protected forests, are needed to compare and evaluate these densities.

Owing to habitat conversion and conflict with humans, many carnivores are of conservation concern. Because of their elusive nature, camera trapping is a standard tool for studying carnivores. In many vertebrates, sex-specific differences in movements – and therefore detection by cameras – are likely. We used camera trapping data and spatially explicit sex-specific capture–recapture models to estimate jaguar density in Emas National Park in the central Brazilian Cerrado grassland, an ecological hotspot of international importance. Our spatially explicit model considered differences in movements and trap encounter rate between genders and the location of camera traps (on/off road). We compared results with estimates from a sex-specific non-spatial capture–recapture model. The spatial model estimated a density of 0.29 jaguars 100 km−2 and showed that males moved larger distances and had higher trap encounter rates than females. Encounter rates with off-road traps were one tenth of those for on-road traps. In the non-spatial model, males had a higher capture probability than females; density was estimated at 0.62 individuals 100 km−2. The non-spatial model likely overestimated density because it did not adequately account for animal movements. The spatial model probably underestimated density because it assumed a uniform distribution of jaguars within and outside the reserve. Overall, the spatial model is preferable because it explicitly considers animal movements and allows incorporating site-specific and individual covariates. With both methods, jaguar density was lower than reported from most other study sites. For rare species such as grassland jaguars, spatially explicit capture–recapture models present an important advance for informed conservation planning.

This study investigated the exposure of jaguar populations and domestic animals to smooth Brucella, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes of Brazil. Between February 2000 and January 2010, serum samples from 31 jaguars (Panthera onca), 1,245 cattle (Bos taurus), 168 domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and 29 domestic cats (Felis catus) were collected and analysed by rose bengal test for smooth Brucella, microscopic agglutination test for Leptospira spp. and modified agglutination test for T. gondii. Cattle populations from all sites (9.88%) were exposed to smooth Brucella, but only one jaguar from Cerrado was exposed to this agent. Jaguars captured in the Cerrado (60.0%) and in the Pantanal (45.5%) were seropositive for different serovars of Leptospira spp., cattle (72.18%) and domestic dogs (13.1%) from the three sites and one domestic cat from Pantanal were also seropositive for the agent. The most prevalent serotype of Leptospira spp. identified in jaguars from the Cerrado (Grippotyphosa) and the Pantanal (Pomona) biomes were distinct from those found in the domestic animals sampled. Jaguars (100%), domestic dogs (38.28%) and domestic cats (82.76%) from the three areas were exposed to T. gondii. Our results show that brucellosis and leptospirosis could have been transmitted to jaguars by domestic animals; and jaguars probably play an important role in the maintenance of T. gondii in nature.

Carnivores and their prey occurring at the extremes of their ecological niches face particular constraints in terms of habitat suitability (HS). We combined the use of camera traps and Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) to calculate HS for jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and 4 prey species (3-banded armadillos, Tolypeutes tricinctus; 9-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus; collared peccaries, Pecari tajacu; and gray brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira) in Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP), located in the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil. We also evaluated HS in relation to water management applied in the Park since 1994. Considering the physiological limitations of the Caatinga's species, we used an “edge of niche” habitat-suitability algorithm. For all species examined, distance to waterholes was the ecogeographical variable with the greatest contribution for the ENFA. Water management implemented in SCNP helps to ensure the persistence of predators and prey species, since the combination of topographic characteristics and location of waterholes explained most of HS for the analyzed species.

We investigated the exposure of jaguar (Panthera onca) populations and domestic carnivores to selected viral infections in the Cerrado, Amazon, and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. Between February 2000 and January 2010, we collected serum samples from 31 jaguars, 174 dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and 35 domestic cats (Felis catus). Serologic analyses for antibodies to rabies virus, canine distemper virus (CDV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen were conducted. The jaguars from Cerrado and Pantantal were exposed to rabies virus, while the jaguars from the Pantanal and the dogs from all three areas were exposed to CDV. Two cats from the Amazonian site were antigen-positive for FeLV, but no jaguars had FeLV antigen or FIV antibody. Canine distemper and rabies viruses should be carefully monitored and considered potential threats to these jaguar populations. Currently FIV and FeLV do not appear to represent a health threat for jaguar populations in this area. Domestic dogs and cats in these areas should be vaccinated, and the movement of domestic animals around protected areas should be restricted.

Faeces provide relevant biological information which includes, with the application of genetic techniques, the sex and identity of individuals that defecated, thus providing potentially useful data onthe behaviour andecology of individuals, as well as the dynamics and structure of populations. This paper presents estimates of the sex ratio of different felid species (jaguar, Panthera onca; puma, Puma concolor; and ocelot/margay, Leopardus pardalis/Leopardus wiedi) as observed in field collected faeces, and proposes several hypotheses that could explain the strikingly high proportion of faeces from male jaguars. The proportion of male and female faeces was estimated using a non-invasive faecal sampling method in 14 study areas in Mexico and Brazil. Faecal samples were genetically analysed to identify the species, the sex and the individual (the latter only for samples identified as belonging to jaguars). Considering the three species, 72.6% of faeces (n=493) were from males; however, there were significant differences among them, with the proportion from males being higher for jaguars than for pumasandocelots/margays. Amale-bias was consistently observed in all study areas for jaguar faeces, but notfor the other species. For jaguars the trend wasthe samewhenconsidering the numberof individuals identified (n=68), with an average of 4.260.56 faeces per male and 2.060.36 per female. The observed faecal marking patterns might be related to the behaviour of female jaguars directed toward protecting litters from males, and in both male and female pumas, to prevent interspecific aggressions from male jaguars. The hypothesis that there are effectively more males than females in jaguar populations cannot bediscarded, which could bedueto the fact that females are territorial andmales are not, or a tendency for males to disperse into suboptimal areas for the species.

We used remotely triggered cameras to collect data on Puma (Puma concolor) abundance and occupancy in an area of tropical forest in Brazil where the species’ status is poorly known. To evaluate factors influencing puma occupancy we used data from 5 sampling campaigns in 3 consecutive years (2005 to 2007) and 2 seasons (wet and dry), at a state park and a private forest reserve. We estimated puma numbers and density for the 2007 sampling data by developing a standardized individual identification method. We based individual identification on 1) time-stable parameters (SP; physical features that do not change over time), and 2) time-variable parameters (VP; marks that could change over time such as scars and botfly marks). Following individual identification we established a capture–recapture history and analyzed it using closed population capture–mark–recapture models. Puma capture probability was influenced by camera placement (roads vs. trails), sampling year, and prey richness. Puma occupancy was positively associated with species richness and there was a correlation between relative puma and jaguar (Panthera onca) abundance. Identifications enabled us to generate 8 VP histories for each photographed flank, corresponding to 8 individuals. We estimated the sampled population at 9 pumas (SE 5 1.03, 95% CI 5 8–10 individuals) translating to a density of 3.40 pumas/100 km2. Information collected using camera-traps can effectively be used to assess puma population size in tropical forests. As habitat progressively disappears and South American felines become more vulnerable, our results support the critical importance of private forest reserves for conservation

This paper reports the occurrence of ticks on different species of free-ranging wild mammals in Emas National Park, Goias State, Brazil. Between November 1999 and July 2008, ticks were collected from free-ranging wild mammals during 330 capture events. The tick species Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787), Amblyomma coelebs Neumann, 1899, Amblyomma naponense (Packard, 1869), Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, Amblyomma parvum Aragao, 1908, Amblyomma tigrinum Koch, 1844, Amblyomma triste Koch, 1844, and Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) were identified on hosts of the order Carnivora. Among other host orders (Xenarthra, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Rodentia, Didelphimorphia, Primates), specimens of A. cajennense, A. coelebs, A. ovale, A. triste, Amblyomma pseudoconcolor Aragao, 1908, A. naponense and Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899 were identified. Although most of the tick-host associations found in this study have been previously reported, this is the first report of adults of A. tigrinum p...