The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon
2022 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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The dominant mesopredator and savanna formations shape the distribution of the rare northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in the Amazon
de Oliveira, T. G.; Fox-Rosales, L. A.; Paemelaere, E. A. D. & de Barros Ferraz, K. M. P. M. (2022)
Scientific Reports, 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21412-z
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Details
- Authors
- de Oliveira, Tadeu G.; Fox-Rosales, Lester A.; Paemelaere, Evi A. D.; de Barros Ferraz, Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi
- Abstract
- Abstract Understanding the distribution patterns of threatened species is central to conservation. The Amazonian distribution of the northern tiger cat (N-tiger cat, Leopardus tigrinus ) and its interspecific relationship with the ocelot, its potential intraguild killer, are intriguing. Here, we combined presence/absence records with species distribution models (SDMs) to determine N-tiger cat occurrence in the Amazon. We also modeled ocelot density from 46 published estimates. The N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon was negatively influenced by ocelot density and net primary productivity and positively influenced by savannas and precipitation in the driest month. The best-fitting model predicted highly patchy N-tiger cat occurrence over an area of 236,238.67 km 2 , almost exclusively in savanna enclaves. Additionally, 312,348 camera trap-days at 49 sites in the Amazon revealed no N-tiger cats. The ocelot densities were significantly higher in areas with denser vegetation cover and warmer habitats, with predicted densities ≥ 0.6 ind/km 2 throughout most of the biome. The lowest ocelot densities (≤ 0.06 ind/km 2 ) were observed along the predicted range of N-tiger cats. Our findings highlight that the N-tiger cat’s presence in the Amazon is restricted to savannas and highly influenced by ocelot density, emphasizing the importance of including species interactions in SDMs.
- Issue Date
- 2022
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- eISSN
- 2045-2322
- Language
- English