Summer habitat use and activity patterns of wild boar Sus scrofa in rangelands of central Argentina

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206513
• Publication Date: 2018-10-24T19:07:23Z
• Authors: Nicolás Caruso; Alejandro E. J. V...; Christopher L. Bu...; Estela M. Luengos...; Diego Birochio; Emma B. Casanave
• Keywords: Wild boar; Camera trap; Shrubland; Occupancy; Habitat Fragmentation

Biological invasions are one of the main components human-caused global change and their negative impact on invaded ecosystems have long been recognized. Invasive mammals, in particular, can threaten native biodiversity cause economic impacts region where they introduced, often through a wide range conflicts with humans. Although wild boar, Sus scrofa, is considered by IUCN as 100 invasive species most damaging to world, Argentina there only few studies focused its ecology them conducted protected areas. In this study, we evaluated effect several factors related human disturbance, landscape composition, degree fragmentation presence potential competitor predator habitat use boar using data from camera traps site-occupancy modeling. Additionally, described daily activity pattern studied level overlap both predator. The sampling effort totaled 7,054 trap days. Farm density, proportion shrubland grassland bushes were detection variables included supported model whereas capture rate Pampas fox Lycalopex gymnocercus occupancy model. However, was variable that showed statistically significant support averaged model, indicating area significantly negatively affected grass cover. Wild boars mostly nocturnal, more between 21:00 3:00 peak around midnight. high low puma Puma concolor. Despite being introduced decades ago, study first landscape-scale research carried out an agricultural based camera-trapping data. Our contributes valuable information could be used design strategies reduce population or minimize damage caused Argentina.