Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Density in Central Amazonia

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154624
• Publication Date: 2016-05-18T17:40:15Z
• Authors: Daniel Gomes da R...; Rahel Sollmann; Emiliano Esterci ...; Renata Ilha; Cedric K. W. Tan
• Keywords: Male; Nonbiological Model; 0106 biological sciences; Ocelot; Felidae; Population Size; General Science & Technology; Rain; Science; Dry Season; 530; 01 natural sciences; Population Distribution; Animals; Comparative Study; Controlled Study; Animalss; Population Density; Latitude; Environmental Factor; Ecology; Brasil; Q; R; Health Survey; Biological Sciences; 15. Life on land; Nonhuman; Geographic Distribution; Environmental Management; Population Surveillance; Medicine; Female; Season; Spatial Capture Recapture Model; Environmental Sciences; Brazil; Research Article

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are presumed to be the most abundant of the wild cats throughout their distribution range and to play an important role in the dynamics of sympatric small-felid populations. However, ocelot ecological information is limited, particularly for the Amazon. We conducted three camera-trap surveys during three consecutive dry seasons to estimate ocelot density in Amanã Reserve, Central Amazonia, Brazil. We implemented a spatial capture-recapture (SCR) model that shared detection parameters among surveys. A total effort of 7020 camera-trap days resulted in 93 independent ocelot records. The estimate of ocelot density in Amanã Reserve (24.84 ± SE 6.27 ocelots per 100 km2) was lower than at other sites in the Amazon and also lower than that expected from a correlation of density with latitude and rainfall. We also discuss the importance of using common parameters for survey scenarios with low recapture rates. This is the first density estimate for ocelots in the Brazilian Amazon, which is an important stronghold for the species.