Efecto de la abundancia de presas silvestres sobre la depredación de ganado por felinos en el sur de méxico

Abstract

The carnivores play a fundamental role in the dynamics of ecosystem influencing the abundance of prey species as a factor cushion their populations. Large populations of felines have been reduced by habitat loss, overfishing of their prey and hunting. The relative abundance of mammals are attributes of the population whose evaluation evidence its possible spatial and temporal variation serving as an indicator of population status The objective was to estimate the relative abundance of prey for the jaguar (Panthera onca) and their activity patterns . The information was obtained by monitories through camera traps of potential prey for jaguars in the area of Laguna de Terminos and The Reserva de la Biosfera de Calakmul between 2012 and 2013, sampling in two seasons. The relative abundance (IAR) was calculated with the total independent photographic records between sampling effort for one hundred days trap. For activity patterns, all independent records of the sampling stations were considered during periods of twenty four hours a day, spaced at intervals of 2 hours. IAR results obtained in the two study areas the most abundant species were small mammals such as coati (Nasua narica), tlacuache (Dasyprocta sp.) and deer (Masama temama); in the birds family were the pheasant (Crax rubra) and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) were the most representative. Regarding the analysis of activity patterns of prey, it was observed that there is a correlation between body size and behavior, noting that big animals require higher energy requirements and more time food searching, are active both day and night . Unlike animals less than 10 kg which avoid the risk of predation. As was the case of the association of activity between jaguar and deer in the Laguna de Terminos area, and armadillo in Calakmul area. Based on the above it is concluded that the activity schedules of prey, influence the behavior pattern and feeding jaguar.