Population density of Geoffroy’s cat in scrublands of central Argentina

PEREIRA, J. A.; DI BITETTI, M. S.; FRACASSI, N. G.; PAVIOLO, A.; DE ANGELO, C. D.; DI BLANCO, Y. E.; NOVARO, A. J.

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY (1987)

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2011 vol. 283 p. 37 - 44

0952-8369

We studied the density of a Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) population in a semiarid scrubland of Argentina, by comparing density estimates obtained during camera trapping surveys in a national park and in nearby cattle ranches in 2006 and 2007-2008. Overall, we obtained 247 pictures of Geoffroy’s cats. Density (mean ± SE) of the species at the park ranged from 1.2 ± 0.3 to 2.9 ± 1.4 individuals per km2, depending on the buffer applied, whereas density estimates at ranches were on average 32% lower. Only 11% of the Geoffroy´s cats identified in 2006 could be still detected in the area two years later, indicating that there was a high turnover of individuals in this population. The sex ratio (M:F) estimated during both surveys at the park were 1:1.4, whereas at the ranches it was 1:0.8. Capture success of sympatric pampas cats (Leopardus colocolo) and jaguarundis (Puma yagouaroundi) was <0.3 records per 100 trap-days, and no evidence of these species was found in the ranches. Geoffroy´s cats seem to be tolerant to some degree of habitat alteration produced by livestock management, and the numerical response of this species in ranches could be largely the result of human persecution and the effects of livestock management on the habitat structure and prey base.