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

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

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. The density (mean ± SE) of the species at the park ranged from 1.2 ±0.3 to 2.9 ±1.4 individuals km-2, 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 still be detected in the area 2 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 was 1:1.4, whereas at the ranches it was 1:0.8. The capture success of sympatric pampas cats Leopardus colocolo and jaguarundis Puma yagouaroundi was