Density, relative abundance and activity patterns of Leopardus pardalis (Carnivora: Felidae) in San Pablo Natural and Multiple Use Reserve, Yungas of Tucumán Densidad, abundancia relativa y patrones de actividad de Leopardus pardalis (Carnivora: Felidae) en la Reserva Natural y de Usos Múltiples San Pablo, Yungas de Tucumán

FROHLICH, FLAVIA VIRGINIA; NANNI, ANA SOFÍA

Acta Zoológica Lilloana

Fundación Miguel Lillo

Año: 2023 vol. 67 p. 195 - 215

0065-1729

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is one of the 11 species of wild felids in Argentina and it has recently been categorized as “Vulnerable” (VU) in the country, reporting a 25% population decrease in the Yungas ecoregion. The aim of this study was to determine the relative abundance, density, and activity patterns of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and to characterize the assemblage of medium-large mammals along an altitudinal gradient (500 to 1400 m a.s.l.) in the Yungas of Tucumán, within a 3000 hectare private protected area. We established 10 sampling sites separated from each other by 500 to 900 m. We placed two facing camera traps at each site to identify ocelot individuals through distinctive marks. The sampling effort was 1408 trap-days, and we recorded 11 medium-large mammal species (nine native species and two exotic species, the domestic dog and the European hare). The estimated density of ocelots was 15,2 ind/100km2, a similar value to that obtained in the Paraná Forest of Misiones (17,6 ind/100 km2), which requires further sampling effort to be corroborated. This study is a first assessment of the population status of the ocelot, and it also provides an important contribution to the baseline of the private reserve.