Jaguar movement database: a GPS-based movement dataset of an apex predator in the Neotropics

MORATO, RONALDO G. ET AL 200 AUTORES; THOMPSON, JEFFREY J.; PAVIOLO, AGUSTIN; CRUZ, PAULA; QUIROGA, VERONICA A.; COSTA, SEBASTIAN A.; ARRABAL, JUAN P.; VANDERHOEVEN, EZEQUIEL; DI BLANCO, YAMIL E.

ECOLOGY

ECOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Año: 2018 vol. 99 p. 1691 - 1691

0012-9658

The field of movement ecology has rapidly grown during the last decade, with importantadvancements in tracking devices and analytical tools that have provided unprecedented insights intowhere, when, and why species move across a landscape. Although there has been an increasing emphasison making animal movement data publicly available, there has also been a conspicuous dearth in theavailability of such data on large carnivores. Globally, large predators are of conservation concern. However,due to their secretive behavior and low densities, obtaining movement data on apex predators isexpensive and logistically challenging. Consequently, the relatively small sample sizes typical of large carnivoremovement studies may limit insights into the ecology and behavior of these elusive predators. Theaim of this initiative is to make available to the conservation-scientific community a dataset of 134,690locations of jaguars (Panthera onca) collected from 117 individuals (54 males and 63 females) tracked byGPS technology. Individual jaguars were monitored in five different range countries representing a largeportion of the species? distribution. This dataset may be used to answer a variety of ecological questionsincluding but not limited to: improved models of connectivity from local to continental scales; the use ofnatural or human-modified landscapes by jaguars; movement behavior of jaguars in regions not representedin this dataset; intraspecific interactions; and predator-prey interactions. In making our datasetpublicly available, we hope to motivate other research groups to do the same in the near future. Specifically,we aim to help inform a better understanding of jaguar movement ecology with applicationstowards effective decision making and maximizing long-term conservation efforts for this ecologicallyimportant species. There are no costs, copyright, or proprietary restrictions associated with this data set.When using this data set, please cite this article to recognize the effort involved in gathering and collatingthe data and the willingness of the authors to make it publicly available.