Assessing the potential distribution of jaguar in Argentina

CUYCKENS, GRIET A.E., PEROVIC, PABLO G. & TOGNELLI, MARCELO F.

Mendoza, Argentina

Congreso; International Mammalogical CongressJaguar is the largest felid species of the American continent and considered near threatened by the IUCN (2008). Its present distribution is reduced to 46% of its original range, and the species is alre; 2009

Jaguar  is  the  largest  felid  species  of  the American  continent  and  considered  near  threatened  by  the  IUCN  (2008).  Its  present distribution is reduced to 46% of its original range, and the species is already extinct from Uruguay, Chile, and El Salvador.  In Argentina it only persists in 10-15% of its original distribution and it faces extinction problems. In Argentina, it occurs in three disjoint areas: the Yungas region in the northwest, the Atlantic forest in the northeast, and the Chaco region in north-central Argentina. However, its distribution is only known from spotted records throughout its range. As the species is endangered in Argentina, it iscrucial to know its distribution to establish conservation priorities. In this study, we extrapolate the relation between presence points of jaguar and environmental variables using the software MaxEnt to present a probability distribution map for the species in Argentina. We ran the model 100 times, randomly splitting the data into 75% to calibrate the model and 25% to test it. Of the total potential distribution in Argentina, less than 10% is within protected areas. Some areas of high probability of occurrence are represented in protected areas (Yungas Biosphere Reserve, Iguazu National Park). However, very little of its distribution is under protection in the central portion of its range (Chaco region). We hope that this map will help direct new survey studies and provide guidance to conservation managers and decision makers.