Causes of mortality in a Geoffroy`s cat population-a long-term survey using diverse recording methods

JAVIER A. PEREIRA; NATALIA G. FRACASSI ; VIRGINIA RAGO ; HEBE FERREYRA ; CAROLINA A. MARULL ; DENISE MCALOOSE ; MARCELA M. UHART

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2010 vol. 56 p. 939 - 942

1612-4642

Abstract We present quantitative data on the impact ofdifferent causes of mortality in a Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardusgeoffroyi) population inhabiting a protected area andadjacent cattle ranches in central Argentina. BetweenDecember 2000 and January 2009, we used three methodsto collect data on causes of mortality in both the park andthe ranches: (1) information obtained from 35 radio-collared Geoffroy’s cats monitored from 1 to 19 months;(2) a systematic survey of the areas to find non-collareddead animals; and (3) interviews of qualified informants.Deaths of radio-collared individuals in the park were due topredation by puma (Puma concolor) or starvation, whereasdeaths in the ranches were attributed to starvation andpredation by domestic dogs. The death of eight emigrantcats was attributed mainly to poaching. Cause of death of39 non-collared Geoffroy’s cats was determined; deaths inthe ranches were mainly due to predation by domestic dogsand poaching, whereas deaths in the park were attributed topredation by puma, poaching, and vehicle collision.Grouping all sources of information, human-related mor-tality accounted for most (62%) of Geoffroy’s cat deathsrecorded during this study, with poaching and predation bydogs being the main causes of mortality. This study inGeoffroy’s cats is the first long-term survey of causes ofmortality for a population of a small felid species in SouthAmerica.