Ecology and conservation of the jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Cerrado grasslands of central Brazil

A study reveals that the jaguar population in Emas National Park (ENP), a critical Cerrado reserve, is highly isolated and vulnerable to extinction due to its small size. Researchers estimated a jaguar density of 0.3-0.6 individuals per 100 km² using camera trapping data and spatially explicit models, which account for animal movement more accurately than traditional methods. The study also found that jaguars in ENP exhibit strong selection for giant anteaters as a primary prey, aligning with an optimal foraging model that predicts this preference due to its profitability. Additionally, the research demonstrated resource partitioning between jaguars and pumas, with jaguars dominating dense habitats within the park while pumas, being more generalist, are frequently found outside ENP boundaries. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing small population isolation and identifying potential dispersal corridors for jaguar conservation in the Cerrado.

Sollmann, R. (2011). Ecology and conservation of the jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Cerrado grasslands of central Brazil. Freie Universität Berlin. https://doi.org/10.17169/REFUBIUM-15664