Felid activity at artificial water troughs in a tropical forest in southeastern Mexico

Artificial water troughs serve as critical management tools for sustaining felid populations during prolonged droughts, with visitation rates increasing significantly in dry years. A five-year camera-trap study at the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve revealed that pumas and ocelots were the most frequent users of these water sources, while margays were rarely detected. Felid activity was predominantly crepuscular or nocturnal, with jaguars showing greater temporal overlap with pumas than with ocelots, suggesting potential interspecific avoidance. These findings highlight the importance of water provisioning strategies in tropical ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of climate change on apex and mesopredator populations.

Sánchez-Pinzón, K., Contreras-Moreno, F. M., Jesús-Espinosa, D., Méndez-Tun, J., Cruz-Romo, L., Petrone, S., Flores-Martínez, J. J., Lavariega, M., Sánchez-Cordero, V., & Bautista-Ramírez, P. (2025). Felid activity at artificial water troughs in a tropical forest in southeastern Mexico. Therya, 16(2), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-25-6192