ecologia comparada e conservação da onça-pintada - Pró-Carnívoros

ABSTRACT
This study raised information on the ecology of jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma
concolor), and their major prey in three distinct Cerrado localities (Parque Nacional das Emas
- GO, Parque Estadual do Cantão – TO, Corredor Cerrado-Pantanal – MS/MT) and, one
Pantanal site (Rio Negro region). The ecology of these two predatores was analyzed regarding
their home range, hábitat, diet and activity patterns. The distribution, abundance, and activity
pattern of the jaguar and puma prey community were studied in all four sites. The results of
this study indicates that jaguar distribution is determined by forest and cerrado (strictu sensu)
hábitats. Its activity pattern is typical of a crespucular-nocturnal species, where it feeds mainly
on large bodied species (average mass 147 kg), such as the white-lipped peccary, tapir, giant-
anteater and capybara. Between the four regions studied the highest abundances rates for the
species was found in Emas National Park. The jaguar is sensible to environmental stresses
caused by antropic activities and its distribution seems to be strongly related to high
abundances of its major preys. The puma represent aproximatley half of the biomass of a
jaguar. Less sensible to human disturbunce, the puma is found in higher abundances and in all
four study sites surveyed in this study. The species uses all Cerrado and Pantanal hábitats
available, however, in fragmented areas such as the Cerrado-Pantanal Corridor it has
preference for Forest hábitat. Its major preys average 17 kg and includes basically collared
peccary, capybara, greater rhea and armadillos. The puma activitiy pattern can also be
described as of a crepuscular-nocturnal, however, it tends to be more nocturnal than the
jaguar. Jaguar and pumas cause negative impacts on domestic livestocks througouht the study
sites, preying on cattle, horses and sheep. However, at least in the Pantanal site studied the
jaguar is responsible for higher predation rate than the puma, while in the surrounding
ranchland of Emas National Park the situation inverts. Both species are highly dependent on
natural conections (corridors) between corservation units of the Cerrado and Pantanal in order
to maintain long-term genetically viable populations.
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