Use, habitat selection and jaguar movement in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biome: a comparative analysis

• Grant number: 13/10029-6
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato
• Grantee: Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros (CENAP). Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBIO). Atibaia , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Beatriz de Mello Beisiegel ; Cláudia Bueno de Campos ; Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz

Abstract

Top vertebrate predators are key elements in food web and most of species have been declining through their distributions. We will use a top predator, the jaguar (Panthera onca), as focal species for identifying high priority areas and designing corridors at the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil, where the species is critically endangered. We will study, by GPS-satellite telemetry system, five animals on each biome. After determining movement pattern, habitat use and selection we will create a permeability matrix that will be used for designing a connectivity corridor, considering the characteristics of each biome.In addition, habitat preference will provide information for identifying high priority areas for conservation. In this way, we will have a map with priority actions for biodiversity conservation in the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes. (AU)