Capybaras and cougars spatial ecology across human-influenced landscapes

• Grant number: 19/10005-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz
• Grantee: Beatriz Lopes
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/18046-7 - Capybaras, ticks, and spotted fever, AP.TEM

Abstract

Human influenced landscapes are threatening the biodiversity. Nevertheless, some resilient species can still live in these areas and adapt to them. Among these species showing adaptations, capybaras can reach a high demographic density and cougars are the only top-predator remaining in these landscapes. Both species are cause of conflicts with human population, since they are found very close to human settlements. For being the greater predator found in human-influenced landscapes in the State of São Paulo, cougars are used to be the natural predator of capybaras. To describe this association, this study suggest to monitor these two species by GPS collar in three cities in São Paulo and aims to analyze the spatial ecology for both species and the predator/prey interaction. The animals will be captured and outifitted with the GPS collar, that will collect location for both species at the same time. The home range will be estimated by "Kernel Autocorrelated Estimator", using "CTMM" package in software R. The activity pattern will be analysed by the package "Ltraj" and anlso by a software developed by "Lotek Wireless Inc", the collar manufacturer. The interaction between capybaras and cougars will be estimated by the interaction coefficient based on the use frenquency in the shared home range. Finally, the statistic analyses will be done by the "Bayesian fixed-effect one-way ANOVA" using "Rjags" packagens in software R. Through this study, it is expected to give informations about the biology and ecology of both species, that can help the development of management practices of species and habitats to reduce the conflicts with humans and to suggest actions for the conservation of cougars, a threatened specie. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LOPES, Beatriz. Population dynamics of capybaras in human-modified landscapes and its relationship with Brazilian spotted fever. 2022. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.