Characterization of the ecological corridor in the Coastal Atlantic Forest regarding the occurrence of jaguar (Panthera onca)

Author(s)

Erica Vanessa Maggiorini

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2013-08-02

Examining board members

Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz; Sandra Maria Cintra Cavalcanti; Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato

• Advisor: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz

Abstract

Currently, there are 90 areas identified as priority for the survival of the jaguar. The Atlantic Forest, one of the five most threatened hotspots in the world, is one of these high priority areas for the conservation of this species. Due to a lack of basic information on the jaguar in this biome, this study aimed to characterize the occurrence of the species in the Coastal Atlantic Forest region,and indicate suitable areas for its occurrence. We carried out interviews with local residents where jaguars have been sighted. We made a correlation analysis of these data with environmental variables (altitude, declivity, distance to roads, population density, density of drainage system, percentage of forest, distance to urban areas and presence of conservation units) to help identify the important areas for the conservation of the species. Moreover, we generated occupancy models (OM) and species distribution models (SDM) to identify suitable areas for the occurrence of jaguars in the study site. From May 2010 to June 2011, we carried out five interviews in each of 111 quadrants of 90 km2, totaling 577 interviews in 181 days. The variables that were significant for jaguar occurrence in the study site were: distance to urban areas, percentage of forest and altitude. The occupancy models show that 93% of the total area was used by jaguars and detectability corresponded to approximately 30%. Distance to urban areas was the main co-variable. The species distribution models considered refined reports of direct sighting of jaguars and footprints (N = 300) and refined reports of direct sighting (N = 56). The two selected models were satisfactory (AUC = 0.979 ± 0.0021 and 0.9851 ± 0.0032), with acceptable omission error (0.20 and 0.24) and significant (p = 0). Together, these models allowed the characterization of the Coastal Atlantic Forest in the state of São Paulo as a suitable environment for the jaguar. Interviews are a possible method to register the ocurrence of the jaguar and use it in occupancy and distribution modeling of the species, allowing the identification of important areas for the its conservation in the study area. Areas that deserve special attention are: the Caraguatatuba, São Sebastião and Picinguaba core areas of the PESM, the PN da Serra da Bocaina, PECB, PEI, PETAR, PERT, EE Juréia-Itatins EE de Guaraqueçaba and the area between Juquiá (SP) and Tapiraí (SP). The region of the Cubatão core area of the PESM that is unsuitable for jaguar occurrence needs urgent actions to minimize further antropic impacts thus keeping this area from becoming a barrier to the dispersal of the jaguar within the biome. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/14293-1 - Characterization of the ecological corridor of the Atlantic Coast for the occurrence of the jaguar (Panthera onca)
• Grantee: Erica Vanessa Maggiorini
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master