Under pressure: suitable areas for neotropical cats within an under protected biodiversity hotspot

Author(s)

Ribeiro-Souza, Paula ; Haji, Julio ; Oshima, Julia ; Lima, Fernando ; Lima-Silva, Barbara ; Pires, Jose ; Ribeiro, Milton ; Graipel, Mauricio

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS-SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT; v. 34, p. 13-pg., 2024-03-04.

Abstract

Understand which factors influence the distribution of feline species can contribute to better planning of conservation strategies in a biodiversity hotspot. We modeled the potential distribution of seven cat species occurring in the Atlantic Forest (AF). Here, we combined climatic and landscape perspectives to determine the most suitable areas considering the taxonomic richness of these cats. We also assessed the ability of fully protected areas (FPAS) to protect these cat species. The results indicated that only 30% of the AF remnants are suitable for all species. Areas with low species richness were located in Argentina and northeastern Brazil. For taxonomic richness, the Serra do Mar (45.89%) and the Araucaria (27.90%) sub-regions had the highest suitable areas, followed by the Interior sub-region (21.89%). The Brejos Nordestinos and Pernambuco sub-regions had less than 1% suitability. Considering taxonomic richness, only 9% of suitable areas are covered by FPAs. Leopardus emiliae (1.37%) and Panthera onca (1.97%) had the lowest values of suitable areas covered by FPAs. The other species of cats are also under low protection (L. guttulus = 5.38%, L. wiedii = 5.71%, Herpailurus yagouaroundi = 6.70%, L. pardalis = 3.85%, and Puma concolor = 4.94%). We reveal that a low percentage of suitable areas are currently fully protected. This study also provides important conservation measures to be implemented in different AF sub-regions. These findings may help in the planning, maintenance, and implementation of FPAs through restoration programs and the establishment of ecological corridors. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/08534-0 - Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services: LTER Corridor of Cantareira Mantiqueira
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change
• Grantee: Leonor Patricia Cerdeira Morellato
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 21/08322-3 - Visual analytics of environmental data collected with passive acoustic monitoring
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Ferreira de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/02132-8 - Assessing turbine collision hazard for the Lear's macaw and four vulture species in the Caatinga
• Grantee: Julia Emi de Faria Oshima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/06668-0 - Primate resilience in an anthropogenic landscape
• Grantee: Laurence Marianne Vincianne Culot
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 20/01779-5 - Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: agroecosystem effects on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function maintenance
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/10195-0 - Contribution of payment for ecosystem services on multi-dimensions within Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/50421-2 - New sampling methods and statistical tools for biodiversity research: integrating animal movement ecology with population and community ecology
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/10760-1 - Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a synthesis on the effect of agriculture expansion within Cerrado and Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• FAPESP's process: 14/23132-2 - Movement ecology and spatial distribution of a large herbivore in heterogeneous tropical landscapes
• Grantee: Julia Emi de Faria Oshima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate