Ecological traits explain wild felid responses to human-modified landscapes in Brazil: An open-data approach for conservation

Author(s)

Alegre, Vanesa Bejarano ; Sepulvida, Raissa ; Oshima, Julia Emi de Faria ; Azevedo, Fernanda Cavalcanti ; Kanda, Claudia Zukeran ; Morato, Ronaldo G. ; Ribeiro, Milton Cezar

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biological Conservation; v. 311, p. 12-pg., 2025-11-25.

Abstract

Understanding how wild felids respond to human-modified landscapes is critical for designing effective conservation strategies, yet comparative assessments across species remain scarce in tropical regions. Here, we assess the habitat selection and road sensitivity of nine wild felid species in Brazil using an integrative and scalable framework based entirely on open-access data. We compiled over 14,000 cleaned occurrence records and modelled habitat associations using generalized linear models across three spatial scales (5, 15, and 30 km). Species were grouped into three ecological categories: generalists, flexible specialists, and strict specialists, based on their ecological plasticity. Our results reveal marked interspecific variation in habitat preferences and responses to roads. While generalists like Puma concolor and Herpailurus yagouaroundi showed higher tolerance to anthropogenic environments, others like Leopardus geoffroyi exhibited more restricted patterns. Flexible specialists like Panthera onca and Leopardus pardalis avoided roads but used heterogeneous natural landscapes. Strict forest specialists (L. wiedii, L. guttulus, L. tigrinus) were highly dependent on forest cover and generally avoided open habitats. Notably, road effects were species-specific and not always aligned with ecological classification. Our findings emphasize that functional classification can aid in anticipating species vulnerabilities, but conservation actions must be tailored to species-level responses. This study highlights the potential of open biodiversity data to inform large-scale conservation planning for Neotropical carnivores, especially in data-poor regions. (AU)

• 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: 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: 20/07586-4 - Movement ecology of the neotropical apex predator and their interplay with preys
• Grantee: Vanesa Fabiola Bejarano Alegre
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• 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: 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: 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: 19/04851-1 - Influence of landscape structure in movement patterns and the population density of the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)
• Grantee: Claudia Zukeran Kanda
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• 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: 16/11595-3 - Influence of landscape structure in movement patterns and population density of the Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous)
• Grantee: Claudia Zukeran Kanda
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/13037-3 - Movement ecology of the neotropical apex predator through different habitats and their interplay with preys
• Grantee: Vanesa Fabiola Bejarano Alegre
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• 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: 21/02132-8 - 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: 21/08534-0 - Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services: LTER Corridor of Cantareira Mantiqueira
• Grantee: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants