Occupancy and relative abundance of pumas in Torres del Paine National Park and neighboring ranches
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Date
2023
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Abstract
Understanding the habitat preferences of top predators is crucial for effective conservation in dynamic ecosystems. The puma (Puma concolor) plays a pivotal role in Chilean Patagonia. Pumas are the top predator in Patagonia, its vulnerability has cascading effects throughout the entire community. This study aims to investigate the ecological features influencing puma habitat use at Torres del Paine National Park and neighboring areas, exploring how these factors impact the species relative abundance and occupancy across different seasons and types of habitats. The study utilized two grids of camera traps between 2019 and 2021, a period largely affected by restricted COVID lockdown, providing a unique opportunity to study pumas with minimal human influence. Hierarchical models were employed to study habitat use preferences and occupancy patterns of pumas in Patagonia. Findings from our research reveal a positive correlation between puma abundance and occupancy with Steppe, Shrubland, and flat areas. In contrast, there was a negative correlation with forest and snow. Intriguingly, prey abundance, specifically hare (Lepus europaeus) and guanaco (Lama guanicoe), did not contribute to the best models. However, their activity patterns exhibited a high overlap with pumas. This study highlights the importance of habitat features in the ecology of pumas as ambush killer in Chilean Patagonia.
Description
Tesis (Magíster en Recursos Naturales )--Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2023
Keywords
Puma, Mountain lion, Occupancy, Activity patterns, Chilean Patagonia, Steppe, Species overlap