IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group Library

IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library

View printer friendly
Astete, S.; Sollmann, R.; Silveira, L.
Comparative ecology of jaguars in Brazil
2008 Cat News (Special Issue 4): 9-14
To understand the ecology of the jaguar in Brazil, we compared its diet, home range, abundance, activity patterns and habitat use among biomes, using the existing literature. Jaguars preferably feed on medium to large sized prey, but can adapt to the existing fauna in the different biomes. Mean home ranges vary from 49.4 km2 (females, Pantanal) to 265 km2 (males, Cerrado). Density values range from 2.00 individuals/100km2 in the Cerrado to 6.7 individuals/100km2 in the Pantanal. In general, jaguars show a preferably crepuscular-nocturnal activity, but can also be active during the day. Across the different biomes, the species uses more closed vegetation associated with water and avoids agriculture and pasture lands. While there is still a lack of studies in the Amazon, Cerrado and the Caatinga, the results provide insight into the species' adaptability, as well as baseline information for landscape scale jaguar conservation efforts.
	PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here