IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Bartelega, O.F. | |
| Effect of area, quantity of habitat and type of matrix on diet of Margay _(Leopardus weidii)_ | |
| 2015 Full Book | |
Since the colonization of the country many forest areas have been modified by human actions. With the breakthrough in the agriculture field there was an increasing in fragmentation and habitat loss in addition to the implantation of monocultures matrix that permeate the remaining forest fragments. This can cause changes in the availability of various resources due to species extinction, travel difficulty on the environment and access to resource. This can affect feeding patterns of certain species that lies in these spaces. For the assessment of these changes, indicator species are commonly used. The _Leopardus wiedii _species is a predator animal, sensitive to changes in their natural environment. Therefore, understanding how environmental changes influence its feeding habits can infer the degree of disturbance in forest fragments. At the same time, we can also better understand the pattern of occurrence and consumption of prey. In this context, this study had two objectives: (1) analyse the diet of Margayïs (_L. wiedii_) in order to contribute with knowledge about the species that is still not much described in the literature, and (2) to correlate the food items with landscape structure in the vicinity of sampling, seeking to understand how the spatial heterogeneity can influence the feeding behaviour of this species. Stool samples were collected in eight forest fragments in the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (MRC), Sao Paulo. The samples were screened (N = 50), followed by the classification of food components into categories, including fur, feathers, reptile scales and other food items from the cat's diet. To meet the second objective, the food items found in the samples were correlated with the fragments, with the amount of forest habitats within 250, 500 and 1000 meters and the predominant matrix type in the region. Mammals (100%) were the most commonly consumed prey by Margay, followed by birds (52%) and reptiles (22%). The matrix influence the frequency of consumption of some groups of prey, and the frequency of occurrence of reptile's consumption was negatively correlated with the percentage of eucalyptus matrix. The diversity of food items showed a positive relationship with decreasing area of the fragments and the loss of habitat, signalling that the cat may be adopting a more generalistic habit. Changes in the animal's habits can have consequences for the success of the species in the environment, since scarcity or change of resources can lead to a local or regional extinction of the species, which would also affect the entire food chain and ecological services related to the animal. |
|
 |
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 |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |