IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Harmsen, B.; Silver, S.; Ostro, L.; Foster, R.; Yua, F. | |
| The Biology of the Jaguar in the Cockscomb Basin, Belize | |
| 2007 Conference Proceeding | |
Beginning with Alan Rabinowitz' seminal study of jaguar in the Cockscomb Basin, Belize, this part of Central America has been a focus of jaguar research and conservation. Progressively expanded protected areas created the first reserve specifically to protect jaguar, and has been the site of ongoing research on jaguar biology since 2002. Initially focused on jaguar abundance surveys within the protected area, additional research objectives in the Cockscomb include jaguar and puma niche partitioning, jaguar territorial behavior, and jaguar/cattle interactions in areas adjacent to the reserve. Five consecutive years of abundance studies have indicated a range of between approximately 8-12 jaguar per 100 sq. kilometers, a high density of jaguars relative to other abundance studies using the same methodology. Minimum sampling area for estimating the effective sample areas was suggested to be approximately 150-200 sq. kilometers. Jaguar densities within the park have been found to be significantly higher than in adjacent, human-dominated areas. Jaguar prey selection follows similar diet studies in other jaguar sites, with some increased emphasis on medium and smaller prey species. Changes in prey selection from 1982 previous to hunting ban in the Cockscomb) to 2004 were also documented, with the list of prey species remaining similar, but diet composition found to have changed. |
|
 |
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) |