Participatory networks for large-scale monitoring of large carnivores: Pumas and jaguars of the Upper Paraná atlantic forest

Most large carnivores are secretive and threatened, and these characteristics pose problems for research on, and monitoring of, these species across extensive areas. Participatory monitoring, however, can be a useful tool for obtaining long-term data across large areas. Pumas Puma concolor and jaguars Panthera onca are the largest predators in the threatened Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest. To survey the presence of these two species we established a participatory network of volunteers and a partnership with researchers in the three countries that share the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay). We trained participants in simple methods of collecting faeces and track imprints of large felids. Between 2002 and 2008 > 100 volunteers helped with monitoring, obtaining 1,633 records identified as pumas or jaguars across c. 92,890 km 2. We confirmed jaguar presence in a large section of the Misiones Green Corridor in Argentina and in the largest protected areas of Brazil and Paraguay. Pumas exhibited a wider distribution, being recorded throughout Misiones province in Argentina and in some areas of Brazil and Paraguay where jaguars were not detected. Both species, and especially jaguars, were detected mainly in the few remaining medium and large forest fragments in this Forest. Although these carnivores are often in conflict with local people, their charisma and cultural significance makes them flagship species that motivated the participation of volunteers and institutions. Participatory monitoring allowed coverage of a vast area at relatively low cost whilst enhancing collaborative management policies among people and institutions from three countries.Fil: de Angelo, Carlos Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Paviolo, Agustin Javier. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Rode, Daniela. Fundación Vida Silvestre; ArgentinaFil: Cullen, Laury. Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; BrasilFil: Sana, Denis. Instituto Pró-Carnívoros; BrasilFil: Cachuba Abreu, Kaue. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Laboratorio de Biogeográfia; BrasilFil: Xavier da Silva, Marina. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Bertrand, Anne-Sophie. Rede Verde Conservation Network; BrasilFil: Haag, Taiana. Universidade Federal de Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul. Faculdade de Biociências. Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular; BrasilFil: Lima, Fernando. Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; BrasilFil: Ricieri Rinaldi, Alcides. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Laboratório de Biodiversidade, Conservação e Ecologia de Animais Silvestres; BrasilFil: Fernàndez, Sixto. Fundación Moisés Bertoni; ParaguayFil: Ramírez, Fredy. Fundación Moisés Bertoni; ParaguayFil: Velazquez, Myriam. Fundación Moisés Bertoni; ParaguayFil: Corio, Cristian Hernan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Hasson, Esteban Ruben. Laboratorio de Evolución. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Di Bitetti, Mario Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología Subtropical.; Argentin