The use of camera traps for estimating abundance and studying the ecology of jaguars (Panthera onca)

Camera trap data were used for the first time to test hypotheses about the mechanisms of coexistence of jaguars and pumas and about the social system of jaguars by investigating their spatio-temporal distribution. It was shown that jaguars and pumas were predominantly nocturnal with substantial inter-specific spatial overlap but did not occupy the same space at the same time. It was also found that jaguars leave forest trails more frequently than pumas. Jaguar captures were strongly biased towards males, due in part to males being more active and moving further than females. The spatial distribution of male jaguars was characterised by extensive range overlap. There was no stability in occupancy, or evidence of avoidance between males. The role of scrape-marking behaviour in jaguar and puma social systems was investigated. Scrapes were clustered along trails in spatially stable ‘hot-spots’. Monitoring through time revealed that scrapes elicit counter-scraping nearby, probably be conspecifics. Camera data showed that scrapes were mostly associated with puma captures. There was no evidence that higher scrape frequencies were associated with particular individuals. Combined sign and camera surveys were deployed to investigate whether camera trap data can measure the relative abundance of prey species of jaguars and pumas. Pre species varied greatly in their use of trails, rendering camera traps unreliable for applications of prey. A total of 450 scats were collected over 3 years to determine jaguar and puma diet. This is one of the largest diet studies on large neotropical cats. Spatial and temporal variation in diet was found across the CBWS, indicating that short-term diet studies in small areas should be interpreted with care.