Re-discovering jaguar in remaining coastal Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil by non-invasive DNA analysis

Andiara Silos Moraes De Castro Souza,Leonardo Sartorello,Peter Gransden Crawshaw Jr,Agustin Javier Paviolo,Lilian Elaine Rampim,Bruno Henrique Saranholi,Pedro Manoel Galetti Jr

doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2017-0358

Abstract

Abstract Jaguar populations have been declining in Brazil mostly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with humans, poaching and reduction of prey. This is dramatically true in the Atlantic Forest, where occurrence of this large felid is now restricted to very few remaining areas. We used a non-invasive DNA analysis to search through felid scats collected in the Santa Virginia Unit (SVU) of the Serra do Mar State Park, to test for the potential presence of jaguar there. Our results indicated at least three individuals (two females and one male) inside SVU, thus confirming at least temporary presence of this top predator in this important protected area. It is now crucial to intensify studies in that area and surroundings, to evaluate the status of these individuals and identify conservation needs to urgently improve the prospects for the establishment of a resident population, allowing it to expand to adjoining units of the Serra do Mar State Park and Serra da Bocaina National Park.

Highlights

Jaguar (Panthera onca, Linnaeus 1758) populations have been steadily declining in Brazil, mainly since the mid-1900, due to habitat loss and fragmentation and because of conflicts with humans, from poaching (Zeller 2007, Beisiegel et al 2012) and reduction of its prey (Sanderson et al 2002, Beisiegel et al 2012)
The largest remaining continuous block of Atlantic Forest is situated in the mountains of the Serra do Mar along the Atlantic coast, which in the state of São Paulo, is under protection of Serra do Mar State Park (PESM, acronym in Portuguese)
Representing about 7% of the original extent of Atlantic Forest (AF) (Ribeiro et al 2009), the park is responsible for maintaining a rich biodiversity of this biome (São Paulo 2006)

Summary

Introduction

Jaguar (Panthera onca, Linnaeus 1758) populations have been steadily declining in Brazil, mainly since the mid-1900, due to habitat loss and fragmentation and because of conflicts with humans, from poaching (Zeller 2007, Beisiegel et al 2012) and reduction of its prey (Sanderson et al 2002, Beisiegel et al 2012). Distributed in several biomes in the Neotropical region, the jaguar is the only representative of the Panthera genus in the American continent (Sunquist & Sunquist 2002) and has had its historic distribuiton reduced by 50% during the last 50 years (Sanderson et al 2002, Zeller 2007). Because of the high level of threat, of the high endemism rate and species richness, the Atlantic Forest is considered one of the five hotspots of biodiversity in the world (Myers et al 2000), and is reduced to about 16% of its original area, distributed in thousands of small remaining fragments (Ribeiro et al 2009). Representing about 7% of the original extent of AF (Ribeiro et al 2009), the park is responsible for maintaining a rich biodiversity of this biome (São Paulo 2006). Our results indicated at least three individuals (two females and one male) inside SVU, confirming the occurrence of this key top predator in this important protected area

Material and Methods

Molecular species identification

Individual identification

Results and Discussion

Conflicts of interest