Relationship between vegetation cover and feeding areas of jaguars (Panthera onca) on sea turtles in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

Abstract

Several factors determine the distribution of areas in which jaguars feed on sea turtles. Different studies have evaluated the relationship of feeding sites with the distribution of human activity on the beach, distribution of nesting female turtles, interactions and territorial behaviors among jaguars and scavenger's presence. However, no study has evaluated the relationship of jaguar feeding areas with vegetation cover. We calculate de density of sea turtle's carcasses in plots demarked in Nancite beach at Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. The average of carcasses density was 33.79/ha (CI 95% = 19.12–48.46) and the average percentage of vegetation cover was 55.62% (CI 95% = 41.84–69.41). We found a positive relationship between density of carcasses and percentage of vegetation cover. The variation in the density of carcasses was explained in a 21.4% by the vegetation cover. The vegetation cover contributes to the complex nature of food webs, and describing the relationships of this with food webs can provide relevant information for the design of future studies, wildlife management and conservation.