Minimum Convex Polygon Method Research Articles

Do aposematic species have larger range sizes? A case study with neotropical poison frogs

AbstractAimAposematic animals, i.e., those that are defended and warn potential predators through signals, are suggested to have resource‐gathering advantages against non‐aposematic ones. We here explore this in a biogeographic framework expecting that aposematic species are better dispersers, which translates into larger geographic range size.LocationSouth America.TaxonPoison frogs (Amphibia; Aromobatidae and Dendrobatidae).MethodsWe use 43 toxic and 26 non‐toxic poison frog species from the lowlands only as representatives of aposematic and non‐aposematic study organisms, respectively. Realised and potential geographic ranges are calculated using minimum convex polygon and species distribution modelling methods, respectively. Accounting for species body size and phylogeny, we test if both range and aposematism are correlated using linear mixed‐effects models.ResultsAposematic and non‐aposematic species neither differ in realised nor in potential geographic range size. There was no effect on body size.Main ConclusionsThe role of aposematism is not yet as clear as suggested and determinants of poison frog range sizes are multifaceted. A more integrative approach is needed using the information on behaviour, predation risk, and reproductive biology to assess the role of aposematism on observed species distributions. Such data are not yet available for most species, neither poison frogs nor other aposematic animals.

Distribution and ranging area of elephant in Simpan Panti Forest, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract. Hassan NHN, Abdullah NM, Norazlimi NA, Saaban S, Yazi MFA. 2023. Distribution and ranging area of elephant in Simpan Panti Forest, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 24: 5731-5738. Home range estimation is one of the most used animal ecology studies using a Geographic Information System (GIS). One adult female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) was fitted with a telemetry satellite collar African Wildlife Tracking (AWT) to determine its home range size distribution through its ranging behaviour and to identify the relationship between the GPS collar location record and the area covered. The home range estimation was determined using GPS collar location data from a satellite telemetry system and analyzed by using the Minimum Convex Polygon methods. GPS collar location data were obtained from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). The movement of elephant data was overlayed with the land use data of the Simpan Panti Forest (Hutan Simpan Panti), Kota Tinggi District, Johor, Malaysia before being exported to ArcGIS Pro software. The ArcGIS Pro software can estimate this Asian elephant home range sizes by using the MCP method for twelve months, from 1 June 2019 until 31 May 2020. The total home range size is 447.17 km². Home range size is estimated to be 31.77 to 303.86 km² in one year. The size of this home range has presumably been impacted by extensive human activities such as highways and settlement areas. So, good and strong management is needed to control this conflict for humans to live in harmony in one area and protect the remaining forest reserve area from expanding to agricultural activity and human development areas. 

Population status, distribution and seasonal range of Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) in a protected savannah area

The genus Equus comprises six species and 22 subspecies. Ethiopia is the only country in the world that has all three surviving species of zebra. The population status, structure, and seasonal range of Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) were studied in the Hallaydeghe Asebot Protected Area (HAPA), southeast Ethiopia, using line transects and silent detection methods. Data were collected from 2021 to 2022 covering both the wet and dry seasons. The seasonal range of Grevy’s zebra was studied using the minimum convex polygon method. We counted 89 and 61 Grevy’s zebra during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The total population size was estimated to be 75 individuals with a 95% confidence interval of 60–90 individuals. The adult to sub-adult ratio was 3.1:1.0 during the wet season and 4:1 during the dry season. The sex ratio of adult female to adult male was 5:1 during the wet season and 4:1 during the dry season. The seasonal range of the species in the HAPA was 477 km2 (n = 89) during the wet season and 711 km2 (n = 61) during the dry season. During the dry season Grevy’s zebra move out of the protected area to the Blen hot spring and its associated wetlands for green grazing and water. Hence, further study is needed on the possibility of incorporating the Blen hot spring and its associated wetlands into the protected area to promote the sustainable conservation of the species in the HAPA.

Home Range and Habitat Selection of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Rural Landscape

Wild boars can cause crop damage and are vectors causing infectious diseases. Thus, population management is essential to mitigate the damage. Because home range and habitat selection is important for the management of target species, accurate spatial data would provide valuable information to establish population management scheme. In this study, we investigated the home range and habitat selection of wild boars and aimed to help implement effective population management. We captured seven wild boars in central Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and monitored each individual from October 2020 to June 2022. We calculated the home range size and investigated environmental characteristics during daytime and nighttime. The home range sizes estimated from the minimum convex polygon method ranged from 0.32 to 28.51 km2. Moreover, wild boars avoided anthropogenic environments during the daytime and selectively used areas in the cropland category during the nighttime. Therefore, wild boars had narrow home ranges depending on the anthropogenic environments. Consequently, wildlife managers could reduce agricultural damage caused by wild boars by managing bamboo forests and abandoned cultivated lands in the rural landscape. For infectious diseases, moreover, they should implement countermeasures against wild boars around areas where infectious diseases are endemic.

Translocation and long-term monitoring of threatened thin-spined porcupines (Chaetomys subspinosus) on the Brazilian coast

With increasing infrastructural development along Brazil’s coast, environmental regulation measures are becoming increasingly necessary in the face of the damage caused by large projects that impact tropical forests. Brazilian legislation supports implementation of translocation programs for impacted fauna, especially threatened species such as the thin-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus (Rodentia, Erethizontidae). Thus, we present a case study of a pioneer translocation program for the thin-spined porcupine in southeastern Brazil. We aimed to analyze the home-range and habitat selection of three translocated porcupines and one resident individual. In addition, we analyzed the success of the translocations. The porcupines were monitored by radiotelemetry for 3–16 months from October 2015 to March 2017 in a mosaic landscape of restinga forests (sandbank forest vegetation) within a eucalyptus matrix. The translocated porcupines had considerably larger home-ranges (14.29–18.36 ha, minimum convex polygon method – MCP) than did the resident animal (1.22 ha – MCP). We observed stabilization in the home-range size curves of the translocated females in the 7th − 9th month of monitoring. All translocated individuals achieved permanence within a preselected area, indicating adaptation to the new area. In addition, individuals showed a clear preference for restinga forests over drained eucalyptus plantations. Thus, our results demonstrate the feasibility of thin-spined porcupine translocations and the importance of maintaining restinga forest remnants outside of protected areas for the conservation and permanence of viable populations of this rodent.

The effect of sampling effort and methodology on range size estimates of poorly-recorded species for IUCN Red List assessments

Geographic range size is the most commonly implemented criterion of species’ extinction risk used in IUCN Red List assessments, especially for poorly-recorded species. IUCN applies two contrasting range size measures to capture different facets of a species’ distribution: Extent of Occurrence (EOO; Criterion B1) is the area bounding all known occurrences and is a proxy for the spatial autocorrelation of risk, while the Area of Occupancy (AOO; Criterion B2) is the area occupied within this boundary and is related to population size at finer grains. Various methods have been proposed to measure both EOO and AOO. We evaluate the impact of applying four methods for each of Criterion B1 and of B2, as well as key parameter choices, on the Red List status of 227 poorly-recorded neotropical pteridophyte species. Between 2 and 100% of species would be considered threatened depending on methodology. The minimum convex polygon method of estimating EOO was relatively robust to sampling effort for all but the least-recorded species. The IUCN-recommended method for estimating AOO of summing occupied 2 × 2 km grid cells was very strongly correlated with the total number of records. It is likely that only a small fraction of species can be adequately assessed using this method, and we recommend caution applying the method to poorly-recorded species in particular, where models predicting occupancy in unsampled areas (e.g. species distribution models) may provide more accurate assessments. It is vital that methodological information is retained with assessments, and comparisons should only be made between assessments utilising equivalent methods.

A preliminary study on home range and daily travel distance of François’ langur in a high-altitude area

François’ langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) is an indicator species living in Karst rocky habitats. To understand the François’ langurs ecological adaptation to high-altitude habitat, we used the field tracking method to collect home-range data and daily travel distance of François’ langur at high-altitude (800–1400 m) areas of Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve between April 2008 and March 2009. The results revealed the following: (1) according to the grid cell method, the home range of François’ langurs was estimated to be 50.7 ha. The area in the winter-spring season was larger than in the summer-autumn season (37.7 vs. 27.7 ha). According to the minimum convex polygon method by GIS, the home range of François’ langurs in the winter-spring season and the summer-autumn season was 123.5 and 68.8 ha, respectively. The whole-year home range of François’ was clearly larger than the grid cell method (140.4 vs. 50.7 ha). (2) The home range of François’ langurs had clear superposition. Langur's core areas were concentrated in three small areas, which only occupied 18.2% of the home range. (3) The langur had a short daily travel distance (230–1115 m) and significant seasonal differences. The summer-autumn season moving distances being obviously shorter than the winter-spring season (517 vs. 785 m). (4) With the decrease in the availability of food resource in winter-spring season, the home range and daily travel distance of François’ langurs significantly increased. (5) Living in the high altitudes, François' langurs tended to form a larger group (≥ 8 individuals), which is larger than other groups at lower altitude, had the larger home range, and had shorter daily travel distance. Our results indicate that colobines’ survival strategies tend to form a larger home range and shorter day-traveling distance to adapt to high-altitude and low-temperature habitat.

Preliminary Insights on the Spatial Ecology, Population Demography, and Sexual Dimorphism of the Critically Endangered Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi)

Sulawesi Forest Turtles (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) are critically endangered and endemic to the island of Sulawesi. We conducted radiotelemetry and capture–mark–recapture to study their spatial ecology, habitat selection, activity patterns, and demography in February–April and June–July, 2019. The average area occupied by 14 turtles using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method was 0.49 ± 0.42 ha (standard deviation [SD]), whereas using the fixed 50% kernel density method averaged 0.076 ± 0.061 ha (SD). Males (mean = 0.53 ± 0.40 ha, N = 7) occupied a larger area (MCP method) than females (mean = 0.44 ± 0.46 ha, N = 7) but the difference was not statistically significant. Turtles took refuge in habitat containing significantly more canopy cover, broadleaf plant cover, and more and deeper ground cover than that in random plots. Males were predominantly active at night and females were exclusively so. We caught 25 adult females, 16 adult males, and 38 unsexed juveniles in two stream sections. Estimated population size (95% confidence intervals) in the lower stream was 17 turtles (15–28) in the wet season and 10 turtles (8–21) in the dry season. The population estimate in the upper stream was 25 (24–33) and 13 (9–28) turtles in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Our study provides important baseline ecological data that can be used to inform future conservation and recovery programs for the species.

Space use of wintering Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in a semi-urban area: a radiotelemetry-based case study

Abstract Space use, which includes the home range and habitat utilisation pattern of individuals for different activities (e.g. foraging, roosting), is one of the fundamental aspects of a species ecology. Hence, knowledge on the different aspects of space use in general is essential to understand the relationship between species and their habitat. Here, we investigated the home range size (using the minimum convex polygon method; MCP) and roosting site selection, using radiotelemetry, in a sedentary passerine species, the Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus). The study was carried out during the non-breeding period (i.e. wintering), in a semi-urban habitat where supplemental feeding was also available. We found that individuals had highly variable home ranges, both in shape and size (mean ± SD of 95% MCP: 6.89 ± 5.73 ha), the location of which was influenced by the presence of bird feeders. Roosting sites of the tracked individuals were largely consistent at an individual level, that is, all birds used the same locations for roosting during the whole tracking period, and the roosting sites of all individuals were located on buildings, except for a few rare occasions. Our results suggest that urbanised habitats can provide multiple benefits for the individuals during the winter in the form of easily accessible resources (e.g. food, roosting place), and individuals readily exploit these resources by adjusting their space use according to their availability.

Time series cross-correlation between home range and number of infected people during the COVID-19 pandemic in a suburban city.

Control of human mobility is one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the imposition of emergency restrictions had significant negative impacts on citizens' daily lives. As vaccination progresses, we need to consider more effective measures to control the spread of the infection. The research question of this study is as follows: Does the control of home range correlate with a reduction in the number of infected people during the COVID-19 pandemic? This study aims to clarify the correlation between home range and the number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ibaraki City. Home ranges are analyzed by the Minimum Convex Polygon method using mobile phone GPS location history data. We analyzed the time series cross-correlation between home range lengths and the number of infected people. Results reveal a slight positive correlation between home range and the number of infected people after one week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding home range length, the cross-correlation coefficient is 0.4030 even at a lag level of six weeks, which has the most significant coefficient. Thus, a decrease in the home range is a weak factor correlated with a reduction in the number of infected people. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by evaluating key public health challenges from the perspective of controliing the spread of the COVID-19 infectuion. Its findings has implications for policy makers, practitioners, and urban scientists seeking to promote urban sustainability.

Abundance and home range of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in northwestern Mexico

Abstract In Mexico, information about ocelots is limited, which hinders the implementation of effective management and conservation measures. The purpose of this research was to provide basic information of population density, relative abundance and home range observed for the species in northwestern Mexico. Systematic sampling was implemented from January to December 2015 using photo-trapping as tool. Fifty-four camera-trap stations (37 double stations) were used, and the resulting grid covered an area of 182 km2. We applied six sampling periods of 59-62 days in each period. Density analysis was based on spatially explicit models and traditional capture-recapture models. The home range was estimated using the minimum convex polygon method. We obtained 135 photographic records of ocelots, of which 17 individuals were identified (five males, four females and eight individuals of undetermined sex). During six study periods, our sampling effort reached 19 710 trap-days. We estimate a capture rate for the study of 6.84 rec./1000 trap-days. The density of ocelots estimated with the Capture module in the MARK program ranged from 1.38 to 2.93 rec./100 km2. The results estimate using the SERC method showed a density of 0.93-3.06 individuals per 100 km2. The ocelots in the Northern Jaguar Reserve (NJR) had an average distribution area of 14.1 km2. The results of this research illustrate the importance of continuing studies of ocelots on the NJR to maintain a long-term viable population for northwestern Mexico.

Nocturnal space and habitat use by Garden Dormice in an urban area in Germany

The Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is currently disappearing from parts of its former range. While its population is declining in many parts of Germany, a stable occurrence is found in the city of Wiesbaden. A radio telemetry study was conducted to investigate nocturnal activity and habitat use. Three males and one female were tracked for six weeks from May to July 2021. Males weighed 85 ± 15 g (n = 6), females 63 ± 8 g (n = 2). Home ranges were calculated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method. Males had larger home range sizes (MCP100: 2.69 ± 1.8 ha, n = 3) than females (0.53 ha, n = 1). The home ranges of males overlapped. Males regularly crossed roads up to 16 m wide. Animals exhibited nocturnal behavior with sporadic activity at dusk. Garden Dormice preferred structures with more than 75 % cover from a bird's eye view and 50 % cover when viewed from the side. Broad hedges were strongly preferred over single shrubs and trees or structures without vegetation. They were used by the animals for foraging, mating, as a place for other interactions, and as protected pathways through the habitat. The smaller home range sizes compared to previous studies may be due to good food availability in the city. Animals also seem to benefit from continuous habitat and high levels of plant cover. Recommended conservation measures include maintaining and promoting broad hedges and habitat connectivity.

Definition of spatial positions within foraging Greater White-fronted Geese flocks from an individual's perspective: Cost-benefit dynamics change with the distance to flock edge

The costs and benefits of group living are not evenly distributed among individuals that occupy different spatial positions within a group (central or peripheral). However, the definitions of central and peripheral positions may artificially mask the true dynamics of cost and benefit of individuals. Using wintering foraging Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) flocks as our study system, we measured individual spatial position within a flock as distance to the flock edge. First, we tested the effects of distance to edge on the antipredation cost and foraging benefit of individual goose using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Flock size and number of neighbors and their interactions with distance to edge were included as fixed effects in GLMMs. Then we used piecewise regression to determine the threshold value of distance to edge to classify central and peripheral individuals. Our results indicated distance to edge significantly affected percent of time spent on vigilance (vigilance time), percent of time spent on foraging (foraging time) and intake rate (pecks/min), whereas other factors had no effects. We found that the critical distance that predicted changes in behavior was around 2.5 ​m. Birds 2.5 ​m or less from the edge of the group were more vigilant, and had less efficient foraging than more central individuals. Behavioral differences between central and peripheral individuals were more easily detected when the birds were classified by the method introduced in this study than by the traditional minimum convex polygon method. Our research provides researchers a dichotomous classification scheme that places individuals into peripheral and central positions from an individual's perspective.

Structure and Home Range Size of Mixed-Species Bird Flocks in a Bamboo Forest in Southwestern Amazonia

Mixed-species flocks of birds are cohesive groups of two or more different species that are kept in formation by systematic behavioral interactions among the members of the flocks. Typically, mixed-species flocks form themselves around a nuclear species, which presents a specific pattern of movement during foraging, and a song that is recognized by the other species. In the understory of Neotropical forests, representatives of the family Thamnophilidae, in particular species of the genus Thamnomanes, have become adapted for the role of nuclear species in mixed-species flocks. In the present study, we describe the mixed-species flocks led by individuals of Bluish-slate Antshrike Thamnomanes schistogynus in a forest dominated by bamboo Guadua sp. in southwestern Brazilian Amazonia. We collected data within a 600 × 600 m grid subdivided into 36 1-ha plots, with a total area of 36 ha. Within this grid, we delimited the home ranges and core areas of the resident mixed-species flocks. We also identified the composition of each flocks, frequency, fidelity of its members and determined the relationship between mixed-species flocks and vegetation structure within the grid. We delimited the home ranges of eight mixed-species flocks. The mean home range, estimated using the Minimum Convex Polygon method, was 3.45 ± 0.17 ha, and estimated using the autocorrelated kernel density estimation method was 3.65 ± 0.15 ha, and the mean core area, 1.14 ± 0.03 ha. The home ranges of the mixed-species flocks led by T. schistogynus in southwestern Amazonia are among the smallest recorded in species of the genus Thamnomanes. We identified 71 different bird species in the mixed-species flocks with a mean of 41.1 ± 2.1. While the geographic distribution of the lead species T. schistogynus coincides almost exactly with that of the bamboo forests of southwestern Amazonia, our results did not indicate any systematic relationship or fidelity between the mixed-species flocks led by this species and the bamboo forest.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Home Range in a Suburban City in the Osaka Metropolitan Area

This study aims to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on home range. The home range is the area that individuals traverse in conducting their daily activities, such as working and shopping. In Japan, the central government declared the first state of emergency in April 2020. This study analyzed the panel data for mobile phone GPS location history from April 2019 to April 2020 in Ibaraki City, Osaka Metropolitan area. The study applied the minimum convex polygon method to analyze the data. The results show that the home range decreased significantly between April 2019 and April 2020. Specifically, the home range in 2020 decreased to approximately 50% of that in 2019 because of COVID-19 infection control measures, preventing people from traveling far from their homes and only allowing them to step outside for the bare minimum of daily activities and necessities. The results suggest that the emergency reduced people’s home ranges to the neighborhood scale. Therefore, it is necessary to consider designing new walkable neighborhood environments after the COVID-19 pandemic era.

Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on the home range size and habitat preference of the Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Abstract: The Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a vulnerable species with decreasing population density from anthropogenic development and habitat loss. To determine the impact of electric utility pole replacement and vegetation maintenance on the home range size and habitat preference of T. carolina carolina, we radio-tagged 13 box turtles and located them weekly from April to November 2019, recording several habitat measurements at each location. We performed a principal component analysis of vegetation data and estimated home range size using 95% minimum convex polygon (MCP), kernel, and Brownian-bridge methods. Our data indicate that turtles prefer shrub cover and avoid rocky areas. While there was no significant difference between male and female home range size, a post hoc analysis dividing females into right-of-way (ROW) and non-ROW groups revealed a significant difference in female home range size, which may result from accessibility of higher-quality nesting sites within the ROW compared with surrounding forest stands.

Population characteristics of Akodon montensis (Sigmodontinae) in response to habitat degradation and food availability.

Small mammal populations can be affected by habitat degradation, causing changes in their abundance, density and movement. Akodon montensis, a persistent host for Orthohantavirus, is a common rodent species in primary and secondary forest habitats and is considered a generalist species. This paper analyzes how habitat degradation and resource availability affect the population characteristics of the species. Six plots were classified into three levels of degradation, with sampling conducted in June and November 2015. After the June sampling, three plots were selected for the increase of food resources for three months, to assess how this factor affects the population. Abundance was estimated with the capture-mark-recapture method and density was estimated by dividing abundance by the effective sampling area. Home range was calculated using the Minimum Convex Polygon method, and the Maximum Distance Traveled as the longest average movement between two sampling stations where an individual was encountered. More degraded habitats supported lower average density and abundance of A. montensis compared to less degraded habitats. Increasing food availability led to increases in abundance in the more degraded habitats and decreases in the least degraded. Changes in home range were most evident, decreasing in the least degraded plots after the increase in resources. The sex ratio did not differ from equity in any plot, nor with respect to any of the factors studied. Population characteristics of the species are determined by several factors, including habitat quality and food distribution and abundance. If changes occur in these factors (either artificially or naturally) then movement, abundance and population density are affected in response to such changes. Although some results were not statistically significant, an apparent interaction was observed between habitat quality and resource availability, thereby influencing the abundance and density of A. montensis.

Post-fledging dependence period, dispersal movements and temporary settlement areas in saker falcons (Falco cherrug)

Abstract Information on mortality rates and their causes in raptors and owls during the post-fledging dependency period (PFDP) and subsequent dispersal is essential for their more effective protection, including more efficient use of funds. Despite the importance of the above data, these data are not yet available for most birds of prey. The study aimed to provide and expand the knowledge in this field for saker falcon. We used satellite telemetry to monitor a total of six young birds since they left the nest boxes. All young birds survived the PFDP, but none survived to adulthood and died during the period of dispersal movements. The PFDP lasted 47 days (median value hereinafter), and the distance of individuals from the nest boxes during this period was 3.2 km (maximum distance 9 km). The area of the home range of the PFDP calculated by the 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) method was 81 km2. During the period of dispersal movements, the monitored individuals set up five temporary settlement areas with an area of 422 km2 according to 100% MCP, where they stayed for 37 days. All individuals’ mean length of movement routes throughout the monitoring period was 3862 km. The main finding of the present study is the fact that none of the monitored individuals survived the dispersal period. At least half of them died due to human activity (electrocution, hunting), which is probably unbearable in the long term for wild populations of most animal species. This shows the need to start eliminating all types of artificial traps (e.g., electrocution, hunting, poisoning, etc.) without delay, thus helping to prevent the decline of populations of many species in the shorter or longer time horizon.

A Camera-Trap Home-Range Analysis of the Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) in Jaipur, India.

Simple SummaryJhalana Reserve Forest (JRF) is engulfed by the city of Jaipur, India, with a human population of 3.9 million. Due to a continuum between human habitation and forests, frequent interactions with wildlife are inevitable. The leopard is the apex predator in JRF, sharing a habitat and resources with the human population. It is imperative to understand and study the leopard ecology to design and implement conservation strategies. We used a simple but effective and non-invasive technique—camera trapping—to identify leopards individually. The data analyzed using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) 100% method helped us estimate their home ranges. The use of camera traps was preferred over radio collaring, considering the permits of the Forest Department. We observed that males have larger home ranges than females. The females established their home ranges in the core area and on the fringes of the reserve. We discovered familial (mother and daughter) establishment of overlapping home ranges adjacent to one another. Three females who established themselves on the fringes were successful mothers raising cubs during the study period. The human population in the villages on the fringe areas share resources with the leopards, demonstrating that coexistence with predators is possible in a human-dominated landscape.The suitability of the camera trap–retrap method was explored for identifying territories and studying the spatial distribution of leopards (Panthera pardus fusca) in the Jhalana Reserve Forest, Jaipur, India. Data from two years (November 2017 to November 2019, N = 23,208 trap-hours) were used to provide estimates of minimum home-range size and overlap. We conducted home-range analysis and estimation, using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method with geographic information system (GIS) tools. We are aware of the limitations and advantages of camera trapping for long-term monitoring. However, the limitations of the research permit allowed only the use of camera traps to estimate the home ranges. A total of 25 leopards were identified (male = 8, female = 17). No territorial exclusivity was observed in either of the sexes. However, for seven females, we observed familial home-range overlaps wherein daughters established home ranges adjacent to or overlapping their natal areas. The median home range, as calculated from the MCP, was 305.9 ha for males and 170.3 ha for females. The median percentage overlap between males was 10.33%, while that between females was 3.97%. We concluded that camera trapping is an effective technique to map the territories of leopards, to document inter- and intraspecific behaviors, and to elucidate how familial relationships affect dispersal.

Distribution update, conservation status and color in life of the rare Amazonian snake, Eutrachelophis papilio Zaher and Prudente 2019 (Serpentes: Xenodontini)

ABSTRACT The rare Amazonian snake Eutrachelophis papilio is known from only five individuals, from four localities, belonging to its type-series, the more recent collected over 10 years ago. Here, we expand its distribution and describe its color in life for the first time. We also provide an estimate of its distribution area using the minimum convex polygon method and identify the values of anthropic pressure within its known distribution range with the Human Footprint Index. The new occurrence is located 291 km from the nearest known locality and its distribution is associated with pristine forests. Considering its rarity, and the absence of demographic and biological data, we suggest that the species should be classified as Data Deficient by IUCN criteria.