Colocolo Research Articles

Clinical Evaluation of Metal Dental Prostheses in Captive Wild Felids.

Captive felids are prone to dental fractures, and the recommended treatment involves endodontics (root canal treatment), prosthodontics (coronal restoration), or tooth extraction. A single-unit dental prosthesis can restore the crown of a tooth whose structure has been partially or completely lost. Nine animals out of 35 captive wild felids kept under human care in 7 different Brazilian institutions were selected for the study. The animals selected included the little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus), ocelot (L. pardalis), margay cat (L. wiedii), pampas cat (L. colocolo), jaguarundi cat (Puma yagouaroundi), puma (P. concolor), jaguar (Panthera onca), lion (P. leo), and tiger (P. tigris). Nineteen canine prosthodontic crowns (18 full and one 3/4) were cemented using dual-cure resin cement and their feasibility was evaluated for 30 months. Fourteen (73%) remained fixed to the tooth and 5 (27%) were lost after the evaluation period. This study aimed to assess the longevity of prosthodontic crowns in the canine teeth of wild felids. Furthermore, it aimed to determine the functionality and longevity of teeth which had received prosthodontic crowns.

Distribution of the northern pampas cat, Leopardus garleppi, in northern South America, confirmation of its presence in Colombia and genetic analysis of a controversial record from the country

Abstract The common name of pampas cat includes a complex of small Neotropical felid species found in various habitats of South America. Recently several species of this complex were proposed, but there are few records in the northernmost distribution of the continent, and reports of the pampas cat’s presence in Colombia have been ambiguous. Current northern limits of Leopardus garleppi are limited to the Andes of Ecuador. Here we present the northernmost record of the species, validating its presence in Colombia and review previous controversial records from the country. The new record is based on a road-killed specimen in a dry tropical forest ecosystem in the municipality of Mercaderes, Department of Cauca. Our morphological and genetic comparisons also shown that a previous record from Colombia supported by a single skin recently used to described a new species named Leopardus narinensis belong to Leopardus tigrinus. With the information compiled from new localities in Colombia and Ecuador, the known distribution range for L. garleppi is increased towards the northern part of South America into areas of Tropical Dry Forest. The distribution now includes 14 ecoregions from Colombia to Bolivia, and four in Colombia (Eastern Cordillera real montane forests, Northwestern Andean montane forests, Northern Andean paramo, and the Patía Valley dry forests), which correspond to similar ecosystems inhabited by the species in other Andean landscapes. The potential distribution hypothesis showed that the species has high suitability in large areas of southwestern Colombia (Nariño). With the recording of L. garleppi in Colombia, the number of extant felid species in the country has increased to seven.

Comparing wildlife habitat suitability models based on expert opinion with camera trap detections.

Expert knowledge is used in the development of wildlife habitat suitability models (HSMs) for management and conservation decisions. However, the consistency of such models has been questioned. Focusing on 1 method for elicitation, the analytic hierarchy process, we generated expert-based HSMs for 4 felid species: 2 forest specialists (ocelot [Leopardus pardalis] and margay [Leopardus wiedii]) and 2 habitat generalist species (Pampas cat [Leopardus colocola] and puma [Puma concolor]). Using these HSMs, species detections from camera-trap surveys, and generalized linear models, we assessed the effect of study species and expert attributes on the correspondence between expert models and camera-trap detections. We also examined whether aggregation of participant responses and iterative feedback improved model performance. We ran 160 HSMs and found that models for specialist species showed higher correspondence with camera-trap detections (AUC [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve] >0.7) than those for generalists (AUC<0.7). Model correspondence increased as participant years of experience in the study area increased, but only for the understudied generalist species, Pampas cat (β=0.024 [SE 0.007]). No other participant attribute was associated with model correspondence. Feedback and revision of models improved model correspondence, and aggregating judgments across multiple participants improved correspondence only for specialist species. The average correspondence of aggregated judgments increased as group size increased but leveled off after 5 experts for all species. Our results suggest that correspondence between expert models and empirical surveys increases as habitat specialization increases. We encourage inclusion of participants knowledgeable of the study area and model validation for expert-based modeling of understudied and generalist species.

The last stronghold of Muñoa’s Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) in Argentina?

The Muñoa’s Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) is a relatively understudied species restricted to open savannas and grasslands of Southern Brazil, Uruguay and NE Argentina, that has been recently split from the broader “Pampas cat” species complex. Only three documented records of the species have been published since the year 2000 for the Argentine portion of its distribution, a situation that led to speculations regarding its conservation status in Argentina. We conducted an intensive camera-trap survey (2,067 camera-trapping stations and 15,560 camera-trapping days) to assess the presence of the Muñoa’s Pampas cat in an area of 275.3 km2 within the Iberá National Park and the adjacent Iberá National Reserve, Corrientes province, Argentina. Four records of Muñoa’s Pampas cat were obtained, representing at least two adults and one young individual. Only one camera-trapping record of this species had been previously obtained in Argentina, during a survey carried out in 2009 in the same study area, despite an important camera-trapping effort in the Corrientes province. All camera-trap records of Muñoa’s Pampas cat in Argentina are concentrated in areas of temporally flooded grasslands locally known as “Malezales”, suggesting that this habitat type is critically important for the conservation of this rare felid. The Iberá National Park and the adjacent Iberá National Reserve provide the adequate framework for the conservation of an important piece of habitat for Muñoa’s Pampas cat and constitute a stronghold for the species in Argentina.

European Rabbit Invasion in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of Chile: How Relevant Is Its Role in Food Webs?

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the main invasive species in Chile, where it became naturalized ca. 150 years ago. Their high reproductive capacity, lack of specialist predators, and great adaptability favored the settlement of rabbits in diverse mainland and island ecosystems of the country. Recently, rabbits have become central players in semi-arid ecosystems, such as those represented in Las Chinchillas National Reserve in north-central Chile. We undertook to analyze the place and role of rabbits in the food web of that Reserve, based on a bibliographic review and long-term annual data gathered from 1987 until 2022 (36 years). Results showed that the network comprised 77 species, where 69% were primary producers (plants), 18% were mid-level consumers (herbivores), and 13% were top-level consumers (predators). The most connected species in the food web was the rabbit, which positively or negatively affected the species interacting with it. Predators such as Galictis cuja, Geranoaetus polyosoma, Leopardus colocolo, and Puma concolor, and the scavenger Vultur gryphus, could be negatively affected by an eventual decrease (natural or human-caused) in the rabbit population of the Reserve. To the contrary, primary producers such as Oxalis perdicaria, Plantago hispidula, Schizanthus parvulus, Senna cumminggi, and Tropaeolum azureum could be positively affected by an increase in their biomass in response to a decrease in rabbits, favoring native rodents. We consider that analyzing the rabbit-centered food web and its impacts on native interacting species allows a better understanding of the relevance of invasive species in the local community, providing conceptual tools for rabbit management.

Escondido en los pajonales: registros fotográficos y variación fenotípica de Leopardus pajeros en la Patagonia chilena

Hidden in the southern Pampas: Photographic records and phenotypic variation of Leopardus pajeros The Southern pampas cat (Leopardus pajeros) is a small felid whose range is restricted to Argentina and southern Chile. There is very little specific literature and its natural history remains an enigma. In the present note, we report four records of the Southern pampas cat in Patagonia and provide photographs and detailed descriptions, from which we propose a phenotypic spectrum ranging from light gray, to brownish gray, to rusty red.

Traditional livestock activities modify the spatial behavior of small wildcats in the high Andes

Human activities lead to declines in species’ abundance and diversity, as well as loss of habitat quality from overexploitation. The effects of livestock grazing increase on small felids are poorly understood, primarily due to the low detectability of these species. The grazing of domestic camelids, such as the llama (Lama glama) and the alpaca (Vicugna pacos), is the main traditional source of income for the inhabitants of the Andes, where the Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) and Pampas cat (L. colocolo) are also present. In this study, we employ camera trap data to evaluate the association of llama and alpaca grazing with occupancy by the Andean and Pampas cat in Sajama National Park. In each of 36 sampling stations, we installed a camera trap, a grid of traps for rodents and two habitat transects along a gradient of intensity of livestock grazing. Occupancy models showed that negative effect of camelid abundance was stronger for the Andean cat than the Pampas cat. For both species, occupancy was also associated positively to the abundance of prey, proximity to water bodies, and vegetation. Given that livestock activity is a way of life for human populations in the Andes, we suggest that mechanisms should be implemented to compensate for the negative effects of livestock on Andean and Pampas cat populations.

The oldest available name for the pampas cat of the Uruguayan Savannah ecoregion is Leopardus fasciatus (Larrañaga 1923)

Based on a revision of historical and taxonomic accounts, we showed that Felis fasciatus Larrañaga, 1923, represents the oldest available Linnean name referable to the pampas cat endemic to the Uruguayan Savannah ecoregion, currently regarded as Leopardus munoai (Ximénez 1961). To anchor the name Felis fasciatus to Uruguayan specimens, we designated a neotype for this taxon with terra typica in Estancia San Cristóbal, Arroyo Limetas, Conchillas, Department of Colonia, Uruguay. Since Larrañaga's fasciatus represents a senior synonym of L. munoai, it takes precedence and, in compliance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, it must therefore be used to refer to the "Uruguayan" pampas cat, L. fasciatus (Larrañaga 1923), for which we suggested the vernacular name "Larrañaga’s pampas cat".

Molecular detection of Brucella abortus in wild and captive felids

PurposeBrucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great public health importance. In wild animals, Brucella abortus is one of the most diagnosed species, mainly in enzootic environments where domestic animals share the same environment. B. abortus is common in environments shared by cattle, wild, and domestic animals. This study aimed to detect the presence of B. abortus DNA in free-ranging and captivity felids at Mato Grosso State, Brazil. MethodPolymerase chain reaction, based on the genetic element IS711, was performed in blood samples collected from 23 free-ranging and captive felids. The species represented include Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Panthera onca, Puma concolor, and Puma yagouaroundi. ResultsDNA amplification of B. abortus was observed in only one captive P. concolor (4.34%). ConclusionThe detection of this pathogen in captive animals using molecular tools demonstrates the importance of monitoring, as it raises concerns about the possibility of transmission between humans and wild and domestic animals, especially in regions of vast biodiversity, such as in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Comparative phylogeography among eight Neotropical wild cat species: no single evolutionary pattern

Abstract The felid species of South America are thought to have arrived on the continent during the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) in the Pleistocene. However, molecular and palaeontological data do not agree on how this event affected speciation in felids. Here, we determine both the number of colonization events and the period when felines first migrated from North America to South America. In addition, we evaluate whether similar evolutionary events could have affected the eight Neotropical cat species in their levels of genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure and demographic changes. We analysed four concatenated mitochondrial genes of the jaguar, ocelot, margay, tigrina, pampas cat, Andean cat, puma and jaguarundi. The samples were representative of a wide distribution of these species in Central and South America. Our analysis suggests either three or four colonization events from North America to South America over the past 3 Myr, followed by subsequent speciation events and the attainment of high or very high genetic diversity levels for seven of the species. No unique evolutionary process was detected for any of the current Neotropical cat species.

Interactions Between an Apex Predator and Mesopredators Across a Landscape with Human Interference

Photo 1. In the Caldén forest region of central Argentina, we installed 16 camera traps in each of 45 10 × 10-km grid cells, covering 61,611 km2, to determine interactions between carnivores and explore contributions of habitat, biotic, and anthropic factors on co-occurrence. The carnivore guild was constituted of the puma, Puma concolor (top predator; upper center of photograph), and subordinate predators (under puma, from left to right: pampas fox, Pseudalopex gymnocercus; pampas cat, Leopardus colocolo; Geoffroy's cat, Leopardus geoffroyi; and Molina's hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga). Geoffroy's cats and skunks spatially avoided pumas (negative sign), but pumas did not influence pampas fox or pampas cat space use (equal sign). Photograph credits: José H. Sarasola and Juan I. Zanón Martínez. Photo 2. The study area corresponds to the Espinal phytogeographic province, mainly occupied by the Caldén forest (left), but includes interspersed sand grasslands and salt deposits (right). This forest is a xerophilic forest ecosystem dominated by Caldén trees (Prosopis caldenia), covering from 30% to 50%, and grasslands predominating over bushes. The topography is characterized by plateaus, valleys, hills, and low-altitude plains (<200 m). Photograph credit: José H. Sarasola. These photographs illustrate the article “Assessing carnivore spatial co-occurrence and temporal overlap in the face of human interference in a semiarid forest” by Juan I. Zanón Martínez, Javier Seoane, Marcella J. Kelly, José Hernán Sarasola, and Alejandro Travaini published in Ecological Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2482.

Assessing carnivore spatial co-occurrence and temporal overlap in the face of human interference in a semiarid forest.

Apex predators drive top-down effects in ecosystems and the loss of such species can trigger mesopredator release. This ecological process has been well documented in human-modified small areas, but for management and conservation of ecological communities, it is important to know which human factors affect apex predator occurrence and which mediate mesopredators release at large scales. We hypothesized that mesopredators would avoid spatial and temporal overlap with the apex predator, the puma; but that human perturbations (i.e., cattle raising and trophy hunting) would dampen top-down effects and mediate habitat use. We installed 16 camera traps in each of 45, 10 × 10 km grid cells in the Caldén forest region of central Argentina resulting in 706 total stations covering 61,611 km2 . We used single-season occupancy and two-species co-occurrence models and calculated the species interaction factor (SIF) to explore the contributions of habitat, biotic, and anthropic variables in explaining co-occurrence between carnivore pairs. We also used kernel density estimation techniques to analyze temporal overlap in activity patterns of the carnivore guild. We found that puma habitat use increased with abundance of large prey and with proximity to protected areas. Geoffroy's cats and skunks spatially avoided pumas and this effect was strong and mediated by distance to protected areas and game reserves, but pumas did not influence pampas fox and pampas cat space use. At medium and low levels of puma occupancy, we found evidence of spatial avoidance between three pairs of mesocarnivores. All predators were mostly nocturnal and crepuscular across seasons and mesopredators showed little consistent evidence of changing activity patterns with varying levels of puma occupancy or human interference. We found potential for mesopredator release at large scale, especially on the spatial niche axis. Our results suggest that a combination of interacting factors, in conjunction with habitat features and intervening human activities, may make mesopredator release unlikely or difficult to discern at broad scales. Overall, we believe that promoting the creation of new protected areas linked by small forest patches would likely lead to increased predator and prey abundances, as well as the interactions among carnivores inside and outside of protected areas.

Ravines as conservation strongholds for small wildcats under pressure from free-ranging dogs and cats in Mediterranean landscapes of Chile

ABSTRACT The Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem is threatened by anthropogenic pressures, such as habitat loss by intensive agriculture and urban sprawl. Abandoned dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis silvestris catus) pose conservation challenges for Chilean wildlife including the pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo) and the güiña (Leopardus guigna). We used camera trap data to investigate influences of natural and anthropogenic landscape features on spatiotemporal trends of these species. We also used co-occurrence modeling and kernel density estimation to investigate spatial and temporal patterns overlap of wildcats, free-ranging (FR) dogs, and FR-cats. FR-dogs showed the highest detection and site use probabilities, while güiñas had the lowest across 80 camera trap sites. Top models showed no spatial avoidance between species and co-occurrence of wildcats was positively influenced by forest habitat. However, FR-dogs negatively affected detection of wildcats. Ravines surrounded by forest positively influenced güiña and pampas cat detection probabilities when dominant species were not present. FR-dogs and wildcats had significantly different temporal activity patterns and low overlap coefficients, while wildcats and FR-cats showed high overlap in activity patterns. We suggest changing current policies to control domestic animals and strategic planning in agricultural areas of central Chile to better conserve native wildcat species.

First record of Leopardus colocola (Molina, 1782) in Northern Patagonia, Aysén Region, Chile, and behavioral scent-marking observations

Scarce records of Pampas cats exist in the extreme south of Chile (Patagonia). Through camera traps, we captured the first confirmed record of L. colocola in northern Patagonia of Chile. Besides, records of its marking behavior through feces and urine were captured and discussed to understand this poorly known wild cat.

Ranking habitat importance for small wildcats in the Brazilian savanna: landscape connectivity as a conservation tool

Habitat loss and fragmentation threat animal populations worldwide. Agriculture has changed the Cerrado’s landscape, in central Brazil, where native vegetation remnants are embedded in a non-natural matrix that can be resistant to animal movement. Felines, as carnivores, play an important ecosystem role as predators and are sensitive to habitat fragmentation. The long-term sustainability of small cat populations depends on the connectivity among natural remnants. The Emas National Park (ENP) is an important protected area located in the southwestern of the state of Goias, a region highly modified by agriculture. We evaluated the landscape connectivity in the surrounding landscape of the ENP for small wildcats of the Cerrado; the margay, southern tiger cat, pampas cat, ocelot and the jaguarundi, based on their dispersal ability and habitat preferences. The habitat availability varied according to each species, the jaguarundi being the species with more habitat available and the margay with less. The ENP is important for the pampas cat and jaguarundi, and the Taquari River Sources State Park (TRSSP) is important for the ocelot, jaguarundi and for the southern tiger cat. The region is of great biological relevance and the lack of remnants around the ENP evidence failure in land management. The method used is a tool to identify priority fragments for conservation and management of the landscape for biodiversity.

La mastofauna nativa como indicador de efectividad en el corredor biológico río Carcarañá, Sur de Santa Fe, Argentina / The native mastofauna as an indicator of effectiveness in the biological corridor Carcarañá river, south of Santa Fe, Argentina

In the south of the province of Santa Fe, the region presents a degree of subdivision and use of the ground that modified its original aspect, becoming a plain where the grain and oilseed crops predominate. The communities of wild mammals are increasingly threatened by this development, which is leading to the limit of fragmentation and loss of habitat. The objective of this work is to show the influence of the Carcarañá River on native mammals and its importance as a biological corridor. For this purpose, the area of study was the Carcarañá River basin in Santa Fe province. Within this area, five sampling zones were established (distant from each other by 50 km), both on the margin of the Carcarañá River and its tributaries. From this, three transects of 3 km in length were established in each study zone, taking into account that the first one is located on the margin of the river/tributary, while the remaining ones are parallel to it with a distance of 5 and 10 km respectively in order to generate a gradient. The field work was carried out during two consecutive years (2018-2019), in a seasonal manner. The methodology used was the collection of indirect evidence (footprints and faults) and the collection of information from direct evidence (sightings). The transect tours were carried out on foot, during the daytime hours and at an average speed of one km/h. To obtain complete parameters of the diversity of species in each transect, the number of species and their representativeness were quantified. For this purpose, it was established the specific richness (S) which refers to the number of species registered for each transect and its equity. The latter was calculated from the Shannon-Wiener function. With a sampling effort of 80 days of field work and 360 km of transects, it was possible to obtain a specific richness (S) of 12 species for the total of the transects located on the banks of the Carcarañá River ( Lutreolina crassicaudata, Didelphis albiventris, Chaetophractus villosus, Pseudalopex gymnocercus, Puma concolor, Puma yaguaroundi, Leopardus geoffroyi, Leopardus colocolo, Conepatus chinga, Galictis cuja, Hidrochoerus hydrochaeris and Myocastor coypus ) with a diversity index of H' = 2. 79. For the sum of the species registered in the transects located 5km from the river, the specific richness was 5 species ( D. albiventris, C. villosus, P. gymnocercus, C. chinga and G. cuja ) with a diversity index (H')= 0.94. Finally, the sum of species registered for the transects located 10km from the river was also 5 species with a somewhat lower diversity (H'= 0.63). Although incipient as a process and premature to test conclusive results, the evidence that biological corridors in areas widely disturbed by anthropogenic activity are a tool that contributes to the recovery of favorable environmental conditions for native mammals, is consolidated as the information generated ratifies the initial hypothesis about the value of biological corridors as a tool for biodiversity conservation.

Cellular Characterization and Effects of Cryoprotectant Solutions on the Viability of Fibroblasts from Three Brazilian Wild Cats.

Preserving genetic material in cryogenic conditions presents a viable alternative for the protection of species' gene variability. However, there is an enormous need to establish and test cryopreservation protocols that are suitable for each diverse cell type to guarantee technical success in the long run. Considering this, fibroblasts from jaguar (Panthera onca), oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), and pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo) were subjected to cell characterization and then cryopreservation in different cryoprotectant solutions (2.5%, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO] or CryoSOfree™). Further testing was conducted to determine each solution's performance in preserving cell viability. In culture, a growth curve to assess cellular growth potential showed that exponential proliferation lasts for about the first 50 hours of in vitro culturing, declining in pace afterward. L. colocolo and L. tigrinus presented no difference in cell viability while using 2.5% DMSO protocols. P. onca cells did not present difference on viability for both concentrations of DMSO. Protocols using CryoSOfree resulted in a decreased viability of P. onca fibroblasts. Morphological differences between fibroblasts among the species were noted under bright field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. L. colocolo and P. onca cells are fusiform, and L. tigrinus are spherical. All cells presented cytoplasmic projections. Transmission electron microscopy revealed vacuoles and secretion granules, indicating intense cell activity after thawing. Differences found in the efficiency of cryopreservation protocols according to the type of cryoprotectant indicate that species react differently to freezing and thawing processes. This research evaluates key aspects of in vitro protocols for cryopreservation of wild animals, which need to be optimized to guarantee successful cell culturing. More suitable protocols lead to increased efficiency in establishing fibroblast cryobanks and also facilitating the use of wild cats' cells in cloning techniques, contributing directly to preserving wild fauna.

Relative abundance and activity patterns of terrestrial carnivorous mammals in Península Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the relative abundance and activity patterns of terrestrial carnivorous mammals living in San Pablo de Valdés Wildlife Reserve, which is located in Península Valdés (PV), Chubut province, Argentina. To this end, camera traps were placed in different plant communities of this reserve and they were used from January 2015 to December 2016. A total of 256 independent events, with a sampling effort of 1811 camera nights, were obtained. The following species were identified in order of relative abundance: Conepatus chinga, Lycalopex gymnocercus, Leopardus geoffroyi, Puma concolor, and Leopardus colocolo, and the activity patterns of the first three were estimated. Those of P. concolor and L. colocolo could not be estimated as insufficient independent events were obtained. Our results show a cathemeral activity pattern in C. chinga and L. geoffroyi and a more nocturnal pattern in L. gymnocercus. Our results highlight the need to expand the sampling area to obtain further details on the behavioral patterns and population parameters of the carnivores identified. Knowledge of ecological issues, such as relative abundance and activity patterns of carnivorous mammals, is imperative to formulate monitoring and conservation programs.

Relative rarity of small wild cats in the Brazilian Pantanal

Abstract Small wild cats (SWC) are naturally cryptic species. The current study presents occurrence information and capture-rates on four SWC species found in the Brazilian Pantanal. The most commonly recorded SWC by camera trap was Leopardus pardalis. Leopardus colocolo and Puma yagouaroundi were relatively rare, while Leopardus guttulus was not recorded in any survey year. We interpret our findings based on the potential competitive influences of L. pardalis and practical implications of camera trap survey design. We recommend that future studies should design camera trap grids with spacing appropriate for SWC to more directly address questions on local population status and interspecific interactions.

New Pampas cat Leopardus colocolo (Molina, 1782) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) records for the Chaco ecoregion raise questions on the distribution and population status of this felid in Argentina

The Pampas cat is a poorly-known small felid distributed throughout a large portion of South America, reported as extinct in the Pampas of Argentina, and absent from a large portion of the Argentine Dry Chaco. Here, we compile data from the field and collections to report new presence records of the Pampas cat from the Dry Chaco of Argentina, which update to the distribution of this felid in the region. We discuss the need of further assessments for the species distribution in the light of ongoing land-use changes in the area.