Jaguar (Panthera onca) Classification

Although large carnivores usually prefer large prey, in some situations, they may shift their predation patterns towards smaller but abundant prey. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large carnivore capable of changing its diet according to prey and habitat availability. Here, we assessed the temporal and spatiotemporal interactions between jaguars and their prey in the Maracá-Jipioca Islands (Northeastern Amazon, Brazil) through camera traps.

We assessed overlapping activity patterns and tested for spatiotemporal segregation/avoidance between jaguars and nine potential prey species. We used a time-to-encounter approach, which consists in calculating the minimum time between prey and jaguar's detections, and vice versa, for each record of preys' species at a specific camera trap station, which translates into aggregation or avoidance behaviors.

We found that these insular jaguars are more active in daylight periods when most of their prey are active and in locations used by species that cannot become nocturnal to avoid predators due to morphology constraints. Four prey species (great egret, white-tailed deer, muscovy duck, and black-and-white tegu) presented moderate activity overlapping with jaguars. Agoutis and white-tailed deer seek to spatiotemporally segregate from jaguars, although jaguars did not show spatiotemporal aggregation with any of the evaluated prey.

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics is essential to establish the islands' trophic network composition and structure. This is fundamental information to efficiently allocate efforts for reducing costs and maximizing benefits in managing this population aiming to protect and conserve it, and consequently, the related ecosystems.

Duarte, Herbert & Rosalino, Luís & Toledo, José & Hilário, Renato & Carvalho, William. (2025). Spatiotemporal interactions between jaguars (Panthera onca) and their potential prey in Amazonian islands. Ecological Research. 40. 217-227.

Jaguars (Panthera onca) have been recorded from 97 localities in 24 municipalities in the Madrean Archipelago in northeastern Sonora, Mexico, in the transition from the New World tropics to the northern temperate zone. Most jaguar localities (73%) were in foothills thornscrub, a northern tropical vegetation type.

The jaguar is a tropical species that occasionally is found in temperate oak woodland above core tropical habitats. In northern Sonora where shrub-dominated foothills thornscrub merges into more open desert grassland, jaguars entered oak woodland with more cover and prey, reflecting a common biogeographical pattern where the northern distributional limits of tropical species are controlled by aridity at lower elevations and winter freezes at higher elevations.

Models of jaguar habitat, potential distribution, and conservation recommendations in the southwestern United States need to be based on its distribution in northeastern Sonora.

Van Devender, Thomas & Reina, A.L. & Silva, Hugo & Montañez-Armenta, María. (2024). Distribution and Habitat of the Jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Madrean Archipelago in Northeastern Sonora, Mexico.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) has lost 85% of its habitat in the Atlantic Forest, where it persists in small and isolated populations in the largest fragments. In the absence of recent records, the jaguar had previously been presumed extinct in the large Atlantic Forest fragments of the Serra do Mar in southern Brazil. However, as this region is mountainous, densely forested and difficult to access, the jaguar could still be present, but undetected.

We carried out an intensive survey using camera traps and interviews with local people in a large (c. 6,500 km2) forest block. During 2011-2019, 98 camera-trap stations were established (14,239 trap-days), and 249 interviews were conducted in 102 grid cells of 5 x 5 km.

We obtained the first images of the jaguar in the region, from which five individuals were identified, and interviewees provided records of the jaguar in 24 grid cells.

Our findings increase the range of this species in the Atlantic Forest by 9%, and we recommend that the area should be classified as a jaguar conservation unit. As the area we surveyed is adjacent to the Serra do Mar jaguar conservation unit, the combined area of 19,262 km2 is the largest priority area for jaguar conservation in the Atlantic Forest. This proposed jaguar conservation unit could serve as a vital source of jaguar individuals for the coastal forests further south.

We recommend that surveys are extended southwards to Santa Catarina state to determine whether the presumed extinction of jaguars in this state is another case of a false absence.

Fusco-Costa, R.; Ingberman, B.; Shimokawa Magezi, G.; Leite de Araujo Monteiro-Filho, E.

Present but not detected: new records increase the jaguar's area of occupancy in the coastal Atlantic Forest

2023  Oryx (57): 72-75

In April 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released its recovery plan for the jaguar (Panthera onca) after several decades of discussion, litigation and controversy about the status of the species in the USA. The USFWS estimated that potential habitat, south of the Interstate-10 highway in Arizona and New Mexico, had a carrying capacity of c. six jaguars, and so focused its recovery programme on areas south of the USA-Mexico border.

Here we present a systematic review of the modelling and assessment efforts over the last 25 years, with a focus on areas north of Interstate-10 in Arizona and New Mexico, outside the recovery unit considered by the USFWS.

Despite differences in data inputs, methods, and analytical extent, the nine previous studies found support for potential suitable jaguar habitat in the central mountain ranges of Arizona and New Mexico. Applying slightly modified versions of the USFWS model and recalculating an Arizona-focused model over both states provided additional confirmation. Extending the area of consideration also substantially raised the carrying capacity of habitats in Arizona and New Mexico, from six to 90 or 151 adult jaguars, using the modified USFWS models.

This review demonstrates the crucial ways in which choosing the extent of analysis influences the conclusions of a conservation plan. More importantly, it opens a new opportunity for jaguar conservation in North America that could help address threats from habitat losses, climate change and border infrastructure.

Sanderson, E.W.; Fisher, K.; Peters, R.; Beckmann, J.P.; Bird, B.; Bradely, C.M.; Bravo, J.C.; Grigione, M.M.; Hatten, J.R.; Lopez Gonz lez, C.A.; Menke, K.; Miller, J.R.B.; Mormorunni, C.; Robinson, M.J.; Thomas, R.E.; Wilcox, S.

A systematic review of potential habitat suitability for the jaguar (Panthera onca) in central Arizona and New Mexico, USA

2022  Oryx (56): 116-127

The rate of deforestation and the number of large wildfires are increasing in the Amazon. Illegal loggers, miners, ranchers, and farmers all have contributed to this increase. Their activities have dramatic consequences for biodiversity, ecological services, and people.

In this study, we estimated the number of jaguars affected by deforestation. We focused on the Brazilian Amazon from August 2016 to December 2019. Further, we analyzed the effects of socio-geographic determinants of deforestation and state policies. To do so, we used deforestation data from DETER-B satellite system.

The number of jaguars within each deforested area was pulled from a previous study, which provided jaguar abundances for jaguar entire range. We assumed all jaguars within a deforested area were affected (displaced or killed). To determine the underlying causes of jaguar loss, we regressed the number of jaguars lost per state and year against the proportion of total forest area within reserves, distance to forest border, and monetary efficiency in cattle production.

We estimate a total of 1,422 jaguars have been displaced/killed in recent years (2016: 488, 2017: 360, 2018: 268, 2019: 354). Only the proportion of protected area had an effect in reducing jaguar deforestation.

We discuss how our work could result in near real-time monitoring of jaguar displacement and how policies such as wood certification, more efficient cattle production, and centralizing governance may be solutions.

Menezes, J.F.S.; Tortato, F.R.; Oliveira-Santos, L.G.R.; Roque, F.O.; Morato, R.G.
Deforestation, fires, and lack of governance are displacing thousands of jaguars in Brazilian Amazon
2021  Conservation Science and Practice (3)

Article on TreeHugger: Nearly 1,500 Jaguars Killed or Displaced in Brazilian Amazon (treehugger.com)

Conservation of big cats Panthera spp., a taxonomic group including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards, is a daunting challenge. As expanding human populations across Panthera range countries exacerbate competition for land and prey, conflicts between humans and big cats are inevitable.

Through a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature published from 1991 to 2014 and indexed in Web of Science and Google Scholar (186 articles), our study explored the current state of knowledge regarding human-Panthera conflict and potential solutions, examining variables such as spatial and temporal distribution of research, methods used to study conflict, evaluation of interventions, and management recommendations.

Our synthesis revealed several key data gaps and research needs. More studies could utilize diverse data collection approaches to focus on both the ecological and socio-cultural context for conflict. Additionally, only 21% of articles included in the review evaluated conflict mitigation interventions, and few of these yielded conclusive results. Success ratios suggest that compensation schemes and livestock management strategies were more effective tools for addressing conflict than either direct interventions (lethal removal or translocation of animals) or community interventions (e.g. education, ecotourism, local management). More studies should systematically evaluate the efficacy of conflict mitigation strategies, many of which are consistently recommended without empirical support.

Results highlight trends and opportunities that can be used to inform future research and management efforts focused on human-Panthera conflict, ultimately enhancing the potential for coexistence between humans and carnivore species worldwide

Holland, K.K.; Larson, L.R.; Powell, R.B.
Characterizing conflict between humans and big cats Panthera spp: A systematic review of research trends and management opportunities
2018  PLoS ONE (13): 1-19