Successful community-based wildlife monitoring necessitates a high degree of local participation during sampling design and data collection. Here, we describe a community-based monitoring framework to estimate density and habitat use of the threatened jaguar ( Panthera onca) in tropical montane forests in the Chinantla region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Community-based monitoring was completed involving integration with local communities, local governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions. In a camera-trap survey (37 stations, 2,553 trap-days), we recorded eight adult jaguars across 182.7 km² of montane forest. Spatially explicit capture–recapture models estimated a density of 1.15 jaguars per 100 km² (CI = 0.55–2.38) using a more traditional likelihood-based method and 1.16 jaguars per 100 km² (CI = 0.89–1.57) using Bayesian methods. The locations of jaguar captures and their habitat use appeared to be influenced by normalized vegetation index and capture rate of prey. Density estimates in the Chinantla region were lower than recorded for other lowland populations in Mexico but were consistent with elevation-based and latitudinal gradients across the range of the species. The community-based monitoring of jaguars increased the communication and interaction of local community groups, stakeholders, and academic institutions. It also provided participants with an increased knowledge of wildlife identification, transferable skills, wildlife appreciation, and an interest in reaching compromises to achieve habitat conservation. Our study provides a framework for the execution of community-based monitoring for large carnivores in Mexico and can be readily replicated and applied to other threatened species.

Predator-prey interactions are one of the central themes in ecology due to their importance as a key mechanism in structuring biotic communities. In the predator-prey systems, the behaviours of persecution and avoidance impact on the ecosystem dynamics as much as the trophic interactions. We aimed to analyse the spatiotemporal co-occurrences between prey and predators in a community of medium- and large-sized mammals in southern Mexico. We predict prey will avoid sites where a predator previously passed. Contrarily, we expect a search behaviour by predators and a synchronization in activity patterns among them. We found prey does not occur either in time or space where predators have passed, suggesting an avoidance behaviour. Contrary to our expectations, we did not find significant search behaviours from predators to prey. Synchronization in the daily temporal overlap between predators was higher (Δ = 0.77–0.82) than with their prey (Δ = 0.43 – 0.81). The results suggest prey perceives the risk of predation and displays avoidance behaviour both spatially and temporally, which is consistent with the fear theory. This study provides a complementary approach to understanding the behaviour mechanism between predators and prey through camera-trapping or similar data of spatiotemporal co-occurrences.

Presentamos registros notables de tlacuache dorado (Caluromys derbianus), oso hormiguero (Tamandua mexicana) y puerco espín (Coendou mexicanus), tres especies crípticas, de hábitos arborícolas consideradas amenazadas en México, cuya presencia en Oaxaca es histórica o escasa. El registro de tlacuache dorado se obtuvo a través de fototrampeo y los registros de puerco espín y oso hormiguero por medio de reportes de habitantes locales. El tlacuache dorado fue registrado en un fragmento de bosque tropical perennifolio, mientras que los registros de las otras dos especies ocurrieron en áreas agrícolas, pero cerca (<3 km) de parches de vegetación secundaria de bosque tropical perennifolio cuyas áreas fueron iguales o mayores 0.97 km2. Estos registros incrementan el conocimiento de la presencia de estas especies en el norte de Oaxaca. Los registros muestran la tolerancia del oso hormiguero y el puerco espín a paisajes antropizados, y ponen en evidencia el tipo de riesgos que pueden enfrentar por atropellamientos y captura.

First records of ocelot in tropical forests of the Sierra Negra of Puebla and Sierra Mazateca de Oaxaca, Mexico

Protected sites managed by indigenous people have been used for decades to conserve natural resources. These sites can be considered “conservation islands” and can maintain high biodiversity. This study explores the diversity and structure of medium and large mammals in (1) four protected natural areas in Oaxaca, Mexico, and (2) two different conservation strategies: one protected natural area (PNA) and three Voluntary Conservation Areas (VCAs). Data from 30 camera traps installed by community monitoring between 2013 and 2019 were used. A total of 29,304 camera days were accumulated in the Central Valleys and the Western Mountains and Valleys province. A total of 60,725 photographic records were analyzed, resulting in 13,471 independent events. Twenty-four species of wild mammals were documented, including endangered species. VCA showed higher species richness compared to PNA. Odocoileus virginianus was the most dominant in PNA, while Dicotyles angulatus was most dominant in VCA. We found differences in species richness between the four sites and between the two conservation strategies. Both conservation strategies are effective in maintaining mammal richness. We consider that these sites can serve as conservation islands that, in turn, can inter-connect landscapes and serve as potential biological corridors.

En México la selva alta perennifolia y el bosque mesófilo de montaña han sido eliminados y fragmentados, en estos ecosistemas habita el ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), una especie considerada en peligro de extinción en México. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar los cambios de uso del suelo, fragmentación de la vegetación primaria y sus efectos sobre el ocelote, en una zona clave para la conectividad de sus poblaciones. Para llevar a cabo el trabajo, se calcularon las tasas de cambio de vegetación y uso del suelo, además se realizó un análisis de fragmentación. Para el registro de ocelotes, se colocaron cámaras trampa en un área de 110 km2. Los resultados mostraron una tasa de cambio de -2.63 y -2.29 para la selva alta perennifolia y el bosque mesófilo de montaña, respectivamente. Las observaciones de ocelote ocurrieron en el interior o muy cercanas (1.6 km) a zonas con valor de conectividad mayor a 10 %. El tamaño de los fragmentos de hábitat fue pequeño: 0.85 ha para bosque mesófilo de montaña y 1.04 ha en selva alta perennifolia; y la conectividad entre ellos fue de <30 %. Estos resultados reflejan la necesidad de mantener la conectividad del paisaje para la conservación de las poblaciones de L. pardalis.