Ocelot density estimate with standard error (SE) and 95% confidence interval (Lower and Upper) of parameters for spatial capture recapture model fit to camera trapping data from Amanã Reserve.

<p>Data from the three surveys were used to estimate the shared movement parameter σ and encounter rate λ_0. Density is reported in ocelots per 100 km².</p

Map of the study area showing the location of camera-trap sites in Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve.

<p>White squares and white triangles indicate locations of camera-traps deployed only during the second survey (2014). The insets show the position of Amanã Reserve in Brazil, and the position of our survey area within Amanã Reserve.</p

Ocelot (<i>Leopardus pardalis</i>) Density in Central Amazonia

<div><p>Ocelots (<i>Leopardus pardalis</i>) are presumed to be the most abundant of the wild cats throughout their distribution range and to play an important role in the dynamics of sympatric small-felid populations. However, ocelot ecological information is limited, particularly for the Amazon. We conducted three camera-trap surveys during three consecutive dry seasons to estimate ocelot density in Amanã Reserve, Central Amazonia, Brazil. We implemented a spatial capture-recapture (SCR) model that shared detection parameters among surveys. A total effort of 7020 camera-trap days resulted in 93 independent ocelot records. The estimate of ocelot density in Amanã Reserve (24.84 ± SE 6.27 ocelots per 100 km²) was lower than at other sites in the Amazon and also lower than that expected from a correlation of density with latitude and rainfall. We also discuss the importance of using common parameters for survey scenarios with low recapture rates. This is the first density estimate for ocelots in the Brazilian Amazon, which is an important stronghold for the species.</p></div

Ocelot density estimate comparison.

<p>Study sites where camera-trap surveys in combination with capture-recapture models have been used to estimate ocelot density. Studies are listed chronologically. Density is reported in ocelots per 100 km². Asterisk (*) indicate that the density is the average of density estimates from more than one surveys in the same area. Method refers to how the effective surveyed area was estimated (HMMDM—buffer width of half the mean maximum distance moved of all animals captured in more than one camera-trap station were added to the survey trapping area; Telemetry—home range size estimates based on radio-tracked animals were used to inform the buffer width added to the survey trapping area, SCR—information on capture history of individuals in combination with spatial information of captures were used to directly estimate density).</p

Map of the study areas in Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) and Amanã SDR, Central Amazonia, Brazil.

<p>Map of the study areas in Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR) and Amanã SDR, Central Amazonia, Brazil.</p

Area of coverage (km²) of the five habitat classes in várzea of Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Central Amazonia, and the Shannon index in the 500 m and 1000 m scales buffers around the camera trap stations.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation and between parenthesis minimum and maximum values.</p

Spatial patterns of medium and large size mammal assemblages in várzea and terra firme forests, Central Amazonia, Brazil

<div><p>Várzea forests account for 17% of the Amazon basin and endure an annual inundation that can reach 14 m deep during 6–8 months. This flood pulse in combination with topography directly influences the várzea vegetation cover. Assemblages of several taxa differ significantly between unflooded <i>terra firme</i> and flooded várzea forests, but little is known about the distribution of medium and large sized terrestrial mammals in várzea habitats. Therefore, our goal was to understand how those habitats influence mammalian species distribution during the dry season. Specifically, we: (1) compared the species composition between a terra firme (Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve) and a várzea forest (Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve); and (2) tested the influence of the várzea habitat classes on the number of records, occurrence and species composition of mammalian assemblages. The sampling design in each reserve consisted of 50 baited camera trap stations, with an overall sampling effort of 5015 camera trap days. We used Non-Metric Multidimension Scaling (NMDS) to compare species composition between terra firme and várzea forests, and used Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to assess how habitat types and a habitat diversity index affect mammal distributions. We recorded 21 medium and large sized mammalian species, including 20 species in terra firme and only six in várzea (3443 records). Flood pulse and isolation in várzea forest drove the dissimilarity between these two forest types. In várzea forest, medium size mammals, in general, avoided habitats associated with long flooding periods, while jaguars (<i>Panthera onca</i>) appeared to prefer aquatic/terrestrial transition zones. Habitats that remain dry for longer periods showed more mammalian occurrence, suggesting that dispersion via soil is important even for semi-arboreal species. This is the first study to evaluate differential use of várzea habitats by terrestrial mammalian assemblages.</p></div

Distribution of the medium and large mammal species records in 101 camera trap stations installed in terra firme forest of Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (ASDR) and várzea forest of Mamirauá SDR.

<p>The dotted line divides the two forest types.</p

Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of the medium and large mammal species composition in terra firme (T) of Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (ASDR) and várzea (V) of Mamirauá SDR, Central Amazonia, Brazil.

<p>Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of the medium and large mammal species composition in terra firme (T) of Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (ASDR) and várzea (V) of Mamirauá SDR, Central Amazonia, Brazil.</p

Partial regressions of the response variables with significant relationship to the habitat classes in várzea forest of Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Central Amazonia, Brazil.

<p>(A) Porcupine (<i>Coendou prehensilis</i>)–High Várzea; (B) Composition–Chavascal; (C) Number of Records–Chavascal; (D) Opossum (<i>Didelphis marsupialis</i>)–Chavascal; (E) Coati (<i>Nasua nasua</i>)–Chavascal; (F) Coati (<i>N</i>. <i>nasua</i>)–Soil/Herbaceous; (G) Jaguar (<i>Panthera onca</i>)–High Várzea.</p