Does the Southern Green Anaconda, <i>Eunectes murinus</i>, seek areas of high prey concentration in southeastern Peru?

Although behavior of E. murinus was broadly described over a century ago, observations of predation by E. murinus are rare. Some evidence suggests that it may target sites when hunting. We report details of six livestock depredation events at a single locality near Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Additionally, we compare positions of three radio-tagged snakes with known locations of mineral licks in their home ranges and describe the relationship of a single radio-tagged individual with game trails. Our observations of predation at mineral licks, and the association of radio-tagged individuals with them, suggest that E. murinus may specifically target mineral licks due to high prey concentration. We believe this is the first report of a reptile actively seeking prey at mineral licks. Our observations indicate that E. murinus actively seeks areas with higher prey concentration

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

Depredación de Atelocynus microtis (Carnivora: Canidae) por Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae) en el sureste de Perú

This study addresses the understudied predation ecology of Atelocynus microtis, a rare and Near Threatened Amazonian canid. We detail depredation events by the felid species, Panthera onca (Jaguar), observed in southeastern Peru in 2004. The observations were made during ongoing research, which includes radio-telemetry tracking and a reintroduction project. Given historical observed ecological overlaps, we also speculate that Puma concolor (Puma, Mountain Lion) could be a potential predator of A. microtis. Our findings expand the limited existing knowledge on the predators of A. microtis, suggesting a broader range of predators than previously identified.Este estudio aborda la ecología de depredación poco estudiada de Atelocynus microtis, un cánido amazónico raro y casi amenazado. Detallamos eventos de depredación por la especie de félido, Panthera onca (Jaguar), observados en el sureste de Perú en 2004. Los descubrimientos se realizaron durante nuestra investigación en curso, que incluye seguimiento por radio telemetría y un proyecto de reintroducción. Dadas las superposiciones ecológicas observadas, también sugerimos que el Puma concolor (Puma, león de montaña) podría ser un depredador potencial de A. microtis. Nuestros hallazgos amplían el limitado conocimiento existente sobre los depredadores de A. microtis, sugiriendo una gama de depredadores más amplia que la identificada previamente

Large mammal species richness and habitat use in an upper Amazonian forest used for ecotourism

Ecotourism has often been presented as the only sustainable source of incomes for the inhabitants of upper Amazonia, yet the real socioeconomic benefits of the activity remain controversial and its impact on wildlife, poorly studied. We assessed the diversity of large mammals in a land plot used for ecotourism in the banks of Alto Madre de Dios river (Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru) by conducting 186 km of walk censuses complemented with interviews over a period of 4 months. We found that the species richness and composition were similar to those found in two adjacent pristine sites, but varied within seasons and forest types. The floodplain forest seemed to host a large number of species continuously throughout the year, whereas the terra firme was occupied by a consistently impoverished fauna during the dry season scarcity period. Our results confirm the existence of lateral seasonal movements between forest types and subtypes and the preference of many species for riverine habitats. Therefore, we advocate that ecotourism reserves along major rivers may act as effective faunal refugees and provide one of the few opportunities for the conservation of floodplain habitats outside strictly protected areas in a mosaic landscape threatened by bouncing populations of colonists.Peer reviewe

Large mammal species richness and habitat use in an upper Amazonian forest used for ecotourism

Ecotourism has often been presented as the only sustainable source of incomes for the inhabitants of upper Amazonia, yet the real socioeconomic benefits of the activity remain controversial and its impact on wildlife, poorly studied. We assessed the diversity of large mammals in a land plot used for ecotourism in the banks of Alto Madre de Dios river (Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru) by conducting 186 km of walk censuses complemented with interviews over a period of 4 months. We found that the species richness and composition were similar to those found in two adjacent pristine sites, but varied within seasons and forest types. The floodplain forest seemed to host a large number of species continuously throughout the year, whereas the terra firme was occupied by a consistently impoverished fauna during the dry season scarcity period. Our results confirm the existence of lateral seasonal movements between forest types and subtypes and the preference of many species for riverine habitats. Therefore, we advocate that ecotourism reserves along major rivers may act as effective faunal refugees and provide one of the few opportunities for the conservation of floodplain habitats outside strictly protected areas in a mosaic landscape threatened by bouncing populations of colonists.Peer reviewe

Avaliação do risco de extinção do cachorro-do-mato-de-orelhas-curtas Atelocynus microtis (Sclater, 1883) no Brasil

Atelocynus microtis ocorre no bioma amazônico, nos estados do Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Pará e Amazonas. Cerca de 40% da distribuição geográfica da espécie se encontra exatamente sobre o arco do desmatamento, região que concentra os maiores índices de destruição da Floresta Amazônica. Dentro do período de 3 gerações (18 anos), a expansão do arco do desmatamento implicou em uma redução de cerca de 28% da distribuição da espécie, indicando uma suposta redução populacional equivalente. Além disso, há perda de indivíduos por retaliação à predação de animais domésticos, e também por doenças potencialmente transmitidas por animais domésticos. Por estas razões, A. microtis foi categorizada como Vulnerável (VU) pelo critério A2c. Existe conectividade com as populações dos países vizinhos, porém não existem informações sobre a dinâmica fonte-sumidouro. Assim, a categoria indicada na avaliação regional não foi alterada

Avaliação do risco de extinção do cachorro-vinagre Speothos venaticus (Lund, 1842) no Brasil

Considerando que a população efetiva de Speothos venaticus, somando Amazônia, Pantanal e Mata Atlântica foi estimada em aproximadamente 9.350 indivíduos e que a população do Cerrado tem uma probabilidade de extinção estimada em 100% em 100 anos, com média de tempo de extinção de 33 anos, segundo resultados de modelagem de viabilidade populacional, a espécie foi considerada Vulnerável (VU) pelo critério C1. Há conectividade com as populações dos países vizinhos, porém não existem informações sobre a dinâmica fonte-sumidouro. Assim, a categoria indicada na avaliação regional não foi alterada. Esta classificação mantém o status da espécie em relação à lista oficial de fauna ameaçada (MMA 2003). As informações sobre a conservação desta espécie foram analisadas separadamente para cada um dos principais biomas brasileiros. Espera-se, com isto, fundamentar políticas de conservação apropriadas a esta espécie em cada região do país

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis).

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species