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González-Maya JF, Zárrate-Charry DA, Arias-Alzate A, Lemus-Mejía L, Hurtado-Moreno AP, Vargas-Gómez MG, Cárdenas TA, Mallarino V, Schipper J. Spotting what’s important: Priority areas, connectivity, and conservation of the Northern Tiger Cat (Leopardus tigrinus) in Colombia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273750. [PMID: 36099258 PMCID: PMC9469974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Leopardus tigrinus is among the least known carnivore species in the Neotropics, including considerable taxonomic uncertainty. Here we model the distribution, connectivity and overlap with existing conservation areas for the species in Colombia. Using a Species Distribution Modeling approach, we estimated current potential range of the species in Colombia and identified potential habitat blocks remaining in the country. In addition, we designed a connectivity network across the available cores, using a circuit theory approach, to evaluate habitat linkage. Finally, we defined a prioritization scheme for the remaining habitat cores and assessed the level of coverage of protected areas for the country. L. tigrinus is potentially present across the three Andean branches of Colombia, with still considerable continuous habitat cores, mostly located on the eastern and central Andean ranges. Most habitat cores are theoretically connected, but nearly 15% are isolated. Priority areas were located across the eastern and central ranges, but with very significant and promising cores in the northern eastern and western ranges. Current level of protection indicates nearly 30% of the range is “protected”, but only about 25% is under national strict protected areas. Evolution of this coverage showed some periods of significant increase but interestingly the number of cores grew at a faster rate than overall proportion protected, likely indicating numerous discontinuous fragments, and not contiguous functional landscapes. This represents the most updated assessment of the distribution and conservation status for the species in Colombia, and indicates the numerous conservation opportunities, especially in most populated areas of the country. We found unique business environmental passive’s opportunities, including compensation and development potential, which are becoming more available in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F. González-Maya
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras–ProCAT Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma, Lerma de Villada, Estado de México, México
- * E-mail:
| | - Diego A. Zárrate-Charry
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras–ProCAT Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- WWF Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jan Schipper
- Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
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González-Maya JF, Rojano C, Ávila R, Gómez-Junco GP, Moreno-Díaz C, Hurtado-Moreno AP, Paredes-Casas CA, Lemus-Mejía L, Zárrate-Charry DA. Puma concolor potential distribution and connectivity in the Colombian Llanos. MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding species distribution to target biodiversity conservation actions in countries with high biodiversity, scarce data availability and low study sites accessibility is very challenging. These issues limit management and conservation actions even on charismatic and potentially conflictive species like large carnivores. We developed a geographic assessment of the potential distribution, core patches and connectivity areas for Puma concolor in the Colombian Llanos (Orinoco region). To create this geographic representation, we used methodological approaches that work with scarce information and still provide a spatially-explicit distribution that could be used by stakeholders. Our results show the importance that the Llanos region has for the conservation of the species and the potential role that can have to ensure a resident long-term population. Based on our approach, more than 50,000 km2 (near to 30% of the study area) can be still considered as core habitats for the species, and most of them are still connected, with spatial gaps lower than the estimated dispersal distance of the species and several remaining steppingstones. Further research is required to validate our analysis and we expect our results can target research and conservation priorities within the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F. González-Maya
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales , CBS, Universidad, Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma , Av. de las Garzas No. 10, Col. El Panteón. C.P, 52005 , Lerma de Villada , Estado de México , Mexico
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Cesar Rojano
- Fundación Cunaguaro and Cunaguaro Consultores SA , Calle 20 #28-06 , Yopal , Casanare , Colombia
| | - Renzo Ávila
- Fundación Cunaguaro and Cunaguaro Consultores SA , Calle 20 #28-06 , Yopal , Casanare , Colombia
| | - Ginna P. Gómez-Junco
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Catalina Moreno-Díaz
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Angela P. Hurtado-Moreno
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Camilo A. Paredes-Casas
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Leonardo Lemus-Mejía
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
| | - Diego A. Zárrate-Charry
- Proyecto de Conservación de Aguas y Tierras – ProCAT Colombia , Carrera 11 # 96-43, Of. 303 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
- World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Colombia , Carrera 10 A # 69 A – 44 , Bogotá D.C. , Colombia
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