HOME RANGE AND HABITAT SELECTION OF PUMAS (PUMA CONCOLOR) IN THE SERRA DO ITAJAÍ NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Spatial ecology of pumas in southern Brazil

Abstract

Pumas (Puma concolor; Carnivora, Felidae) have experienced population declines in the Atlantic Forest due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-related pressures. In southern Brazil, information on their spatial ecology remains limited, constraining conservation planning at regional scales. This study aimed to estimate puma home range size and habitat selection using satellite tracking data in Serra do Itajaí National Park (SINP), state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Individuals were equipped with Argos Lotek® collars and location data were used to estimate home range and habitat selection. Home range was estimated using the Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimator (AKDE). Habitat availability was defined using a Minimum Convex Polygon encompassing all locations, and land use was classified into five categories based on MapBiomas data. Habitat selection was assessed using Ivlev’s Electivity Index. Due to technical failures, only two individuals provided sufficient data for analysis. One sub-adult male (2.5 years-old) was monitored between July and December 2013 (N = 222 locations; acquisition success of 24%), with a home range size of 202 km² (144.39 – 269.32), 40% located outside SINP limits. The other individual was an adult male (9 years-old) monitored between July and September 2014 (N = 128 locations; acquisition success of 36%), with a home range size of 201 km² (73.87 – 391.71) entirely within SINP limits. Forests comprise 95% of the available habitats and were the only one selected by pumas, whereas anthropized ones were avoided by them. Despite the limited sample size, this study provides the first GPS-based evidence of space use by P. concolor in southern Brazil, highlighting the importance of continuous forest cover and landscape connectivity for the species.