Abstract

VEGA-FLORES, Cristina Nicté  and  FARIAS-GONZALEZ, Verónica. Puma (Puma concolor) and bobcat (Lynx rufus) density in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2021, vol.92, e923639.  Epub Feb 03, 2022. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3639.

Puma (Puma concolor) coexists with bobcat (Lynx rufus) in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (RBTC). Because P. concolor is the largest feline in central México, puma's presence is an indicator of ecological integrity. Our objective was to compare puma and bobcat density in a conserved area within the reserve. We deployed 15 camera stations along the ridge and a dry riverbed in Mount Tepetroja in tropical dry forest. To estimate population density, we used capture-recapture models and analyzed images from 1 May 2013 to 30 April 2017 with MARK software and CAPTURE tool. For puma, we obtained a density of 6.8 ind/100 km2 in an effective trapping area (ETA) of 70 km2, and a mean maximum distance moved (MMDM) of 2.46 ± 0.45 km. For bobcat, our population density estimate (15.4 ind/100 km2 in ETA of 38 km2) and MMDM (1.76 ± 0.41 km) is the first for central Mexico in conserved native vegetation. Puma abundance was lower compared to bobcat abundance in the reserve's tropical dry forest; therefore, we infer that the wild felids' density is determined by their body size in an ecosystem with ecological integrity.

Keywords : Abundance; Felidae; Felid; Photo-capture; Capture-recapture model; Tropical dry forest.

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