Abstract:
Santa Rosa National Park (SRNP) protects the largest dry forest relict of Costa Rica, a place that was preceded by a special effort of regeneration and habitat management started in the early seventies in land with livestock. Forty years after this initiative, forest rangers and staff of SRNP mentioned that the recovery of vegetation has improved wild populations of cats and prey and sightings have increased in recent years. Nowadays there is no information of species that require high standards of integrity in the ecosystem such as jaguar (Panthera onca) and other cats. Species which are an indicator of the status of environment allow understanding the dynamics and status of other species. In this study we evaluated the relationship of the jaguar and other cats regarding their potential prey in Santa Rosa National Park. Two techniques were used for biological monitoring, analyzing and comparing trends of population of jaguar, puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and their potential prey grouped in feeding guilds. Abundance indices were obtained from track counts on 7 trails in 2001 and 2011 and additionally in 2006 and 2011 by photo and video captures with cameras placed close to 13 water sources. Furthermore diets of jaguar, puma and ocelot were analyzed. The temporal activity overlap of felids with their prey was evaluated by using camera trap captures. Track counting method showed an increasing pattern in the omnivore and carnivore guild and a decreasing pattern in herbivores and frugivores. Among felids, jaguars showed a significant increase, pumas decreased and ocelots remained constant. No pattern of statistical evidence was determined by photographic indices but, however, for spotted cats like jaguar and ocelot it was possible to identify the number of individuals. In 2006 two individuals of jaguar were recorded, in 2011 the number of recorded individuals was 5. Regarding Ocelot 5 individuals were recorded in 2006 and as well in 2011. No recaptures occurred for these two species in the given periods of examination. The temporal distribution of herbivores varied from felids while frugivores and omnivores did not show sufficient statistical evidence. Diet of jaguar was concentrated on deer (Odocoileus virginianus), collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) and sea turtles while puma was concentrated on deer and peccary, reporting occasional prey consumption of less than 5 kg, and finally ocelot consumed mainly iguana (Ctenosaura similis) and smaller prey.
