Food habits of Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) in agroecosystem habitats of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Authors

  • Juan S. Guidobono Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C.A.B.A., Argentina
  • Jimena Muñoz Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C.A.B.A., Argentina
  • Emiliano Muschetto Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C.A.B.A., Argentina
  • Pablo Teta Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Centro Nacional Patagónico (U9120ACD)Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
  • María Busch Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C.A.B.A., Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.16.26.2.0.83

Abstract

Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), a small wild cat of South America, showed in the last years a decline in population abundance mainly related to both habitat destruction and hunting. The increasing human population densities and the consequent demand for food and natural resources will rapidly erode and fragment its remaining habitats. In Argentina most studies about Geoffroy's cat diet have been conducted in protected areas or in their surroundings, while there are no studies conducted in purely agricultural systems. We described the diet composition of Leopardus geoffroyi and its seasonal variations in an agricultural ecosystem to contribute knowledge of its ecology and natural history. The study was carried out from spring 2008 to spring 2011. A total of 494 scats were analyzed and at least 695 prey-items were identified. The diet included 81.58% of mammal prey, representing 93.32% of the potential biomass ingested. Within mammals, the principal prey were rodents, representing 79.57% of the total prey items and 59.39% of the total potential biomass consumed. Small rodents account for a great proportion of prey items, while larger species, as the caviid Cavia aperea, contributed more biomass. The diet plasticity may enhance the persistence of Geoffroy's cat populations in variable and anthropized ecosystems.

References

Bilenca, DN & FO Kravetz. 1995. Patrones de abundancia relativa en ensambles de pequeños roedores de la región pampeana. Ecol Austral, 5(1):21-30.

Bilenca, DN & FO Kravetz. 1998. Seasonal variations in microhabitat use and feeding habits of the pampas mouse Akodon azarae in agroecosystems of central Argentina. Acta Theriol, 43(2):193-205.

Bilenca, DN & F Miñarro. 2004. Áreas valiosas de pastizal (AVPs) en las pampas y campo de Argentina, Uruguay y sur de Brasil. Fundación Vida Silvetre Argentina. Buenos Aires.

Bilenca, DN; CM González-Fischer; P Teta & M Zamero. 2007. Agricultural intensification and small mammal assemblages in agroecosystems of the Rolling Pampas, central Argentina. Agr Ecosyst Environ, 121(4):371-375.

Biró, Z; J Lanszki; L Szemethy; M Heltai & E Randi. 2005. Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (Felis catus), wild cats (Felis silvestris) and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary. J Zool, 266(2):187-196.

Bisceglia, SBC; JA Pereira; P Teta & RD Quintana. 2008. Food habits of Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) in the central Monte desert of Argentina. J Arid Environ, 72(6):1120-1126.

Bisceglia, SBC; JA Pereira; P Teta & RD Quintana. 2011. Rodent selection by Geoffroy's cats in a semi-arid scrubland of central Argentina. J Arid Environ, 75(11):1024-1028.

Bonaventura, SM; MI Bellocq & FO Kravetz. 1988. Selección de hábitat por roedores en campos de cultivo. Physis, 46:61-66.

Bonaventura, SM & MC Cagnoni. 1995. La vegetación de los bordes de caminos en agroecosistemas. Physis (Buenos Aires Sección C), 50:63-71.

Busch, M & FO Kravetz. 1992. Competitive interactions among rodents (Akodon azarae, Calomys laucha, C. musculinus and Oligoryzomys flavescens) in a two habitat system. I. Spatial and numerical relationships. Mammalia, 56(1):45-56.

Busch, M; MR Álvarez; AE Cittadino & FO Kravetz. 1997. Habitat selection and interspecific competition in rodents in pampean agroecosystems. Mammalia, 61(2):167-184.

Busch, M; MH Miño; JR Dadon & K Hodara. 2000. Habitat selection by Calomys musuclinus (Muridae, Sigmodontinae) in crop areas of the pampean region, Argentina. Ecol Austral, 10(1):15-16.

Busch, M; MH Miño; JR Dadon & K Hodara. 2001. Habitat selection by Akodon azarae and Calomys laucha (Rodentia, Muridae) in pampean agroecosystems. Mammalia, 65(1):167-184.

Busch, M & K Hodara. 2006. Uso y selección de hábitat y competencia interespecífica en roedores sigmodontinos de la región pampeana. Pp. 147-172 in: Polop, J & M Busch (eds.). Biología y ecología de pequeños roedores en la región pampeana de Argentina. Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.

Castillo, D; E LuengosVidal; M Lucherini & E Casanave. 2008. First report on the Geoffroy's cat in a highly modified rural area of the Argentine pampas. Cat News, 49:27-28.

Canepuccia, AD; MM Martínez & AI Vassallo. 2007. Selection of waterbirds by Geoffroy's cat: Effects of prey abundance, size, and distance. Mam Biol, 72(3):163-173.

Canepuccia, AD; AA Farias; AH Escalante; O Iribarne; A Novaro; et al. 2008. Differential responses of marsh predators to rainfall- induced habitat loss and subsequent variations in prey availability. Can J Zool, 86(5):407-418.

Caruso, N; M Sotelo & EM Luengo Vidal. 2012. Primer registro de presencia del gato montés, Leopardus geoffroyi, en la reserva natural Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa, Bahía Verde (RNBBBFBV), provincial de Buenos Aires. BioScriba, 5(1):54-59.

Ceballos, G; PR Erlich; J Soberon; I Salazar & JP Fay. 2005. Global mammal conservation: What must we manage? Science, 309(5734):603-607.

Colwell, RK & DJ Futuyma. 1971. On the measurement of niche breadth and overlap. Ecology, 52(4):567-576.

Cuellar, E; L Maffei; R Arispe & A Noss. 2006. Geoffroy's cats at the northern limit of their range: activity patterns and density estimates from camera trapping in Bolivian dry forests. Stud Neotrop Fauna E, 41(3):169-177.

Di Rienzo, JA; F Casanoves; MG Balzarini; L González; M Tablada; et al. 2014. InfoStat versión 2014. Grupo InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. URL: http://www.infostat.com.ar.

Eagan, TS; JC Beasley; ZH Olson & OE Rhodes. 2011. Impacts of generalist mesopredators on the demography of small-mammal populations in fragmented landscapes. Can J Zool, 89(8):724-731.

Ellis, BA; JN Mills; JE Childs; MC Muzzini; KT McKee, Jr; et al. 1997. Structure and floristics of habitats associated with five rodent species in an agroecosystem in Central Argentina. J Zool, 243(3):437-460.

Elmhagen, B; M Tannerfeld & A Angerbjörn. 2002. Food niche overlap between arctic and red foxes. Can J Zool, 80(7):1274- 1285.

Emmons, LH. 1987. Comparative feeding ecology of felids in a Neotropical rainforest. Behav Ecol Sociobiol, 20(4):271 -283.

Farias, AA & KJ Kittlein. 2008. Small-scale spatial variability in the diet of pampas foxes (Pseudalopex gymnocercus) and human-induced changes in prey base. Ecol Res, 23(3):543-550.

Fedriani, JM; TK Fuller & RM Sauvajot. 2001. Does availability of anthropogenic food enhance densities of omnivorous mammals? An example with coyotes in southern California. Ecography, 24(3):325-331.

Fedriani, JM & MH Kohn. 2001. Genotyping faeces links individuals to their diet. Ecol Lett, 4(5):477-483.

Figueroa Rojas, RA & S Corales Stappung. 2004. Summer diet comparison between the American kestrel (Falco sparverius) and Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) in an agricultural area of Araucania, southern Chile. Hornero, 19:53-60.

Fraschina, J. 2011. Efectos de cambios en el uso de la tierra sobre ensambles de roedores en agroecosistemas pampeanos. Dissertation, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Fraschina, F; VA León & M Busch. 2011. Long-term variations in rodents abundance in a rural landscape of the Pampas, Aregentina. Ecol Res, 27(1):191-202.

Fuller, AK; DJ Harrison & JH Vashon. 2007. Winter habitat selection by Canada lynx in Maine: prey abundance or accessibility? J Wildlife Manage, 71(6):1980-1986.

Gehrt, SD. 2004. Ecology and Management of Striped Skunks, Raccoons, and Coyotes in Urban Landscapes. Pp 81-104 in: Fascione, N; A Delach & M Smith (eds.). People and Predators: From Conflict to Coexistence. Island Press Washington, DC, USA.

Gómez Villafañe, IE; F Miñarro; M Ribicich; CA Rossetti; D Rossotti; et al. 2004. Assessment of the risks of rats (Rattus norvegicus) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris) in different poultry-rearing areas in Argentina. Braz J Microbiol, 35(4):359-363.

Hodara, K & M Busch. 2006. Return of preferred habitats (edges) as a function of distance in Akodon azarae (Rodentia, Muridae) in cropfield-edge systems of central Argentina. J Ethol, 21(2):141-145.

Hopcraft, JGC; ARE Sinclair & C Packer. 2005. Planning for success: Serengeti lions seek prey accessibility rather than abundance. J Anim Ecol, 74(3):559-566.

Jedrzejewski, W; K Schmidt; H Okarma & R Kowalczyk. 2002. Movement pattern and home range use by the Eurasian lynx in Bialowieza Primeval Forest (Poland). Ann Zool Fenn, 39(1):29-41.

Johnson, WE & WL Franklin. 1991. Feeding and spatial ecology of Felis geoffroyi in Southern Patagonia. J Mammal, 72(4):815-820.

Karanth, KU & R Chellam. 2009. Carnivore conservation at the crossroads. Oryx, 43(1):1-2.

Krauze-Gryz, D; J Gryz & J Goszczynski. 2012. Predation by domestic cats in rural areas of central poland: an assessment base don two methods. J Zool, 288(4):260-266.

Levins, R. 1968. Evolution in changing environments. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Lozano, J & F Urra. 2007. El gato domestico, Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758. Galemys, 19(1):35-38.

Manfredi, C; M Lucherini; AD Canepuccia & EB Casanave. 2004. Geographical variation in the diet of geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) in pampas grassland of Argentina. J Mammal, 85(6):1111-1115.

Manfredi, C; L Soler; M Lucherini & EB Casanave. 2006. Home range and habitat use by Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) in a wet grassland in Argentina. J Zool, 268(4):381-387.

Miño, MH; R Cavia; IE Gómez Villafañe; DN Bilenca; EA Cittadino; et al. 2001. Estructura y diversidad de dos comunidades de pequeños roedores en agroecosistemas de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bol Soc Biol Concepción, 72:73-81.

Mills, JN; AE Ellis; KT McKee; JI Maiztegui & JE Childs. 1991. Habitat associations and relative densities of rodent populations in cultivated areas of central Argentina. J Mamm, 72(3):470-479.

Mukherjee, S; SP Goyal; AJT Johnsingh & MRP Leite Pitman. 2004. The importance of rodents in the diet of jungle cat (Felis chaus), caracal (Caracal caracal) and golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India. J Zool, 262(4):405-411.

Naroski, T & D Yzurieta. 2012. Guía de Aves de Argentina y Uruguay. Editorial Vazquez Massini. Buenos Aires.

Norman, GL & DL Streiner. 1996. Bioestadística. Time Mirror International Publishers. Division Iberoamericana. Madrid.

Novaro, AJ; MC Funes & SR Walker. 2000. Ecological extinction of native prey of a carnivore assemblage in Argentine Patagonia. Biol Conserv, 92(1):25-33.

Nowell, K & P Jackson. 1996. The Americas. Geoffroy's cat, Oncifelis geoffroyi (D'orbigny and Gervais, 1844). Pp. 129-130 in: Nowell, K & P Jackson (eds.). Wild cats Status survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Palacios, R; SR Walker & AJ Novaro. 2012. Differences in diet and trophic interactions of Patagonian carnivores between areas with mostly native or exotic prey. Mamm Biol, 77(3):183-189.

Paruelo, JM; JP Guerschman & SR Verón. 2005. Expansión agrícola y cambios en el uso del suelo. Ciencia Hoy, 15:14-23.

Pereira, JA; DM Varela & L Raffo. 2005. Relevamiento de los felinos silvestres en la región de parque nacional Pre-Delta. Facena, 21:69-77.

Pereira, JA; NG Fracassi & MM Uhart. 2006. Numerical and spatial responses of Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) to prey decline in Argentina. J Mammal, 87(6):1132-1139.

Pereira, JA. 2009. Efectos del manejo ganadero y disturbio asociados sobre la ecología trófica y la demografía del gato montés (Leopardus geoffroyi) en el desierto del monte, Argentina. Dissertation, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Pereira, JA. 2010. Activity pattern of Geoffroy's cats (Leopardus geoffroyi) during a period of food shortage. J Arid Environ, 74(9):1106-1109.

Pereira, JA; MS Di Bitetti; NG Fracassi; A Paviolo; CD De Angelo; et al. 2011. Population density of Geoffroy's cat in scrublands of central Argentina. J Zool, 283(1):37-44.

Pereira, JA; RS Walker & AJ Novaro. 2012. Effects of livestock on the feeding and spatial ecology of Geoffroy's cat. J Arid Environ, 76(1):36-42.

Pia, MV; MS López & AJ Novaro. 2003. Effects of livestock on the feeding ecology of endemic culpeo foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus smithersi) in central Argentina. Rev Chil Hist Nat, 76(2):313-321.

Radović, A & D Kovačić. 2010. Diet composition of the golden jackal (Canis aureus L.) on the Pejesäc Peninsula, Dalmatia, Croatia. Period Biol, 112(2):219-224.

Rajaratnam, R; M Sunquist; L Rajaratnam & L Ambu. 2007. Diet and habitat selection of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis) in an agricultural landscape in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. J Trop Ecol, 23(2):209-217.

R Development Core Team. 2010. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. ISBN 3-900051-07-0. URL: http://www.R-project.org.

Santillán, MA; AS Costán & JI Zanón-Martinez. 2014. Predation by Geoffroy's cat on ferruginous pygmy-olw in Caldén semiarid forest, Argentina. J Raptor Res, 48(2):192- 193.

Santos Moreno, A & AM Alfaro Espinola. 2009. Mammalian prey of barn owl (Tyto alba) in southeastern Oaxaca, México. Acta Zool Mex, 25(1):143-149.

Schipper, J; JS Chanson; F Chiozza; NA Cox; M Hoffmann; et al. 2008. The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat and knowledge. Science, 322(5899):225-230.

Sikes, RS; WL Gannon & The Animal Care and Use Committee of the American Society of Mammalogists. 2011. Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists for the use of wild mammals in research. Journal of Mammalogy, 92(1):235-253.

Soler, L; M Lucherini; C Manfredi; M Ciuccio & EB Casanave. 2009. Characteristics of defecation sites of the Geoffroy's cat Leopardus geoffroyi. Mastozool Neotrop, 16(2):485-489

Soriano, A; RJC León; OE Sala; RS Lavado; VA Deregibus; et al. 1991. Río de la Plata grasslands. Pp 367-407 in: Coupland, RT (ed.). Natural grasslands Introduction and Western Hemisphere. Elsevier, Ecosystems of the World, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Sousa, K & A Bager. 2008. Feeding habits of Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) in southern Brazil. Mamm Biol, 73(4):303-308.

Sovada, MA; CC Roy & DJ Telesco. 2001. Seasonal Food Habits of Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in Cropland and Rangeland Landscapes in Western Kansas. Am Midl Nat, 145(1):101-111.

Treves, A & KU Karanth. 2003. Human-carnivore conflict and perspectives on carnivore management worldwide. Conservation Biology, 17(6):1491-1499.

Trigo, TC; F Tirelli; L Machado; F Bortolotto Peters; C Indrusiak; et al. 2013. Geographic distribuition and food habits of Leopardus tigrinus and L. geoffroyi (Carnivora, Falidae) at their geographic contact zone in southern Brazil. Stud Neotrop Fauna E 48(1):56-67.

Varela, O; A Cormenzana-Méndez; L Krapovickas & EH Bucher. 2008. Seasonal Diet of the Pampas Fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) in the Chaco Dry Woodland, Northwestern Argentina. J Mammal, 89(4):1012-1019.

Viglizzo, EF; F Lertora; AJ Pordomingo; JN Bernardos; R Ze; et al. 2001. Ecological lessons and applications from one century of low external-input farming in the Pampas of Argentina. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 83(1-2):65-81.

Vuillermoz, PA. 2001. Dieta estacional y selección de presas del gato montés (Oncifelis geoffroyi) y zorro pampeano (Pseudalopex gymnocercus) en la Reserva de Vida Silvestre “Campos del Tuyú” (Bahía Samborombón). Dissertation. Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Hábitos alimentarios del gato montés (Leopardus geoffroyi) en agroecosistemas de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Downloads

Published

2016-03-04

How to Cite

Guidobono, J. S., Muñoz, J., Muschetto, E., Teta, P., & Busch, M. (2016). Food habits of Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) in agroecosystem habitats of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ecología Austral, 26(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.16.26.2.0.83