The ecology and conservation of jaguars (Panthera onca ) in central Belize: Conservation status, diet, movement patterns and habitat us

Effective conservation strategies for large, long-lived and wide-ranging carnivores such as the jaguar (Panthera onca) depend on comprehensive understanding of spatial needs and habitat requirements. Given the accelerating patterns of human population growth and habitat fragmentation, assessments at large spatial scales are necessary. We used GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking technology to investigate movement patterns, habitat use and home range dynamics of jaguars in Belize's central biological corridor (CBC). The CBC is the only remaining viable corridor connecting Belize's two main conservation blocks: the Selva Maya in the northwest and the Maya Mountain massif in the south. Accurate information on diet of elusive predators is also an important requisite for the development of effective management and conservation strategies, especially in human-dominated landscapes where anthropogenic forces, especially subsistence hunting, represent an immediate and direct source of competition for a dwindling prey base.;The observed habitat used by jaguars was significantly different from expected for the total annual period, and both the dry and rain seasons. Jaguars avoided agriculture and wetlands but preferred Lowland Broadleaf Forest and Shrublands (P<0.001). Jaguars showed strong diurnal and seasonal cycles in movement patterns: movement rate at mid afternoon was three times less than from midnight to mid morning, and movement rate during the dry season was on average two times the rate during the rain season. Pumas showed weaker diurnal and seasonal patterns.;Diet of jaguars and pumas were constructed, and resource partitioning evaluated, from analyses of 136 scats containing 161 prey items. Scat origin, by genetic determination, showed that 79 scats (69 from males and 10 from females) were from jaguars and 36 were from pumas (with 21 of unknown origin). Jaguar diet was dominated armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and puma diet was by pacas (Agouti paca). The collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) was important to both diets. Female jaguars showed higher diet diversity and diet overlap was highest between female jaguars and pumas. The elevated paca content in the puma diet suggests that pumas may be at a higher relative risk since pacas are a preferred game meat.