Project Details

Map of the study area. We started field data collection at Los Alamos farm and 2 other, private-owned farms (covering almost 7,000 ha) located in the proximity of Chasicó Lake Provincial Park, Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The main habitats are scrubland, where the most common trees areProsopis alba, P. nigra, and Geoffrea decorticans, and sand dunes, where vegetation is dominated by Aextoxicon punctatum. Cattle activities create open pastures with scattered trees. 

Methods

We work with photo trapping to study distribution and habitat use, activity patterns and relative population abundance for each cat species. Cameras are baited with Bobcat Urine or Bobcat Gland Lure.

The cats are also being captured with different live trap models. Captured animals are sedated with a combination of tiletamine-zolazepam and morphological measures and biological samples are taken. Adult animals are fitted with radiocollars.

Through the use of radio telemetry we are obtaining information about the spatial and social organization, movement and activity, habitat use and selection.

To study the trophic niche of each cat species we are collecting fecal samples, which will be identified by DNA analysis.

We are interviewing local people, to spread awareness on our work and understand which are the conflicts between them and carnivores. With education work on schoolchildren and adults, we aim to improve attitudes of local communities toward carnivores.

Preliminary Results

In our study area, until the moment, we have confirmed the presence of 3 of the 4 species of wild cats, where the Geoffroy's cat is more abundant than the Pampas cat and puma. With a sampling effort of 590 camera trap days, we took 47 carnivore photos. Geoffroy's cats were the most abundant wildcats, but we also obtained Pampas cat pictures (Fig 1).

Small cats mainly defecate in latrines, particularly on trees (57.7% of all defecation sites, with an average of 3.2 faeces) and on the ground (42.3%; average number of faeces: 1.6;Fig. 2). 

We have completed over 655 trap days and captured 11 Geoffroy’s cat individuals, one Pampas fox, Pseudalopex gymnocercus, and one skunk, Conepatus chinga. Five of these cats have been radio tagged. 

We obtained an average of 90 ± 65 locations per cat in only 8 months of radio tracking (range: 26–188). 

The preliminary mean home range size ranged from 1.3 ± 1.9 km2, when excursions are excluded (90% Minimum Convex Polygon), to 1.7 ± 1.8 km2 (100% Minimum Convex Polygon). Home ranges were larger for males (with the exception of one male) than females. The two females had similar home range sizes. 

Currently, we are tracking 3 individuals and live trapping to radio collar new individuals. We are also expanding our camera trapping to detect the areas used by jaguarundis and pumas . 

 The use of different techniques has confirmed the presence of 3 of the 4 species of wildcats and that, currently, the Geoffroy’s cat is probably the most abundant species of wildcat in the Argentine Monte. This could be related to its greater adaptability with respect to the other small cats, and to differential hunting pressure, in the case of the puma.  

Nevertheless, we are aware that more data are needed to understand the intraguild interactions between these cats and how they have been affected by human activities. 

Our project is also providing opportunities for university students from Argentina (and other countries) to volunteer and thus get training on a variety of field techniques in carnivore conservation biology. Miriam Benzaquin is developing the final work to obtain her Bachelor title in Biology. 

Mauro Lucherini is a PhD Zoologist (Universitá di Siena, Italy) and GECM Field Coordinator (Universidad Nacional del Sur–UNS and CONICET). He has also lead a conservation biology project on the Andean mountain cats since 1998. Mauro has been a member of the IUCN Cat Specialst Group since 1998.

Claudia Manfredi is a PhD Biologist at UNS; she has worked with Geoffroy’s cats since 1999, and has been a member of the IUCN Cat SG since 2005.