Estimating species distribution from camera trap by‐catch data, using jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) as an example
Authors: Harmsen Bart J. , Williams Sara , Abarca Maria , Álvarez Calderón Francisco Samuel , Araya‐Gamboa Daniela , Avila Hefer Daniel , Barrantes‐Núñez Mariano , Bravata‐de la Cruz Yaribeth , Broadfield Joleen , Cabral‐Araújo Valquíria , Calderón Ana Patricia , Castañeda Franklin , Corrales‐Gutiérrez Daniel , do Couto‐Peret Dias Bárbara , Dantas Marinho Paulo Henrique , Devlin Allison L. , Escobar‐Anleu Barbara I. , Espinoza‐Muñoz Deiver , Esser Helen J. , Foster Rebecca J. , Fragoso Carlos Eduardo , Friedeberg Diana , Herrera Luis Alberto , Hidalgo‐Mihart Mircea G. , Hoogesteijn Rafael , Jansen Patrick A. , Jędrzejewski Włodzimierz , Jesus‐de la Cruz Alejandro , de Jesus Rodrigues Domingos , Jordan Chris A. , Juárez‐Lopez Rugieri , Kadosoe Vanessa , Kelly Marcella J. , King Travis W. , Lugarini Camile , Venticinque Eduardo Martins , da Matta Nigro Giulia , McPhail Darby K. T. , Meyer Ninon , Morales‐Rivas Andrea , Nepomuceno Vance , Nipko Rob B. , Noronha Janaina , de Oliveira‐Vasquez Mariana , Ouboter Paul , Paemelaere Evi A. D. , Payán Esteban , dos Santos Thais Pereira , Salom‐Pérez Roberto , Sanchez Emma E. , Santos‐Simioni Stephanie , Schmidt Krzysztof , Stasiukyans Diana , Tortato Fernando R. , Urbina‐Ruiz Ever , Urquhart Gerald R. , Wong Wai‐Ming , Robinson Hugh 
Published: April 2024

Aim

Planning conservation action requires accurate estimates of abundance and distribution of the target species. For many mammals, particularly those inhabiting tropical forests, there are insufficient data to assess their conservation status. We present a framework for predicting species distribution using jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), a poorly known felid for which basic information on abundance and distribution is lacking.

Location

Mesoamerica and South America.

Time Period

From 2003 to 2021.

Taxa

Herpailurus yagouaroundi.

Methods

We combined camera‐trap data from multiple sites and used an occupancy modelling framework accounting for imperfect detection to identify habitat associations and predict the range‐wide distribution of jaguarundis.

Results

Our model predicted that the probability of jaguarundi occupancy is positively associated with rugged terrain, herbaceous cover, and human night‐time light intensity. Jaguarundi occupancy was predicted to be higher where precipitation was less seasonal, and at intermediate levels of diurnal temperature range. Our camera data also revealed additional detections of jaguarundis beyond the current International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) range distribution, including the Andean foothills of Colombia and Bolivia.

Main Conclusion

Occupancy was predicted to be low throughout much of Amazonian lowlands, a vast area at the centre of jaguarundi known range. Further work is required to investigate whether this area represents sub‐optimal conditions for the species. Overall, we estimate a crude global jaguarundi population of 35,000 to 230,000 individuals, covering 4,453,406 km2 of Meso‐ and South America at the 0.5 probability level of occupancy. Our current framework allows for an initially detailed, well‐informed species distribution that should be challenged and refined with improved habitat layers and additional records of jaguarundi detection. We encourage similar studies of lesser‐known mammals, pooling existing by‐catch data from the growing bank of camera‐trap surveys around the world.