Conserving the southwestern Amazon to keep the jaguar population intact

Tobler, M.W., Carrillo-Percastegui S.M., Hartley A.Z., and Powell G.V.N. 2013. High jaguar densities and large population sizes in the core habitat of the southwestern Amazon. Biological Conservation 159: 375-381.

Available from:
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0006320712005101/1-s2.0-S0006320712005101-main.pdf?_tid=0d26d438-6bd9-11e2-a75c-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1359659254_80ad092820212837736a10b1f3396592


As we have just learnt in class tropical rainforest's, such as the Amazon, have a high amount of biodiversity. This is why it is mind-boggling that gold mining, hunting and logging is going on in the Amazon even though so many different species live in the geographical range. In the last century Jaguars have lost 40% of their range because of habitat loss (Tobler et al. 2013). The Amazon is thought to be the largest habitat left for jaguars, and it is also thought to be key to their survival (Tobler et al. 2013). Recently jaguars were re-classified on the Peruvian red list as a near threatened species (Tobler et al. 2013).

Tobler et al. decided to research whether or not mining and logging is effecting the Jaguars that live in the Amazon (2013). They did this by performing the largest study of Jaguars in the Amazon to date. Tobler et al. observed the density of jaguars in different areas of the amazon by using six camera trap surveys. They also looked at whether or not a logged area would alter the amount of jaguars in that location. Below is a figure showing where the six camera trap surveys were set up and the shaded areas are where the jaguars are protected.

 

The results of Tobler et al.'s study showed that the average density of jaguars is 4.4 ± 0.7 jaguar 100 km². This supports the hypothesis that the Amazon is an extremely important habitat for the Jaguar species. They also found that jaguar densities did not decrease around logged areas.

Tobler et al. did however bring up the issue that the prohibition of hunting jaguars and selling their teeth, claws, skin parts and full skins in markets should be better enforced. It seems when entering the marketplaces in local areas different parts of the jaguars were being sold.

It is disturbing that an animal such as the jaguar has become a threatened species over the last few years because of the expansion of agriculture. Human population is definitely the biggest issue for conservation biologists today.

Interesting Facts:

• A jaguar's teeth can puncture the skull of large prey piercing the brain
• Every jaguar has a unique pattern of spots
• They will not hunt alone until they are six months old, and for the next two years of their life they stay with their  mother
• They roar
• Each day they eat approximately 75 lbs of food
• They eat the lungs and the heart of their prey first

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A decreasing population of Woodland Caribou in British Columbia and Alberta

2012. Species at Risk: Woodland Caribou - Southern mountain populations. Parks Canada. Gatineau, Q.C. Available from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/nature/eep-sar/itm3/eep-sar3caribou.aspx (accessed January 2013)

 

 

When I was searching the web to find a species at risk that spiked my interest I stumbled upon the Woodland Caribou. I was drawn to this subspecies right away because of its intriguing story and overall beauty.  

 

 

                                          © Paul Sutherland

 

The Southern Mountain population of Woodland Caribou is listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA) (Parks Canada 2012). The population in Banff does not exist anymore due to an avalanche, and the populations in Jasper, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks are steadily decreasing in size. The population in the Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks consists of seven Woodland Caribou, in 1997 this population was around 100 (Parks Canada 2012).

 

The Woodland Caribou in the Southern Mountain regions do not have a migratory route like other Caribou. In Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks the Woodland Caribou during the winter move up the mountain and stand on packed snow to reach lichens high up in trees, where as in Jasper and Banff National Parks they move down the mountain and search for lichens underneath the snow (Parks Canada 2012).

                                          © M. Bradley

There are many reasons as to why these Woodland Caribou are decreasing in size. Firstly, an increase in deer and elk populations causes an increase in predator populations such as wolves. These wolves then compete for food, and if they cannot find food they move elsewhere and can end up in areas that caribou inhabit. Secondly, humans effect Woodland Caribou populations by hitting them with their vehicles and by creating unnatural paths within parks. Thirdly, if a large portion of habitat containing older trees were to be destroyed it would be hard for the population to find food because lichens only grow on older trees. Lastly, once a population is small it is more susceptible to decline or to be destroyed. The Banff population was already destroyed by an avalanche in 2009, and in Jasper there are two populations that consist of less than fifteen Caribou. (Parks Canada 2012)

 

 Volunteering for the Caribou Biologists in Jasper could be a potential conservation project. I believe our conservation biology class could participate in the recovery of Woodland Caribou populations.

 

If you aren't too busy take a look at this video below, I found it to be quite interesting.

 



 

Lastly, here are some interesting facts I found about Woodland Caribou that made me like them even more.

• When Woodland Caribou walk you can hear a clicking noise because their tendons slide over their bones in their feet 
•  Woodland Caribou are the only mammal that can live entirely off of lichens
•  Both males and females grow antlers
•  They can swim
  
  
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