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Abundance and activity patterns of the endangered margay (Leopardus wiedii) in temperate forest remnants from the avocado landscape in Mexico

  • Tiberio C. Monterrubio-Rico , Eduardo G. Gallardo-Téllez , Eduardo I. López-Ortiz , Hernando Rodríguez-Correa and Juan F. Charre-Medellín ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: May 16, 2023

Abstract

A survey was done to estimate margay abundance and activity in the context of high forest loss rates from avocado plantations for the temperate forest region of Michoacán state. Camera trap surveys were conducted from November 2015 to April 2020, recording 21 Margay detections of seven individuals. The capture rate ranged from 0.09 to 0.83 records/100 trap nights. The mean temporal density was 0.12 ind./km2, with an activity peak between 04:00 and 05:00 h. The Margay could serve as indicator species for restoration and forest conservation initiatives.


Corresponding author: Juan F. Charre-Medellín, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (Campus Morelia), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia 58190, Mexico, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The present study represents the ongoing field survey efforts on endangered mammals and birds in central-western Mexico. We appreciate the students’ field support and Biology Faculty and UMSNH for the facilities and preparation of the manuscript.

  1. Author contributions: TCMR, HRC, and JFCM led the manuscript writing, analyzed data, interpreted the results, conceived ideas, and designed the study. JFCM, EGGT, and EILO collected the data.

  2. Research funding: This work was supported by the Coordinación de Investigación Científica, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH). JFCM thanks CONACYT for the postdoctoral fellowship awarded.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

  4. Research ethics: The authors declare that the procedures were in accordance with the national laws.

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Received: 2022-05-06
Accepted: 2023-04-25
Published Online: 2023-05-16
Published in Print: 2023-07-26

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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