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Carnivores face important anthropogenic threats in agricultural areas from habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance by domestic free-roaming dogs and cats, and direct hunting by humans. Anthropogenic disturbances are shifting the activity patterns of wild animals, likely modifying species interactions. We estimated changes in the activity patterns of the mesocarnivore guild of agricultural landscapes of the La Araucanía region in southern Chile in response to land-use intensification, comparing intra- and interspecific activity patterns at low and high levels of forest cover, fragmentation, and land ownership subdivision. Our focal species comprise the güiña or kod-kod (Leopardus guigna), two fox species (Lycalopex culpaeus and L. griseus), a skunk (Conepatus chinga), and one native mustelid (Galictis cuja), in addition to free-roaming dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis catus) and their main mammalian prey species (i.e., Rodentia and Lagomorpha). In 23,373 trap nights, we totaled 21,729 independent records of our focal species. Our results show tendencies toward nocturnality at high land-use intensification, with potential impacts on species fitness. Nocturnal mesocarnivores decreased their diurnal/ crepuscular activity, while cathemeral activity shifted to nocturnal activity at high land-use intensification, but only when in sympatry with a competitor. High land-use intensification decreased the activity overlap between native and domestic mesocarnivores but increased the overlap between native mesocarnivores. High intensification also reduced overlap with prey species. Notably, foxes displayed peaks of activity opposing those of dogs, and plasticity in activity pattern when in sympatry with dogs, such as strategies to avoid encounters. We stress the need to suppress the free-roaming and unsupervised activity of dogs to mitigate impacts of high land-use intensification on mesocarnivores.

Citizen science has the potential to expand the scope and scale of research in ecology and conservation, but many professional researchers remain skeptical of data produced by nonexperts. We devised an approach for producing accurate, reliable data from untrained, nonexpert volunteers. On the citizen science website www.snapshotserengeti.org, more than 28,000 volunteers classified 1.51 million images taken in a large-scale camera-trap survey in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Each image was circulated to, on average, 27 volunteers, and their classifications were aggregated using a simple plurality algorithm. We validated the aggregated answers against a data set of 3829 images verified by experts and calculated 3 certainty metrics—level of agreement among classifications (evenness), fraction of classifications supporting the aggregated answer (fraction support), and fraction of classifiers who reported \"nothing here\" for an image that was ultimately classified as containing an animal (fraction blank)—to measure confidence that an aggregated answer was correct. Overall, aggregated volunteer answers agreed with the expert-verified data on 98% of images, but accuracy differed by species commonness such that rare species had higher rates of false positives and false negatives. Easily calculated analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey tests indicated that the certainty metrics were significant indicators of whether each image was correctly classified or classifiable. Thus, the certainty metrics can be used to identify images for expert review. Bootstrapping analyses further indicated that 90% of images were correctly classified with just 5 volunteers per image. Species classifications based on the plurality vote of multiple citizen scientists can provide a reliable foundation for large-scale monitoring of African wildlife. La ciencia ciudadana tiene el potencial de expandir el alcance y la escala de la investigación en la ecología y la conservación, pero muchos investigadores profesionales permanecen escépticos sobre los datos producidos por quienes no son expertos. Diseñamos una estrategia para generar datos precisos y fiables a partir de voluntarios no expertos y sin entrenamiento. En el sitio web de ciencia ciudadana www.snapshotserengeti.org más de 28, 000 voluntarios clasificaron 1.51 millón de imágenes que fueron tomadas en un censo a gran escala de cámaras trampa en el Parque Nacional Serengueti, Tanzania. Cada imagen llegó, en promedio, hasta 27 voluntarios, cuyas clasificaciones se conjuntaron mediante el uso de un algoritmo de pluralidad simple. Validamos el conjunto de respuestas frente a un juego de datos de 3, 829 imágenes verificadas por expertos y calculamos tres medidas de certeza: nivel de concordancia entre las clasificaciones (uniformidad), fracción de clasificaciones que apoyan al conjunto de respuestas (fracción de apoyo) y fracción de clasificadores que reportaron \"nada aquí\" en una imagen que al final se clasificó como que sí tenía un animal (fracción en blanco). Estas medidas se usaron para estimar la confianza de que un conjunto de respuestas estuviera en lo correcto. En general, el conjunto de respuestas de los voluntarios estuvo de acuerdo con los datos verificados por los expertos en un 98% de las imágenes, pero la certeza varió según la preponderancia de la especie, de tal forma que las especies raras tuvieron una tasa más alta de falsos positivos y falsos negativos. El análisis de varianza calculado fácilmente y las pruebas post-hoc de Tukey indicaron que las medidas de certeza fueron indicadores significativos de si cada imagen estuvo clasificada correctamente o si era clasificable. Por esto, las medidas de certeza pueden utilizarse para identificar imágenes para una revisión de expertos. Los análisis de bootstrapping indicaron más a fondo que el 90 % de las imágenes estuvieron clasificadas correctamente con sólo cinco voluntarios por imagen. Las clasificaciones de especies basadas en el voto de pluralidad de múltiples científicos ciudadanos puede proporcionar un fundamento fiable para un monitoreo a gran escala de la vida silvestre africana.

Conservation of species at risk of extinction is complex and multifaceted. However, mitigation strategies are typically narrow in scope, an artifact of conservation research that is often limited to a single species or stressor. Knowledge of an entire community of strongly interacting species would greatly enhance the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of conservation decisions. We investigated how camera trapping and spatial count models, an extension of spatial-recapture models for unmarked populations, can accomplish this through a case study of threatened boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Population declines in caribou are precipitous and well documented, but recovery strategies focus heavily on control of wolves (Canis lupus) and pay less attention to other known predators and apparent competitors. Obtaining necessary data on multispecies densities has been difficult. We used spatial count models to concurrently estimate densities of caribou, their predators (wolf, black bear [Ursus americanus], and coyote [Canis latrans]), and alternative prey (moose [Alces alces] and white-tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus]) from a camera-trap array in a highly disturbed landscape within northern Alberta’s Oil Sands Region. Median densities were 0.22 caribous (95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI] = 0.08–0.65), 0.77 wolves (95% BCI = 0.26–2.67), 2.39 moose (95% BCI = 0.56–7.00), 2.64 coyotes (95% BCI = 0.45–6.68), and 3.63 black bears (95% BCI = 1.25–8.52) per 100 km². (The white-tailed deer model did not converge.) Although wolf densities were higher than densities recommended for caribou conservation, we suggest the markedly higher black bear and coyote densities may be of greater concern, especially if government wolf control further releases these species. Caribou conservation with a singular focus on wolf control may leave caribou vulnerable to other predators. We recommend a broader focus on the interacting species within a community when conserving species. La conservación de las especies en riesgo de extinción es compleja y multifacética. Sin embargo, las estrategias de mitigación con frecuencia son estrechas en cuanto a su enfoque, un artefacto de la investigación para la conservación que comúnmente se limita a una sola especie o un solo estresante. El conocimiento sobre toda una comunidad de especies con fuertes interacciones mejoraría enormemente la efectividad y la amplitud de las decisiones de conservación. Investigamos cómo las cámaras trampa y los modelos de conteo espacial, una extensión de los modelos de recaptura espacial para poblaciones sin marcaje, pueden lograr esto por medio de un estudio de caso del caribú de bosques boreales (Rangifer tarandus caribou), una especie en peligro de extinción. Las declinaciones poblacionales del caribú son abruptas y están bien documentadas, aunque las estrategias de recuperación se enfocan en el control de la población de lobos (Canis lupus) y le prestan menos atención a otros depredadores conocidos y a posibles competidores. Obtener los datos necesarios sobre la densidad poblaciones de múltiples especies ha sido complicado. Usamos modelos de conteo espacial para estimar simultáneamente la densidad de los caribúes, sus depredadores (lobos, osos negros [Ursus americanus] y coyotes [Canis latrans]), y presas alternativas (alces [Alces alces] y venados cola blanca [Odocoileus virginianus]) a partir de un despliegue de cámaras trampa en un paisaje altamente perturbado dentro de la región de Oil Sands en el norte de Alberta, Canadá. La densidad media fue de 0.22 caribúes (95% bayesiano CI [BCI] = 0.08-0.65), 0.77 lobos (95% BCI = 0.26-2.67), 2.39 alces (95% BCI = 0.56-7.00), 2.64 coyotes (95% BCI = 0.45-6.68), y 3.63 osos negros (95% BCI = 1.25-8.52) por 100 km² (el modelo para el venado cola blanca no convergió). Aunque la densidad de lobos fue mayor que la densidad recomendada para la conservación de los caribúes, creemos que la densidad poblaciones de los osos negros y los coyotes es marcadamente más alta, por lo que deberían ser de mayor preocupación, especialmente si los controles gubernamentales de lobos continúan liberándolos. La conservación de caribúes con un enfoque único en el control de lobos puede dejar vulnerables a los caribúes antes otros depredadores. Recomendamos un enfoque más amplio en las especies que interactúan dentro de una comunidad cuando se busca conservar a una especie. 濒危物种的保护是复杂而多方面的。然而，减缓物种濒危的策略一般范围较窄，是保护研究中局限于单ー 的物种或压力来源的假象。而对整个群落中有强相互作用的物种的认识将大大提高保护决策的综合性和有效 性。通过受胁迫的北美林地驯鹿（Rangifer tarandus caribou)的案例研究，我们分析了红外相机捕获和空间计 数模型(对未标记种群的空间重捕获模型的扩展) 如何来实现这一点。北美驯鹿种群下降的形势很严峻，这已被 很好地研究证明，但其恢复策略主要注重对灰狼（Cants lu p u s )的控制，而狼少关注它的一些已经确定的捕食者 和竞争者。要获取多物种密度数据一直十分困难。我们用阿尔伯塔(Alberta) 北部油砂地区一个受到高度干扰 的景观中的红外相机阵列所捕获的数据，采用空间计数模型同时估计了北美驯鹿及其捕食者誠、黒熊Ursus americanus.郊狼 Canis latrans)和替代猎物(能鹿 Alces alces. 白尾鹿 Odocoileus virginianus)的密度。这 些物种的平均密度为每100平方公里0.22只北美驯鹿（95%贝叶斯置信区间(BC1)为0.0&0.65X 0.77只灰狼 (95% BCI = 0.56-7.00), 2.39M9tM (95% BCI = 0.56-7.00), 2.64只郊狼(95% BCI= 0.45-6.68)及立63 只黒熊 (95% BCI为1.25-8.52)。其中，白尾鹿的模型不收敛。尽管灰狼密度比北美驯鹿的保护建议中的密度高，但我 们建i义密度明显更高的黒熊和郊狼可能更值得我们关注，特別是如果政府的灰狼控制项目还要进ー步释放这些 物种的话。北美驯鹿保护若只关注灰狼的控制，可能会使驯鹿更易受到其它捕食者影响。因此，我们建议开展物 种保护应更广泛地关注群落中相互作用的物种。

Coexistence of sympatric felids is facilitated by mutual avoidance and the partitioning of habitats, prey, and time. Anthropogenic disturbances disrupt this coexistence in fragmented landscapes, potentially triggering cascading influences in ecological communities. We used photographic data from 8,717 trap nights (November 2014–June 2016) at 87 camera trap sites in Colombia's middle Magdalena River basin to compare spatiotemporal overlap among jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), their prey, and humans, at sites of high and low disturbance, as determined by the human influence index. Human disturbance events (e.g., domestic dogs, livestock, and humans, including armed hunters) comprised 38% of all photographs at high disturbance sites and 29% of all photographs at low disturbance sites. Differential spatiotemporal overlaps were recorded between felids and their prey at high versus low disturbance sites, with jaguars exhibiting only 13% temporal overlap with humans at high disturbance sites. Among prey, temporal overlap was greater than spatial overlap for both felids across the study area. Compared to jaguars, pumas displayed more temporal overlap with all anthropogenic variables and more spatial overlap with most anthropogenic variables, suggesting lesser sensitivity to human disturbances. This study provides the first insights into the responses of a threatened large carnivore, jaguar, to camera trap-derived human disturbance variables in an unprotected landscape. It also highlights the importance of using multiple disturbance types for evaluating human impacts on large carnivores.

Species' activity patterns are driven by the need to meet basic requirements of food, social interactions, movement, and rest, but often are influenced by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. We used camera-trap data to describe and compare the activity patterns of the relatively poorly studied tayra (Eira barbara) across 10 populations distributed from the south of Mexico to the north of Argentina, and attempted to identify biotic or abiotic factors that may be associated with variation in level of diurnality. In a subset of sites we also aimed to document potential seasonal variation in activity. We used a kernel density estimator based on the time of independent photographic events to calculate the proportion of diurnal, crepuscular, and nocturnal activity of each population. Tayras were mostly active during diurnal periods (79.31%, 759 records), with a lower proportion of crepuscular activity (18.07%, 173 records) yet we documented some variation in patterns across the 10 study areas (activity overlap coefficient varied from Δ4 = 0.64 to Δ1 = 0.95). In northern localities, activity peaked twice during the day (bimodal) with most activity ocurring in the morning, whereas closer to the geographical equator, activity was constant (unimodal) throughout the day, peaking at midday: activity either was unimodal or bimodal in southern localities. Despite investigating multiple potential abiotic and biotic predictors, only latitude was associated with variation in the proportion of diurnal activity by tayras across its range, with increased diurnal activity closer to the equator. Seasonal comparisons in activity showed a tendency to reduce diurnality in dry versus rainy seasons, but the pattern was not consistently significant. This is the most comprehensive description of tayra activity patterns to date, and lends novel insight into the potential flexibility of the species to adapt to local conditions.

Management activities such as law enforcement and community outreach are thought to affect conservation outcomes in protected areas, but their importance relative to intrinsic environmental characteristics of the parks and extrinsic human pressures surrounding the parks have not been explored. Furthermore, it is not clear which is more related to conservation outcomes—the management itself or local people’s perceptions of the management. We measured objective (reports by park staff) and subjective (reports by local people) levels of community outreach and law enforcement based on responses to 374 questionnaires. We estimated mammal abundance and diversity of 6 protected areas based on data from 115 camera traps in Xishuangbanna, southwest China, a biodiversity hotspot with high hunting and land-conversion pressures. We then examined correlations among them and found that local people’s perception of law enforcement was positively related to the local abundance of 2 large, hunted species, wild boar (Sus scrofa) (β = 15.22) and muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis) (β = 14.82), but not related to the abundance of smaller mammals or to objective levels of enforcement. The subjective frequency of outreach by park staff to local communities (β = 3.42) and park size (β = 3.28) were significantly and positively related to mammal species richness, whereas elevation, human population density, and subjective frequency of law enforcement were not. We could not conclude that community outreach and law enforcement were directly causing increased mammal abundance and diversity. Nevertheless, the patterns we detected are some of the first empirical evidence consistent with the idea that biodiversity in protected areas may be more positively and strongly related to local perceptions of the intensity of park management than to either intrinsic (e.g., elevation, park size) or extrinsic (e.g., human population density) environmental factors. Las actividades de manejo como la aplicación de la ley y la participación de la comunidad afectan los resultados de conservación dentro de las áreas protegidas, pero su importancia en relación con las características ambientales intrínsecas de los parques y las presiones humanas extrínsecas que rodean a los parques no han sido exploradas. Además, no está claro cuál estámás relacionado con los resultados de conservación – el manejo en sí o las percepciones que las personas locales tienen sobre el manejo. Medimos los niveles objetivos (reportes dados por el personal del parque) y subjetivos (reportes dados por los locales) de la participación de la comunidad y la aplicación de la ley con base en las respuestas a 347 cuestionarios. Estimamos la abundancia y diversidad de mamíferos de seis áreas protegidas con base en datos de 115 cámaras trampa en Xishuangbann, al suroeste de China, un punto caliente de biodiversidad con altas presiones causadas por la caza y la conversión del uso de suelo. Después examinamos la correlación entre ellos y encontramos que la percepción que los locales tienen sobre la aplicación de la ley estuvo relacionada positivamente con la abundancia local de dos grandes especies que son cazadas, el jabalí (Sus scrofa) (β = 15.22) y el muntíaco (Muntiacus vaginalis)(β = 14.82), pero no estuvo relacionada con la abundancia de mamíferos más pequeños o con los niveles objetivos de la aplicación de la ley. La frecuencia subjetiva del alcance del personal del parque hacia las comunidades locales (β = 3.42) y el tamaño del parque and (β = 3.28) estuvieron relacionadas significativa y positivamente con la riqueza de las especies de mamíferos, mientras que la elevación, la densidad de la población humana, y la frecuencia subjetiva de la aplicación de la ley no lo estuvieron. No pudimos concluir que la participación de la comunidad y la aplicación de la ley estuvieran causando directamente una abundancia y diversidad aumentada de mamíferos. Sin embargo, los patrones que detectamos son de las primeras evidencias empíricas consistentes con la idea de que la biodiversidad en las áreas protegidas podría estar relacionada positiva y fuertemente con la percepción que tienen los locales de la intensidad del manejo del parque y no con los factores ambientales intrínsecos (p. ej.: elevación, tamaño del parque) o extrínsecos (p. ej.: densidad de la población humana). 保护区执法和社区宣传等管理活动被认为会影响保护区的保护成果，担其相対于保护区内在环境特钲因 素以及保护区周边的外在人类栝动因素的重要性尚未得到探索。此外，尚不清楚哪个与保护结果更相关- 管理 本身或当地人对管理行为的感知。我们通过374份问卷测量了客观(由保护区工作人员报告的) 和主观(由当 地人报告的) 执法和社区宣传水平。我们通过115十相机陷阱估算了西双版纳的6 个保护区的哺乳动物丰度和 多祥性西双版纳是ー个具有高狩猎压カ和土地流转压カ的生物多样性热点地区。我们接下来验i正了管理活动 和生物多祥性指标的相关性，发现当地居民对执法行为的感知与2 种大型猎物，野猪(Sus scrofa； (p = 15.22) 和 赤麂(Muntiacus vaginalis)作= 14.82)的相对多度呈正相关，但与较小的哺乳动物的相对多度无相关性关，且客 观的执法水平猎物丰富度也无相关性。当地居民感知的保护区宣传频率(p = 5.42)和保护区面积作= 3.28) 与哺乳动物物种丰富度显著正相关，而与海抜，保护区周边人口密度和保护区汇报的宣传频率无相关性。虽然 相关性不等于因果关系，我们无法得出是保护区执法和社区宣传直接导致了保护区哺乳动物多度和多祥性地增 加。不过，我们发现的结果可能是第一个与平时推测相一致的实验性怔据:保护区周边居民对保护区管理的感知 与保护区内的生物多祥性的相关性高于保护区内在环境特征(例如保护区海拔和面积)以及保护区周边的外在 人类活动因素(例如保护区周边的人口密度) 与保护区内的生物多样性的相关性。

We present the first community-level study of the associations of both roads and other human disturbances with the distribution of mammals in Gabon (central Africa). Our study site was in an oil concession within a littoral mosaic landscape. We conducted surveys along 199 line transects and installed camera traps on 99 of these transects to document mammal presence and abundance. We used generalized linear mixed-effect models to document associations between variables related to the ecosystem (land cover, topography, and hydrology), roads (coating, width of rights of way, condition, type of vehicle used on the road, traffic level, affiliation of users, and general type of road), and other human disturbances (urbanization, agriculture, hunting, logging, gathering, and industrial activities) and the abundance or presence of 17 species or groups of mammals including elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), buffalo (Syncerus caffer), sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei), red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), smaller ungulates, gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), side-striped jackal (Canis adustus), carnivores, monkeys, and large rodents. Some types of roads and other human disturbances were negatively associated with the abundance or presence of elephants, buffalos, gorillas, sitatungas, some monkeys, and duikers. The pattern of associations of mammals with roads and other human disturbances was diverse and included positive associations with road presence (red river hog, some monkeys, and duikers), agriculture (sitatunga, small carnivores, and large rodents) and industrial activities (sitatunga, red river hog, red duikers, and side-striped jackal). Our results suggest that the community of mammals we studied was mostly affected by hunting, agriculture, and urbanization, which are facilitated by road presence. We recommend increased regulation of agriculture, hunting, and road building in the area. Presentamos el primer estudio a nivel de comunidad de la relación entre carreteras y otras perturbaciones humanas con la distribución de mamíferos en Gabón (África central). Nuestro sitio de estudio está dentro de una concesión petrolera en un paisaje litoral heterogéneo. Realizamos muestreos a lo largo de 199 transectos lineales e instalamos cámaras trampa en 99 de ellos para documentar la presencia y abundancia de mamíferos. Utilizamos modelos lineales generalizados con efectos mixtos para documentar las asociaciones entre variables relacionadas con el ecosistema (cobertura de suelo, topografía e hidrología), carreteras (tipo de revestimiento, ancho de derecho de vía, condición, tipo de vehículos que utilizan la carretera, nivel de tráfico, afiliación de los usuarios y el tipo general de carretera) y otras perturbaciones humanas (urbanización, agricultura, caza, tala, recolecta y actividades industriales) y la abundancia o presencia de 17 especies o grupos de mamíferos incluyendo elefantes (Loxodonta cyclotis), búfalo (Syncerus caffer), sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei), cerdo rojo de río (Potomochoerus porcus), ungulados pequeños, gorila (Gorilla gorilla), chimpancé (Pan troglodytes), chacal con rayas a los lados (Canis adustus), carnívoros, monos y roedores de talla grande. Ciertos tipos de carreteras y otras perturbaciones humanas estuvieron asociadas negativamente con la abundancia o presencia de elefantes, búfalos, gorilas, sitatungas, algunos monos y antílopes. Los patrones de asociación de mamíferos con carreteras y otras perturbaciones humanas fueron diversos e incluyen asociaciones positivas con la presencia de carreteras (cerdo rojo de río, algunos monos y antílopes), agricultura (sitatunga, carnívoros pequeños y roedores de talla grande) y actividades industriales (sitatunga, cerdo rojo de río, antílope rojo y chacal con rayas a los lados). Nuestros resultados sugieren que la comunidad de mamíferos que estudiamos fue afectada principalmente por la caza, agricultura y urbanización, que son facilitadas por la presencia de carreteras. Recomendamos una mayor regulación de la agricultura, caza y construcción de carreteras en el área.

Daily activity is an important aspect of animal behavior and depends both on nutritional and reproductive demands. It also can be modified by—among other factors—interspecific competition, the need to minimize the risk of predation, and human disturbance, such as the presence of cattle. We studied the activity patterns and degree of overlap among carnivores, their potential wild prey, and livestock, in a Biosphere Reserve in the Chihuahuan Desert. There was no temporal segregation among the carnivores. Carnivores synchronized their activity with that of their main prey, the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus). In contrast, we did observe temporal segregation between the puma (Puma concolor), coyote (Canis latrans), and bobcat (Lynx rufus), with mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). There was little activity overlap between predators and livestock (Bos taurus, Equus caballus). However, to avoid conflict resulting from livestock predation we suggest increasing and improving surveillance, and that calves and females close to calving be sheltered. More studies on the multiniche interactions of livestock and their wild predators are needed to understand daily activity overlap in different seasons, and to better understand the mechanisms of coexistence in protected areas in order to make sound management recommendations to cattle growers and park rangers.

Recovering small populations of threatened species is an important global conservation strategy. Monitoring the anticipated recovery, however, often relies on uncertain abundance indices rather than on rigorous demographic estimates. To counter the severe threat from poaching of wild tigers (Panthera tigris), the Government of Thailand established an intensive patrolling system in 2005 to protect and recover its largest source population in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Concurrently, we assessed the dynamics of this tiger population over the next 8 years with rigorous photographic capture-recapture methods. From 2006 to 2012, we sampled across 624-1026 km² with 137-200 camera traps. Cameras deployed for 21,359 trap days yielded photographic records of 90 distinct individuals. We used closed model Bayesian spatial capture-recapture methods to estimate tiger abundances annually. Abundance estimates were integrated with likelihood-based open model analyses to estimate rates of annual and overall rates of survival, recruitment, and changes in abundance. Estimates of demographic parameters fluctuated widely: annual density ranged from 1.25 to 2.01 tigers/100 km², abundance from 35 to 58 tigers, survival from 79.6% to 95.5%, and annual recruitment from 0 to 25 tigers. The number of distinct individuals photographed demonstrates the value of photographic capture-recapture methods for assessments of population dynamics in rare and elusive species that are identifiable from natural markings. Possibly because of poaching pressure, overall tiger densities at Huai Kha Khaeng were 82-90% lower than in ecologically comparable sites in India. However, intensified patrolling after 2006 appeared to reduce poaching and was correlated with marginal improvement in tiger survival and recruitment. Our results suggest that population recovery of low-density tiger populations may be slower than anticipated by current global strategies aimed at doubling the number of wild tigers in a decade. Recuperar las poblaciones pequeñas de las especies amenazadas es una importante estrategia global de conservación. Sin embargo, monitorear la recuperación esperada generalmente depende de índices inciertos de abundancia en lugar de estimados demográficos rigurosos. Para contrarrestar la gran amenaza causada por la cacería furtiva de tigres (Panthera tigris), el Gobierno de Tailandia estableció un sistema intensivo de patrullaje en 2005 para proteger y recuperar la población fuente más grande en el Santuario Huai Kha Khaeng. Simultáneamente, evaluamos las dinámicas de esta población de tigres durante los siguientes ocho años con rigurosos métodos fotográficos de captura-recaptura. De 2006 a 2012 muestreamos a lo largo de 624-1026 km² con 137-200 trampas cámara. Las cámaras desplegadas durante 21,359 días de trampa produjeron registros fotográficos de 90 individuos distinguibles. Usamos métodos espaciales de capturarecaptura y modelo bayesiano cerrado para estimar anualmente la abundancia de los tigres. Los estimados de abundancia estuvieron integrados por análisis de modelo abierto basados en la probabilidad para estimar la tasa anual y las tasas generales de supervivencia, reclutamiento y cambios en la abundancia. Los estimados de los parámetros demográficos fluctuaron ampliamente: la densidad anual varió entre 1.25 y 2.01 tigres/100 km², la abundancia entre 35 a 58 tigres, la supervivencia entre 79-6 y 95.5% y el reclutamiento anual de 0 a 25 tigres. El número de individuos distinguibles que fue fotografiado demuestra el valor de los métodos de captura-recaptura para la evaluación de las dinámicas poblacionales de especies raras y elusivas que son identificables gracias a marcas naturales. Posiblemente por causa de la presión ejercida por la caza furtiva, la densidad general de los tigres en Huai Kha Khaeng fue 82-90% más baja que en sitios ecológicamente comparables de India. Sin embargo, el patrullaje intensivo después de 2006 pareció reducir la caza furtiva y estuvo correlacionado con el mejoramiento marginal de la supervivencia y reclutamiento de los tigres. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la recuperación de las poblaciones de tigres con baja densidad puede ser más lenta de lo esperado por las estrategias globales actuales enfocadas en la duplicación del número de tigres en una década.

We estimated jaguar density and tenure, and investigated ranging behavior, using camera traps across the Maya Forest Corridor, a human-influenced landscape in central Belize that forms the only remaining connection for jaguar populations inhabiting two regional forest blocks: the Selva Maya and the Maya Mountain Massif. Jaguars were ubiquitous across the study area. Similar to the neighboring Selva Maya, mean density ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 jaguars per 100 km2, estimated by spatial capture-recapture models. Cameras detected almost twice as many males as females, probably reflecting detection bias, and males ranged more widely than females within the camera grid. Both sexes crossed two major rivers, while highway crossings were rare and male-biased, raising concern that the highway could prevent female movement if traffic increases. Jaguars were more transient where the landscape was fragmented with settlements and agriculture than in contiguous forest. Compared with jaguars in the protected forests of the Maya Mountains, jaguars in central Belize displayed a lower potential for investment in intraspecific communication, indicative of a lower quality landscape; however, we did detect mating behavior and juveniles. Tenure of individuals was shorter than in the protected forests, with a higher turnover rate for males than females. At least three-quarters of reported jaguar deaths caused by people were male jaguars, and the majority was retaliation for livestock predation. Jaguars seem relatively tolerant to the human-influenced landscape of central Belize. However, intensification of game hunting and lethal control of predators would threaten population persistence, while increased highway traffic and clear-cutting riparian forest would severely limit the corridor function. Our results show that the viability of the corridor, and thus the long-term survival of jaguar populations in this region, will depend on appropriate land-use planning, nonlethal control of livestock predators, enforcement of game hunting regulations, and wildlife-friendly features in future road developments.