Data from: Human activities influence the occupancy probability of mammalian carnivores in the Brazilian Caatinga

The Caatinga is a semi-arid domain, characterized by reduced humidity and high rates of anthropogenic impact. In addition to the low availability of water, carnivorous mammals are still exposed to a number of threats related to landscape modifications. We used data from camera traps and occupancy models to investigate the habitat use by carnivores in an area of Caatinga in northeastern Brazil. We found a negative correlation between the presence of wind farms and the occupancy probability of the jaguar, and a positive relationship with the presence of the jaguarundi. Puma and jaguarundi occupied primarily sites near watercourses, whereas the occupancy of the crab-eating fox was correlated positively with the presence of poachers. The ocelot was detected more frequently at sites distant from human settlements, whereas the jaguar was detected more often in areas far from wind farms. We found a negative correlation between the distance of water and the detection of the ocelot. The detection of the crab-eating fox was influenced positively by the detection of cattle. In addition to the negative influence of some anthropic activities, our results indicate that water is a very important resource for species, and the few permanent sources of this resource available in the area must be preserved. The replication of our research in other systems, worldwide, that are experiencing similar pressures, should permit a systematic evaluation of the management and conservation strategies needed to rebuild or maintain populations, restore ecosystems, and support conservation policies in human-altered landscapes.

卡廷加（Caatinga）是一类半干旱生境，以湿度偏低且受人类活动干扰强度较高为主要特征。除水资源匮乏外，食肉目哺乳动物还面临诸多与景观格局改变相关的生存威胁。本研究依托红外相机（camera traps）与占用模型（occupancy models）数据，对巴西东北部卡廷加植被区内的食肉目动物生境利用情况展开调查。研究发现，风电场（wind farms）的存在与美洲豹（jaguar）的占用概率呈负相关，而与美洲细腰猫（jaguarundi）的占用情况呈正相关。美洲狮（Puma）与美洲细腰猫主要在靠近水道的区域活动，而食蟹狐（crab-eating fox）的占用概率与偷猎者的存在呈正相关。虎猫（ocelot）在远离人类聚居区的点位被检测到的频率更高，而美洲豹则更多出现在远离风电场的区域。本研究还发现，与水源的距离与虎猫的检测概率呈负相关。食蟹狐的检测概率会随着牛群的出现呈现正向提升。除部分人类活动带来的负面影响外，研究结果表明水源是此类动物极为关键的生存资源，因此该区域内仅存的少量永久性水源必须得到保护。若在全球范围内其他面临类似生存压力的生态系统中开展同类研究，将有助于系统性评估相关管理与保护策略的有效性——这些策略旨在恢复或维持物种种群、修复生态系统，并为受人类活动改造的景观中的保护政策提供支撑。

搜集汇总

背景与挑战

背景概述

该数据集基于巴西卡廷加半干旱地区的相机陷阱和占据模型研究，探讨人类活动（如风电场、偷猎和定居点）对多种食肉哺乳动物（包括美洲豹、美洲狮和细腰猫等）占据概率的影响。研究发现，人类活动如风电场与美洲豹的占据呈负相关，而水资源对物种如美洲狮和细腰猫至关重要，偷猎活动则与食蟹狐的占据正相关。这些结果强调了保护永久水源和管理人为干扰对维护该地区生物多样性的重要性。