Big cats, big data: Spatial coexistence of jaguars (Panthera onca) and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis)

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Sean P Richards, Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Siria Gamez, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI and Nyeema C. Harris, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Background/Question/Methods
Although intraguild predation and interspecific killing play a major role in structuring ecosystems and food webs, we lack a mechanistic understanding of the complex behaviors and outcomes for coexistence among carnivore species. Such is the focus of this project; we built an agent-based model (ABM) in NetLogo to simulate competition between felids, specifically jaguars (Panthera onca) and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). We searched the literature to parameterize important components of the model such as movement, home range, and intraguild killing frequencies. Simulation runs were performed 1000 times for each level of additional arboreal refuge, recording the number of coexistence outcomes over a predetermined number of ticks to represent time. We used generalized linear models (GLMs) to determine the relationships between spatial refugia on the coexistence outcomes of the jaguar and ocelot model.
Results/Conclusions
Progress so far indicates that increased arboreal availability leads to more coexistence between the two species despite overlapping home ranges and occupancy. In a broader context, this modeling approach can give researchers predictive power in complex systems and guide management decisions for protected areas in neotropical ecosystems.