DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF THE PREY BASE FOR Panthera onca AND Puma concolor IN A BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN MÉXICO

Abstract

The survival of species such as jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) depends largely on refuges like natural protected areas to have a good prey base. In this study the diversity and abundance of potential prey for these two carnivores on a natural protected area in Sierra Madre Oriental, San Luis Potosí, México, is described through camera-trapping. Through three non-invasive monitoring techniques, 25 mammal and 14 bird species were recorded. The most abundant wild mammals were rabbits, white-tailed deer and white-nosed coati, while the great curassow was the terrestrial bird with highest abundance. The diversity and abundance of prey in this region allows the presence of several specimens of both felines and helps the reserve to act as an effective shelter for them.