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Predator–prey interactions: jaguar predation on caiman in a floodplain forest
Author(s) -
Azevedo F. C. C.,
Verdade L. M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00867.x
Subject(s) - predation , jaguar , biology , ecology , predator , apex predator
Abstract Advances in the understanding of ecological factors determining predator–prey interactions have provided a strong theoretical background on diet preferences of predators. We examined patterns of jaguar predation on caiman in southern P antanal, B razil. We investigated factors affecting predation rates and vulnerability of caiman to predation by jaguars. We recorded 114 caiman mortality incidents. Predation accounted for 62.3% ( n = 71) of all caiman found dead, while other causes of mortality (nonpredation) accounted for 37.7% ( n = 43). We found that jaguars prey on a broad size range of caiman body and caiman predation was influenced by distance to forests. During dry seasons, 70% ( n = 49) of deaths were due to predation, while 30% ( n = 21) were due to nonpredation causes. However, we found no significant relationship between annual and monthly killings of caiman and rainfall totals by year and month ( r = 0.130, r = −0.316). The annual flooding regime may be a more important factor influencing prey selection by jaguars. Although neotropical crocodilians are relatively well studied, their interactions with jaguars have been mostly ignored and should be prioritized in future studies.