Download Jaguar Population Dynamics

Jaguar Population Dynamics
The jaguar is a big cat in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera
species found in the Americas. While dense rainforest is its preferred
habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open
terrain. The jaguar is mostly a solitary animal, and a predator at the top of
the food chain. This species plays an important role in stabilizing
ecosystems and regulating the populations of animals it hunts. The jaguar
is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats to this
species include mostly habitat loss and fragmentation. Although
international trade in jaguars is prohibited, it is still killed by humans. It’s
almost certain that the jaguar’s populations have diminished by 85%. In a
study on population density in 2 of 3 sites surveyed there was a recorded
presence of jaguars. The records were limited to tracks on trails,
corresponding to one individual at each site.
The jaguars have already lost two thirds of their habitat in Mexico and
Central America. As its rainforest dwindles and threats like man- made
habitat loss and fragmentation, agriculture, urbanization and illegal
hunting increase, the jaguars numbers are going down. As of today only
an estimated 15, 000 jaguars remain in the wild. When human influences
weren’t extremely close to threatening this specie the numbers for it were
many times what it is found to be now.
If the jaguar’s habitats continue to deteriorate at the rate that they are
doing so, in 5 years there will be little to none of the specie left in wild
environments. If certain ones have the chance to survive there habitat
range will be very small, because of man made structures and agriculture.
The toxins used and pollution created will also make what the Jaguar’s
live of off toxic, and un healthy for the animal.
In the nature limiting factors for the jaguar could be the availability of
food, water, shelter, and space. Another limiting factor would be the
competition for resources, predation and disease. Once a limiting factor
changes the animals population would change too. Humans impact animal
and plant population a lot in this environment. When developing the result
is cutting down trees and change in animal and plant habitats. Certain
animals such as the Jaguar cannot adapt easily to these changes and their
population is affected as a result. The limiting factor that has the most
affected populations of Jaguars through the years is availability of habitat,
and human impacts. These factors have all acted as a negative selective
pressure towards the jaguars causing their numbers to go down at an
alarming rate.
Terrestrial and aquatic animals including 80 different kinds of prey are sources of
energy for the cats. Jaguars prey on sheep, rodents, peccaries, deer, birds, fish,
armadillos, turtles, and crocodiles. In high grass areas they stalk or ambush their
prey. In the forests, they hide in the trees to spring on animals on land or in the
riverbank. Since they have such a variety of prey they have many opportunities
to find sources of energy, thanks to this when there land is changed they have
opportunities to find food elsewhere. One of these types of prey being cattle, so
if a jaguar attacks one a farmer will shoot it on the stop making it become the
predator. Jaguars interact a lot with the species below it in the food chain.
However if a population below it changes it will severely affect the populations at
the top being the jaguar.
One of the biggest influences from humans on this animal would be
deforestation. The deforestation will lead to reduction of habitat and
fragmentation. From the loss of habitat the land may not have what the jaguar
needs to be able to survive. Fragmentation may lead to inbreeding between
Jaguars resulting into death. Poaching and killing of jaguars is also a major issue
at the rate they are being killed they do not have the chance to reproduce to
make up for those being taken away. Human impacts are what is driving the
endangerment of this specie.
Panthera’s Jaguar Corridor Initiative seeks to realize a vision of linking core
jaguar populations within the human landscape. Through multilateral
partnerships, government support, and local buy- in, Panthera is driving force
behind this unique initiative, ensuring safe passage for jaguars across its entire
range. Saving jaguars range- wide is winning strategy for conserving vast
landscapes and ecosystems functions, and preserving human health and
livelihoods. Panthera is using science to help create and implement practical and
relevant solutions to saving the jaguar.
There is a program called Northern Jaguar Project and Naturalia, which have
established a Jaguar- Guardian Program to help stop jaguar killing and to assist
with much needed fielt research to gain a better understanding of population
size, dispersal behaviour, and habitat needs. Additionally this programs is
working with ranchers to minimize conflicts with livestock and reduce the killing
of jaguars. They strive to build community acceptance of jaguars.
Personally if I were to create a solution for the protection of these animals. I
would push the governments of countries where they are found to create
national parks in areas where these animals are found. Inside the national parks
no hunting will be allowed and development very minimized this solution would
help not only the jaguars, but many endangered species in these certain
environments. If the governments wouldn’t accept the ideas of protected
national parks I would push for the areas of where people can develop to be
minimized along with the area people can use for farming and agriculture. As
well as all these things I would implement forest rangers to make sure no one
was illegally hunting the animals, and if they were they would have to pay heavy
fines for there actions.
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar
-http://www.speciesconservation.org/projects/Jaguar-orhttp://www.rainforest2reef.org/research_wildlife.html?_kk=jaguar%20population
&_kt=41a196b8-11e8-4b17-bd59cf96d8369dda&gclid=CJiru7CC56kCFQQmbAode3HsYQ
- http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12a.htm
-http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/jaguar.htm
-http://www.soton.ac.uk/~rfoster/
http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_policy/wildlife_conservation/imperiled_
species/jaguar/in_the_field.php