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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Agricultural Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162908
Title: HABITAT USE BY OCELOTS IN SOUTH TEXAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATION

Author
item HARVESON, PATRICIA - TEXAS A&M
item TEWES, MICHAEL - TEXAS A&M
item Anderson, Gerald
item LAACK, LINDA - US FISH & WILDLIFE SVC

Submitted to: Wildlife Society Bulletin
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2004
Publication Date: 3/3/2004
Citation: Harveson, P.M., Tewes, M.E., Anderson, G.L., Laack, L.L. 2004. Habitat use by ocelots in south texas: Implications for restoration. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 32(3):948-954.

Interpretive Summary: Ocelots are an endangered cat native to south Texas. Habitat required for the cats survival has been reduced to levels that puts the cat's survival in the US. in jeopardy. Remaining old-growth stands with brush stands with ground cover greater than 95% are very fragmented, increasing Ocelot travel across inhospitable terrain and frequently isolates surviving populations, thus reducing reproductive capability and genetic diversity. This study identified the type of habitat needed to sustain Ocelot populations and the type of soil that could sustain the dense vegetation mix. The reestablishment of more contiguous brush stand is possible when resource managers concentrate their efforts on restoring Ocelot habitat on these or similar soils identified in this study.

Technical Abstract: Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are an endangered cat native to south Texas. Urban and agricultural development has resulted in limited and fragmented habitat for ocelots. Restoration of ocelot habitat is an essential element in their recovery. We evaluated the use of U.S. Department of Agriculture ' Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA'NRCS) soil survey maps as a tool for identifying potential restoration sites by examining ocelot use of soils and vegetation canopy cover in south Texas from 1982-90. We analyzed an 8-year data set of ocelot radio-telemetry locations using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Bailey's confidence intervals. Ocelots selected habitat with dense (>95%) canopy cover in greater proportion than available and avoided habitat with open (<75%) canopy cover. Ocelots also selected Camargo, Lardeo, Olmito, and Point Isabel soil series in greater proportion than available. The selected soils also represented 82% of the selected dense canopy cover areas. Our results suggest that USDA-NRCS soil survey maps can be used as a tool for identifying potential areas for ocelot habitat restoration. Resource managers should concentrate their efforts on restoring habitats in areas with the same or similar soils as those identified in this study.