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ABSTRACT-We documented puma (Puma concolor) and jaguar (Panthera onca) prey consumption in northeastern Sonora, Mexico, by investigating global positioning system cluster sites (n = 220), and conducting molecular analyses of scat (n = 116) collected between 2011 and 2013. We used camera trap data (n = 8,976 camera days) to estimate relative abundances of pumas and jaguars. Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was the most frequent prey for puma found at kill sites (67%) and identified from scat (74%), although based on relative numbers of prey consumed, deer represented 45% and lagomorphs 20% of the proportion of all individuals eaten. A variety of small prey (weighing <15 kg) comprised the majority (52%) of the jaguar kill sites. From prey found at kill sites, jaguars killed calves (Bos taurus) at a lower frequency than previously reported, whereas pumas preyed on calves at a higher frequency than previously reported in the same area. In our study area, jaguars preyed on calves at approximately the same rate as pumas (jaguars 3.7 calves per year, pumas 4.9 calves per year). Calculated predation rates were limited only to collared animals within our study area and therefore should not be considered applicable to all pumas and jaguars in Sonora.
RESUMEN-Documentamos el consumo de presas de puma (Puma concolor)yjaguar(Panthera onca)enel noreste de Sonora, Me?xico, mediante la investigacio?n de agrupamiento de sitios obtenidos a trave?s de sistema de posicionamiento global (n = 220) y la realizacio?n de ana?lisis moleculares de heces colectadas (n = 116) entre 2011 y 2013. Utilizamos datos de trampas ca?mara (n = 8,976 d??as ca? mara)paraestimarlaabundanciarelativade pumas y jaguares. El venado (Odocoileus virginianus)fuelapresaconmayorfrecuenciaencontradaensitiosde caza de puma (67%) e identificada en heces (74%), aunque basa?ndose en los nu? meros relativos de presas consumidas, los venados representaron 45% y lagomorfos 20% de la proporcio?n de todas las presas consumidas. Una variedad de presas pequen? as (peso <15 kg) conformo? lamayor??a (52%) de los sitios de caza de jaguares. De las presas encontradas en sitios de caza, los jaguares mataron becerros (Bos taurus)aunafrecuenciama?s baja que la reportada anteriormente, mientras que los pumas depredaron becerros a una frecuencia mayor a la reportada previamente en la misma zona. En nuestra a?rea de estudio, los jaguares depredaron becerros aproximadamente a la misma tasa que los pumas...