Subsídios à conservação de pequenos felinos brasileiros: modelagem de distribuição, adequabilidade ambiental e presença em unidades de conservação

Abstract

Neotropical small wild cats play essential ecological roles in regulating prey communities and maintaining ecosystem balance. In Brazil, five species (Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus geoffroyi, L. guttulus, L. tigrinus and L. wiedii) are included in the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Brazilian Small Felids, coordinated by the Brazilian Government. This dissertation aims to synthesize knowledge for each of these species within a geographic and thematic context to support improved assessments of their conservation status, as outlined in the aforementioned action plan. Data on geographic distribution, environmental suitability, and presence in protected areas were compiled from platforms such as SALVE, SpeciesLink, and GBIF. Geographic data were filtered based on spatial autocorrelation and mean home range distances. Environmental suitability models were developed using Maxent 3.3.3k software, incorporating 35 bioclimatic variables (WorldClim and Climond), elevation data (SRTM), and land cover (GlobCover), with pairwise correlation analyses (r ≤ 0.7) to prevent overfitting. Updated thematic maps were produced for each species, accounting for phytogeographic domains, management categories of protected areas (strict protection and sustainable use), and confirmed species occurrences. Results revealed a wide variation in the degree of protection among the target species. Confirmed records in protected areas ranged from only 4% to approximately 25% of the localities overlapping each species' extent of occurrence. In terms of environmental suitability, H. yagouaroundi displayed broader ecological tolerance, particularly in the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes, while L. tigrinus and L. wiedii showed stronger dependence on dense forest habitats. Interactive maps will be incorporated into the SALVE database, supporting decision-making processes in public conservation policy.