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Predicting the current distribution of the Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri) in the Gran Chaco
Abstract
Abstract
The Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), or Tagua, an endemic species living in the Chaco ecoregion, is endangered by highly increasing deforestation rates across the region, particularly
in the last decade. This situation highlights the need to better understand the current distribution of the species, as well as how environmental conditions affect habitat suitability. This study
predicts the distribution of the Chacoan peccary and evaluates the current environmental conditions in the Chaco for this species. Using six environmental variables and 177 confirmed occurrence records (from 2000 to 2015) provided by researchers, we developed a Species Distribution Model (SDM) applying the Maxent algorithm. The final model was highly accurate and significant (p < 0.001; AUC 0.860 ± 0.0268; omission error 1.82 %; posthoc validation of
omission error using independent presenceonly records 1.33 %), predicting that 46.24 % of the Chacoan Peccary Chaco is suitable habitat for the Chacoan peccary, with the most important areas concentrated in the middle of Paraguay and northern Argentina. Land cover, isothermality and elevation were the variables that better explained the habitat suitability for the Chacoan peccary. Despite some portions of suitable areas occurring inside protected areas, the borders and the central portions of suitable areas have recently suffered from intensive deforestation and development, and most of
the highly suitable areas for the species are not under protection. The results provide fundamental insights for the establishment of priority Chacoan peccary conservation areas within its range.
... For most species in the Dry Chaco, information and conservation attention is scarce Periago et al. 2015;Nori et al. 2016;Saldivar-Bellassai et al. 2021). Such is the case of the chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), that is endemic to the Dry Chaco (over 90% of its habitat occurs in the region; Altrichter et al. 2016;Ferraz et al. 2016). The chacoan peccary (ChP hereafter) is a habitat specialist that only occupies areas with high forest-cover (Altrichter and Boaglio 2004;Ferraz et al. 2016;Taber et al. 1993;Torres et al. 2018), and it has not been detected in landscapes dominated by industrial agriculture (Ferraz et al. 2016;Núñez-Regueiro et al. 2015). ...
... Such is the case of the chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), that is endemic to the Dry Chaco (over 90% of its habitat occurs in the region; Altrichter et al. 2016;Ferraz et al. 2016). The chacoan peccary (ChP hereafter) is a habitat specialist that only occupies areas with high forest-cover (Altrichter and Boaglio 2004;Ferraz et al. 2016;Taber et al. 1993;Torres et al. 2018), and it has not been detected in landscapes dominated by industrial agriculture (Ferraz et al. 2016;Núñez-Regueiro et al. 2015). Habitat loss is, therefore, the main threat to the species (Altrichter et al. 2015Camino and Torres 2019) and its populations are also negatively affected by high hunting pressure (Altrichter 2005;Camino et al. 2018;Romero-Muñoz et al. 2020;Saldivar-Bellassai et al. 2021). ...
... Such is the case of the chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), that is endemic to the Dry Chaco (over 90% of its habitat occurs in the region; Altrichter et al. 2016;Ferraz et al. 2016). The chacoan peccary (ChP hereafter) is a habitat specialist that only occupies areas with high forest-cover (Altrichter and Boaglio 2004;Ferraz et al. 2016;Taber et al. 1993;Torres et al. 2018), and it has not been detected in landscapes dominated by industrial agriculture (Ferraz et al. 2016;Núñez-Regueiro et al. 2015). Habitat loss is, therefore, the main threat to the species (Altrichter et al. 2015Camino and Torres 2019) and its populations are also negatively affected by high hunting pressure (Altrichter 2005;Camino et al. 2018;Romero-Muñoz et al. 2020;Saldivar-Bellassai et al. 2021). ...
The Dry Chaco has one of the highest deforestation rates of the world. The chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri; ChP) is endemic to the forests of this region and faces a high risk of extinction. However, we lack sufficient information about this species to develop effective conservation actions. This is the first study to determine the relevance of primary and secondary forest as habitat for the species and to address opportunities for conservation. We used occupancy modelling to study habitat selection. Using additional information on the species and the region, we then estimated the time left before the ChP’s habitat outside of protected areas is completely lost, and the number of ChP generations likely to exist before this happens. Finally, we identified protected areas that can sustain viable populations, and estimated the number of individuals that can survive within them. We found that the ChP occupies both primary forests and secondary forests. Also, that if deforestation rates remain consistent, the habitat for the ChP outside protected areas will have disappeared before 2051 (< 6 peccary generations). Furthermore, we found that most protected areas are too small and isolated to sustain viable populations. Our results have great management implications. Well-managed forests may allow the conservation of the ChP. Initiatives focused on forest conservation should increase, alongside the restoration of degraded and deforested areas. We also recommend the creation of new protected areas and wildlife corridors, and working horizontally with local communities.
... We included sites in wellconserved (i.e. "old-growth") forest as well as patches of degraded forest, as it has been recently suggested that the species can also inhabit degraded areas (Ferraz et al. 2016). We installed cameras in 25 sites dominated by one of four types of habitats: (1) old-growth forests (12 sites), characterized by a well-developed upper stratum (dominated by Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco in Córdoba and this species plus Schinopsis lorentzii in Santiago del Estero) both in height and density of trees; (2) secondary forests (eight sites), characterized by sparser and lower trees in the upper stratum than in the old-growth forests; ...
... Regarding the species' habitat preferences and based on our results, we found that four of the five sites with camera-trap records and three sites positively pointed out in the interviews as localities with presence of the species were located in old-growth forest (Table 1). However, although our results support previous research that showed a strong association between the species and forest cover (Altrichter and Boaglio 2004), the record in site #21, dominated by secondary forests, agrees with findings reported by Ferraz et al. (2016), and with some of the interviewees, who also mentioned sites in secondary forest and shrublands as locations with Chacoan peccary presence. ...
... Although the present findings would imply a considerable increase of the Chacoan peccary's distribution area (Ferraz et al. 2016), we strongly support the maintenance of this species under its current IUCN category because: (1) the Chaco forests in central Argentina are currently undergoing one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, with natural habitats being transformed to crops and pastures at an unprecedented pace (Zak et al. 2008, Hoyos et al. 2013); (2) to date, the Chacoan peccary in central Argentina has been recorded mainly in well-preserved forests, i.e. forests with low levels of timber extraction and livestock density; worryingly, these forest patches are increasingly scarce in the region, especially in Córdoba; (3) Chacoan peccaries in central Argentina seem to be very scarce, as suggested by our own low cameratrapping success relative to a big sampling effort; and (4) the interviews revealed a strong hunting pressure in several sites, which along with deforestation and habitat loss could have synergetic effects on the already frail populations. Fortunately, a National Park covering part of the formerly Estancia Pinas in western Córdoba was recently created (Parque Nacional Traslasierra). ...
The endangered Chacoan peccary ( Catagonus wagneri Rusconi, 1930) has been recorded in western Paraguay, southeastern Bolivia and northern Argentina, reaching the north of Santiago del Estero province. Recently, however, this species was found much further south in central Argentina, ca. 650 km away from the southern limit of its known distribution. In this report we provide new records in previously unsurveyed areas linking the core range with the southern population, suggesting a continuous distribution. Due to synergistic effects of hunting pressure and deforestation, we are almost certain that the Chacoan peccary is as threatened in central Argentina as in the rest of its distribution range.
... In the PMP, the modeler invites researchers and species experts to provide useful information about species biology and habitat requirements to define a set of bioclimatic, topographic, anthropogenic and landscape variables as predictors to best represent the multi-dimensional space (environmental space) for the species distribution ( Figure 1a2). For the Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri) distribution model, Ferraz et al. (2016) incorporated the deforestation rate, provided by the Guyra Paraguay, in the land cover map available (ESA GlobCover, 2009) to better represent the drastic habitat loss and fragmentation that was affecting the species' distribution. For predicting jaguar distribution in the Atlantic Forest, Paviolo et al. (2016) generated a variable labeled accessibility cost (measured as the hours needed to access the focal cell from the nearest town or city, considering the protected areas as barriers that reduce accessibility) as a proxy of human impact. ...
... PMP as part of the conservation workshops has been tested and used to assist the conservation of more than 25 endangered species (terrestrial mammals and birds) worldwide in the past 10 years, in collaboration with the ICMBio and IUCN SSC CPSG. The use of SDMs in the context of endangered species conservation planning allowed us to: (a) update current species distribution (e.g., for dhole, Javan leopard, jaguar, Brazilian harpy eagle, Brazilian parrot species, Chacoan peccary, Brazilian small felids, Brazilian merganser, bush dog, blue-eyed ground-dove, Alagoas antwren, black-fronted pipingguan); (b) evaluate the environmental suitability for current species distribution across the landscape (e.g., for Chacoan peccary, jaguar, Brazilian Atlantic Forest parrots, Brazilian merganser); (c) identify potential corridors and priority areas for implementing different conservation and management actions (e.g., Morato et al., 2014;Paviolo et al., 2016); (d) identify new potential areas for species occurrence (e.g., Brazilian Atlantic Forest parrots); (e) predict potential impact under deforestation and climate change scenarios (e.g., Altrichter, Desbiez, Camino, & Decarre, 2016;Ferraz et al., 2016); and (f) provide valuable input for population viability analysis (PVA) modeling and contributing to IUCN SSC Red List assessments of endangered species (Brazilian Atlantic Forest parrots, Brazilian harpy eagle, black-fronted piping-guan, Javan leopard, dhole). Here, we report, in detail, one of the best example that elucidate how SDMs have been used to influence decisions in conservation under PMP framework and on the building of base for the public policies (Supporting Information). ...
Species distribution modeling (SDM) is a promising tool for priority setting, conservation decision‐making and overall support for species conservation. We developed a participatory modeling process (PMP) to ensure both the proper use of SDMs as well as their efficacy and impact as a conservation tool. The PMP using SDM has assisted conservation planning in a number of situations, including more than 25 endangered species and supported IUCN SSC Red List assessments. PMP focuses on stakeholder engagement to co‐develop SDMs that will in turn support and guide conservation decisions. This participatory approach to SDMs allowed us to: (a) update potential species distributions; (b) evaluate environmental suitability; (c) identify potential corridors and priority areas for implementing different conservation and management actions; (d) identify new potential areas for species searching; (e) predict potential impact under deforestation and climate change scenarios; and (f) provide valuable input for population viability analysis (PVA). Most often the level of successful stakeholder engagement will influence how the model will guide the decision‐making process. The modeler must play a technical role as well as act as a translator and facilitator to engage and bridge the gap between researchers, conservation planners and decision makers, which is essential for effective conservation.
... found that its main habitat is old-growth, well-preserved, forests. Yet other authors found that areas covered by secondary forests have suitable habitat and high probabilities of being occupied Ferraz et al. 2016). studied habitat selection in the core area of its distribution and found that territories with primary and secondary native forest-cover have higher probabilities of being occupied by the species. ...
Argentina has an extensive and diverse terrain classified into 11 ecoregions. Seven of these ecoregions, occupying the north and north-central parts of the country, house the 11 tropical ungulate species found here. The ecoregions are lowland and subtropical, some beginning in the tropics, some extending to temperate climates. The principal topographical characteristics, hydrology, climate, vegetation and fauna are described for these seven ecoregions. Each of the 11 species is then treated in detail with respect to its ecology and conservation. Emphasis is placed on distribution, habitat and density, feeding ecology, threats and conservation in Argentina, based on the most recent studies. Data on reproductive biology and behaviour are included where information is relatively recent and unlikely to be covered elsewhere. The species include the following: the Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris), found in northern subtropical ecoregions, three species of peccary (Tayassu pecari, Pecari tajacu and Parachoerus wagneri) from northern subtropical and drier regions, of which the Chacoan peccary (P. wagneri) is endemic while the other two species have more extensive distributions. The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) occurs only in relict populations in the ecoregions considered. The taruca (Hippocamelus antisensis) occupies the eastern boundary between the Yungas and drier, high altitude ecoregions. Three species of brocket deer (Mazama americana, M. gouazoubira and M. nana) occupy the northern tropical, subtropical and Chacoan areas. The marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus), the largest South American deer, has small populations occupying wetlands from the northern border to the Parana delta, while the pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoaticus) is found in four isolated populations from Ibera to Buenos Aires province. Argentina represents the southern limit to the distribution of all these species and thus threats are often magnified. Ongoing conservation activities include the maintenance of protected areas, promotion (difusion, education, sensitization), investigation and the reintroduction of some species of formerly extinct ungulates into the Ibera wetlands area.
Overexploitation is a frequently cited driver of species extinction. Throughout the Neotropics, balancing traditional practices and the needs of local people with protection of rare or declining species is challenging, especially given low capacity for control by authorities. We conducted interviews with wildlife professionals and residents, along with a camera-based field survey of wildlife occurrence, to gain insight into recent population trends, relative abundance, and drivers of harvest for large mammals in the northern Dry Chaco of Paraguay including but not limited to, Defensores del Chaco National Park. Although the endangered Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri) was preferred regardless of hunter motivation, harvests of all species appeared largely opportunistic, and limited to immediate family use due to a lack of market forces, and constraints on refrigeration capacity in the region. This pattern may soon change given rapid deforestation, and an associated and growing road network providing greater access both to wildlife resources and commercial bushmeat markets. Notably, public perception of abundance and trends for Chacoan peccary differed from professional opinions—likely due in part to greater use of areas along roads by C. wagneri compared to other, relatively more abundant species. This discordance may pose future challenges if harvest restrictions become a conservation necessity, especially during a process of essentially self-imposed voluntary limitations.
Conservation status categorization for the Chacoan peccary (Parachoerus wagneri) in Argentina
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