A systematic review of potential habitat suitability for the jaguar Panthera onca in central Arizona and New Mexico, USA

Eric W Sanderson; Kim Fisher; Rob Peters; Jon P. Beckmann; Bryan Bird; Curtis Bradley; Juan Bravo; Melissa M. Grigione; James Hatten; Carlos Gonzalez; Kurt Menke; Jennie Miller; Philip Miller; Cristina Mormorunni; Michael Robinson; Robert E Thomas; Sharon Wilcox

doi:10.1017/S0030605320000459

A systematic review of potential habitat suitability for the jaguar Panthera onca in central Arizona and New Mexico, USA

Oryx

By: Eric W Sanderson, Kim Fisher, Rob Peters, Jon P. Beckmann, Bryan Bird, Curtis Bradley, Juan Bravo, Melissa M. Grigione, James Hatten, Carlos Gonzalez, Kurt Menke, Jennie Miller, Philip Miller, Cristina Mormorunni, Michael Robinson, Robert E Thomas, and Sharon Wilcox

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605320000459

Links

More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

In April 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released its recovery plan for the jaguar Panthera onca after several decades of discussion, litigation and controversy about the status of the species in the USA. The USFWS estimated that potential habitat, south of the Interstate-10 highway in Arizona and New Mexico, had a carrying capacity of c. six jaguars, and so focused its recovery programme on areas south of the USA–Mexico border. Here we present a systematic review of the modelling and assessment efforts over the last 25 years, with a focus on areas north of Interstate-10 in Arizona and New Mexico, outside the recovery unit considered by the USFWS. Despite differences in data inputs, methods, and analytical extent, the nine previous studies found support for potential suitable jaguar habitat in the central mountain ranges of Arizona and New Mexico. Applying slightly modified versions of the USFWS model and recalculating an Arizona-focused model over both states provided additional confirmation. Extending the area of consideration also substantially raised the carrying capacity of habitats in Arizona and New Mexico, from six to 90 or 151 adult jaguars, using the modified USFWS models. This review demonstrates the crucial ways in which choosing the extent of analysis influences the conclusions of a conservation plan. More importantly, it opens a new opportunity for jaguar conservation in North America that could help address threats from habitat losses, climate change and border infrastructure.

Study Area

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	A systematic review of potential habitat suitability for the jaguar Panthera onca in central Arizona and New Mexico, USA
Series title	Oryx
DOI	10.1017/S0030605320000459
Year Published	2021
Language	English
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Contributing office(s)	Western Fisheries Research Center
Description	12 p.
First page	1
Last page	12
Country	United States
State	Arizona, New Mexico
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page