16/03/2026
Nuevo artículo científico sobre el gato del desierto en el Manglar de San Pedro de Vice.
📄"Genetic Diversity, Demographic Parameters, and Trophic Ecology of the Pampas Cat (Leopardus garleppi) in a Ramsar Wetland of Northwestern Peru"
Background/Objectives: Habitat degradation and fragmentation reduce population size, genetic diversity, and connectivity, increasing extinction risk in small and isolated populations. Coastal wetlands of northwestern Peru have undergone extensive anthropogenic modification, yet the genetic and ecological status of resident carnivore populations remains poorly documented. This study aimed to assess genetic diversity, relatedness, demographic
signals, and diet composition of a Pampas cat (Leopardus garleppi) population inhabiting the Mangroves San Pedro de Vice (MSPV), a Ramsar-listed coastal wetland. Methods: We combined noninvasive f***l genotyping using eight nuclear microsatellite loci with
vertebrate DNA metabarcoding. S**t samples were collected across three field seasons (2019–2021). Individual identification, genetic diversity metrics, genetic mark–recapture estimation of census size (Nc), effective population size (Ne), bottleneck tests, and relatedness analyses were performed to evaluate population status and kin structure. Dietary composition was characterized using metabarcoding and assessed for sex-specific differences.
Results: Sixty-eight scats yielded multilocus genotypes for nine individuals (six males, three females). Genetic analyses revealed moderate diversity (mean allelic richness = 3.47;
observed heterozygosity = 0.69; expected heterozygosity = 0.58) and evidence consistent with a recent genetic bottleneck. Genetic mark–recapture analyses estimated a small census size (Nc = 9; 95% CI: 7.0–9.0), while the effective population size was markedly low (Ne = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.5–7.4), yielding an Ne/Nc ratio of ~0.27. Multiple first-order kin dyads were detected, indicating strong local kin structure and limited external recruitment. Metabarcoding identified eight vertebrate prey species, with diet dominated by
the native rodent Aegialomys xanthaeolus. No significant sex-specific differences in diet composition were detected. Conclusions: The MSPV Pampas cat population represents a small, kin-structured range-edge population showing signatures consistent with recent
genetic erosion and restricted connectivity. These patterns align with isolation in a degraded coastal wetland landscape, highlighting the importance of habitat protection, prey
resource conservation, and restoration of functional connectivity to support long-term population persistence
Pueden leer el artículo en el siguiente link: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17/3/320
Este estudio fue liderado por Manuel Santiago en colaboración con otros investigadores, donde nuestros coordinadores Álvaro y Cindy también son coautores.
Gracias a Big Cat Rescue, Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation por el apoyo en la fase de campo.
