Leopardus braccatus (Carnivora: Felidae)

Barstow, Anita L.; Leslie, David M.

Amid current changes in global climate, precipitation regimes will become altered, and effects of habitat change on species abundance and biodiversity will be amplified, likely increasing emigration and adversely impacting survival . rates at the population level (Canepuccia et al. 2008; Hemmer 1979) . Areas in Argentina within the current range of L. braceatus have experienced an increase in annual precipitation of 10-300/0 over the last 50 years (Canepuccia et al. 2008 ). L. braeeatus may face greater threats in lowlying areas with increased precipitation, given that most native uplands have been converted to agriculture (as much as 800/0 of the Cerrado- Bagno et al. 2004 ) and are used for grazing. These effects can adversely impact populations, both directly and indirectly, by altering fitness and modifying availability of resources. Prey abundance may be reduced, and den sites may be lost to flooding. These interactions suggest that global climatic patterns could have significant negative impacts at regional and local population scales (Canepuccia et al. 2008) .