Assessing Habitat Value in Sonora for the Leopardus Pardalis

Abstract

The ocelot can be found from northern Argentina to southern United States, with a small known population in southern Texas and a possible population in southern Arizona. They are protected both in the United States and in Mexico as an endangered species. Northeast Sonora deserves more research as an important extent of the current ocelot range, and one of the last linkages for ocelots in the United States. Identifying appropriate territory in Sonora exposes reasonable corridors for movement north into Arizona, where a small number of sightings and historical presence of ocelots are confirmed. This project examines habitat suitability using satellite derived data on canopy cover, vegetative land cover, as well as utilizing proximity to lakes, and distance from roads as raster inputs to a weighted rank suitability model. Testing multiple models reinforces the suitability of high scoring areas that are shared between scenarios. A review of the result showcases the need for additional research on habitat fragmentation, movement or dispersal, and cross-border studies of the ocelot.