The purpose of this research was to develop, implement, and evaluate a citizen science program to survey and monitor for jaguars (Panthera onca) and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) within key mountain ranges in southwest Arizona. I had three main objectives: 1.) develop and implement a citizen science program to train participants with little or no knowledge of wildlife conservation, 2.) identify program effectiveness in comparison with experts in terms of the quality of data gathered and the financial and administrative costs/benefits, 3.) understand what creates an effective citizen science program and how it can be replicated in the future. This research examined the efficacy of using citizen science as a tool to connect the public and scientific community through education and a research-based project. A network of citizen scientists were provided extensive education and training by field experts to participate in jaguar and ocelot monitoring in southern Arizona. The scale and scope of this project is unprecedented in the citizen science literature; participants drove and hiked off-trail monitoring wildlife cameras monthly for a minimum of one year in extremely rugged backcountry conditions in the mountains near the U.S./Mexico border. Citizen science participants were challenged by terrain, weather, and border issues during their time on this project. Despite these challenges, our group of nine citizen scientists successfully downloaded and sorted 28,637 photos from 22 cameras at 14 monitoring sites over 12 months. They logged a total of 327 hours of fieldwork including driving, hiking, and performing camera maintenance. After finishing a site visit, citizen scientists also sorted photos identifying wildlife, logging approximately 109 hours of data organization. In addition, 100% of our citizen scientists adhered to our protocols that we tested and implemented in the field over a one-year period. Citizen scientists continue to monitor remote wildlife cameras in the rugged mountainous regions of this southern Arizona study area. Citizen science is often criticized because of skepticism from the scientific community regarding data integrity, quality control, and potentially biased data. This research aimed to exam the data integrity of citizen scientists by comparing it to the data analyzed by experts. When comparing the ability of citizen scientists and field team experts in sorting and correctly identifying wildlife, I found strong positive correlations between the levels of data quality. These high positive correlations indicate that, with training, citizen scientists are capable of accurately identifying wildlife from camera data nearly as well as the field team experts, and can be an excellent surrogate for experts. Connecting volunteers to the natural landscape through hands-on science research has the potential to create many positive experiences. Citizen science can increase participant’s knowledge of science, build trust and foster understanding, and can create a more informed public. Despite these benefits, data integrity is the most important aspect of research and data collected by non-scientists remains heavily scrutinized. Collaboration amongst professionals, educators, program designers, and data managers is necessary to ensure that project goals are achieved while maintaining scientific integrity. Continuing to examine citizen science programs is important to advance the field of citizen science and foster meaningful relationships between the public and scientists. This study provided a unique opportunity to use non-scientists to augment data collection and assessment in the scientific workplace to advance jaguar and ocelot conservation. We strongly believe that citizen scientists remain an underutilized resource for helping scientists collect and analyze data in a climate of reduced funding and increasing need for long-term monitoring.

Historically, ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) were hunted in large numbers for their fur, causing declines in population abundance across their range. In recent decades protection measures (e.g. CITES) and decreased public demand for ocelot fur resulted in declines in hunting pressure. Do to their elusive nature there is little known about ocelot population size, structure or general ecology. This lack of information hampers our ability to provide protection for this endangered species. Remote cameras were deployed in 7 grids across the landscape to estimate the density of ocelots in 2 habitat types; the broadleaf rainforest and pine forest of western Belize. Camera trapping combined with mark-recapture statistics resulted in densities of 18.91 - 20.75 ocelots per 100 km2 in the rainforest and 2.31 0 3.81 ocelots per 100 km2 in the pine forest habitat. This study examined the issues of camera spacing and animals with zero distance moved and their effect on density estimation. Increased camera spacing resulted in larger buffer sizes (increasing the effective trap area) and decreased density estimates. Inclusion of zero distance animals decreased buffer sizes and increased density estimates. Regardless of these effects, ocelot density was higher in the broadleaf rainforest than the pine forest. The ocelot density estimates in Belizean forests were lower than those in other portions of their range. The camera trapping technique demonstrated ocelots to be mostly active at night, with peaks of activity after sunset and before sunrise, and to travel low-use roads in the wet season and high-use roads in the dry season. Radio telemetry was used in this study to estimate the home range size and density of ocelots in the broadleaf rainforest of western Belize. Six collared ocelots (3 male, 3 female) were collared and tracked from September 2003 - August 2004. Male ocelots had an average home range size of 33.01 km2 (95% fixed kernel) and 29.00 km2 (100% MCP), and female ocelots had an average home range size of 21.05 km2 (95% fixed kernel) and 29.58 km2 (100% MCP). Most ocelots had larger home ranges in the dry season than the wet season. Ocelots showed a large amount of same sex home range overlap; with male-male overlap averaging 25% (100% MCP) and female-female overlap averaging 16% (100% MCP). Ocelot density determined using radio telemetry was 7.79 - 10.91 ocelots per 100 km2. The radio telemetry ocelot densities were lower and their home ranges larger in the Belizean broadleaf rainforests than those in other portions of their range. The camera trapping and radio telemetry techniques were compared against one another and combined in order to test which technique may be more successful in studying certain aspects of feline behavior. Activity budgets and density estimates determined from camera trapping were superior to radio telemetry, whereas camera trapping home ranges showed higher variation and lower resolution than radio telemetry. However, home range estimates determined from camera trapping captured long distance movements, a larger percent of territory overlap, and displayed potential for estimating an animal's core use area. When radio telemetry data were used to create a buffer around camera traps based on the average radius of an ocelots' home range size, the resulting density estimates were smaller than those determined using the current camera trapping methodology. This study provided much needed baseline information on ocelot abundance, home range size, activity patterns, and trail use. While sample sizes were small, this study had the largest number of ocelots captured in Central America to date. Although camera trapping is already a useful tool in felid research, this study highlights the importance of further standardization of the camera trapping methodology, increasing its potential for monitoring and conservation across habitats and study sites. / Master of Science

The mesopredator release hypothesis suggests that small carnivore populations are negatively affected by competition with larger carnivore species; this could hinder the conservation of mesopredators in areas where large top-carnivores are prioritized. I investigated the ecology of ocelots in Belize and examined the role of mesopredator release in the neotropical carnivore guild to determine if ocelots are limited by competition with jaguars and pumas. I conducted remote camera surveys and sampled habitat within four protected areas: three broadleaf sites and one pine forest site. I measured ocelot activity and habitat-use with respect to the activity of jaguars and pumas at one broadleaf site and one pine forest site; additionally, I calculated estimates of ocelot and jaguar densities within those two sites. Ocelot presence was positively related to jaguar activity in the pine forest and to both jaguar and puma activity in the broadleaf forest. There were few relationships with habitat characteristics; however, in the broadleaf site, ocelot activity was positively related to road width and large avian prey activity. Both jaguar and ocelot densities were low in the pine forest and higher in the broadleaf site. Preliminary findings from the remaining two sites suggest that future results may be similar to those from the first two sites analyzed. I conclude that ocelot populations are not negatively affected by jaguars and that a negative effect of pumas is unlikely. Results imply that mesopredator release does not limit ocelot populations in these areas. / Master of Science

The goals of this study were to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies to gain a better understanding of habitat requirements of a population of ocelots in south Texas, and then apply this knowledge to form a predictive model to locate areas of suitable habitat in Willacy and Cameron counties, Texas. Satellite imagery from August 1991 and August 2000 were classified into four land cover types: closed canopy, open canopy, water, and urban/barren. These classified images were converted into digital thematic maps for use in resource utilization studies and modeling. Location estimates (762 from 1991 and 406 from 2000) were entered into a GIS in order to extract information about home range and resource selection. Each animal's home range was calculated using both Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel home range estimators (95% and 50%). Habitat parameters of interest were: soil, land cover, human density, road density, and distance to closest road, city and water body. Ocelots were found to prefer closed canopy and avoid open canopy land cover types. Ocelots preferred soils known to support thorn scrub, an indication of the importance of this habitat. Landscape metrics associated with habitat used by ocelots were determined through the use of Patch Analyst, an extension for ArcView 3.2. Contrary to expectations, ocelots utilized areas with greater fragmentation than random areas available for use. However, this use of highly fragmented areas was an indication of the degree of fragmentation of suitable habitat in the area. Further investigation of patch size selection indicated that ocelots used large sized patches disproportionately to availability, indicating a preference for larger patches. A model was created using the resource selection and habitat preference GIS database from 1991. This model was used to identify areas of “optimal”, ”sub-optimal”, and “unsuitable” habitat for ocelots in 2000. This resultant map was compared to known locations of ocelots in 2000. Ocelots were found to prefer optimal habitat and avoid unsuitable habitat, an indication that the model created was valid.

Dois conjuntos comerciais, o \'ImmuChem Doubly Antibody Corticosterona 125I RIE\' da ICN \'Biomedicals\' e o \'Coat-a-count Cortisol 125I RIE\' da DPC foram utilizados na mensuração dos metabólitos de glicocorticóides de fezes de jaguatiricas (Leopardus pardalis) desafiadas com ACTH com o objetivo de comparar os resultados obtidos por cada um dos conjuntos. Paralelamente foram mensuradas as progestinas dos animais desafiados visando detectar fontes extra-gonadais de progesterona. Dois tipos de extração de metabólitos fecais também foram testados. O conjunto comercial da ICN provou ser mais confiável na detecção de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticóides. As duas técnicas de extração obtiveram resultados semelhantes, demonstrando ser indiferente a escolha da técnica para a extração de metabólitos de glicocorticóides em fezes de jaguatirica. Existem fortes indícios da produção de progesterona pela adrenal de jaguatiricas submetidas ao desafio com ACTH. / Two commercial kits, the ImmuChem Doubly Antibody Corticosterona 125I RIE from ICN Biomedicals and Coat-a-count Cortisol 125I RIE from DPC were used on fecal glucocorticoids measurement of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) submitted to ACTH challenge aiming to compare the performance of both kits. In another way progestins from the same animals submitted to ACTH challenge were measured aiming to find progesterone from extra gonadal sources. Two different fecal metabolites extraction protocols were tested as well. The ICN commercial kit had better results on glucocorticoids metabolites measurement. Both extraction protocols had similar performance and this data indicates that any both can be used for this purpose. There are strong evidences of adrenal secretion of progesterone after ACTH challenge.

Dois conjuntos comerciais, o \'ImmuChem Doubly Antibody Corticosterona 125I RIE\' da ICN \'Biomedicals\' e o \'Coat-a-count Cortisol 125I RIE\' da DPC foram utilizados na mensuração dos metabólitos de glicocorticóides de fezes de jaguatiricas (Leopardus pardalis) desafiadas com ACTH com o objetivo de comparar os resultados obtidos por cada um dos conjuntos. Paralelamente foram mensuradas as progestinas dos animais desafiados visando detectar fontes extra-gonadais de progesterona. Dois tipos de extração de metabólitos fecais também foram testados. O conjunto comercial da ICN provou ser mais confiável na detecção de metabólitos fecais de glicocorticóides. As duas técnicas de extração obtiveram resultados semelhantes, demonstrando ser indiferente a escolha da técnica para a extração de metabólitos de glicocorticóides em fezes de jaguatirica. Existem fortes indícios da produção de progesterona pela adrenal de jaguatiricas submetidas ao desafio com ACTH. / Two commercial kits, the ImmuChem Doubly Antibody Corticosterona 125I RIE from ICN Biomedicals and Coat-a-count Cortisol 125I RIE from DPC were used on fecal glucocorticoids measurement of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) submitted to ACTH challenge aiming to compare the performance of both kits. In another way progestins from the same animals submitted to ACTH challenge were measured aiming to find progesterone from extra gonadal sources. Two different fecal metabolites extraction protocols were tested as well. The ICN commercial kit had better results on glucocorticoids metabolites measurement. Both extraction protocols had similar performance and this data indicates that any both can be used for this purpose. There are strong evidences of adrenal secretion of progesterone after ACTH challenge.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:47:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1384970 bytes, checksum: 7a9f338f36b2878167408065484d1268 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-09 / O estudo da morfologia testicular e do processo espermatogênico em animais silvestres são fundamentais para o conhecimento dos padrões fisiológicos, auxiliando assim no estabelecimento de protocolos em reprodução assistida. Os objetivos deste estudo foram descrever a duração do ciclo do epitélio seminífero pela identificação das células germinativas mais avançadas marcadas pela 5-bromodeoxiuridina (BrdU); caracterizar os diversos estádios que constituem o ciclo do epitélio seminífero com base na associação das técnicas de morfologia tubular e desenvolvimento do sistema acrossômico; calcular a produção espermática diária por grama de testículo de jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis). Para isso, foram utilizados cinco animais machos adultos provenientes do Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal de Viçosa e da Fundação Zoobotânica de Belo Horizonte, ambas em Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os animais foram submetidos a biópsias testiculares a fim de se obter material biológico para avaliação histológica e imunohistoquímica. Foram descritos e determinada a frequência relativa de oito estádios do ciclo do epitélio seminífero em jaguatirica com base no método da morfologia tubular associado ao método do sistema acrossômico. Foi observado um estádio do ciclo por secção transversal de túbulo sendo a fase pré meiótica do processo espermatogênico maior que as outras (56,5%). Através do uso de um marcador de proliferação celular injetado intratesticularmente (BrdU) foi observado após 16 dias de aplicação, células marcadas em transição de paquíteno para diplóteno no início do estádio III. A partir daí, pode-se concluir que um ciclo do epitélio seminífero de jaguatirica dura 11,30 dias, assim o processo espermatogênico da jaguatirica dura no total 50,85 dias. A jaguatirica apresentou diâmetro médio de túbulos seminíferos de 211,37μm e 17,81 metros por grama de testículo em média. No epitélio seminífero, em cada secção transversal do túbulo seminífero no estádio I do ciclo, foi observado em média 1,06 espermatogônias do tipo A; 17,78 espermatócitos primários em pré-leptóteno/leptóteno; 19,22 espermatócitos primários em paquíteno; 59,5 espermátides arredondadas e 6,86 células de Sertoli. O rendimento geral da espermatogênese nesta espécie foi de aproximadamente 57 células, e cada célula de viiiSertoli foi capaz de sustentar e manter 14,38 células da linhagem germinativa das quais, 8,76 espermátides arredondadas. A produção espermática diária encontrada demonstra que a jaguatirica é um animal com alto nível de produção, uma vez que sua produção é cerca de 32 milhões de espermatozóides por grama de testículo. / The study of testicular morphology and spermatogenic process in wild animals are fundamental to the knowledge of physiological patterns, thus assisting in establishing protocols for assisted reproduction. The objectives of this paper were to describe the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium by identifying the most advanced germ cells marked by 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU); to characterize the various stages that constitute the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium based on the combination of the techniques of tubular morphology and development of the acrosomal system, calculate the daily sperm production per gram of testis of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). For this, we used five adult males from Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres at Universidade Federal de Viçosa and from Fundação Zoobotânica de Belo Horizonte, both in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The animals underwent testicular biopsies in order to obtain biological material for histology and immunohistochemistry. We described and determined the relative frequency of eight stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle on the ocelot based in the tubular morphology method associated with the acrosomal system method. We observed one stage of the cycle by tubule cross-section, being that the pre-meiotic spermatogenic process is longer than the others (56.5%). Through the use of a cell proliferation marker intratesticularly injected (BrdU) we observed after 16 days of application, labeled cells in transition from pachytene to diplotene at the beginning of stage III. From there, we can conclude that a cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of ocelot takes 11.30 days, so the ocelot spermatogenesis process lasts 50.85 days. The ocelot had an average diameter of seminiferous tubules of 211.37 μm and 17.81 meters per gram of testis on average. In the seminiferous epithelium, in each cross-section of seminiferous tubule in stage I of the cycle, we observed on average 1.06 type A spermatogonia, 17.78 primary spermatocytes in pre-leptotene/leptotene, 19.22 primary spermatocytes in pachytene, 59.5 round spermatids and 6.86 Sertoli cells. The overall yield of spermatogenesis in this species was approximately 57 cells, and each Sertoli cell was able to sustain and maintain 14,38 germline cells of which 8.76 were round xspermatids. The daily sperm production found shows that the ocelot is an animal with a high level of production, since production is about than 32 million sperm per gram of testis. / Solicitado sigilo pela orientadora em 30/11/2012

Orientadores: Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz, José Eduardo Mantovani / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T00:59:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Penteado_MarcelJoseFranco_D.pdf: 10454343 bytes, checksum: d8c60e67c27ebfc4bdb666229a8d4b1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O puma (Puma concolor) e a jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) são dois dos felídeos com maior distribuição geográfica no continente americano, ocorrendo em biomas que vão desde regiões muito secas até florestas tropicais. Assim como todos os predadores de porte médio e grande, necessitam de grandes áreas para sobreviver e são particularmente vulneráveis a extinções locais em ambientes fragmentados, onde seu desaparecimento pode levar a altas densidades de pequenos mamíferos predadores, ou mesopredadores, e ao empobrecimento dos níveis tróficos mais baixos. Além da perda de habitat, estas espécies sofrem com a falta de informações sobre sua ecologia, incluindo área de vida, uso de habitat e padrões de deslocamento e dispersão, essenciais para elaborar planos de manejo e estratégias de conservação eficientes. O presente trabalho analisou algumas destas informações em duas áreas com níveis significativos de impactos antrópicos (municípios de Paulínia, Cosmópolis, Americana e Atibaia), através do monitoramento de um puma por radiotelemetria GPS e três jaguatiricas por radiotelemetria VHF. Descrevemos a área de vida do puma com 11.400ha. Identificamos seleção para ambientes com cobertura vegetal arbórea e uso de matas ciliares como rotas de deslocamento. Também verificamos que seu nível de atividade decresce conforme a noite avança. Foi possível determinar locais prefereciais de predação através da análise de clusters, com indicações de que o puma monitorado identificou os melhores locais para predação de animais de maior porte. Também estimamos a área de vida para três jaguatiricas, variando entre 153 e 680ha, dentro do intervalo descrito para áreas de floresta tropical, mas muito inferior à descrita para outras áreas do continente americano, como o Pantanal e Iguaçú. Também verificamos preferência por ambientes com cobertura vegetal densa. Considerando os resultados obtidos, estratégias eficientes para a preservação destas espécies dependem da manutenção de áreas de mata nativa, interligadas por corredores de deslocamento, que permitam o trânsito destes animais entre eles e o contato e fluxo gênico entre populações distintas / Abstract: The cougar (Puma concolor) and the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) are broadly distributed in the Americas, and occurs in biomes ranging from dry areas to tropical forests. As all medium to large sized predators, they need large landscapes to survive, and may be particularly vulnerable to local extinction in fragmented landscapes, where their disappearance can lead to higher densities of small mammalian predators, or mesopredators, and the impoverishment of lower trophic levels. Besides the loss of habitat, these species suffer from a lack of information about its ecology, including home range, habitat use and patterns of movement and dispersion, essential to develop effective management action plans and conservation strategies. The present study examined some of this information in two areas with significant levels of human impacts (municipalities in Paulínia, Cosmópolis, Americana and Atibaia), by monitoring a cougar by GPS radio telemetry and three ocelots by VHF radio telemetry. We describe the cougar's home range with 11.400ha (100% MCP). We found string selection for habitats with dense forest cover, and use of riparian areas as travel routes. We also found that their activity level decreases as the night progresses. We determinate preferecial predation sites by cluster analysis, with indications that the tracked cougar identified the best places to predation of larger animals. We also estimate the home range for three ocelots, ranging between 153 and 680ha (100% MCP) within the range reported for tropical forest, but much lower than that reported for other areas of the Americas, including brazilian Pantanal and Iguaçú. We also observed a preference for environments with dense vegetation. Considering these results, efficient strategies for the preservation of these species depend on maintaining areas of native forest, connected by movement corridors, allowing the transit of these animals between them and the contact and gene flow between different populations / Doutorado / Ecologia / Doutor em Ecologia

O presente estudo visou investigar o efeito da refrigeração do sêmen da jaguatirica sobre o Índice de Motilidade Espermática [IME=(%M+MPx5)/2; %M = proporção de espermatozóides móveis; MP = motilidade progressiva], integridade acrossomal (IA) e capacitação espermática; assim como avaliar a eficácia da técnica FITC-PNA/IP na avaliação simultânea da viabilidade espermática (VE) e IA. Sete jaguatiricas foram eletroejaculadas, sendo utilizados apenas ejaculados (n=16) apresentando %M>=60% e MP>=3. Avaliou-se a IA por meio da Coloração Simples. Os ejaculados foram diluídos 1:1 na Variante do Diluente de PLatz e submetidos aos Protocolos de Transporte: Temperatura Ambiente e Refrigeração, - 0,23ºC/min, (Experimento 1); ou apenas Temperatura Ambiente (Experimentos 2 e 3). Após 2h, as alíquotas foram reaquecidas, reavaliando-se os parâmetros observados antes do transporte. Os espermatozóides foram lavados por centrifugação em meio F10 de Ham, ressuspensos nesse meio e processados conforme o experimento: (1) após pré-incubação (38ºC; 5%CO2) durante 0, 1, 2 e 4 horas, foram retiradas alíquotas a cada intervalo para serem incubadas (30 min) na ausência e na presença do cálcio ionóforo A23187 (Ca2+Ion) (1mM), avaliando-se IA e IME; (2) após pré-incubação por 0, 1 e 2h, foram incubadas alíquotas na ausência e presença de 1 e 2mM de Ca2+Ion, avaliado-se IA e IME; (3) pré-incubados por 9h, sendo retiradas alíquotas a cada hora, para as avaliações da IA e VE, (a) separadamente através da Coloração Simples e do IME, ou (b) simultaneamente através da técnica FITC-PNA/IP. A refrigeração causou declínio (p<0,02) da IA (71,0%) e IME (67,1), em comparação aos valores observados antes do transporte (88,5%; 85,4), enquanto a manutenção das amostras à temperatura ambiente não afetou (p>0,1) essas variáveis (84,8%; 76,4). Dentre as amostras refrigeradas, aquelas expostas ao Ca2+Ion sofreram redução (p<0,01) na IA (52,4%) frente ao controle (55,56%). Já nas amostras transportadas à temperatura ambiente, não foi observada diferença (p>0,1) entre os grupos com e sem ionóforo (64,41% vs. 63,87%). Quando analisados os tempos separadamente, o único tratamento em que houve efeito (p<0,05) do Ca2+Ion sobre a IA foi aquele refrigerado e pré-incubado por 2h. Foi verificada redução (p<0,05) nos valores de IME e IA devida à simples incubação, mesmo na ausência do Ca2+Ion. A concentração de 2µM dessa substância foi mais efetiva na indução da reação acrossômica que 1µM. Apesar dos fluorocromos FITC-PNA/IP terem se ligado aos espermatozóides, nas regiões esperadas, a proporção de células marcadas variou aleatoriamente durante pré-incubação, sem correlação (p>0,1) com IME. A IA avaliada pela Coloração Simples apresentou correlação positiva (r=0,77; p<0,0001) com IME, decrescendo (p<0,0001) durante pré-incubação. A refrigeração mostrou-se desvantajosa frente à manutenção do sêmen à temperatura ambiente, pois foi deletéria à função e às membranas dos espermatozóides. A refrigeração tornou-os capazes de responder ao estímulo do Ca2+Ion, característica observada nos espermatozóides capacitados. O ensaio de reação acrossômica induzida pelo Ca2+Ion deve ser aperfeiçoado para permitir avaliação acurada da capacitação espermática na jaguatirica. A Coloração Simples associada à avaliação do IME foi mais eficiente e menos laboriosa, frente á técnica FITC-PNA/IP, na avaliação da IA e VE. / This study aimed to investigate the effect of ocelot semen refrigeration on Sperm Motility Index [SMI=(%M+PMx5)/2; %M = proportion of motile spermatozoa ; PM = Progressive Motility], acrossomal integrity (AI) and sperm capacitation. Another objective was to evaluate the FITC-PNA/IP technique efficacy on evaluating simultaneously sperm viability (SV) and AI. Five ocelots, were electroejaculated, the semen was evaluated and only ejaculates (n=16) presenting %M>=60% and PM>=3 were used. Sperm AI was evaluated using Fast Green / Rose Bengal staining (FGRB). The ejaculates were diluted 1:1 in Platz Diluent Variant and subjected to the transportation protocols: Room Temperature and Cooling, -0.23ºC/min, (experiment 1); or only Room Temperature (experiments 2 and 3). After 2 hours, the aliquots were rewarmed and samples were taken to re-evaluate the parameters observed before the transport. The spermatozoa were washed in Ham’s F10 medium, ressuspended in fresh medium and processed differently, according the experiment: (1) after pre-incubation (38ºC; 5%CO2) during 0, 1, 2 and 4 hours, samples were taken at each time point to be incubated in the absence and presence of 1mM calcium ionophore A23187 (Ca2+Ion), SMI and AI were evaluated; (2) after pre-incubation during 0, 1 and 2h, aliquots were incubated in the absence and presence of 1 and 2 mM Ca2+Ion; SMI and AI were evaluated; (3) after pre-incubation during 9h, aliquots were taken every hour to compare the evaluation of SV and AI (a) separately by the FGRB staining and SMI or (b) simultaneously by the FITC-PNA / IP technique. Cooling caused decline (p<0.02) on AI (71.0%) and SMI (67.1), when compared to values observed before transportation (88.5%; 85.4). Maintenance at room temperature didn’t affect (p>0.1) these variables (84.8%; 76.4). Among cooled samples, spermatozoa exposed to Ca2+Ion showed smaller (P<0.01) AI value (52.4%) compared to the group incubated without that substance (55.56%). For samples transported at room temperature, it wasn’t observed difference (P>0.05) between the groups with and without ionophore (64.41% vs. 63.87%). When time intervals were analysed separately, the only treatment in which there was effect (p<0,05) of Ca2+Ion on AI was the group refrigerated and pre-incubated for 2h. There was a reduction (p<0,05) on SMI and AI due simply to incubation, even in the absence of Ca2+Ion. The 2µM concentration of this substance was more effective to induce acrosome reaction than 1µM. FITC-PNA and IP fluorocromes bound spermatozoa at the expected sites. However, proportion of marked cells varied randomly during pre-incubation, and didn’t correlate (p>0,1) with SMI. IA evaluated by FGRB staining showed positive correlation (r=0,77; p<0,0001) with SMI, decreasing (p<0,0001) during incubation. Cooling was disadvantageous compared to maintaining semen at room temperature, since it was deleterious to spermatozoa membranes and function, and made those cells capable to answer the Ca2+Ion challenge, a characteristic observed in capacitated spermatozoa. Ca2+Ion induced acrosome reaction assay must be improved to allow accurate evaluation of sperm capacitation on ocelots. FGRB staining associated to SMI evaluation was more efficient and easier to perform, than FITC-PNA/IP technique, for AI and SV investigation.

Felinos selvagens são importantes reguladores de ecossistema, porém estes animais vem sofrendo uma série de ameaças, entre as quais estão as doenças, o que vem tornando imprescindível o monitoramento da saúde de populações selvagens para compreender a relação natural entre hospedeiros e parasitas e, além disso, para identificar, prevenir e manejar potenciais patógenos e fatores ambientais que possam representar uma ameaça à saúde destes animais. A partir de dados obtidos de nove jaguatiricas saudáveis e três doentes capturadas no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce nos anos de 2012 e 2013, proponho em um dos artigos apresentados nesta tese que, para obter dados mais robustos sobre a saúde de carnívoros neotropicais, sejam avaliados dados clínicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos de animais capturados. Entretanto, para que os animais possam ser avaliados, a captura dos mesmos é imprescindível. Baseada nos resultados e dificuldades obtidos com a captura das jaguatiricas, proponho, no primeiro artigo aqui apresentado, que os métodos de captura de carnívoros neotropicais sejam avaliados e comparados, buscando atender os seguintes critérios: (i) alta eficiência de captura; (ii) alta seletividade; (iii) baixa taxa de lesões; (iv) alta adequabilidade da imobilização; e (v) baixo custo. / Despite the fact that wild felids are considered important ecosystem regulators, these animals have been facing many threats, including diseases. Therefore, the monitoring of wild populations health is crucial to understand the natural relationship between hosts and parasites and, moreover, to identify, prevent and manage potential pathogens and environmental factors that may threat these felids´ health. Based on results from nine healthy ocelots and three ill ocelots captured at Rio Doce State Park in 2012 and 2013, I propose in one of the articles presented in this thesis that, to obtain consistent data on Neotropical carnivores health, the animals should be evaluated through clinical, hematological and serum chemistry data. From the difficulties and results found when capturing the ocelots, I propose, in the first article, that capture methods targeting Neotropical carnivores should be evaluated and compared, aiming the following criteria: (i) High capture efficiency; (ii) High selectivity; (iii) Low injury rate; (iv) High immobilization suitability (safe for the animal, suitable to time to procedures, fast recovery and predictable effects); and (v) Low costs.