Spokes-Organism Ecology Project (the Jaguar)

1. Spokes-Organism Ecology Project(the Jaguar) Michael Pearce Bio 20 Caine, Block 2

2. Definition of Niche • The role that an organism fills in its ecosystem. • An organisms niche is defined by its place in the food web, its habit and the time of day that it is most active.

3. Jaguar’s Niche • Place in the food web • Jaguars are considered an “apex predator” or a “quaternary consumer”, meaning that they are at the top of their food chain/web and have no natural predators. Jaguars are carnivores, and will feed on up to 80 other carnivorous or herbivorous animals.

4. Jaguar’s Niche (cont.) • Time of day most active • Jaguar’s are often mistaken for being nocturnal, but are actually in fact, crepuscular. This means that they are most active around dusk and dawn, times of the day when other animals are often sluggish and when the temperature is at neither extreme.

5. Jaguar’s Niche (cont.) • Habitat • Jaguar’s are large animals that can adapt to multiple environments, but are centralized in several types of ecosystems—tropical rain forest, flooded wetlands and grasslands. Jaguar’s prefer to reside around a large source of water, not only for drinking, but for ambushing prey. Geographically these regions range from Central and South America to Mexico.

6. Competition • Generally speaking, Jaguars will avoid other Jaguar territory and are solitary creatures who stake out their area, with the exception of when mating occurs. The only other animal known to share territory with the Jaguar is the cougar, and it has been noticed to be significantly smaller when in Jaguar territory, indicating that the Jaguar competes for resources with relative ease. Overall, the jaguar has very little natural competition for resources and territory.

7. Biome & Ecosystem • Ecosystem • A community and its physical and chemical components. • Biome • A large geographical region with a specific range of temperature and precipitation, as well as the organisms adapted to these conditions.

8. Differences • Biomes occupy much more area than an ecosystem, and will always experience relatively static climate conditions. As well, biomes will encompass numerous different ecosystems, who all might experience slightly different weather in their certain area. I like to think of biomes as a large umbrella that stays relatively unchanging, with many different smaller ecosystems underneath it, each with its own smaller conditions and native organisms.

9. Jaguar’s Ecosystem • Like I stated earlier, Jaguar’s can occupy a wide range of environments, but their most preferred ecosystem would be a dense, warm tropical forest with lots of participation and a large source of fresh water.

10. Biotic Factors Affecting Jaguars • Human Activity • Deforestation – The destruction of the Jaguar’s habitat is one the largest factors that is threatening the Jaguar and forcing it out of its natural territory. • Poaching – Hunting of the Jaguar for sport, body parts or in response to sightings in the area are all improper reasons to kill the Jaguar and are resulting in a decline of its population. • Introduction of Cattle – Introducing cattle as an exotic species to Jaguar’s territory for food production purposes has led some Jaguars to become dependent on them for a food source, and has intensified the hunting of jaguars.

11. Biotic Factors Affecting Jaguars (cont.) • Disease • Jaguars, among other big cats, are particularly susceptible to FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), a disease that causes felines to have a very poor immune system, which can result in early death, death during childbirth and general weakness of the organism.

12. Abiotic Factors Affecting Terrestrial Ecosystems • Abiotic Factors • Water • Sunlight • Temperature • Soil Everyone of these abiotic factors affect terrestrial ecosystems in different ways.

13. Soil and Sunlight • Soil affects the Jaguar primarily by influencing its habitat. Jaguars prefer to den in soft, moist ground and pad it with lots of litter. Hard, unfertile soil without much detritus doesn’t suit their needs for mating and sleeping. • Sunlight affects the Jaguar in multiple ways. First off, it is key in ensuring the survival of the photosynthetic organisms in the Jaguar’s habitat, which in turn support the Jaguar’s large herbivore prey base. As well, it indirectly allows for fertile soil but providing good circumstances for the growth (and ultimately death) of vegetation.

14. Temperature and Water • Temperature mainly affects the Jaguar by dictating what time of day it is active--generally the Jaguar is most active in the dusk and dawn, when the temperature is relatively low. Jaguars will rest during the hottest and coldest parts of the day, and prefer the mediums offered by sunset and sunrise. • Water is key to the Jaguar’s survival and lifestyle, not only because it is a basic need for living, but also because it is a primary hunting sight for the Jaguar. They are very comfortable in water, and can swim easily. Since freshwater bodies drawn lots of animals from all around, Jaguar’s will often choose to ambush their prey from within or around the water source.

15. Two Most Significant Abiotic Factors • Water • Water is obviously one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting the Jaguar first and foremost because of its immediate need for survival of the organism. Also, it provides a convenient place to prey on other animals for food, thus sustaining two of the most basic needs for the Jaguar. • Temperature • Temperature is one of the most significant abiotic factors affecting the Jaguar, as it directly affects the time of day it is active, and as such, indirectly affects what type of prey the Jaguar can find based on when they are active as well. Extreme temperatures at both ends result in lethargic and inactive Jaguars.

16. Reproduction • Biotic Potential – The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce with unlimited resources. • Birth Potential of the Jaguar – 4 (with an average of 2-3) • Capacity for Survival – 4 (under normal circumstances all jaguar offspring will live to reproductive age, so this capacity can reach up to 4) • Breeding Frequency – Jaguars can breed up to 3 times a year (they have no seasonal mating period, and with a gestation time of 100 days I would experimentally assume this frequency to be roughly 3.) • Length of Reproductive Life – Females reach sexual maturity at age 2, and males between 3 and 4. Generally speaking, Jaguars remain fertile until death, giving them a period of roughly 12-15 years.

17. Top 2 Biotic Influencing Factors • Low number of predators • The Jaguar is at the top of its food web and experiences no predation apart from humans, as it has no natural predators. • Strong ability to compete for resources • Jaguars can outcompete any local (non-exotic) organism for the necessary resources it requires.

18. Top 2 Abiotic Influencing Factors • Favourable Chemical Environment • In the America’s that the Jaguar resides it, the soil is very nutrient rich and fertile, which supports a wide base of photosynthetic organisms, and in turn the rest of the food chain up to the Jaguar. Many of the jaguars main prey are herbivores and require a lot of vegetation to survive—indirectly sustaining the Jaguar as well when fed upon. • Favourable Temperature • The Jaguar has a range of temperatures it is accustomed too and can operate within—the range of temperatures in its area will determine its activity level, and indirectly whether it survives or not.

19. Human Actions Affecting The Jaguar • Hunting • The hunting of the Jaguar by humans is a pretty self explanatory action, and results in a large majority of the unnaturally caused deaths of Jaguars. Jaguars are commonly hunted for sport, trophies (furs, heads or claws) and for the growing need to protect cattle herds introduced onto Jaguar territory for food purposes. Jaguars are internationally protected against poaching, but these laws are unfortunately not enforced well in many third world countries that the Jaguar exists in.

20. Human Actions Affecting the Jaguar (cont.) • Deforestation • Deforestation has already become a major world issue in the sense of global warming, but it is equally as devastating to the animal populations that it kills off when it destroys habitable forests. The Jaguar’s favourite habitat, dense tropical rainforest, is quickly being removed by humans for land development and farming purposes, which is causing a rapid decline in the Jaguar populations residing in those areas. More and more jaguars are being killed from a lack of habitat, and are also being forced out of their natural space and into contact with humans.

21. Most Significant Human Activity Affecting the Jaguar • I believe the most impactful human activity that is affecting the Jaguar is deforestation and loss of habitat. In the past 50 years the Jaguar has already lost 37% of its historic range, and is being forced into contact with human ranchers more and more because of a need for food and habitat. Land that is cleared for farming and ranching that was once a Jaguar habitat often results in not only the death of those local Jaguars, but the death of more Jaguars who explore the area after the fact and are shot for posing a threat to the exotic cattle population.

22. Acceleration of Ecosystem Change • In terms of the Jaguars habitat, specifically the tropical rainforest, human activity has caused a massive decline in both the size and diversity of this ecosystem, and is every increasing the rate at which it deteriorates. More species are dying off from increased air and water pollution, more land is cleared for development and forestry, and more species are forced deeper into the heart of the still existing rainforest. This last problem causes stress on the environment from an unnatural amount of organisms feeding and residing in certain areas, causing the less competitive organisms to be extirpated in natures way of reducing the density of an overcrowded, polluted and shrinking ecosystem.