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Vulnerable island carnivores: the endangered endemic dwarf procyonids from Cozumel Island

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Abstract

Insular carnivores represent some of the most critically threatened species, but also the least known. To evaluate the conservation status of these species, thorough abundance estimates are urgently required. To better understand the population biology and conservation status of the endemic and threatened pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus) and dwarf coati (Nasua nelsoni) on Cozumel Island, Mexico, we worked island-wide to identify the presence of these species, and for the pygmy raccoon we studied several populations in depth during 2001–2003. On Cozumel, trapping was conducted for >6,600 trap nights in 19 locations of varying habitat types. A total of 96 pygmy raccoons (47 males and 49 females) and a single adult, male dwarf coati (N. nelsoni) were captured. Estimated total annual pygmy raccoon population size ± SE was 80 ± 26.1, resulting in an average density of 22 ± 5.1 raccoons/km2 for the three small sites where the animals persist. Based in part on the findings of this study that indicate these species have a restricted range and small population numbers, the IUCN recently changed the listing of the pygmy raccoon to Critically Endangered from Endangered. In contrast, the status of the dwarf coati (Endangered) has not been changed, although the taxon is in eminent danger of extinction and in need of immediate conservation action.

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Acknowledgments

This research was approved by Columbia University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and supported by funds from the Explorer’s Club, Sigma Xi, Sigma Delta Epsilon Women in Science, the American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, the University of Missouri, the National Science Foundation (#0118867), the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología grant (#33635-V), and the Fondo Sectorial de Investigación Ambiental (SEMARNAT-2002-C01-0571). Field support and local assistance was provided by J. Benavides, R. Chacón, I. Fortes, C. González-Baca, H. González, A. Laborde, M.A. Martínez-Morales, C. Naredo, G. Navarro, PROFEPA, I. Romero-Nájera, R. Sheese, and E. Vivas (CAPA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    Katherine W. McFadden

  2. Instituto de Ecología, A. C., 91070, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Denise García-Vasco

  3. SACBÉ - Servicios Ambientales, Conservación Biológica y Educación, 77660, Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    Denise García-Vasco & Alfredo D. Cuarón

  4. Multicriteria SC, Unidad Independencia IMSS, Torre Uxmal 18, 10100, México, DF, México

    Alfredo D. Cuarón

  5. Departamento de Ecología y Conservación de los Recursos Naturales, Centro de Educación Ambiental e Investigación Sierra de Huautla, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    David Valenzuela-Galván

  6. Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, DF, Mexico

    Rodrigo A. Medellín

  7. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Matthew E. Gompper

Authors
  1. Katherine W. McFadden
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  2. Denise García-Vasco
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  3. Alfredo D. Cuarón
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  4. David Valenzuela-Galván
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  5. Rodrigo A. Medellín
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  6. Matthew E. Gompper
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine W. McFadden.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

See Table 3.

Table 3 Trapping effort and capture success for each sex (M, Males, F, Females) and age class of pygmy raccoon at three main study sites on Cozumel Island, Mexico, from 2001 to 2003
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McFadden, K.W., García-Vasco, D., Cuarón, A.D. et al. Vulnerable island carnivores: the endangered endemic dwarf procyonids from Cozumel Island. Biodivers Conserv 19, 491–502 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-009-9701-8

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