RECORDS OF PUMA CONCOLOR INTHE CARCARAÑÁ BASIN, SOUTH OF THE PROVINCE OF SANTA FE, ARGENTINA

Abstract

Nine records of Puma concolor from southern Santa Fe Province (Argentina) are reported in the present contribution, along with an analysis of its relationship to environmental variables. The study area is located at the Carcarañá basin of the Pampas region, one the most modified wild ecosystems of the world. Arnong the four environmental units sampled, Puma concolor was reported at the halophilic communities of "espartillar''. Its presence could be indicative of a reoccupying process of areas where the species would have previously disappeared. The relative species abundance was of 0.37 traits per km. Concerning the environmental variables analyzed, it can be remarked that all the records have been related to water bodies in areas dominated by Spartina spartinae and at long distances from important routes and cities. This fact seems to be related to the pressure of urbanisation on the species.