GIANT OTTER IN BOLIVIA: THE NATIONAL SURVEY

Miranda, Brasil10-13 de Diciembre de 2003

InputsSurveys in the Noel Kempff Mercado

National ParkSurveys in the Bolivian PantanalSurveys in the Isiboro-Secure National

ParkSurveys in the Reserva ItenezEtc.

Giant otter surveys in Bolivia

Square sizeSquare size

25 * 25 km 625 km2

50 * 50 km 2 500 km2

100 * 100 km 10 000 km2

15’ * 15’ 729 km2

30’ * 30’ 2 916 km2

1° * 1° 11 664 km2

Size of Protected Areas in Bolivia

PN Noel Kempff Mercado 15 234 km2 +

PN Isiboro Sécure 12 363 km2 +

RB Estación Biol. Beni 1 350 km2 -

ANMI San Matías 29 185 km2 +

PN-ANMI Otúquis 10 059 km2 +

PN Manuripi Heath 7 470 km2 +

PN Madidi (18 957 km2) +

PN Carrasco (6 266 km2) -

ANMI Amboró (6 376 km2) -

Squares 1° * 1°

Squares 30’ * 30’

Squares 15’ * 15’

15’ * 15’ 729 km2 1120 (999+1212)

30’ * 30’ 2 916 km2 258 (182+76)

1° * 1° 11 664 km2 74 (37+40)

Square number in Bolivia using different grid sizes

Thoughts & ideas : 1Designing the GO survey strategy, we

should not take TOO much the European Otter continentental survey as an example

* GO lives in groups, EO is solitary* Marking behaviour is very different (EO: bridges)•Survey site selection is basically different (complicated in the case of GO)* Distribution patterns are different

Thoughts & Ideas: 2Should grid size be based on territory

size or on dispersal capacity of solitary individuals?

Thoughts & Ideas: 3The objective of the continental survey

is NOT (in the first place) to know where Giant Otter DO occur

The objective of the continental survey is YES to know where Giant Otter DO NOT occur (the gaps).

Thoughts & Ideas: 4 The grid size should

be chosen with an a priori idea of the possible results and based on clear objectives

100*100km

50*50km

(The biggest possibleGrid size should be chosen)

Ideas & Thoughts: 5A continental distribution survey based

on a small grid size completed after 20 years is less useful than a continental distribution survey based on a large grid size completed after 3 years

FEASIBILITY > DESIRABILITY

Thoughts & Ideas: 6 Priorization of survey areas:

- climate- geomorphology- Protected areas- IndigenousTerritories- Human presence- Accesibility

Prediction of GO in Bolivia

Squares of 1° * 1°

(11 664 km2)

114 quadrantes en Bolivia

74 quadrantes < 500 msnm

55 quadrantes < 500 msnm y en hidro- ecoregiones con probabilidad alta

47 quadrantes < 500 msnm, en Hidro-ecoregiones con probabilidad alta y en zonas con bajo impacto humano

Thoughts & Ideas: 7The continental survey and grid size

should be a compromise between efficiency and cost 1º<* 1º (11 664 km2) apr. 50 squares

50 000 US$ 1 000 man*days (2 persons: 4 years)

30’ * 30’ (2 916 km2) apr. 200 squares

200 000 US$ 4 000 man*days (2 persons: 12 years)

1° * 1° (729 km2) apr. 900 squares

900 000 US$ 18 000 man*days (2 persons: 23 years)

Thoughts & Ideas: 8 We should see

which approach is more useful: focus on Giant Otter STRONGHOLDS and then CORREDORS, etc.

OR: a focus on grid sizes

OR: a combination of both

1

21 Strongholds2 Corredors

1 Strongholds2 Corredors3 Internatinal corredors

Thoughts & Ideas: 9A range-wide GO distribution survey

should be based on the highest grid size possible (taking into account accesibility, time frame and cost),

and should preferably be combined with GO distribution surveys on a local scale using the lowest grid size possible.

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No more thoughts GRACIAS