Understanding the factors that affect the presence and distribution of carnivores in human-dominated landscapes is one of the principal goals of conservation ecology. My research sought to determine those factors in a carnivore community inhabiting an agricultural landscape in Bahia, Brazil. To reach this goal I used camera traps and conducted semi-structured interviews in human communities in my study area. The carnivore community studied included eight species of the cat, weasel, raccoon and dog families (puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wiedii), tayra (Eira barbara), South American coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Results indicated that habitat is a key factor determining the distribution of some species in the carnivore community. Some species, such as the crab-eating fox, had a high probability of using rubber crops and a low probability of using forested areas, whereas others, such as the South American Coati, had a low probability of using rubber crops and a high probability of using forested areas. Analysis at a larger scale indicated that in the case of the crab-eating foxes and the South American coatis landscape-related variables were the best predictors of the animals’ frequency of site use. The frequency of site use by tayras was best predicted by resource-related variables, and for the wildcats (Leopardus spp.) by human-related variables. Results from interviews with stakeholders showed that, the carnivore with the highest frequency of reported negative impacts was the puma due to the fear related to its presence. I also found that the factors that best explained tolerance for pumas were related to personal evaluative attitudes (likability) and perceived benefits. These findings elucidate the complexity of the actions required to propose more appropriate management strategies for carnivore conservation in tropical agricultural systems. The results make an important contribution to our knowledge of why carnivores adapt or fail to adapt to agricultural landscapes with applications for sustainable agriculture within and beyond the Northeast of Brazil.
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