Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the Ecological Station of Itirapina-Brazil: temporal and spatial distribution based on long-distance vocalizations recordings

Abstract

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus; Illiger, 1815) is considered the largest canid in South America, it has crepuscular nocturnal behavior, solitary and skittish habits. Its vocalization has different classifications, one of them called roar-barks, which helps in long-distance communication, being ideal for passive acoustic monitoring. For the study of the vocalizations of C. brachyurus in the Ecological Station of Itirapina in Brazil, were implanted 6 autonomous recorders called EcoPods. The locations of the station with the highest detection of vocalizations, their characteristics, temporal distribution in relation to sunset and moon phases were studied. The point with the highest concentration of roar-barks is the same as the point with the litters vocalization, indicating the importance of vocalizations in parental care. Passive acoustic monitoring allows a less invasive study and helps to understand the behavior of the maned wolf for its preservation.