Puma in rural area of ??Iracemápolis Lama/Unicamp A study by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) concluded that the puma is able to live, reproduce and maintain its top-of-the-line ecological role in agricultural areas dominated by sugar cane. However, this would only be possible thanks to the stretches of riparian forests, dams and swamps surrounding the monocultures. Forest areas serve as shelter and circulation areas for both pumas and their prey. The research was carried out over two years in Iracemápolis (SP), where 76% of the territory is occupied by sugar cane cultivation. ? Click here to follow the g1 Piracicaba channel on WhatsApp "Decades ago, [Iracemápolis] reconstituted the riparian forest in local river basins and this needs to be remembered. These reconstructions of gallery forests in river basins can have positive repercussions for local fauna and flora", explains Eleonore Setz, professor at the Institute of Biology at Unicamp and coordinator of the Mammal Ecology and Behavior Laboratory (MUDD). The researcher reported that Iracemápolis represents the interior of São Paulo, with the replacement of a large part of the native vegetation with sugarcane. Puma in rural area of ??Iracemápolis Lama/Unicamp "We need water. To produce water, we need native vegetation, forests and Cerrado. By taking care of this we can maintain the puma and its ecological services", he adds. The study showed that jaguars were recorded monthly, with no difference between harvest and off-season, indicating that they reside in the region, and that medium-sized animals avoid areas most frequented by felines. Furthermore, the analysis confirmed the reproduction of pumas in the municipality. The study also showed that another 23 animals frequent the spaces analyzed. Species include: maned wolf, ocelot, wild cat, brocket deer and giant anteater. Wild cat in rural area of ??Iracemápolis Lama/Unicamp Hunting in sugarcane fields and long-term risk The research observed that pumas use sugarcane plantations to expand hunting opportunities. In this scenario, it feeds mainly on small rodents. However, in an ideal scenario, the puma's diet consists of larger animals, such as peccary (wild pig), deer, tapiti and capybara – animals that are not predominant in mostly agricultural areas. The dietary change could compromise the species in the long term, explained the researcher. "[The diet of small rodents] can make it difficult for the cubs to feed, they [cougars] need to hunt more prey, they can lose weight, reduce the production of cubs, produce more male cubs", says Eleonore. Giant anteater footprint in rural area of ??Iracemápolis Lama/Unicamp Conservation and 'umbrella species' The jaguar is considered an "umbrella species". This means that, by protecting the areas necessary for their survival, the ecosystem and other species that live in that environment are also preserved. The researcher warns about maintaining native vegetation in spaces dominated by agriculture. "The puma, as a carnivore and large (larger than other carnivores in our region) has the ecological role of top predator, and thus controls the large area that supports it. In areas with puma, generally there are all the other [animals]. Without it, they compete with each other, and exclude each other and in the end only the opossum is left," he says. Maned wolf footprints in a rural area of ??Iracemápoli Lama/Unicamp I saw a mountain lion, what now? If a jaguar crosses the path of a human, the expert informed that it is necessary to avoid sudden movements, giving way so that it can leave freely. "If you suspect that she has hidden prey, or puppies, back away slowly without turning your back. If she becomes very distressed, she can raise her arms, 'bluff', never run! She is a cat, who feels challenged by running!", he informs. 'I could have gotten a good bite', says biologist about man who pulled a jaguar run over by its tail in the interior of SP 'Could have got a good bite', says biologist about man who pulled jaguar by its tail About the study The research was carried out by Camila Menezes Siqueira and Eleonore Zulnara Freire Setz, from the Unicamp Biology Institute and coordinator of the Mammal Ecology and Behavior Laboratory (LAMA) at Unicamp. The study was published this Thursday (24) in the Revista do Instituto Florestal and was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). VIDEOS: everything about Piracicaba and the region See more news about the region at g1 Piracicaba