Melanistic JaguarBy: Jashanjot Girn

INTRODUCTION

The 3rd largest “cat” but the largest found in the America’s.

Jaguars are endangered species. Images of these animals have been

used by ancient civilizations to symbolize royalty.

TAXONOMY

Kingdom- Animalia Phylum- Chordata Class- Mammalia Order- Carnivora Family- Felidae Genus- Panthera Species- Panthera onca Common name- Melanistic Jaguar Scientific name- Panthera Onca

DIFFERENCE?

What is a difference between a normal Jaguar and a Melanistic Jaguar?

There is no difference, a normal jaguar is yellow and has with rosette markings (a spot withing a spot) and a Melanistic Jaguar is black in colour and it's very hard to see the markings.

HABITAT

Usually swamps and wooded areas. Since it lives on land so it's a terrestrial

animal. But it is also a very good swimmer. Jaguars are found all over America,

Mexico and northern parts of South America

POPULATION TRENDS

These animals are found in the southern part of North America and all throughout Latin America.

A population of 100 breeding Jaguars can be found right at the border of U.S.- Mexico.

Jaguars have been eradicated from over 40% of their historical range.

They still exist in 18 countries in Latin America, from Argentina to Mexico,  but are extinct in two countries: El Salvador and Uruguay.

POPULATION TRENDS

Actual number of population is unknown, because these animals are hard to find and research.

It has had severe habitat loss through past periods of time.

Only 33% of original habitat of Jaguars is still available in Mexico.

THREATS TO JAGUARS

DeforestationHuntingKilling by farmersLoggingMiningConstruction of DamsHuman Encroachment*only top 3 are discussed

DEFORESTATION

It is one of the major threat facing the survival of the species. The areas which have been cleared are then used for crop growth and as cattle ranches. This destroys the habitat of the jaguar and forces it to change It’s habit’s and adapt to it’s new surroundings. Deforestation also destroys the habitat of it’s prey and so the number of it’s prey is also decreased that disrupts a chain in the food web and so the jaguar cannot find food for itself and that too forces jaguars to go instinct.

DEPLETION OF PREY SPECIES

Also the hunting of their prey is a reason why jaguars have disappeared. They cannot find the prey they need to survive and thus they themselves starve and die. That creates a gaping hole in the food chain, and so they cannot find the food they want and so cannot sustain themselves by finding their prey and thus die.

KILLING BY FARMERS

Due to deforestation, the trees are cleared and that area is used for growing crops and cattle ranching. Since those are made on the natural habitat of the Jaguar, they wander into the crops and the area of the cattle. Farmers seeing this as a danger to their profits, kill these jaguars to preserve their crops and livestock. Farmers also put a bounty on the jaguars so professional hunter compete to kill them and solve the problem of the farmer.

KILLING BY FARMERS –CONT.

On average 65,000 cattle have been killed by jaguars, which are usually mother and calf cattle. Farmers usually pay $50-$1000 to get the jaguars exterminated by professional hunters. This then means the hunters will try to kill as many jaguars as possible so they make as much money as possible.

FOOD WEB

FOOD WEB PREZI URL

http://prezi.com/utlpnd_vkqby/melanistic-jaguar/

WHERE IS THE MELANISTIC JAGUAR?

The Melanistic Jaguar is found at the top of the food chain.

It is a hetrotroph organism and relies on other animals in it’s food web.

It is a tertiary consumer in the food chain.

WHAT PHYLUM?

The Melanistic Jaguar is found in the phylum: Chordata

Organisms are categorized into this phylum because they contain some kind of vertebrate.

It is the most common and well known phylum

OTHER SPECIES

Other species which are included in this phylum are:

1. Homo Sapiens2. Giraffa3. Didelphis

HOMO SAPIENS

Common name- Human Beings They are categorized into the phlyum-

chordata because they have a spinal cord.

Have a nervous system Humans are mammals

GIRAFFA

Common name Giraffe. They are in the phylum-chordata

because of the long spinal cord they have in their neck and their body.

Nervous system Giraffes are terrestrial animals and are

mammals.

DIDELPHIS MARSUPIALIS

Common name- Opossums. They are rat-like creatures. Since they consist of vertebrates in

their body they are categorized in the phylum-chordata

These opossums are mammals.

CONSEQUENCES

There will be dire consequences if the Melanistic Jaguar goes extinct.

The population of the organisms it consumes will increase rapidly.

Bio-Diversity in many ecosystems will be lost.

Most of the consequences that will happen due to the extinction of Jaguars are environmental.

CONSEQUENCES- CONTD.

Since the animals below the will not have a predator, their population will not decrease.

Naturally, the increase in population of some organisms would disturb the ecosystem and the balance around the world.

For example- Since Jaguars eat sloths, if there are no Jaguars left to eat sloths their population will rise overpower the ecosystem. Due to the fact that they will keep using the resources in the ecosystem and there is no natural predator to keep their population in check. So if the sloth population increases they will keep eating leafs from trees which are useful to humans, and humans need for health and economical development.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

The large variety of living things which inhabit the earth is known as biodiversity. The huge number of species of different plants, animals, microorganisms make our Earth a very biodiverse place. Unfortunately over the past few decades the diversity of different living things has been reduced drastically in the name of human development and exploration. Some natural factors also come into play in causing extinction of animal and plant species but most of the damage has been done by humans. 

PERSONAL RESPONSE- CONTD.

Biodiversity is when different organisms to flourish in one very large ecosystem. This can directly or indirectly affect all the other animals and humans living in the same ecosystem. Such as a large amount of plant biodiversity could amount to growth of different types of trees from which animals can create a habitat and feed themselves. A greater amount of biodiversity can ensure the sustainability of different natural life forms. For example, decomposers such as fungi depend on dead trees and plants to live. If all the trees and plants from an area are removed they would not be able to grow. Also other animals that eat these plants and trees would either die or go to an other ecosystem and disrupt ecosystem there.

PERSONAL RESPONSE-CONTD.

More biodiversity will also lessen the effects of climate change which take place on our earth. If there are lots of trees on the Earth, they will absorb a lot of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen. This in turn would reduce the greenhouse effect and help to contribute in the stability of the climate of this earth. Also plants and animals both provide humans with different things which help them flourish. Animals and plants provide food to humans. Some parts of both animals and plants are used to make medications and other pharmaceutical products.As we start destroying ecosystems and reducing biodiversity, we will face the consequences environmentally and economically, because the decreased amount of species will affect our Earth in a negative way.

ACTION PLAN(ADVERTISEMENT)

CONCLUSION

Jaguars are rare animals. They are endangered and their

population is decreasing. Even though conservation efforts are

being made, many jaguars are still killed each year.

Loss of this animal would reduce biodiversity in our world.

It would cause great negative impact on the ecosystem, if the jaguars go extinct.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Threats. deOliveira, T. (2002). Conservation Assessment of Jaguars

in Eastern Amazonia and Northeastern Brazil. Jaguar Network, 1. Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www.jaguarnetwork.org/pdf/62.pdf

Taxonomy, difference jaguar (cat) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia. (n.d.).

Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 16, 2011, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Difference, Habitat, Population trends Philadelphia Zoo - Jaguar. (n.d.). Philadelphia Zoo - Home.

Retrieved October 15, 2011, from http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/zoo/Meet-Our-Animals/Mammals/Carnivores/Jaguar.htm

Consequences, Population trends. Caplan, T. (n.d.). Panthera | Jaguars. Tigers Need Your Help

| Panthera. Retrieved October 16, 2011, from http://www.panthera.org/species/jaguar

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Personal response Shah, A. (n.d.). Why Is Biodiversity Important?

Who Cares? — Global Issues. Global Issues : social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all — Global Issues. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-who-cares

Introduction Fun facts about the Jaguar - Jaguar Facts and

Information - The Jungle Store. (n.d.). Animal Gifts, Stuffed Animals, Inflatables, Masks, Zebra Print. Retrieved October 16, 2011, from http://www.thejunglestore.com/Jaguars

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Phylum Chordates - Phylum Chordata. (n.d.).

Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1

Food Web, Classification map Jaguar Intro Page. (n.d.). One World

Journeys: Where People and the Planet Connect. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/jaguar

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Food Web What Do Jaguars Eat. (n.d.). Want to

know it | Answers to life's questions | Everything Blog. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://wanttoknowit.com/what-do-jaguars-eat/