THE OCELOT EFFECT
Establishing the power force of the dominant mid-sized felid, the ocelot, as the major influence on the smaller tropical species population dynamics in the Neotropics – the ocelot effect!
The ocelot appears to be the species with the biggest influence on the Neotropical felid community dynamics, causing an increase or decrease of the smaller species populations – the “ocelot effect”
This finding matters for conservation efforts, as the smaller species protection will rely mostly outside protected areas.
The ocelot effect on film:
The dominant mesopredator, the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), attempting to kill the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous).
Source: Unknown, from Instagram
How can the dominant predator affect its subordinate competitors:
Interspecific Interactions
The potential of being killed alters the subordinate species' behavior. The ocelot exerts the same effect on the smaller cats.