Importance of the Ocelot Species in Relation to Their Ecosystem
How the Finished U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Could Push the Ocelot to the Brink of Extinction in the United States
Jenna Hendrickson Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs, CO Sustainability Studies
Methodology
Species of Concern: The Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
Conclusion
Study Objective
Findings
(Rainforest Alliance, 2010)
Appearance:
Habitat:
Diet:
History:
Threats:
The objective of this study was to determine whether or not the finished U.S.-Mexico border wall would affect the Northern Ocelot populations through habitat fragmentation. I performed extensive research on the ocelot’s ability to access resources, their reproduction patterns, and the future inclinations on the species as climate change persists over the next decade. I would like to bring a new perspective to light regarding this controversial border wall and express the importance of this species to its ecosystem.
Figure 1: Sightings of ocelots in Arizona from 2009-2015.
Adapted from “Ocelot Recovery Plan,” by United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2016.
Species Observation between 2009-2015
Skull Fossil
Arizona State Border
For my research, I took the approach of using an evaluation research method, as well as a comparative-historical cultural of inquiry. The evaluation research method allowed me to analyze the cause and effect processes of a finished U.S.-Mexico border wall. I was able to evaluate the behavior and reproduction patterns of the northern ocelot species, and infer the types of effects that could occur from the level of habitat fragmentation created from the construction of this border wall. The comparative-historical research method gave me a chance to explore the history of border fences in parts of Europe and Central Asia. Through my research, I gained an understanding of the intention of border walls to handle illegal immigration but quickly became aware of their consequences in creating fragmented wildlife populations and future genetic inbreeding.
(Forbes, 2017)
Figure 2: Three subspecies of Northern Ocelots and their range. A small population still resides in Arizona, and an even smaller population in Texas. Adapted from “Ocelot Recovery Plan,” by United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2016.
Figure 4: Demonstrates where the finished U.S.-Mexico border wall would lie in relation to the different populations of Northern Ocelots. The finished wall would fragment the American Ocelots from the Mexican Ocelots, and create two separate and smaller populations. It is also important to note that Southern Arizona and Southern Texas have increasing human development, furthering the effects of fragmentation. Roads and vehicles are a major threat to both ocelot populations increasing their chance of mortality.
Adapted from “Ocelot Recovery Plan,” by United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2016.
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (Audubon.org)
Lower Rio Grande Valley Wildlife Refuge (Sierraclub.org)
The Northern Ocelot populations have a strong connection to their ecosystem and aid in maintaining a state of equilibrium. Ocelots keep smaller mammal populations, such as monkeys and rabbits, in balance to prevent starvation and disease. Ocelots also serve as a food source for larger predators such as jaguars, anacondas, and the Harpy Eagle.
The proposed construction of a finished border wall between the United States and Mexico would have significant impacts on the Northern Ocelot subspecies, as well as other endangered species in the region. Northern Ocelots are already suffering from human development including roads, buildings, and previously built segments of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. A border fence stretching a total of 2,000 miles from San Diego, CA to Brownsville, Texas would be catastrophic to the northern ocelots and destroy any little refuge of land they still have left. The Arizona Sonora and Texas-Tamaulipas Ocelot subspecies travel between the United States and Mexico to access resources, reproduce, and escape human development. A border wall constructed without a passage way would fragment the populations and cause a number of issues that could drive this subspecies to extinction. Genetic inbreeding is a serious threat and could be the major factor that could push the populations to a point of no return. If American citizens want to continue providing a refuge for this precious species, an environmental assessment must be performed before any further construction of the border wall.
Federally protected areas along the U.S.-Mexico border and where fencing has already been constructed. (Audubon.org)
A section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall that has already been built. (Audubon.org)
Figure 3: Displays where border fences have been constructed or plan to be constructed along national borders in Europe. The border fence built between Slovenia and Croatia has caused dramatic effects to bear, wolf, and lynx populations. For hundreds of years, these carnivores have traveled between countries to search for mates and access resources. Since the border fence was built in 2015, lynx populations are suffering from severe genetic inbreeding. Unfortunately, bear and wolf populations are starting to follow the same track.
Adapted from “Border Security Fencing and Wildlife: The End of the Transboundary Paradigm in Eurasia,” by J.Linnell, 2016, PLOS Biology.