The Crucial Role of Pumas in Ecosystems

Wild cats play disproportionate roles in shaping healthy ecosystems, often by eating other animals. Subsequently, some people think big cats are scary, and others view them as competition for space and resources we value. Today, many wild cats are threatened or persecuted, making it essential to understand their importance to fuel future conservation efforts.

Some carnivores hunt small prey, and some hunt prey larger than themselves. Some carnivores even work together to tackle shared prey, but most hunt alone. Especially cats, almost all of which rely upon stealth and camouflage to stalk and pounce on their prey.

I’ve long suspected pumas are somewhat unique among carnivores, and not just because they are strong, lithe, and graceful, or because I’ve spent much of my adult life studying them. It’s because they seem to kill a lot of animals, far more than they should based on their energetic requirements. Therefore, I was excited to work with Ph.D. student Luke Emerson to conduct “A global assessment of large terrestrial carnivore kill rates,” recently published in Biological Reviews, to see how pumas compared with other species.

Our study found that pumas, along with cheetahs, Eurasian lynx, and leopards, had the highest kill rates among carnivores. These species are all large solitary cats that hunt prey larger than themselves. They also live alongside other carnivores larger than themselves. We speculated that these high kill rates are evolutionary adaptations that allow large, but subordinate, carnivorous cats to coexist with larger carnivores that frequently steal their food, like bears, wolves, hyenas, and African lions. And because pumas and other similar wild cats are killing twice what they need to sustain themselves, they contribute more than other carnivores to their ecological communities. Pumas, cheetahs, leopards, and Eurasian lynx are feeding the masses, forging new linkages in food webs that facilitate novel energy transfer to bolster ecological resilience.

Pumas provide over 1.5 million kilograms of carrion daily across the Americas, benefiting a wide range of wildlife, from plants to animals.

Prey remains become wildlife hotspots, as well as enrich the soil and nearby plants, making them more nutritious for future grazers. This process underscores the interconnectedness of species within ecosystems, illustrating how the presence of big cats can boost overall biodiversity.

Understanding the complexities of carnivore behavior not only deepens our appreciation for the animals but also emphasizes the urgent need for their conservation. Protecting wild cats and their habitats is crucial for maintaining the healthy ecosystems upon which we depend.

Refer to our paper to learn more of the many insights we gained while comparing the foraging ecology of medium and large carnivores. For now, I’m just content to know I’m lucky enough to work with and for an exceptional animal.

The athleticism of pumas is certainly a marvel, and now we have confirmation that their hunting prowess is as well. Pumas rise right to the top when compared with the world’s diverse medium and large carnivores. They continue to amaze me.

Interested in more insights on carnivores and their ecological impact? Check out our latest research and publications. For more information, read how pumas are ecosystem engineers for diverse beetles and how bears steal a lot of food from pumas.