Habitat occupancy is a good indicator of wildlife behavior and interactions with their environment. We used camera traps to study the use of cavities by lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) in three sites in the Lacandon Rainforest of Chiapas, Mexico. To understand the biotic, environmental, physical, anthropic, and behavioral elements that affect spotted lowland paca, the cameras recorded lowland paca activity in front of 29 cavities. Monitoring occurred continuously in cavities near permanent natural water bodies, underneath roots of trees, or inside hollow logs. These cavities were more frequently found in Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve (MABR), where hunting pressure was low. The daily occupancy and permanence of lowland paca in these cavities were associated with the presence of its offspring. There were no offspring recorded in cavities alongside rivers within grazing areas. This suggests the potential existence of a sink-source type of metapopulation, where community reserves and MABR would serve as source habitat, while riparian corridors would be sink habitat for this species. Lowland pacas used these locations, which were scattered through the study area, so long as hunting was moderate and riparian corridors with safe cavities in large trees were well preserved.

In this study, the effect of relevant variables (availability of food and cavities, competition, predation, and hunting pressure) on the relative abundance and population density of the spotted lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) was assessed. In addition, habitat use of this species at three sites with different land use regime (Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, community reserves, and anthropic sites) in the Lacandon Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico was analysed. From the perspective of the source-sink systems, it was predicted that pacas selectively would use the habitat with higher food and cavity availability (source habitats), where higher densities were expected. Twelve transects were located in three sites with different land use regimes, where food availability and potential cavities used by pacas were assessed. Along these transects, 4 camera-traps were deployed every 200 meters to estimate the relative abundance of pacas and their potential competitors and predators. Photo-captured individuals were identified to estimate population density and seasonal variation in habitat use. Generalized linear models (GLM) were constructed to analyse the effects of several variables on paca abundance and density. A relative abundance of 0.05 and 0.08 paca photographs/100 camera-days were recorded in the dry and the rainy season, respectively. A density of 54 pacas/km 2 was estimated in both seasons. The availability of cavities was the only variable that showed a significant effect on paca density (P = 0.04 for the dry season, and P = 0.006 for the rainy season). Community reserves were used in the dry season more than expected from their availability in the study area (x 2 = 28.8; P = 0.0001). In the rainy season, all three sites were used by paca in proportion to their availability. Our results suggest that the cavities used as refuges by pacas drive their population dynamics, and constitute a key habitat resource for them in the study area. We propose that the Ejidal Reserve and Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve may be source habitats supporting higher paca densities and greater availability of adequate cavities to protect adults and their offspring. On the other hand, areas transformed into croplands and grasslands for livestock production would represent sink habitats with lower paca densities, less availability of adequate cavities, and absence of offspring. The long-term conservation and habitat management of pacas in transformed landscapes will probably rely on the distribution and connectivity between and within the different habitat types available in the study area.En este estudio, se evaluó el efecto de variables (disponibilidad de alimento y cavidades, competencia, depredación y presión de cacería) sobre la abundancia y densidad poblacional de Cuniculus paca. Se determinó el uso de hábitat de esta especie en tres sitios con distinto uso de suelo (Reserva de la Biosfera Montes Azules, reservas ejidales y sitios antrópicos) en la Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, México. Desde la perspectiva de los sistemas fuente-sumidero, s...

Resumen Se reporta la presencia del armadillo de cola desnuda (Cabassous centralis) en distintos tipos de madrigueras, así como sus horarios de actividad, en la Reserva de la Biósfera Montes Azules y sitios aledaños, Chiapas, México. Los individuos se observaron en la entrada de madrigueras subterráneas y cuevas formadas por la escorrentía del agua, dentro de troncos caídos y tocones, donde además se registraron otros mamíferos en diferentes días. La especie mantuvo sus hábitos crepusculares-nocturnos durante todo el año. Estos registros complementan reportes previos sobre la presencia de este armadillo en Chiapas.Palabras clave: armadillo de cola desnuda, madrigueras, fototrampeo, Xenarthra Records of Cabassous centralis (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve and in adjacent sites, Chiapas, MéxicoAbstract The presence of the Northern naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis) in different types of burrows as well as its activity period are reported in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve and adjacent sites in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Animals were recorded at the entrance of underground burrows and caves formed by flowing water, in fallen logs, and stumps where other mammals were also observed on different days. The species maintained its crepuscular-nocturnal habits throughout the year. These records complement previous reports about the presence of the Northern naked-tailed armadillo in Chiapas.