Densidade populacional de raposa-do-campo Lycalopex vetulus (Carnivora, Canidae) em áreas de pastagem e campo sujo, Campinápolis, Mato Grosso, Brasil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Population density of the hoary fox, Lycalopex vetulus (Carnivora, Canidae), in pasture and campo sujo areas in Campinapolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In face of the growing disturbance of the Cerrado biome, due to the expansion of the agricultural borders of Central Brazil, it becomes important to evaluate the adaptation capacity of animal species to the anthropized environment. Thus, this work was developed aiming to estimate and compare the population density of hoary fox Lycalopex vetulus (Lund, 1842) in two areas of Central Brazil with distinct disturbance degrees, pasture and campo sujo, a vegetation type of Cerrado. For this, during the period of August to November 2005, nocturnal sampling were done along linear transects, totaling 129.8 km in the campo sujo and 62.08 km in the pasture. A total of 23 sightings of hoary fox was obtained in campo sujo and 52 in the pasture. Estimations of population density were made using the Distance 5.0 software, which chose the half normal + hermite adjust as the model with best fit. Population density was higher in the pasture (D=4.28 individuals/km 2 ; IC=2.69 -6.82) than in the campo sujo (D=1.21 individuals/km 2 ; IC=0.73 -2.01), what is likely related, mainly, to higher availability of food and reduction of potential predators. As its diet is composed basically of termites, especially from the genera Syntermes and Cornitermes, the hoary fox find in the pasturage area an alimentary base abundant and stable. Moreover, the environmental simplification, due to the pasture implantation, end up reducing or to local extinction potential predators of the hoary fox, such as Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815), supporting the increase of population density of this specie in this kind of environment. Results indicate that the Cerrado endemic hoary fox is able to survive, and even proliferate, in highly modified areas of the Cerrado. KEYWORDS.Campo sujo, pasture, population density, hoary fox, Lycalopex vetulus. RESUMO.Diante da crescente descaracterização do Bioma Cerrado em função da expansão da fronteira agropecuária na região central do Brasil, torna-se importante avaliar a capacidade de adaptação das espécies ao ambiente antropizado. Neste sentido, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de estimar e comparar a densidade populacional da raposa-do-campo Lycalopex vetulus (Lund, 1842) em duas áreas com diferentes graus de alteração, pastagem e campo sujo, em Campinápolis, Mato Grosso. Para tanto, no período entre agosto a novembro de 2005, foram efetuados censos noturnos ao longo de transectos lineares, totalizando percursos de 129,8 km na área de campo sujo e 62,08 km na área de pastagem. Estimativas de densidade populacional foram geradas utilizando o programa Distance 5.0, sendo que o modelo e ajuste mais adequados aos dados foram half-normal + hermite. Foram obtidas 23 e 52 detecções de raposas-docampo nas áreas de campo sujo e pastagem, respectivamente. A densidade populacional de raposa-do-campo na área de pastagem (D=4,28 indivíduos/km 2 ; IC=2,69 -6,8...

Mammals in atlantic forest remnants of Barbacena, Minas Gerais

“…Another factor that may favor the occurrence of this species in F02, a fragment bordered by the nucleus of agriculture of the campus, is its spatial proximity with pastures and agricultural areas. Due to its mostly termite-based diet, Lycalopex finds high food availability in these open areas (37) . The accumulation of cattle manure also attracts insects that are largely consumed by the meadow fox, such as beetles (38) .…”