Assemblage of medium and large size mammals in an urban Semideciduous Seasonal Forest fragment in Cerrado biome

Abstract

Nowadays, the processes of deforestation and loss of habitats represent a major threat to many species of mammals. These processes cause changes in natural landscapes by decreasing area, connectivity, and fragment size, and increasing edge effects and number of fragments. Understanding which and how many species persist in disturbed fragments may indicate the species' minimum requirements and might contribute to their conservation. Here we show how the mammalian fauna of medium and large size (higher than 1 kg) are structured in a semideciduous seasonal forest fragment of 36.5 ha in the urban area of Jataí, Goiás. We performed the sampling with 30 sand track plots (1 x 1 m). We analyzed the relative record frequency and built a collector's curve to demonstrate the sampling effort. With a total effort of 600 track plots × days, we recorded twelve species of mammals with our tracks sampling method, from which only the wild mammals were included in the analyzes (11 species). The estimated species richness reached 13 species (SD (Standard Deviation) = ±1, CI (Confidence Interval) = ±2 (11 – 15 species). The species with the highest relative record frequency was Didelphis albiventris and the species with the lowest was Tamandua tetradactyla. The fragment size must be a limiting factor to the richness and to the occurrence of species, as it may not be sufficient to allow the persistence of a population or an individual. Disturbances that originated from houses, like domestic animals and movement of people, also contributed to the removal and extinction of species. To conserve the species in the fragment, we suggest the prevention of entrance of people and of domestic animals. We also recommend increased connectivity of the fragment with the landscape external to the urban area in order to allow the movement of the currently present species.

Medium and large-sized mammals in a Cerrado area of the state of Goiás, Brazil

“…This significant number is higher than that in other studies in the state, such as Campos and Lage (2010) with three endangered species and Bernardo and Melo (2013) with one endangered species; these results are similar to other studies such as Ribeiro and Melo (2013) and Silva (2012), both with five endangered species. However, this number may be underestimated, as discussed by Chiarello et al (2008), because of the lack of a state list of endangered species.…”

“…In Goiás, other studies had previously recorded 23 species from the Silvânia National Forest (Campos and Lage 2010) and 28 species in Emas National Park (Silveira et al 2003), both in conservation units. Outside of conservation units, 16 species were recorded in a study by Ribeiro and Melo (2013), 13 species were recorded by Bernardo and Melo (2013), and 19 species were recorded by Araújo et al (2015). Thus, the area inventoried exhibited the highest species richness of medium-and large-sized mammals outside conservation units in the state of Goiás.…”

Medium- and large-sized mammals in forest remnants of the southern Cerrado: diversity and ecology

“…Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Dasypus novemcinctus, Tapirus terrestris, Cerdocyon thous were reported as common or with occurrences in several remnants in their surroundings. Their occurrence was expected since they a have large home range, and therefore, can be recorded more frequently (Reis et al 2011;Bernardo & Melo, 2013;Hannibal et al 2015). Other species classified as rare, such as Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815), Euphractus sexcinctus, Lontra longicaudis (Olfers1818), and Puma concolor, are cited in other studies as difficult to be found (Hannibal et al 2015a, Kasper et al 2007), especially L. longicaudis, which is semi-aquatic.…”

A preliminary survey of medium and large‐sized mammals from Lebu Natural Protected Forest, Southwest Showa, Ethiopia

“…Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation are major factors for species loss (Fischer & Lindenmayer, ; Johnstone, Reina, & Lill, ; Prugha, Hodgesb, Sinclairc, & Brasharesa, ). Expansion in agricultural schemes, deforestation, desertification, and hunting, resulting from economic activities which may cause loss to mammals (Bernardo & Melo, ; Kasso & Bekele, ; Wale, Kassie, Mulualem, Tesfahunegny, & Assefa, ). To overcome such enormous pressure from the mammals, conserving and managing them in and outside protected areas is a must among the nations of the world.…”

“…QUFA And BEKELE loss to mammals (Bernardo & Melo, 2013;Kasso & Bekele, 2014;Wale, Kassie, Mulualem, Tesfahunegny, & Assefa, 2017). To overcome such enormous pressure from the mammals, conserving and managing them in and outside protected areas is a must among the nations of the world.…”