Medium and large mammal richness from the marine and coastal wildlife refuge of Pacoche, Ecuador

Abstract

Ecuador is a megadiverse country with high endemism rates. However, very few studies describe the diversity and abundance of medium and large mammals in protected areas of the coast. In this work we carried out the first inventory of medium size and large mammals for the marine and coastal wildlife refuge of Pacoche (RVSMCP) in Ecuador. 60 camera traps were located with one kilometer separation, the cameras were active between 30 and 45 days to carry out an inventory of medium and large sized mammals in the RVSMCP. We found 16 wild mammal species and seven domestic animals in the RVSMCP. The most abundant species were Cuniculus paca, Dasypus novemcinctus and Eira barbara. Odocoileus virginianus was the largest mammal. In addition, we report some notable records of Cebus aequatorialis and Alouatta palliata feeding on fruits on the ground. The RVSMCP is a young protected area in the coastal region of Ecuador with a unique mammal diversity, protecting species such as the endangered monkeys Cebus aequatorialis and Alouatta palliata in addition to the Guayaquil's squirrel, Simosciurus stramineus, almost endemic and poorly studied. The RVSMCP represents an opportunity to develop mammal conservation projects in a region poorly studied.Ecuador cuenta con una alta diversidad y endemismo de especies. A pesar de ello, se cuenta con muy pocos estudios que describan la riqueza de mamíferos dentro y fuera de las áreas protegidas. En este trabajo presentamos el primer inventario de mamíferos medianos y grandes del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Marina y Costera Pacoche (RVSMCP) de Ecuador. Se ubicaron 60 trampas cámara en puntos separados por un kilómetro de distancia, que estuvieron activas de 30 a 45 días para hacer un inventario de los mamíferos de la zona. Se encontraron un total de 16 especies de mamíferos silvestres y 7 especies de mamíferos domésticos en el RVSMCP. Las especies más abundantes fueron Cuniculus paca, Dasypus novemcinctus y Eira barbara. Odocoileus virginianus fue la especie de mayor tamaño. Adicionalmente, se encontraron algunos registros notables como Cebus aequatorialis y Alouatta palliata alimentándose en el suelo. El RVSMCP es un área protegida joven con una diversidad de mamíferos única, y que protege a especies amenazadas como los monos Cebus aequatorialis y Alouatta palliata y a la ardilla de Guayaquil, Simosciurus stramineus, una especie casi endémica, de distribución restringida y poco estudiada. El RVSMCP representa una oportunidad para la realización de proyectos de conservación de mamíferos.

Terrestrial mammal assemblages in protected and human impacted areas in Northern Brazilian Amazonia

“…In this study Carnivora was the most speciose order, followed by Artiodactyla, in both PAs and IAs, suggesting that the structure of the mammalian community is preserved, although some of the species are generalist and matrix/fragmented tolerant species, such as Eira barbara. Studies in the Neotropics have shown that Carnivora is the most speciose order of large terrestrial mammals in protected areas, followed by Artiodactyla (Tobler et al 2008, Munari et al 2011, Springer et al 2012, Santos and Oliveira 2012, Ahumada et al 2013, Burton et al 2015, Michalski et al 2015, whereas in protected areas that are surrounded by human disturbances, Carnivora was followed by Rodentia and Xenarthra, which could represent an intermediate conservation status (Pickles et al 2011, Carvalho et al 2014, Lizcano et al 2016, or Rodentia could even be the most speciose order (Michalski et al 2015). In impacted areas, however, the most speciose order seems to be Xenarthra, followed by Rodentia Peres 2007, Botelho et al 2012).…”

“…Different patterns, however, may be found in highly impacted areas, in which most medium-sized and large mammals are extirpated or driven to such low numbers that the most abundant species becomes the smallerbodied rodent, Dasyprocta spp. (Tobler et al 2008, Botelho et al 2012, Michalski et al 2015, Lizcano et al 2016.…”

“…In strictly protected areas that are surrounded by other undisturbed forests, Carnivora and Artiodactyla are among the richest mammalian orders Oliveira 2012, Carvalho et al 2014), whereas in protected areas that are subjected to anthropogenic impacts in its surroundings, although Carnivora may still be the most speciose order, Rodentia and Xenarthra may replace Artiodactyla and become the most species-rich orders (Ahumada et al 2013, Michalski et al 2015, Lizcano et al 2016). This could be the result of a time-lag between deforestation and/or hunting, and species extirpation, or result from location, resources availability, species resilience and proximate benefits of secondary vegetation (Tobler et al 2008, Pickles et al 2011, Botelho et al 2012, Galetti et al 2015, Melo et al 2015, Meyer et al 2015.…”

“…It has been used to determine richness and diversity, abundance, habitat preferences and activity patterns, and has been suggested to be among the best methods for conducting minimally invasive mammal surveys (van Schaik and Griffiths 1996, Maffei et al 2005, Goulart et al 2009, Ahumada et al 2011, Harmsen et al 2011, Munari et al 2011, Gonçalves 2013, Michalski et al 2015, Lizcano et al 2016.…”

“…is normally the most abundant (Tobler et al 2008, Botelho et al 2012, Michalski et al 2015, Lizcano et al 2016). Studies of medium-sized and large mammals in the State of Roraima are relatively recent and the focus has been mainly on the mammals of protected areas, such as Maracá Ecological Station (Mendes Pontes 1997, 1999, Fragoso 1998, Mendes Pontes et al 2007, and the Waimiri-Atroari (Mazurek et al 2000), Yanomami and Macuxi Indian reserves (Fragoso 2004).…”