Non-volant mammalian diversity in fragments in extreme eastern Amazonia

Abstract

Current deforestation practices are likely to result in fragmentation of much of Amazonia. Extreme eastern Amazonia (here referring to the region east of the Tocantins River) is the most populated area of the Brazilian Amazon and, unfortunately, represents the likely future scenario for remaining Amazonia. Although data are available on mammals in central Amazon fragments (the BDFFP project, http://pdbff.inpa.gov.br/), surprisingly little is known about mammalian distribution and responses to fragmentation in eastern Amazonia. As an initial step towards understanding these responses, we compiled available data on mammalian assemblage composition in four fragments east of the Tocantins River, in northeastern Pará, Brazil, between 2002 and 2006. These fragments are privately owned and embedded within a matrix of secondary forest, pasture, slash-and-burn agriculture, and roads. Survey methods included diurnal line transect censusing, nocturnal censusing, live trapping of small mammals, opportunistic observations, and interviews with local informants. Despite environmental stresses, nearly all of the expected large mammalian fauna was recorded at least once, providing reason for optimism. We documented 58 species of mammals in nine orders, and most species we failed to encounter were small nocturnal taxa for which our sampling effort likely was inadequate. Although preliminary in nature, this study highlights the need for comprehensive faunal surveys and complementary ecological research on the fauna of extreme eastern Amazonia. It also indicates that the terrestrial fauna of the region shows indications of resilience in spite of a long history of exploitation.

Ecology and status of the jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi: a synthesis of existing knowledge

“…Stone et al. () also reported on the ability of jaguarundis to use very small Atlantic Forest fragments. Jaguarundi occupancy in Upper Parana Atlantic Forest fragments did not appear to be affected by the level of protection afforded to an area, and increased sampling effort did not result in an increased probability of their detection (Di Bitetti et al.…”

“…In the eastern Amazon, jaguarundis were present in three out of four small clustered tropical forest fragments surveyed, and one was observed in a 2 km 2 tract of primary forest surrounded by 6 km 2 of disturbed forest (Stone et al. ). In Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous and developed region, jaguarundis have been observed crossing roads in secondary Atlantic Forest at 750–900 m elevation, and also moving in restinga vegetation (i.e.…”

Long-term persistence of midsized to large-bodied mammals in Amazonian landscapes under varying contexts of forest cover

“…Estrada et al 1994;Cowlishaw 1999;Chiarello 2000;Michalski and Peres 2007;Laurance et al 2008;Galetti et al 2009;Stone et al 2009). However, many of these species cannot maintain viable populations within single forest fragments, which are usually too small, and the persistence of both resident and transient species is a function of landscape structure (Fahrig 2003;Debinski 2006).…”

Private forest reserves can aid in preserving the community of medium and large-sized vertebrates in the Amazon arc of deforestation

“…The Amazon basin represents one of the most important regions in the world in terms of biodiversity (Costa et al 2005;Stone et al 2009). This, the largest rainforest on the planet, harbours the greatest number of endemic species per unit area and one of the highest diversities of vertebrates (IUCN et al 2008).…”