Use of mineral licks by mammals and birds in hunted and non‐hunted areas of Yasuní National Park, Ecuador

Abstract

Mineral licks are sites where a diverse array of mammals and birds consume soil or drink water, likely for mineral supplementation. Many of those same animals are targets of hunters. Camera traps triggered by heat and motion were used to document use of mineral licks by birds and mammals over approximately 2 months at two lowland forest sites in eastern Ecuador, one that has experienced considerable hunting by indigenous Waorani (four mineral licks) and one that is largely unaffected by hunting (five licks). We obtained 264 photographs representing nine mammal species and one photograph of a bird at the hunted site; 1123 photographs of 12 mammal species and 73 of three bird species were obtained at the site without hunting. Photographs were counted if at least 30 min elapsed between photographs of the same species at the same camera location. Activity (photographs/100 trap-days) was higher at all licks at the site without hunting (mean = 436; range 276-665/100 trap-days) than at the hunted site (mean = 123; range 89-151/100 trap-days). Diurnal activity was, overall, lower at the hunted site, particularly during the middle of the day. Species not recorded at the hunted site included two primates (white-bellied spider monkey Ateles belzebuth; Venezuelan red howler monkey Alouatta seniculus), white-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari and two large-bodied birds (common piping-guan, Pipile pipile; Salvin's curassow, Mitu salvini); all are common prey of local hunters. Red brocket deer, Mazama americana was the most frequently photographed species at both sites, but was less active during the day at the hunted site.bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print

Yasuní – Un hotspot para jaguares Panthera onca (Carnivora: Felidae)? Cámaras trampa y actividad del jaguar en la Estación de Biodiversidad Tiputini, Ecuador

“…Similarly, the nearest Waorani community is about 30km West of the station and its hunters are occasionally encountered on the Tiputini River near TBS. Yet, an abundance of top predators suggests that prey populations also are abundant, as our previous studies indicated (Blake et al, 2011(Blake et al, , 2012, and would suggest that hunting pressure is relatively slight in the area (Blake et al, 2013). If prey populations were reduced as a consequence of increased hunting activities, however, we could expect to see declines in predator populations as well (Espinosa-Andrade, 2012).…”

“…Rather, we are evaluating the degree to which multiple individuals overlap in their use of a relatively small area of forest. (Blake, Mosquera, & Salvador, 2013). The closest Kichwa community is ~17km north of the station; jaguars moving in that direction might, on occasion, encounter hunters but are much less likely to do so when moving in any other direction.…”

Mammalian Diversity and Matses Ethnomammalogy in Amazonian Peru Part 2: Xenarthra, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla, and Sirenia

“…However, the Matses' failure to distinguish these sympatric cervids in other ecobehavioral respects is hard to reconcile with published evidence that gray brockets are primarily diurnal and do not visit mineral licks, whereas red brockets are often active at night and commonly visit mineral licks (Tobler et al, 2009;Blake et al, 2012Blake et al, , 2013.…”

“…Remarks: Matses interviews about red brockets include most of the well-established natural history facts about this widespread species, including its use of floodplain habitats and secondary vegetation (avoided by gray brockets); solitary habits; feline predators; mixed diet of fruit, seeds, and browse; and propensity for visiting mineral licks (e.g., Bodmer, 1989Bodmer, , 1991Gayot et al, 2004;Tobler et al, 2009;Blake et al, 2013). Many other behavioral details, however, are not reported in the literature we consulted, including information about daily movements, geophagy, reptilian predators, and sexual vocalizations.…”

“…Many other behavioral details, however, are not reported in the literature we consulted, including information about daily movements, geophagy, reptilian predators, and sexual vocalizations. Although the Matses say red brockets are mostly nocturnal, this is perhaps a result of local hunting pressure; at unhunted western Amazonian sites red brockets are often active by day (Gómez et al, 2005;Blake et al, 2013). (Cuvier, 1817) Voucher material (total = 3): Nuevo San Juan (MUSM 11186, 13148), Santa Cecilia (FMNH 86898).…”