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Occupancy rate and observations of baird’s tapir (Tapirella bairdii) near waterholes in the maya forest corridor, belize | |
Martínez, Wilber Evan (autor) ; Reyna Hurtado, Rafael Ángel (autor) ; Naranjo Piñera, Eduardo Jorge (autor) (1963-) ; Thornton, Daniel (autor) ; Cal, Reynold N. (autor) ; Figueroa, Omar Antonio (autor) ; | |
Disponible en línea | |
Contenido en: Therya Volumen 11, número 3 (July 2020), p. 1-7 ISSN: 2007-3364 | |
Se estima que el 25 % de las especies de mamíferos del planeta se encuentran en riesgo de extinción debido a perdida de hábitat, fragmentación y sobreexplotación. El tapir (Tapirella bairdii), un ungulado con parte de su distribución en la Selva Maya está en peligro de extinción. Cuerpos de aguas, una fuente esencial para la sobrevivencia de los tapires fue el enfoque de este estudio. Usamos cámaras-trampa como unidades de muestreo para determinar índice y modelos de ocupación en siete sitios en Runaway Creek situado en el corredor del Bosque Maya en Belice central. El estudio se llevó a cabo de marzo a septiembre 2015, y de enero 2017 a octubre 2019 con un esfuerzo de muestreo de 8,932 cámaras-trampa/noche. Nuestros resultados indican una estimación acumulativa (naive) de ocupación de 85.7 %, con un índice de probabilidad de ocupación de 0.97 +/- 0.15 (SE), probabilidad de detección de 0.14 +/- 0.01 de todo los sitios y años. Los modelos de ocupación de los variables de infraestructura indica que el modelo de carreteras (β = -0.95 +/- 0.87) tiene la mayor influencia seguido por el modelo de poblados (β = 0.77 +/- 0.99). El modelo de variable de rio (β = 0.47 +/- 0.85) tiene menos apoyo. El estudio resalta la importancia de cuerpos de agua para la sobrevivencia de los tapires y la influencia de las carreteras en la ocurrencia de tapires en la reserva natural Runaway Creek.
It is estimated that 25 % of the mammal species in the world are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, fragmentation, farming, and overexploitation. Baird’s tapir (Tapirella bairdii), an ungulate with part of its distribution within the Maya Forest, is at risk of extinction. Waterholes, a primary source for water and an essential element for the survival of tapirs, were the target of this study design. We used a camera-trap survey to determine tapir occupancy and detection rate probability models at seven survey stations at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve which is located within the Maya Forest Corridor in central Belize. The survey was carried out from March to September 2015 and from January 2017 to October 2019 with a total sampling effort of 8,932 camera-trap nights. Our results indicated a cumulative naïve occupancy estimate of 85.7 %, a rate probability of occupancy of 0.97 +/- 0.15 (SE), and a probability of detection of 0.14 +/- 0.01 for all sites and years. The results of occupancy models with human infrastructure covariate showed that the distance to roads model had the highest influence on tapir occurrence (β = -0.95 +/- 0.87), followed by the village covariate model (β = 0.77 +/- 0.99). The topographic covariate of river model (β = 0.47 +/- 0.85) had minimal support. This study highlights the critical importance of waterholes for survival of tapirs, and the influence of roads on tapir occurrence at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve.
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Large mammalian herbivores are experiencing population reductions and range declines. However, we lack regional knowledge of population status for many herbivores, particularly in developing countries. Addressing this knowledge gap is key to implementing tailored conservation strategies forspecies whose population declines are highly variable across their range. White-lipped peccaries (Tayassupecari) are important ecosystem engineers in Neotropical forests and are highly sensitive to human disturbance. Despite maintaining a wide distributional range, white-lipped peccaries are experiencing substantial population declines in some portions of their range.We examined the regional distribution and population status of the species in Mesoamerica. We used a combination of techniques, including expert-based mapping and assessment of population status, and data-driven distribution modelling techniques to determine the status and range limits of white-lipped peccaries. Our analysis revealed declining and highly isolated populations of peccaries across Mesoamerica, with a range reduction of 87% from historic distribution and 63% from current IUCN range estimates for the region. White-lipped peccary distribution is affected by indices of human influence and forest cover, and more restricted than other sympatric large herbivores, with their largest populations confined to transboundary reserves. To conserve white-lipped peccaries in Mesoamerica, transboundary efforts will be needed that focus on both forest conservation and hunting management, increased cross-border coordination, and reconsideration of country and regional conservation priorities. Our methodology to detail regional white-lipped peccary status could be employed on other poorly-known large mammals.