bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigaciones sobre ecología, conservación y manejo de ungulados silvestres en México
Authors: Gallina Sonia , Mandujano Salvador
Published: October 2016

En este número especial de TSC se presenta una sinopsis de nueve de los 11 trabajos con ungulados presentados en el Simposio Ecología y Conservación de Ungulados en México durante el Congreso Mexicano de Ecología celebrado en noviembre del 2008 en la ciudad de Mérida, Yucatán. De las 11 especies de ungulados silvestres presentes en México (tapir Tapirus bairdii, berrendo Antilocapra americana, bisonte Bison bison, borrego cimarrón Ovis canadensis, wapiti Cervus canadensis, venado temazate rojo Mazama temama, venado temazate café Mazama pandora, venado bura Odocoileus hemionus, venado cola blanca Odocoileus virginianus, pecarí de labios blancos Tayassu pecari y pecarí de collar Pecari tajacu), se presentan trabajos donde se consideran cuatro de estas especies: el tapir y el pecarí de labios blancos especies en peligro de extinción distribuidas en la región tropical, el borrego cimarrón una de las especies de mayor valor cinegético en el noroeste del país y el venado cola blanca la especie de ungulado más estudiada dada su amplia distribución en el país y valor cinegético y cultural que tiene. Además, se presentan dos trabajos con especies exóticas: cerdo asilvestrado (Sus scrofa) y ciervo rojo ( Cervus elaphus). Los temas que se abordan en los trabajos son: estimaciones poblacionales, uso de hábitat, evaluación de UMA y ANP para sostener poblaciones mínimas viables, efecto de especies exóticas en áreas protegidas y en UMA, lo cual nos permite tener un panorama en cuanto a la conservación y manejo de ungulados en el país.
Ecology and Conservation of Baird's Tapir in Mexico
Authors: Naranjo Eduardo J.
Published: October 2016

Baird's tapir ( Tapirus bairdii) is endangered primarily because of habitat loss and fragmentation, and overhunting throughout its distribution range (ca. 21,000 km2) in the Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and possibly Yucatan and Tabasco. The number of tapirs occurring in Mexico is estimated around 2,600 individuals, which are also threatened by factors such as forest fires, large-scale infrastructure projects (building of dams and highways), disease transmission from domestic animals, pollution of water bodies, and global climatic change effects. A strategy for tapir conservation in Mexico should include: 1) protection and management of extant habitat; 2) creation and maintaining of corridors among isolated forest fragments containing tapirs; 3) community-based control of poaching; 4) development of economic alternatives for people living near tapir habitat; 5) captive breeding programs with educational, scientific, and conservationist purposes; 6) environmental education and communication programs in rural and urban areas near tapir habitat; and 7) research on distribution, abundance, habitat use and availability, population status, movement patterns, feeding habits, genetic variability, interactions with domestic species, diseases, and responses to habitat fragmentation, hunting, and global climatic change.
Influence de la densitÉ de la population sur la structure spatiale d'un paysage forestier dans le bassin du Congo en R. D. Congo
Authors: Bamba Issouf , Barima Yao Sadaiou Sabas , Bogaert Jan
Published: October 2016

La fragmentation des habitats forestiers, induisant une réduction de I'aire totale et une augmentation du nombre de taches forestières constitue I'une des menaces majeures pour le maintien de la biodiversité. La présente étude menée dans la province orientale de la République Démocratique du Congo s'articule autours de I'hypothèse selon laquelle, dans les zones forestières, la variation de la densité de la population entraîne un changement de la structure du paysage. Nous avons déterminé la classe forestière à partir de la classification d'une image de type Landsat ETM+ datant de 2001. Après avoir subdivisé la zone en 266 cellules de 10 km × 10 km, quatre indices de structures spatiales quantifiant la fragmentation de la forět (classe forět) ont été calculés : le nombre d'îlots de forět (taches de forět), la proportion de couverture forestière, la dominance de la plus grande tache et la dimension fractale. La densité de la population dans chaque cellule a été obtenue à partir des données de I'UNEP de I'année 2000. Les résultats ont montré I'existence de corrélations hautement significatives entre la densité de la population et les indices de fragmentation confirmant ainsi I'influence de la densité de la population sur la dégradation de I'écosystème naturel matérialisée par la fragmentation forestière.
Measuring Population Growth around Tropical Protected Areas: Current Issues and Solutions
Authors: Joppa Lucas N. , Loarie Scott. R. , Nelson Andrew
Published: October 2016

Do people migrate toward parks, and if so, why? These long-standing questions in conservation are especially important in tropical regions. It is there that rural human populations intersect with some of the world's greatest biodiversity, and protected areas are often the last line of defense in the fight to slow species extinctions. Detailed case studies have been the predominant source of insight into these issues, yet there has been a recent push for larger-scale analyses. Here we address the insufficiency of global datasets for answering global people-park questions. More than ever, it is of utmost importance that scientists get the correct answers when working at the intersection of human welfare and biodiversity conservation. Successful conservation of tropical biodiversity depends upon it.
Asian Elephant Elephas Maximus Habitat Use and Ranging in Fragmented Rainforest and Plantations in the Anamalai Hills, India
Authors: Kumar M. Ananda , Mudappa Divya , Raman T. R. Shankar
Published: October 2016

The persistence of wide-ranging mammals such as Asian elephants in fragmented landscapes requires extending conservation efforts into human-dominated landscapes around protected areas. Understanding how elephants use such landscapes may help facilitate their movements and reduce conflict incidence. We studied elephants' use of fragmented habitats and ranging patterns of focal herds in a landscape of rainforest fragments embedded in tea, coffee, and Eucalyptus plantations in the Anamalai Hills. Elephant herds entering this landscape were tracked daily between April 2002 and March 2006, resulting in 985 GPS locations of herds obtained across six major habitats. Natural vegetation in rainforest fragments and riparian habitats, despite low coverage in the landscape, was preferred by elephants during the day. At night, elephants preferred riparian vegetation, avoided other habitats such as swamps and settlements, while the remaining habitats were used proportional to availability. Use of rainforest fragments and riparian vegetation increased over three years of study with a corresponding decline in the use of tea monoculture. Among plantation habitats, coffee, and Eucalyptus were used significantly more during wet and dry seasons, respectively. The concentration of elephants along a major riparian system in the center of the landscape emphasized the role of water and food availability in habitat use during the dry season. Protection of rainforest fragments, secondary vegetation along rivers, and regulated and sequential felling (instead of clear-felling) of Eucalyptus along elephant movement routes will help retain forage, cover, and passage routes of elephant herds and may reduce direct human-elephant encounters in such fragmented landscapes.
An Evaluation of Bess Beetles (Passalidae) and Their Resource Base in a Restored Andean Forest
Authors: Kattan Gustavo H. , Murcia Carolina , Galindo-Cardona Alberto
Published: October 2016

Degraded lands in the Colombian Andes have been restored by means of monospecific tree plantations of native and exotic species, and by abandoning lands to natural regeneration. Both methods rapidly produce a vegetation cover that helps to stabilize soils, but the value of resulting ecosystems for wildlife needs to be evaluated. We assessed the effects of these two restoration methods on the diversity and abundance of bess beetles (Passalidae), which are important deadwood recyclers. We quantified coarse woody debris (logs and branches >10 cm diameter) and associated passalid beetle fauna in 40-year-old Andean alder ( Alnus acuminata) plantations, adjacent natural regeneration and old-forest remnants, at 2430 m of elevation in the Central Andes. The three forest types contained the same number of logs per unit area, but wood volume was lower in alder stands than in natural forest types. Old-forest remnants contained a higher number of occupied logs and individual beetles per transect and per unit wood volume than the two other habitats. We found six species of beetle, three of which were found in the three habitats and the other three in one habitat each. Forest remnants and natural regeneration had four species each, whereas alder plantations had three species. Although beetle abundance was lower in alder stands, in the small-scale mosaic found at this site alder plantations behaved similarly to secondary forest and merged as part of the local habitat heterogeneity. Whether these results apply to larger and more isolated plantations remains to be established.
Are Protected Areas Really Protecting Populations? A Test with an Atlantic Rain Forest Palm
Authors: de Cássia Quitete Portela Rita , Bruna Emilio M. , dos Santos Flavio Antonio Maës
Published: October 2016

We compared the demography of the palm Euterpe edulis in a large forest fragment that is protected from palm harvesting with that in three smaller fragments where harvesting has occurred. Palms were censused from 2005 to 2007 in nine 30 m × 30 m plots in each forest fragment. Each individual was assigned to one of five stage classes: seedling, infant, juvenile, immature, and reproductive. Using summary matrices constructed for the fragments and a matrix for the population in the protected area, we compared the asymptotic growth rate (λ) in the protected and non-protected areas. We then quantified the contribution of each lower-level vital rate to the observed differences in λ using a fixed-design LTRE. Euterpe edulis populations in the protected area are projected to shrink at rates of 4.54 to 12.6% per year, and the populations of the fragments are projected to grow at rates of 3.44 to 9.43% per year. Our LTRE analysis revealed that the generally higher λ for the summary matrix based on the populations in fragments was due primarily to greater survival of immatures and reproductives. However, seedling growth contributed negatively to λ in the fragments. We also found that great numbers of immatures and reproductives were killed by the capuchin monkey ( Cebus nigritus), which apparently also contributes to the differences between the protected area and the fragments. This study lends support to the idea that small fragments in a landscape actively managed and modified by humans can be very important in maintaining viable plant populations.
Water-Body Use by Asian elephants in Southern Sri Lanka
Authors: Pastorini Jennifer , Nishantha H. G. , Janaka H. K. , Isler Karin , Fernando Prithiviraj
Published: October 2016

We assessed water-body use by elephants through monitoring elephant signs around them. Elephant footprints and dung piles were recorded at 25 water bodies fortnightly for one year. Elephants preferred perennial water bodies and avoided those with temporary human dwellings. Human activities did not significantly affect elephant use of water bodies, suggesting low incidence of activities and behavioral adaptation to them by elephants. Elephant signs at perennial water bodies increased in the dry season. The monitoring technique was able to detect differences in elephant densities in two areas and establish the presence of herds even at low densities. We conclude that outside protected areas, large perennial water bodies represent a preferred resource for elephants, and that assessing elephant signs around water bodies is a useful technique for monitoring elephant presence for management and research purposes.
Volume and Geographical Distribution of Ecological Research in the Andes and the Amazon, 1995–2008
Authors: Pitman Nigel C. A. , Widmer Jocelyn , Jenkins Clinton N. , Stocks Gabriela , Seales Lisa , Paniagua Franklin , Bruna Emilio M.
Published: October 2016

The Andes range and the Amazon basin represent the most diverse biological community on earth and the largest tropical forest on earth, respectively, but they are historically understudied by biologists. In this paper we provide the first quantitative description of the volume and geographical distribution of ecological research in these regions. We compiled a dataset of all articles based on the Andes and Amazon regions published in two prominent international tropical ecology journals between 1995 and 2008. During this period, the number of scientific articles based on research in the Amazon was half that based on research in Central America, while the Andes scored among the least-studied of all tropical regions. Brazil was the leading base for Amazonian studies and Ecuador the primary location for Andean studies, but Ecuador led both categories and Brazil came last when research effort was standardized by area. Most Amazonian research took place in three regions—Manaus, southeastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador—with ∼31 percent of all papers coming from four field stations in those regions. Andean research focused overwhelmingly on the northern Andes. Research in the Andes range and the Amazon basin remains scattered, patchy, and far below its potential. We propose steps that funding agencies can take to increase research output and reduce geographical bias in the study of South America's richest ecosystems.
Introduced Primate Species of an Atlantic Forest Region in Brazil: Present and Future Implications for the Native Fauna
Authors: Oliveira Leonardo C , Grelle Carlos Eduardo Viveiros
Published: October 2016

The Atlantic Forest of the state of Rio de Janeiro was the habitat of six native primate species: Callithrix aurita, Leontopithecus rosalia, Alouatta guariba clamitans, Brachyteles arachnoides, Callicebus nigrifrons and Cebus nigritus; a seventh species, Brachteles hypoxanthus, possibly occurs in the state. In the literature, the number of non-native primate species for the state was less (three) than the native species (six or seven). Our study reviews the list of primate species, both native and non-native, within the state of Rio de Janeiro and discusses the possible impacts of the introduced primates on the native fauna. Using data from the literature, personal communication with experts, data from Brazilian Federal datasets (Linha Verde and CETAS), and specimens deposited in scientific collections of museums, we recorded 17 primate species with at least one record within the state of Rio de Janeiro. At least eight taxa can be considered non-native to the state. Conservation implications for native fauna may include food resource depletion and competition, hybridization, and disease transmission. Some of these effects were already recorded on the native fauna. We believe the removal of non-native primate species from the state is necessary in order to preserve native fauna regardless of political and ethical issues.
Movement and Occurrence of Two Elephant Herds in a Human-Dominated Landscape, the Bénoué Wildlife Conservation Area, Cameroon
Authors: Granados Alys , Weladji Robert B. , Loomis Michael R.
Published: October 2016

Increasing human settlement and disturbance adjacent to protected areas have intensified competition between people and wildlife for resources and living space. In northern Cameroon, over 60,000 people live in villages surrounding Bénoué National Park. In that same area, as in other parts of Africa, savanna elephants damage crops, homes, water provision infrastructures, and grain stores. Using almost 1000 satellite-derived positions for two matriarch female elephants from 2007 to 2009, movement patterns were analyzed with respect to a highway, secondary roads, unpaved park roads, rivers, and villages through the use of log linear modeling. More than half of all locations and core areas occurred outside the park, while seasonal and individual differences in home range size and distribution were found within the protected area. Elephant occurrence within approximately 7 to 9 km of villages showed a decreasing trend with proximity. The highway appeared to act as a barrier to movement for one elephant herd, while the other did not come within 11 km of it. On the other hand, elephants remained close to the Bénoué River and secondary roads. Our findings show that in the Bénoué Wildlife Conservation Area, perennial water availability and human disturbance from the presence of villages can influence elephant spatial distribution in the protected area, and overlap of villages with elephant home range indicates a high potential for human-elephant conflict. This highlights the need for more effective land use planning to reduce such conflict and for additional research into movement patterns of the Bénoué National Park elephant population.
Birds of Conservation Concern in Eastern Acre, Brazil: Distributional Records, Occupancy Estimates, Human-Caused Mortality, and Opportunities for Ecotourism
Authors: DeLuca John J.
Published: October 2016

Few ornithologists have conducted research in the southwestern Amazonian state of Acre, Brazil. Threats and opportunities associated with completion of the Brazil-Peru Interoceanic Highway provide impetus to increase understanding of 1) the distribution, status, and natural history of rare and restricted-range birds, 2) human-wildlife conflicts, and 3) interest in ecotourism within Acre. I conducted point-count surveys, recorded opportunistic encounters, and estimated occupancy for the globally threatened, near-threatened, and restricted-range birds of eastern Acre. I also interviewed hunters that inhabit Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve (CMER) about their perception of the relative abundance of the near-threatened Harpy Eagle ( Harpia harpyja) and Crested Eagle ( Morphnus guianensis), about conflicts with these species, how conflicts were resolved, and their interest in community-run ecotourism. Results suggest that the vulnerable Blue-headed Macaw ( Primolius couloni) is uncommon but widely distributed throughout eastern Acre. The vulnerable Rufous Twistwing ( Cnipodectes superrufus) appears rare; it was detected at only four locations but appears to occur throughout CMER. I present information on the diet of both species. I expand upon and confirm recent findings that extend the distribution of several near-threatened and restricted-range species. Interviews with local hunters suggest that H. harpyja and M. guianensis are rare to uncommon and widely persecuted throughout CMER, although interest in community-run ecotourism presents opportunities to increase conservation of these and other rare species. Land managers, biologists, and conservation organizations may use these results and recommendations to inform wildlife management decisions, estimates of population trends, and ecotourism ventures.
Effect of Leaf Harvest on Wax Palm (Ceroxylon Echinulatum Galeano) Growth, and Implications for Sustainable Management in Ecuador
Authors: Duarte Nina , Montúfar Rommel
Published: October 2016

The wax palm ( Ceroxylon echinulatum) is an arborescent, dioecious and slow-growing palm distributed on Andean slopes at 1000–2000 m elevation in Ecuador and northern Peru. The leaves of wax palm have been traditionally harvested and used for the making of handicrafts during Easter celebrations. It has been suggested that removal of unexpanded leaves may be the main source of threat to the survival of the species. The goal of this work was to evaluate the impact of leaf removal on growth and development of C. echinulatum. Leaf production and growth were monitored in 60 young individuals divided into three treatments: T0 - control, T1- without damage to adjacent leaves; T2- with damage to adjacent leaves. Results from two years of observation reveal that leaf growth rate and the number of new leaves produced per individual are not adversely affected by this practice. Harvest treatments were equal or even higher than the control for both variables. Balance of leaf number in the crown (before and after the extraction) was negative in the harvest treatments, indicating a factor of unsustainability in the annual harvest management of the species. The results suggest that biennial harvesting of one young leaf per individual could be sustainable. An appropriate management strategy could be to distinguish young individual populations by marking palms with nine or more leaves in the crown in different quadrants of extraction, in order to perform rotational, biennial and monitored cropping.
Why Poaching Pays: A Summary of Risks and Benefits Illegal Hunters Face in Western Serengeti, Tanzania
Authors: Knapp Eli J.
Published: October 2016

Illegal hunting poses a considerable threat to the wildlife of Serengeti National Park and its affiliated protected areas. Techniques for successful mitigation of this threat are heavily debated. Bottom-up community-based initiatives aim to curb poaching by linking local communities with wildlife conservation. Top-down anti-poaching enforcement of protected areas seeks to maintain wildlife populations through fines and prison sentences given to arrested poachers. Poverty stands as the major driver of illegal hunting as households vie for income and sustenance. Livelihoods of illegal hunters have been augmented considerably through revenue generated from bushmeat sales. Illegal hunters use bushmeat both for supplementing household protein and for economic gain. Obtaining bushmeat carries risks in the form of personal injury, fines, and/or prison sentences, if arrested. This paper compares these costs and benefits through a summary of the monetary benefits, bodily injuries, fines, and prison sentences that individuals endured over their poaching careers. Data were collected from 104 individuals, all of whom voluntarily admitted active or recent involvement in illegal hunting activities.
Using Natural Marks to Estimate Free-Ranging Dog Canis Familiaris Abundance in a Mark-Resight Framework in Suburban Mumbai, India
Authors: Punjabi Girish Arjun , Athreya Vidya , Linnell John D. C.
Published: October 2016

Free-ranging dogs ( Canis familiaris) are a major conservation issue in the tropics and adopt many ecological roles, alternatively functioning as predators, prey, or competitors of wildlife in diverse environments. Dogs are also potential reservoirs of disease that can be transmitted to both wildlife and people. Therefore a range of management interventions have been suggested to control dog populations. In order to monitor interventions to decrease dog populations, estimates of their population size are important and such methods need to be time- and cost-effective. We describe here a potential method that uses natural marks on dogs along with counts of non-marked individuals in a mark-resight framework to estimate the abundance of free-ranging dogs in a suburban area in India. Using the logit-normal mixed effects estimator to incorporate the effects of individual resighting heterogeneity, we found a total ( Nj) of 680.64 ± 34.06 (95% CI = 617.22 – 751.35) dogs in the study area, with an overall mean resighting probability of 0.53 ± 0.03 (95% CI = 0.47 – 0.58). This corresponds to a density estimate of 57 dogs km−2 (CI = 51 – 63). Given that certain assumptions are met, this method may be useful to estimate abundance of dogs where other kinds of marks may be unavailable or impractical. This method may be applied to other species of feral animals as well, where some proportion of a population has distinct natural marks.
Local Knowledge Suggests Significant Wildlife Decline and Forest Loss in Insurgent Affected Similipal Tiger Reserve, India
Authors: Sahoo Sasmita , Puyravaud Jean-Philippe , Davidar Priya
Published: October 2016

Similipal Tiger Reserve is a large insurgent-affected protected area (PA) located in the northern Eastern Ghats, India, with a resident tribal population of about 12,500. In 2007-08, we carried out a survey of conservation attitudes among 217 men and women (<20 years old) and documented their perceptions of wildlife and forest decline over a 20-year period from 1997-2007. Using data from the Forest Survey of India, we ascertained the decrease in forest cover (<40%), and using available census information we assessed tiger status over this period. Most of the respondents were primarily agriculturists (79%), and all households collected fuel-wood from the forest; 13% hunted and 49% fished. The majority of the respondents (80%) agreed that trees had disappeared, and 90% agreed that the tiger and elephant had disappeared. Respondents' recollections of Bengal tiger and Asian elephant sightings over a 20-year period indicated a drastic decline in their numbers, and perceptions of forest loss were supported by assessments of changes in dense forest cover indicating an annual deforestation rate of 1.577% yr−1 over a 20-year period, or loss of 274 km2 of dense forest. This suggests that forest dwelling communities have an acute awareness of disappearing forests and wildlife, and informant-based surveys can be indicative of the status of wildlife and forests in situations such as Similipal, where ecological studies are problematic due to civil conflict.
Wildlife Exploitation: A Market Survey in Nagaland, North-Eastern India
Authors: Bhupathy Subramanian , Kumar Selvaraj Ramesh , Thirumalainathan Palanisamy , Paramanandham Joothi , Lemba Chang
Published: October 2016

With growing human population, increased accessibility to remote forests and adoption of modern tools, hunting has become a severe global problem, particularly in Nagaland, a Northeast Indian state. While Indian wildlife laws prohibit hunting of virtually all large wild animals, in several parts of North-eastern parts of India that are dominated by indigenous tribal communities, these laws have largely been ineffective due to cultural traditions of hunting for meat, perceived medicinal and ritual value, and the community ownership of the forests. We report the quantity of wild animals sold at Tuensang town of Nagaland, based on weekly samples drawn from May 2009 to April 2010. Interviews were held with vendors on the availability of wild animals in forests belonging to them and methods used for hunting. The tribes of Chang, Yimchunger, Khiemungan, and Sangtam are involved in collection/ hunting and selling of animals in Tuensang. In addition to molluscs and amphibians, 1,870 birds (35 species) and 512 mammals (8 species) were found in the samples. We estimated that annually 13,067 birds and 3,567 mammals were sold in Tuensang market alone, which fetched about Indian Rupees ([Formula: see text]) 18.5 lakhs/ year. Temporal variation was observed with respect to various taxa sold; molluscs: almost all through the year; amphibians: June-August; and birds and mammals restricted to October-February. We suggest monitoring of all major markets of Nagaland to examine trends in exploitation of wild animals. However, considering the traditional dependency of people on wild resources, as well as their cultural sentiments and livelihoods, any interventions for wildlife conservation should have the involvement and support of local inhabitants.
REDD+, Adaptation, and Sustainable Forest Management: Toward Effective Polycentric Global Forest Governance
Authors: Long Andrew
Published: October 2016

The Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) program emerging as a part of the international climate change regime holds the potential to dramatically affect forestry in the tropics. REDD+ has demonstrated an ability to overcome the major political obstacles to earlier efforts to promote sustainable forest management (SFM) in the tropics, but key questions regarding its on-the-ground impact remain. This article suggests that REDD+ can become a successful vehicle for advancing SFM if it is re-conceived to include support for adaptation as one of its primary goals. Some degree of adaptation is necessary to effectively implement any form of REDD+, and SFM practices offer the core toolkit for securing forest adaptation in the context of REDD+. Re-envisioning REDD+ as a dual-focus program aimed at mitigation and adaptation builds upon the potential synergies between these two climate regime goals and calls upon experiences with SFM to provide the means of achieving them. Operationalizing this vision will require development of novel arrangements of authority and incentives across scales of governance that can provide opportunities for learning in support of a larger need for new approaches to governance of global environmental issues. Thus, integrating adaptation into REDD+ can advance not only climate change regime goals, but also long-standing SFM goals and the increasingly apparent demand for more effective international environmental governance generally.
Local Community Involvement as a Basis for Sustainable Crocodilian Management in Protected Areas of Central Amazonia: Problem or Solution?
Authors: Marioni Boris , Botero-Arias Robinson , Fonseca-Junior Sinomar F.
Published: October 2016

Amazon floodplains have a long history of exploitation of crocodilians, particularly of large species such as the black caiman ( Melanosuchus niger) and spectacled caiman ( Caiman crocodilus). Historically, legal but uncontrolled trade resulted in a drastic reduction of wild populations of both species, which eventually led to the collapse of the commercial trade. In 1967, prohibition of commercial use of wild fauna through changes in Brazilian and international laws allowed caiman populations to slowly recover across much of their original range. Several studies on caiman populations greatly improved knowledge about the species, offering scientific bases for crocodilian management in the wild. Although protective legislation should only be altered using extreme caution, the creation of Sustainable Development Reserves (SDR) at the end of last century made it possible to manage wildlife for commercial purposes, albeit under strict population monitoring regimes. This category of protected area was established to improve welfare of local communities and strengthen their participation in conservation. Along with involvement in caiman monitoring programs, the engagement of local hunters and buyers is essential for participatory management plans. Even with development of SDRs, monitoring of crocodilian populations is still restricted to a few State Reserves, and traditional knowledge of stakeholders has been insufficiently incorporated into management and monitoring activities. We believe that stronger participation of local actors can help to improve the experimental harvesting initiatives that have been carried out thus far by local authorities. Community-based monitoring programs, which reflect local reality, are being developed in a simple and cost-effective way.
Small Changes in Vegetation Structure Create Great Changes in Amphibian Ensembles in the Colombian Pacific Rainforest
Authors: Cortés-Gómez Angela M. , Castro-Herrera Fernando , Urbina-Cardona J. Nicolás
Published: October 2016

This study determines the composition of amphibian ensembles along a vegetation gradient in the coastal Pacific rainforests in Colombia. Eight environmental and structural variables were measured to characterize the species' habitats and to determine which was most important in structuring amphibian patterns. After a total of 432 man-hours sampling effort, 513 individuals from 32 amphibian species were found. Although the species richness was similar among the vegetation cover types, the composition of the ensembles and total amphibian abundance were different in each case. In addition, a strong relationship was found between changes in the vegetation structure and the amphibian pattern, with the canopy cover being the key variable in the composition of the ensembles for each cover type. Habitats with over 76% canopy cover, combined with a high density of individual woody plants (> 176 individuals per 500 m2) and a high depth of leaf litter (> 16 cm), provide the necessary habitat conditions for typical rainforest composition of amphibian species. However, for amphibian ensembles to have a mature forest composition, the habitat must have a canopy cover over 89%, a density of woody plants exceeding 231 individuals per 500 m2, and a leaf litter depth above 23 cm. Therefore, future studies of amphibian succession and restoration in tropical forests must determine the changes in vegetation structure, rather than the possible direct effect of microclimatic variables.
Distribution and Conservation Status of Amphibian and Reptile Species in the Lacandona Rainforest, Mexico: an Update after 20 Years of Research
Authors: Hernández-Ordóñez Omar , Martínez-Ramos Miguel , Arroyo-Rodríguez Víctor , González-Hernández Adriana , González-Zamora Arturo , Zárate Diego A. , Reynoso Víctor Hugo
Published: October 2016

Mexico has one of the richest tropical forests, but is also one of the most deforested in Mesoamerica. Species lists updates and accurate information on the geographic distribution of species are necessary for baseline studies in ecology and conservation of these sites. Here, we present an updated list of the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the Lacandona region, and actualized information on their distribution and conservation status. Although some studies have discussed the amphibians and reptiles of the Lacandona, most herpetological lists came from the northern part of the region, and there are no confirmed records for many of the species assumed to live in the region. After reviewing databases of scientific collections and published herpetological lists, and adding new information from our 2007 to 2013 inventories of the southeastern Lacandona rainforest, we recorded 124 species (89 reptiles and 35 amphibians) for the region. Nine amphibians (25.7%) and 2 (2.2%) reptiles are endemic to the Mayan forest (from the Lacandona, in Mexico, to the Mayan Mountains in Belize). Four amphibians and three reptiles appeared to be restricted to the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, suggesting that they are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation. On average, the region shares less than 60% of the species with neighboring Mexican tropical forests (e.g., Las Choapas region and Los Tuxtlas, Calakmul, and Sian-Ka'an Biosphere Reserves). Of the herpetofauna evaluated, the Mexican government threatened species list (NOM 059) indicates that seven species (20%) are under a risk category, while the IUCN indicates that only seven species (10.1%) are at risk. Our findings indicate that Lacandona is of great importance for the conservation of the Mesoamerican herpetofauna. Nevertheless, increasing deforestation levels add further uncertainties to the maintenance of amphibians and reptiles among other vertebrates in the region.
Density, Abundance and Activity Patterns of the Endangered Tapirus Bairdii in One of its Last Strongholds in Southern Mexico
Authors: Carbajal-Borges Juan Paulo , Godínez-Gómez Oscar , Mendoza Eduardo
Published: October 2016

Baird's tapir ( Tapirus bairdii) is one of the most emblematic mammalian species from Mesoamerica. Due to its level of evolutionary distinctiveness and anthropogenic threat this species was recently ranked in 34th position, in terms of its urgency for conservation, among more than 4,000 species of mammals assessed by experts from the Zoological Society of London. Despite its evolutionary and conservation relevance there remain important gaps in knowledge of the basic ecology of this species. Based on camera-trapping data, we estimated Baird's tapir abundance and analyzed its patterns of daily activity and preference for different altitude intervals in El Triunfo Biosphere reserve, one of the last strongholds for this species in southern Mexico. We also applied a recently developed method (Random encounter model) to estimate tapir density without the need of individual identification. Tapir relative abundance was: 1.3 events/100 camera-trap days and density: 0.12 ind./km2. Tapir activity concentrated around dusk (χ2= 21.18, P<0.01) and use of mid-altitude areas was preferred (χ2 = 49, P < 0.001). This study provides data on the ecology of the species and insights on study methods that can have a direct positive impact on its management and conservation.
Monkeys in a West African Bushmeat Market: Implications for Cercopithecid Conservation in Eastern Liberia
Authors: Covey Ryan , McGraw W. Scott
Published: October 2016

According to the IUCN [ 1 ], four of the nine anthropoid species found in Liberia are classified as either Vulnerable or Endangered and this number is likely to rise in coming years due to an increase in bushmeat hunting and a growing human population. Bushmeat hunting is the primary cause of primate loss in West Africa and current estimated offtake rates combined with habitat loss have placed four taxa endemic to Upper Guinea forests in danger of extirpation. We surveyed one bushmeat market located on the Liberia – Ivory Coast border to assess the general impact of hunting in one area of Liberia. This market, located near the Ivorian town of Taï, receives meat daily from the Konobo District of eastern Liberia. We visited the market eight times over a four month period in 2009/2010, during which we counted 723 animals including 264 primates. According to our surveys of the market, Cercopithecus petaurista (Lesser spot-nosed monkey) [25% of all primates] was the most abundant primate, followed by Cercopithecus diana (Diana monkey) [19.3%], Cercocebus atys (Sooty mangabey) [12.1%], Colobus polykomos (King colobus) [11.4%], Procolobus verus (Olive colobus) [10.6%], Cercopithecus campbelli (Campbelli monkey) [10.2%], and Procolobus badius (Western red colobus) [9.5%]. We estimate an average of thirty-three primates were exchanged each day we visited and that a minimum of 9,500 primates are traded annually at this locale (6,900 during formal market days and 2,600 on non-market days). Based on an estimated offtake rate of 2.76%, our preliminary analysis suggests that primates in Liberia's Konobo District are likely being hunted at rates approaching unsustainable levels and are in danger of extirpation.
Incorporating Molecular Genetics into Remote Expedition Fieldwork
Authors: Bunting Shelby , Burnett Emily , Hunter Richard B. , Field Richard , Hunter Kimberly L.
Published: October 2016

Conservation expedition groups that use volunteer researchers are widespread in the United Kingdom and are growing in popularity around the world. These expeditions operate in regions of high biodiversity to study and protect the endemic species of these areas. New products have now made it possible to conduct molecular analyses in the field. We tested this in a volunteer-based conservation expedition to an area of tropical montane rainforest and cloud forest in Cusuco National Park, Honduras. Specifically, we (1) tested and modified recommended protocols for use of the new molecular techniques on a wide range of plant and animal species in the field, (2) tested the ability of novice volunteers to successfully use these techniques after minimal introductory training, and (3) used the novel techniques to conduct a small-scale population genetic study of Liquidambar styraciflua L. while on expedition. We found the techniques to be effective on all plant and animal species tested, with some modification of manufacturers' protocols. We also found that novice student volunteers were able to learn the required theory and protocols for the new technology, collect reliable data, and perform basic genetic analyses in a week-long DNA field sampling course. Finally, the Liquidambar case study demonstrated that genetic analyses can be successfully completed in primitive field conditions. These findings have exciting implications for work that can be done in remote locations, often areas of the greatest conservation significance.
The Role of Mammals in Local Communities Living in Conservation Areas in the Northeast of Brazil: An Ethnozoological Approach
Authors: de Melo Robson Soares , da Silva Olga Camila , Souto Antonio , Alves Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega , Schiel Nicola
Published: October 2016

Humans have used animals and their products since the beginning of their shared history. Animals are used for different purposes, including food, medicines and magical-religious practices. This study analyzes two communities that reside in a conservation area to determine the role of mammals by these communities, considering the influences of factors such as gender and age on the knowledge and use of the mammals by individuals. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews in the two communities in the Chapada do Araripe Environmental Protection Area (APA/Araripe) in Brazil. All of the inhabited houses in the communities were visited, and at most, two people were interviewed per household. A total of 229 interviews were conducted with local residents. A total of 32 species of mammals was recorded, with 8 used for medicinal purposes, 17 species used as food resources, and 23 species related to superstition. Men knew and used more mammals as zootherapeutics and as a food resource than women, whereas for superstition, there was no significant difference between the genders. Regarding age, adults knew and used more mammals as zootherapeutics, and the elderly used more mammals as a food resource. This study demonstrates that the use of wild mammals still occurs in rural communities in Brazil, even in conservation units where the federal laws are stricter.
Post-Release Monitoring of Diet Profile and Diet Quality of Reintroduced African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe
Authors: Muposhi Victor K. , Chanyandura Admire , Gandiwa Edson , Muvengwi Justice , Muboko Never , Taru Philip , Kupika Olga L.
Published: October 2016

Post-release monitoring of wildlife is essential to the success of ecological restoration initiatives. Translocation of wildlife to new ecosystems is associated with changes in diet profiles of individuals and ultimately animal performance, since productivity of rangelands varies in time and space. The population decline and local extinction of buffalo and other species in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe, in the late 1980s led to temporary suspension of hunting activities. Recently, efforts have been made to resuscitate Umfurudzi Park through wildlife reintroductions and active ecosystem management. We assessed the diet profile and diet quality of the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) between 2011 and 2012. A total of 42 grass species constituted the diet spectrum of buffalo. Heteropogon contortus, Eragrostis racemosa, Steroechlaena tenuifolia and Themeda triandra contributed significantly to the buffalo diet during the four seasons of the study period. Although a wide spectrum of grass species was selected in the wet season, the diversity of grass species selected was not significantly different among the seasons. Grass species crude protein deteriorated from 4.5% in the wet season to 3.5% in the dry season. Crude protein and phosphorus levels in buffalo faecal samples were within the recommended nutrient scale for southern Africa large herbivores. We conclude that feed availability and quality may not be limiting the persistence of the reintroduced buffalo. There is a need to closely monitor grass availability, dietary shifts, and forage quality over time, as well as resource partitioning with other feeding guilds.
Availability of Large Seed-Dispersers for Restoration of Degraded Tropical Forest
Authors: Lindsell Jeremy A. , Lee David C. , Powell Victoria J. , Gemita Elva
Published: October 2016

An estimated 63% of Southeast Asian forests are classed as disturbed and secondary as a result of human activity. Many of these forests remain important for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services so there is much interest in their capacity for restoration. The role of larger animals as seed dispersers in natural regeneration is well-attested since they are often the only agent by which large-seeded trees can effectively disperse. This is especially important for late successional shade-tolerant species which might otherwise be excluded from disturbed sites. However, many larger animals are sensitive to habitat degradation so may be lost from the very areas that require them. We investigated the persistence of a suite of large mammals that are known seed-dispersers and are also threatened species, in a degraded site in lowland south-central Sumatra. We used camera traps and field observations to relate their distributions to prevailing vegetation conditions. Although most species were more frequently detected in the more intact areas, most were able to occupy habitats with high levels of disturbance and population densities were relatively high. It is clear that severe habitat degradation does not necessarily lead to the immediate loss of large-bodied seed dispersers, so ensuring adequate protection for these species from external threats, such as hunting, must be built into management plans for restoration concessions.
Tree Species Composition, Breeding Systems, and Pollination and Dispersal Syndromes in Three Forest Successional Stages in a Tropical Dry Forest in Mesoamerica
Authors: Hilje Branko , Calvo-Alvarado Julio , Jiménez-Rodríguez César , Sánchez-Azofeifa Arturo
Published: October 2016

Tropical dry forests (TDF) in Mesoamerica are highly endangered by the expansion of human activities (e.g., agriculture and cattle ranching). In contrast, TDF in Costa Rica have experienced outstanding restoration due to changes in economic and conservation policies. Currently TDF landscapes in Costa Rica are a mosaic of different successional stages. Tree breeding systems and pollination and dispersal syndromes are key elements for understanding restoration processes in TDFs. In this study we describe and compare tree species composition and diversity in three TDF successional stages (early, intermediate and late) in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We describe for the first time tree species breeding systems and pollination and dispersal syndromes for the largest and most significant TDF remnant in Mesoamerica. We set up nine plots, three per successional stage, and we measured and identified 1,072 trees from 96 species. Species richness and diversity indices were higher for the intermediate stage. Monoecy was the most common breeding system, as in other tropical life zones. Insects were the dominant pollinators, facilitated by the trees' small inflorescences. Wind was found to be not only the next most influential pollinator, mainly in open and disturbed early forests, but also it was also a good seed dispersal agent. As TDF age increases so does the relevancy of birds and mammals as dispersers; the late stage therefore has more tree species with adaptations to these dispersers.