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Influencia de factores antropogénicos en patrones de actividad y abundancia relativa de mamíferos carnívoros del suroccidente ecuatoriano

Abstract:

The knowledge about carnivorous mammals and the influence of the anthropogenic impact on them is limited. The present study analyzes the influence of the anthropogenic disturbance on the activity patterns and relative abundance of carnivorous mammals in three localities of the dry forests. Through camera-trapping, nine carnivores were registered; only four species (Leopardus pardalis, Procyon cancrivorus, Nasua nasua y Eira barbara) were considered to analyze the influence of the anthropization on their activities pattern and their relative abundance. Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), each locality was separated in two zones of anthropogenic disturbance, one with High Disturbance (DA) and the other one, with Low Disturbance (DB). All the species exhibited the same activity patterns in both zones; L. pardalis and P. cancrivorus behave as nocturnals/crepusculars and E. barbara and N. nasua as diurnals. Bases on capture frequency, L. pardalis and P. cancrivorus show preference to DB, this last one, been the only one with signficative differences; N. nasua y E. barbara, have no specific tendency, so it is presumed that there are other variables affecting this species behavior.