Abundancia y densidad de venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) en Sierra de San Luis, Sonora, México Abundancia y densidad de venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) en Sierra de San Luis, Sonora, México

Abstract

White-tailed deer are an ecologically and economically important species in Mexico, with limited information on population status throughout the country. The aim of this study was to estimate the abundance and density of white-tailed deer using an alternative method with camera traps in northeastern Sonora, Mexico. We placed 31camera traps with attractants along trails and major wildlife crossings. The photographic records obtained were identified at the individual level through a comparative analysis of opinions. We built a capture-recapture history for each individual, thus creating a database of presence -absence. The abundance was estimated using the program MARK. We calculated an effective sampling area based on the average home range of the species of 55.10 km 2 . The abundance was divided by the effective sampling area to estimate density. Abundance for white-tailed deer was 130 ± 26.51 individuals for a density of 2.36 ± 0.48 ind/km 2 .These results are comparable to previous studies using fecal group surveys and aerial count surveys. Thus indicating a healthy local white-tailed deer population; however it is necessary to extend the camera trap monitoring to additional areas with different types of management. Finally, we consider the use of camera traps and the method developed for this study, to be valid and valuable alternatives to estimate white-tailed deer population fast and efficiently, particularly in such locations where information is lacking, additionally this methodology could be applied to the other mammalian species that potentially could be photographed in a given session.

Species richness and conservation status of medium and large terrestrial mammals from four Sky Islands in Sonora, northwestern Mexico

“…obs.). We therefore have recommended that black bears be listed under some threat category at the Mexican Red List of threatened species (Lara-Díaz et al 2014) and that information on their population density should be generated for other mountainous areas (e.g., Sierra La Madera, Sierra El Tigre).…”

New records of red brocket deer (Mazama temama) in cloud forests in northeastern Hidalgo, México

“…Therefore, our results suggest positive impacts of forest management on this UMAFOR. This finding may be further confirmed through additional monitoring in areas under forest exploitation, using specific methods to estimate population abundance and density (see Lara-Díaz et al 2011), coupled with more accurate assessments of the impact of forest management on red brocket deer populations (Muñoz-Vazquez and Gallina-Tessaro 2016). It is worth stressing that this forest management scheme has contributed to reducing the negative impacts on mammalian diversity (Hernández-Rodríguez et al 2019); therefore, this UMAFOR may be considered a management scheme that is compatible with the conservation of priority species.…”

“…Camera traps were placed in forest trails, firewall gaps, adjacent to streams, forestry areas, and conservation areas (Table 1). From the photographic records obtained, red brocket deers were identified based on the physical characters described for the species and applying quality filters to photographs (Reid 1997;Gallina 2005;Lara-Díaz et al 2011;Aranda-Sánchez 2012).…”

Densidad poblacional del tapir centroamericano (Tapirella bairdii) en bosque mesófilo de montaña en Totontepec Villa de Morelos, Oaxaca, México

“…2A-D). Debido a la dificultad que representa la identificación individual, y a la incertidumbre en la identificación de individuos que podría representar la colocación de una sola fototrampa por estación, se realizó un análisis ciego mediante la participación de 5 observadores independientes y que no mantuvieron ninguna comunicación respecto a la identificación de individuos (González-Maya et al, 2012;Lara-Díaz et al, 2011). Cada uno de los observadores realizó una matriz con las historias de captura-recaptura del periodo de tiempo seleccionado, para asegurar el cumplimiento de los supuestos generales de los modelos de población cerrada (Otis, Burnham, White y Anderson, 1978;Rayan et al, 2012), y con eventos cuyo intervalo fue de 10 días (eventos de captura).…”