Range-wide declines of a key Neotropical ecosystem architect, the Near Threatened white-lipped peccaryTayassu pecari

Abstract

Range-wide declines of a key Neotropical ecosystem architect, the Near Threatened white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari M a r i a n a A l t r i c h t e r , A n d r e w T a b e r , H a r a l d B e c k , R a f a e l R e y n a -H u r t a d o L e o n i d a s L i z a r r a g a , A l e x i n e K e u r o g h l i a n and E r i c W . S a n d e r s o n Abstract We report a range-wide status assessment of a key Neotropical ecosystem architect, the white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari, categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, using published information and unpublished data from 41 scientists in 15 range countries. We estimate that the white-lipped peccary has been extirpated in 21% of its historical range over the last 100 years, with reduced abundance and a low to medium probability of long-term survival in another 48% of its current range. We found major range declines in Argentina, Paraguay, southern Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, north-east Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica. This species is particularly at risk in more xeric ecosystems, especially the caatinga, cerrado and pampas. Hunting and habitat destruction are the most severe threats, although there are also unexplained sudden die-offs suggestive of disease. We evaluate our results in light of this species' important interspecific interactions and its role as an ecosystem architect. One of our recommendations is that conservation efforts should focus on landscape conservation of large, continuous and ecologically intact areas containing a mosaic of different habitat types.This paper contains supplementary material that can be found online at

Importance of waterholes for white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in the Selva Maya, Guatemala

“…En Guatemala, el único lugar en donde aún permanece una población viable de pecarí de labios blancos es dentro de la RBM. Se estima que esta reserva contiene una población residente de pecarí de labios blancos suficientemente grande para ser potencialmente auto-sostenible en los próximos 100 años, con hábitat adecuado y una diversa base alimentaria (Altrichter et al 2012). Sin embargo el PNLT está considerado como una de las zonas núcleo de la RBM críticas para la conservación debido a las fuertes amenazas que enfrenta.…”

“…La distribución histórica del pecarí de labios blancos en Guatemala hasta el 2005 se ha reducido en un 84 % (Altrichter et al 2012). La Reserva de la Biosfera Maya es la única área protegida en donde aún permanece una población viable (Altrichter et al 2012).…”

“…La Reserva de la Biosfera Maya es la única área protegida en donde aún permanece una población viable (Altrichter et al 2012). En áreas donde esta especie tiene una mayor presión de caza, son comunes los grupos pequeños de 10 individuos (Emmons y Feer 1990;March 1993).…”

“…En áreas donde esta especie tiene una mayor presión de caza, son comunes los grupos pequeños de 10 individuos (Emmons y Feer 1990;March 1993). Debido a los impactos que tiene sobre sus poblaciones, a la pérdida de hábitat, cacería y transmisión de enfermedades la especie se encuentra registrada en el apéndice II del Convenio sobre Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestre (CITES 2006) y como "Vulnerable" por la Lista Roja de la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza en todo su ámbito de distribución (Fragoso 1997;Altrichter et al 2012;Keuroghlian et al 2013).…”

Effects of selective logging on large mammal populations in a remote indigenous territory in the northern Peruvian Amazon

“…The population decline of the white-lipped peccary may be a natural phenomenon; the species has been found to experience large fluctuations in population size roughly every 10 years, and a very low population has been recorded since 2005 (Fang et al 2008). This may have been exacerbated by a recent large-scale decline in the whitelipped peccary population throughout northern South America (Altrichter et al 2012), for which nonanthropogenic causes, including disease, could be implicated (Fragoso 2004, RichardHansen et al 2013. The decline of the white-lipped peccary, rather than hunting in logging concessions, may be the principal driving force behind the switch in prey species.…”