Riqueza, abundancia relativa y patrones de actividad de mamíferos medianos y grandes en el Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco (Guayas, Ecuador)

Abstract

Los estudios de mamíferos grandes y medianos basados en metodologías sistemáticas y técnicas estandarizadas han abarcado escasas localidades en la provincia de Guayas, donde existen acelerados procesos de urbanización, fragmentación ecológica y presencia de especies introducidas, como ocurre en el Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la riqueza, abundancia y patrones de actividad de los mamíferos grandes y medianos en esta reserva. Durante siete meses, entre marzo y septiembre de 2019, establecimos 17 estaciones de fototrampeo, con cuyos datos estimamos el Índice de Abundancia Relativa (IAR) y los patrones de actividad de las especies registradas. Con un esfuerzo de muestreo total de 2937 trampa/día y 1931 eventos fotográficos independientes de mamíferos, registramos 16 especies nativos y una introducida (Canis lupus familiaris); las especies Dasyprocta punctata y Procyon cancrivorus presentaron mayor IAR; cuatro especies fueron diurnas, seis nocturnas y dos catemerales. También registramos con fototrampeo a especies amenazadas, como Alouatta palliata y Cebus aequatorialis. Recomendamos mantener este tipo de monitoreos, continuos y sistemáticos, en esta reserva, para entender los efectos de la fragmentación y de las especies introducidas sobre los mamíferos nativos.

Cordillera Chongón Colonche: un punto caliente de diversidad para la conservación de mamíferos en el occidente de Ecuador

“…The localities with the highest species richness (Cerro Blanco and Las Balsas with 19 records, and Loma Alta with 18) have a greater number of reports compared to other camera-trap studies in western Ecuador Espinosa et al, 2016;Hurtado & Pacheco, 2015;Lizcano et al, 2016;Salas et al, 2022). Although we observed species that were common in those studies, such as Dasyprocta punctata, Dicotyles tajacu, Leopardus pardalis, and Odocoileus virginianus, our study stands out as the first comprehensive camera-trap investigation for all the study areas except Cerro Blanco (Salas et al, 2022), where results were similar. However, our study revealed three additional species (Leopardus wiedii, Mazama gualea, and Simosciurus stramineus), potentially attributable to our utilization of eight more camera traps, which enabled extensive sampling efforts and coverage of previously unexplored areas.…”

“…The diversity of mammals documented in the Cordillera Chongón Colonche is notably high compared to other studies in western Ecuador (Barros-Diaz et al, 2018;Cervera et al, 2016;Espinosa et al, 2016;Hurtado & Pacheco, 2015;Lizcano et al, 2016;Salas et al, 2022). Given the cryptic behavior and wide spatial requirements of many species reported, such as Mazama gualea, Lontra longicaudis, Leopardus wiedii, and Panthera onca, obtaining these records presented challenges that limited the number gathered.…”

“…However, our observations suggest that the species exhibits a distinct preference for areas with permanent bodies of water, such as those found in Loma Alta, where we recorded 36 independent events. Conversely, a recently published study using camera traps in Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco did not report its presence (Salas et al, 2022). Nevertheless, the species has been documented in the Santay Island National Recreation Area (Torres-Domínguez et al, 2022), a locality in close proximity to Cerro Blanco.…”

“…This may be due to the fact that in the large forests, monitoring was maintained long enough to sample also during the rainy season, which is when records increased. Furthermore, the fact that we recorded cryptic species such as the margay (Leopardus wiedii), the greater grison (Galictis vittata), the Gualea red brocket deer (Mazama gualea), the jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and the Sechuran fox (Lycalopex sechurae) (Figure 4) shows that we had rigorous sampling, as these species have been poorly reported by other authors for the Cordillera (Albuja 1997;Barros-Diaz et al, 2018;Lizcano et al, 2016;Parker & Carr, 1992;Salas et al, 2022).…”

“…The strategic placement of camera traps allows for the detection of species presence, abundance, behavior, and movement in their natural habitats. Their utility is evident in their increasingly frequent use along the Ecuadorian coast in recent years (Bravo-Salinas et al, 2021;Cervera et al, 2016;Espinosa et al, 2016;Hurtado & Pacheco, 2015;Lizcano et al, 2016;Salas et al, 2022).…”