Abundance, herd size, activity pattern and occupancy of ungulates in Southeastern Mexico

Abstract

This study provides information about relative abundance, herd size, activity pattern, and occupancy of ungulates at Los Chimalapas, southeastern Mexico, one of the last refuges inhabited by two conservation priority ungulate species:Tapirus bairdiiandTayassu pecari. For three years, four species of ungulates were recorded using camera traps:T. bairdii,T. pecari,Mazama temama, andTayassu tajacu, involving an effort of 8529 trap-days and 839 records.T. pecariwas found to be highest in relative abundance, whileT. tajacu’s abundance was lowest. Populations were composed principally of adults, but there were records of offspring for all four species. The herd size was smaller compared to other populations ofT. tajacuandT. pecari. Occupancy models were used to analyze the presence of the species in the region and showed thatM. temamaandT. bairdiihad a high occupancy probability. In comparison, the occupancy probability ofT. pecariwas low. This study shows that ungulate populations are still breeding, and have higher possibility of permanence, in Los Chimalapas, Southeastern Mexico. The region is an important area for the conservation ofT. bairdiiandT. pecari, both disappeared from some other areas of the southeast.