Daily activity of threatened canopy mammals in a private protected natural area of tropical southeastern Mexico

Abstract

Private conservation areas (PCA) are a complementary resource that can be used to favor the conservation of mammals in tropical regions of the world. However, their reduced extent can exert a differential influence on the behavior of the species present, and ultimately affect their coexistence. We investigated the daily activity patterns of canopy mammals during the rainy season of 2016 in a 100 ha PCA in tropical forest. To record activity, 11 camera traps were set up in trees at 15 m above ground level. Sciurus deppei was the only diurnal mammal recorded. Potos flavus was more active around midnight, while Caluromys derbianus and Coendou mexicanus were active before (21:00 to 23:00 h) and after midnight (01:00 to 04:00 h). Tamandua mexicana and Didelphis marsupialis were active throughout the night. The nocturnal mammals showed great overlap in their hours of activity. Overall, there was no difference in activity patterns of canopy mammals in this small PCA compared to those reported in larger protected natural areas. The highest number of records occurred in the tallest trees located in the highest and best-conserved parts of the study area, suggesting the importance of forested PCA to the conservation of canopy mammals.