Abstract
BackgroundAs a landscape architect and a major seed disperser, the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is an important indicator of the ecological health of certain habitats. Therefore, reliable data regarding tapir populations are fundamental in understanding ecosystem dynamics, including those associated with the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Currently, many population monitoring studies use invasive tagging with radio or satellite/Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. These techniques can be costly and unreliable, and the immobilization required carries physiological risks that are undesirable particularly for threatened and elusive species such as the lowland tapir.MethodsWe collected data from one of the last regions with a viable population of lowland tapir in the south-eastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil, using a new non-invasive method for identifying species, the footprint identification technique (FIT).ResultsWe identified the minimum number of tapirs in the study area and, in addition, we observed that they have overlapping ranges. Four hundred and forty footprints from 46 trails collected from six locations in the study area in a landscape known to contain tapir were analyzed, and 29 individuals were identified from these footprints.DiscussionWe demonstrate a practical application of FIT for lowland tapir censusing. Our study shows that FIT is an effective method for the identification of individuals of a threatened species, even when they lack visible natural markings on their bodies. FIT offers several benefits over other methods, especially for tapir management. As a non-invasive method, it can be used to census or monitor species, giving rapid feedback to managers of protected areas.
Highlights
One of the key ecological processes that maintain the health status of tropical forests is seed dispersal (Boissier et al, 2014)
In Brazil, lowland tapir populations are decreasing at an alarming rate due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, illegal fires (Chiarello, 2000a; Michalski & Peres, 2007), hunting (Chiarello, 2000b; Peres, 2000), and road kill (Medici & Desbiez, 2012; Souza, Cunha & Markwith, 2015), especially in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado ecosystems
The RPPNRA is located at the coordinates 1905′ south latitude, 3958′ west longitude, and mostly consists of discontinuous primary vegetation, interposed by extensive eucalyptus and papaya plantations, cabruca, seringal, and Unidades de Conservacao (2015); political boundaries—Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatıstica
Summary
One of the key ecological processes that maintain the health status of tropical forests is seed dispersal (Boissier et al, 2014). As a landscape architect and a major seed disperser, the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is an important indicator of the ecological health of certain habitats. Reliable data regarding tapir populations are fundamental in understanding ecosystem dynamics, including those associated with the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Many population monitoring studies use invasive tagging with radio or satellite/Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. These techniques can be costly and unreliable, and the immobilization required carries physiological risks that are undesirable for threatened and elusive species such as the lowland tapir. Methods: We collected data from one of the last regions with a viable population of lowland tapir in the south-eastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil, using a new non-invasive method for identifying species, the footprint identification technique (FIT). As a non-invasive method, it can be used to census or monitor species, giving rapid feedback to managers of protected areas
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