Diversity of large and medium mammals in Juchitan, Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

M Cortés-Marcial,Y M Martínez Ayón,M Briones-Salas

doi:10.32800/abc.2014.37.0001

Abstract

The Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, is one of the country’s most important regions from a zoogeographical perspective due to the large number of endemic Neotropical species found there. Between September 2007 and August 2008, we sampled medium–sized and large mammals in the Juchitan municipality and compared their diversity in two areas with distinct levels of anthropogenic impact, defined according to estimates of human activities, livestock density and habitat degradation, We obtained 167 records of 18 species, with a 79% representation according to species accumulation models in both areas. The highest species richness and alpha diversity were recorded in the preserved area, whereas the disturbed area exhibited half the diversity found in the preserved area. A high interchange of species was also observed between zones. The two species with the largest number of records were Urocyon cinereoargenteus (n = 52) and Didelphis virginiana (n = 42). In both areas, the highest relative abundance occurred during the rainy season. Habitat degradation and human activities seem to affect the diversity of mammal species in the region.

Highlights

One of the issues of greatest interest in ecology is the relationship between habitat structure and the struc ture of animal communities
Given the importance of these species, studies identifying and predicting the environmental changes that may affect their diversity are essential, and in such studies, relative abundance and species diversity are usually used as indicators (Carrillo et al, 2000)
The least disturbed area was located on the Tolis toque hill, hereafter called the 'preserved area'

Summary

Introduction

One of the issues of greatest interest in ecology is the relationship between habitat structure and the struc ture of animal communities. The functional significance of these species lies in their ecological roles, such as seed dispersal and predation on numerous plant species These functional roles may change the structure and composition of the ecosystem. These species influence the community structure and complexity on the trophic levels in which they are involved, due to their regulatory role as preys and predators (Roemer et al, 2009). The loss of these organisms could have devastating effects because they contribute in many ways to the functioning of the natural ecosystem (Alon so et al, 2001; Bolaños & Naranjo, 2001). Given the importance of these species, studies identifying and predicting the environmental changes that may affect their diversity are essential, and in such studies, relative abundance and species diversity are usually used as indicators (Carrillo et al, 2000)

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Conclusion