Inventory of medium-sized and large mammals in La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve and Puerto Arista Estuarine System, Chiapas, Mexico

Julio C Hernandez-Hernandez,Cuauhtémoc Chavez

doi:10.15560/17.4.1155

Abstract

La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve (REBIEN) and Puerto Arista Estuarine System (SEPA) are natural protected areas and Ramsar sites in Chiapas, Mexico. In this study, we conducted an inventory of medium-sized and large mammals using camera trapping. We recorded 23 species in the REBIEN and 13 species in the SEPA. In addition, 35% of the species recorded in the two sites are at some category of risk of extinction at the national or international level. The most abundant species in the REBIEN were Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758)) and White-Nosed Coati (Nasua narica (Linnaeus, 1766)). In the SEPA, White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)), Collared Peccary (Dicotyles crassus (Merrian, 1901)), and White-Nosed Coati (Nasua narica). Our results highlight the importance of both study sites in the conservation of medium-sized and large mammals and underline the urgent need to develop conservation strategies for these areas.

Highlights

Wild mammals are one of the most conspicuous groups in terrestrial vertebrate communities (Sánchez-Cordero et al 2014)
Our results highlight the importance of both study sites in the conservation of medium-sized and large mammals and underline the urgent need to develop conservation strategies for these areas
We provide a list of medium-sized and large mammals present in the REBIEN and the SEPA

Summary

Introduction

Wild mammals are one of the most conspicuous groups in terrestrial vertebrate communities (Sánchez-Cordero et al 2014). Mammals cover a wide range of niches, playing crucial ecological roles that influence community structure and ecosystem functioning (Ripple et al 2014). They are sensitive to human-generated impacts, being the third most vulnerable group among vertebrates, with about 25% of species under some category of risk according to the Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2020). Records of the mammalian species at a site, region, or country can help to develop conservation strategies that combine ecological foundations, biodiversity, critical habitat, and key ecological relationships, all of which may be site-specific and species-specific at any given time (Rovero et al 2014). These assessments provide information on biodiversity values that are recognized and considered in planning and decision-making processes (Ruíz-Gutiérrez et al 2020).

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Conclusion