Mammals of four Caatinga areas in northeastern Brazil: inventory, species biology, and community structure

Ana Cláudia Delciellos

doi:10.15560/12.3.1916

Abstract

Studies on population dynamics and community structure for mammals from the semi-arid Caatinga biome are very scarce. I surveyed non-volant mammals in four sites in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil. Herein, 24 species belonging to eight orders are recorded. A total of 165 individuals of five species of small mammals were captured in a 4-year capture-recapture study. Capture success and relative richness were low and not correlated with precipitation and temperature. The present study contributes to the knowledge of species biology and ecology in sites geographically close to priority areas for conservation in this biome.

Highlights

The study sites are located in the municipalities ofThe Caatinga is a Brazilian biome that covers most São João do Piauí, state of Piauí, and Ouricuri, state of of semi-arid Northeastern Brazil (Leal et al 2005; Pernambuco, Brazil (Figure 1)
A total of 165 individuals belonging to five species of non-volant small mammals (Didelphis albiventris, Galea spixii, Gracilinanus agilis, Thrichomys laurentius, and Wie domys pyrrhorhinos) were captured with live traps (Table 1; Figure 2)
Species richness and capture success were higher in Ouricuri than in São João do Piauí sites (Figure 4; Table 2) and were not correlated with temperature and precipitation in all sites (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

The study sites are located in the municipalities ofThe Caatinga is a Brazilian biome that covers most São João do Piauí, state of Piauí, and Ouricuri, state of of semi-arid Northeastern Brazil (Leal et al 2005; Pernambuco, Brazil (Figure 1). A total of 165 individuals belonging to five species of non-volant small mammals (Didelphis albiventris, Galea spixii, Gracilinanus agilis, Thrichomys laurentius, and Wie domys pyrrhorhinos) were captured with live traps (Table 1; Figure 2). Species richness and capture success were higher in Ouricuri than in São João do Piauí sites (Figure 4; Table 2) and were not correlated with temperature and precipitation in all sites (Table 3).

Results

Conclusion