Riqueza de especies y gremios tróficos de mamíferos carnívoros en una selva alta del sureste de México

Abstract

The region of Los Chimalapas, in the southeastern Mexico has a high biodiversity, but it faces problems of habitat loss, primarily by livestock and agricultural activities. A group that can provide data on these changes is that of the mammals of the order Carnivora, because its members have a variety of size classes, trophic guild or ecological function and respond differently to changes in habitat. This study characterizes the species richness and composition of trophic guilds of the assemblage of the order Carnivora, 29 trapping stations with phototraps were established within the rainforest , f rom March 2011 to June 2013. There was a collection effort of 8,529 days-trap and it were obtained 543 photographic records of 10 species of the order Carnivora, as well as two additional species recorded by direct observation, so the assemblage was composed of 12 species. Trophic guilds were five: carnivore (5 species), omnivore (4), insectivore (1), frugivorous (1), and the consumer aquatic species (1). The assemblage consist of two species of large size predators, three mesopredators, one species that is considered indicative of good water quality ( Lontra longicaudis) , and three generalist species ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Puma yagouaroundi , and Procyon lotor ), that prefer open areas and that are adapted to zones with disturbance, but with low abundance in the area. Also, 66% of species are in any risk category according to Mexican laws, confirming the importance of the Los Chimalapas for the conservation of Carnivora. Keywords: Camera-trap, Chimalapas, conservation, Oaxaca.