Terrestrial mammal responses to edges in Amazonian forest patches: a study based on track stations

Abstract

Examining edge effects is imperative to developing effective conservation and management strategies in fragmented landscapes as they are a key component of how landscape change influences habitat quality. Although medium- to large-bodied mammals are recognised as key components of tropical forests, their responses to forest edges remain poorly documented. Here, we describe how five species of medium- to large-bodied terrestrial neotropical mammals respond to forest-pasture edges along 17 forest patches (ranging in size from 5–4714 ha) and two continuous areas of Amazonian forest in Alta Floresta, Brazil. Tracks from two rodent (Dasyprocta agouti and Agouti paca) and three ungulate species (Tayassu tajacu, Mazama gouazoubira and Tapirus terrestris) were recorded over 4900 sand track station nights during a 4-month study period. When species occurrences were compared between patch size classes we found a significant interaction between patch size and distance from the nearest forest edge only for ungulates. We discuss the cost-effectiveness of monitoring protocols for large terrestrial mammals in tropical forests based on sand track stations, and how edge effects and patch size can modulate species abundance and distribution.