General Analysis of Species Abundance in Sooretama Biological Reserve, Espírito Santo, Brazil

1. General Analysis of Species Abundance in Sooretama Biological Reserve, Espírito Santo, Brazil Marcelo Mazzolli (UNIPLAC ,Projeto Puma), Aliny Oliveria (Projeto Puma) Nicole VanDeuson (SUNY Oswego), Brandon LaBumbard (SUNY Oswego), Ryan Laughlin (SUNY Oswego) Introduction Detectability is a fundamental variable for estimation of ecological parameters such as density and occupancy of species. Detectability values differ among species and even among populations of the same species. For the current research, the interest is to show that detectability also varies depending on the sampling method employed. The importance of that resides in the fact that it is a crucial information to maximize data retrieval when planning surveys for specific species or to inform which species researchers are expected to find when planning a survey using specific methods. Examples of commonly detected species by means of track identification and visual records are given here for the Sooretama Biological Reserve in Brazil. Methods Analysis The most recorded species plus the larger felids had their occurrence spatialized in 2x2 km grids throughout the reserve. Reserve boundary and the grids were generated in TrackMaker freeware (Geo Studio, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, www.gpstm.com) and edited in Photoshop (Adobe, San Jose, CA). Study Area The Sooretama Biological Reserve and surrounding forest constitute one of the largest Atlantic Forest blocks north of Rio de Janeiro (Srbek-Araujo, 2009). The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is considered one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world (Olson and Dinerstein, 2002). Sampling At Sooretama Biological Reserve a series of trails were walked everyday for approximately two weeks, and presence of non-flying mammals were recorded for cells 2x2 km in size. Recording techniques employed were trapping of small mammals, track identification, sighting and camera trapping. Along with these techniques, basic training was given on animal capture and identification, GPS, trail navigation, filling out data datasheets and use of equipment. Figure 1. The making of a track trap, built directly on the trail by softening the ground and by removing debris from the selected area. Figure 2. Installation of small mammal traps Figure 1: Map of Sooretama Biological Reserve Results The felids were recorded by track identification, and were among the least recorded species. Jaguar and ocelot were found during a single occasion occupying a single cell. Pumas were found in two sampling occasions and occupied four cells (Fig. 4). The most recorded species were the tapir, the robust tufted capuchin monkey and the white-faced tamarin(Fig. 3). Track identification was the main record technique to detect tapir, and the primates were detected by sight and vocalization respectively at the rate of 82-18 % for monkeys and 67-13% for tamarins Figure 4. jaguar, puma, and ocelot were recorded Figure 5. Jaguar tracks Figure 3. Cells in which tapir, capuchin monkey and white-faced tamarins were recorded in the Sooretama Biological Reserve. The outline represents the reserve’s boundaries. Discussion References Acknowledgements The results have shown that the tapir and primates are the species most easily recorded respectively by means of track identification and by visual record, and that detectability of ocelot, puma and jaguar is low. Although the tapir and the primates were detected most often , that doesn’t mean that they were most abundant. Species presumed to be abundant may not leave conspicuous signs and may be hard to live- trap, or still have habits that are not recorded in camera traps. Olson D.M. and Dinerstein. 2002. E. The Global 200: Priority Ecoregions for Global Conservation. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 89 (2): 199-224 Srbek-Araujo, A.C.; Scoss, L.M.; Hirsch, A.; Chiarello, A.G. 2009. Records of the giant armadillo Priodontes maximums (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) in the Atlantic Forest: are Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo the last strongholds of the species? Zoologia 26 (3): 461-468. I would like to thank the SUNY Oswego Possibility Scholarship for this opportunity.