Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico
Abstract Background Habitat loss and fragmentation in the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) ecological corridor have negative impacts on the movement and distribution of mammalian species that are of great ecological and evolutionary importance. Part of the SMO ecological corridor that is located in the s...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-08-01
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Series: | Ecological Processes |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00394-w |
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author | Jonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez Octavio C. Rosas-Rosas Lauro López-Mata José L. Alcántara-Carbajal Luis A. Tarango-Arámbula |
author_facet | Jonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez Octavio C. Rosas-Rosas Lauro López-Mata José L. Alcántara-Carbajal Luis A. Tarango-Arámbula |
author_sort | Jonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Background Habitat loss and fragmentation in the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) ecological corridor have negative impacts on the movement and distribution of mammalian species that are of great ecological and evolutionary importance. Part of the SMO ecological corridor that is located in the state of Hidalgo is less studied despite being a potential dispersal route for mammals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence and activity of terrestrial mammals in the riparian and non-riparian zones of SMO. Results Camera traps detected 15 mammalian species (i.e., 14 native and 1 domestic) in the non-riparian zone, and 12 mammalian species in the riparian zone (i.e., 10 wild and 2 domestic). The riparian corridor was mainly used by opportunistic medium-sized carnivores, while large carnivores and their potential prey were more frequent in the non-riparian zone. Conclusions Our findings suggest terrestrial mammals avoid the use of natural corridors due to the presence of domestic dogs, cattle and humans and look for new dispersal routes to move through their habitat and find the resources they need to survive. Even though some species can use disturbed corridors to move and find resources, they will change their activity patterns to avoid contact with humans and potential threats like dogs. It is, therefore, crucial to identify not one, but several corridors that must be preserved to improve the connectivity of terrestrial mammals in disturbed landscapes. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:18:37Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-03a921c0c4da43589df51e65275884f7 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2192-1709 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:18:37Z |
publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
publisher | SpringerOpen |
record_format | Article |
series | Ecological Processes |
spelling | doaj.art-03a921c0c4da43589df51e65275884f72022-12-22T02:33:36ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092022-08-0111111210.1186/s13717-022-00394-wCamera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern MexicoJonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez0Octavio C. Rosas-Rosas1Lauro López-Mata2José L. Alcántara-Carbajal3Luis A. Tarango-Arámbula4Programa de Recursos Genéticos y Productividad-Ganadería, Colegio de PostgraduadosPrograma de Innovación en Manejo de Recursos Naturales, Colegio de PostgraduadosPrograma de Dinámica y Conservación de Bosques y Selvas, Macroecología y Biodiversidad, Colegio de PostgraduadosPrograma de Recursos Genéticos y Productividad-Ganadería, Colegio de PostgraduadosPrograma de Innovación en Manejo de Recursos Naturales, Colegio de PostgraduadosAbstract Background Habitat loss and fragmentation in the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) ecological corridor have negative impacts on the movement and distribution of mammalian species that are of great ecological and evolutionary importance. Part of the SMO ecological corridor that is located in the state of Hidalgo is less studied despite being a potential dispersal route for mammals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence and activity of terrestrial mammals in the riparian and non-riparian zones of SMO. Results Camera traps detected 15 mammalian species (i.e., 14 native and 1 domestic) in the non-riparian zone, and 12 mammalian species in the riparian zone (i.e., 10 wild and 2 domestic). The riparian corridor was mainly used by opportunistic medium-sized carnivores, while large carnivores and their potential prey were more frequent in the non-riparian zone. Conclusions Our findings suggest terrestrial mammals avoid the use of natural corridors due to the presence of domestic dogs, cattle and humans and look for new dispersal routes to move through their habitat and find the resources they need to survive. Even though some species can use disturbed corridors to move and find resources, they will change their activity patterns to avoid contact with humans and potential threats like dogs. It is, therefore, crucial to identify not one, but several corridors that must be preserved to improve the connectivity of terrestrial mammals in disturbed landscapes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00394-wActivityJaguarCattleDetectabilityDogHerbivore |
spellingShingle | Jonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez Octavio C. Rosas-Rosas Lauro López-Mata José L. Alcántara-Carbajal Luis A. Tarango-Arámbula Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico Ecological Processes Activity Jaguar Cattle Detectability Dog Herbivore |
title | Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico |
title_full | Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico |
title_fullStr | Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico |
title_full_unstemmed | Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico |
title_short | Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico |
title_sort | camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern mexico |
topic | Activity Jaguar Cattle Detectability Dog Herbivore |
url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00394-w |
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