Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela
<p class="p1">The Spotted Paca <em>Cuniculus paca</em> and the Red-rumped Agouti <em>Dasyprocta leporina</em> are affected by habitat loss and hunting. In Venezuela, their conservation status is unknown, even within protected areas. The objective of this stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
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| Online Access: | http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1783 |
| _version_ | 1828453134915076096 |
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| author | Elinor Jax Sofía Marín Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro Emiliana Isasi-Catalá |
| author_facet | Elinor Jax Sofía Marín Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro Emiliana Isasi-Catalá |
| author_sort | Elinor Jax |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p class="p1">The Spotted Paca <em>Cuniculus paca</em> and the Red-rumped Agouti <em>Dasyprocta leporina</em> are affected by habitat loss and hunting. In Venezuela, their conservation status is unknown, even within protected areas. The objective of this study was to estimate the relative abundance, activity patterns, habitat use, and effect of human activities on these species in Venezuela. To achieve this, 26 camera-trap stations (20.8km<sup>2</sup>) were established in Guatopo National Park between February and April 2011, characterization of the habitat was undertaken and occupancy models were created. The relative abundance of the Spotted Paca was 1.62 captures/100trap-nights, with a fully nocturnal activity pattern. The relative abundance of the Red-rumped Agouti was 2.32 captures/100trap-nights, with a pronounced diurnal activity pattern. The occupation probability of the Red-rumped Agouti (0.61 SE 0.02) was higher than that of the Spotted Paca (0.27 SE 0.02). Spotted Pacas were mainly found in areas with mature forest and high tree density, whereas the Red-rumped Agoutis were most frequently found in valleys with little disturbed forest. A positive correlation was found between illegal hunting activities and areas occupied by the Spotted Paca. It is important to strengthen the park control measurements to reduce illegal hunting of Spotted Pacas.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:03:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49ceef437d5d46c1aa1a80ef9fa86768 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T00:03:57Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| spelling | doaj.art-49ceef437d5d46c1aa1a80ef9fa867682022-12-22T01:28:23ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072015-01-01716739674910.11609/jott.1783.6739-67491642Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, VenezuelaElinor Jax0Sofía Marín1Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro2Emiliana Isasi-Catalá3Institute of Biology, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenLaboratorio de Conservación y Manejo de Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Valle de Sartenejas, Código postal 1020. Baruta, Caracas, VenezuelaDepartamento de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Valle de Sartenejas, Código postal 1020, Baruta, Caracas, VenezuelaLaboratorio de Conservación y Manejo de Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Valle de Sartenejas, Código postal 1020. Baruta, Caracas, Venezuela<p class="p1">The Spotted Paca <em>Cuniculus paca</em> and the Red-rumped Agouti <em>Dasyprocta leporina</em> are affected by habitat loss and hunting. In Venezuela, their conservation status is unknown, even within protected areas. The objective of this study was to estimate the relative abundance, activity patterns, habitat use, and effect of human activities on these species in Venezuela. To achieve this, 26 camera-trap stations (20.8km<sup>2</sup>) were established in Guatopo National Park between February and April 2011, characterization of the habitat was undertaken and occupancy models were created. The relative abundance of the Spotted Paca was 1.62 captures/100trap-nights, with a fully nocturnal activity pattern. The relative abundance of the Red-rumped Agouti was 2.32 captures/100trap-nights, with a pronounced diurnal activity pattern. The occupation probability of the Red-rumped Agouti (0.61 SE 0.02) was higher than that of the Spotted Paca (0.27 SE 0.02). Spotted Pacas were mainly found in areas with mature forest and high tree density, whereas the Red-rumped Agoutis were most frequently found in valleys with little disturbed forest. A positive correlation was found between illegal hunting activities and areas occupied by the Spotted Paca. It is important to strengthen the park control measurements to reduce illegal hunting of Spotted Pacas.</p>http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1783Camera trapsCuniculus pacaDasyprocta leporinahabitat usehuman activitiesillegal huntingoccupancy modelsprotected area. |
| spellingShingle | Elinor Jax Sofía Marín Adriana Rodríguez-Ferraro Emiliana Isasi-Catalá Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela Journal of Threatened Taxa Camera traps Cuniculus paca Dasyprocta leporina habitat use human activities illegal hunting occupancy models protected area. |
| title | Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela |
| title_full | Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela |
| title_fullStr | Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela |
| title_short | Habitat use and relative abundance of the Spotted Paca Cuniculus paca (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rodentia: Cuniculidae) and the Red-rumped Agouti Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) in Guatopo National Park, Venezuela |
| title_sort | habitat use and relative abundance of the spotted paca cuniculus paca linnaeus 1766 rodentia cuniculidae and the red rumped agouti dasyprocta leporina linnaeus 1758 rodentia dasyproctidae in guatopo national park venezuela |
| topic | Camera traps Cuniculus paca Dasyprocta leporina habitat use human activities illegal hunting occupancy models protected area. |
| url | http://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1783 |
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