Daily activity patterns and relative abundance of medium and large mammals in a communal natural protected area on the central coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Anthropogenic disturbances cause direct and indirect effects on the global decline in biodiversity. For better planning strategies on the conservation of medium and large mammals in Oaxaca, we present an analysis of daily activity patterns of medium and large mammals and their relative abundance in a Communal Natural Protected Area (CNPA) on the central coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Sampling was carried out between November 2014 and September 2015, during the dry season and the rainy season, using forty camera traps placed within the CNPA El Gavilan and installed along wildlife trails, especially on pathways with clear evidence of use by wildlife. Date records for 10 species of medium and large mammals, obtained with 12,160 day/camera traps. Leopardus pardalis was active during the night but exhibited diurnal and nocturnal tendencies. Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Nasua narica, Dicotyles angulatus and O. virginianus were defined as cathemeral species. The most abundant medium mammals were Dasypus novemcinctus (RAI= 1.23), Didelphis virginiana (RAI= 1.15) and Nasua narica (RAI= 1.05). Our results can provide insights for the conservation of species in the CNPA El Gavilan. We recommend the continuance of studies on the temporal and seasonal variations of the activity patterns in order to maintain mammalian species conservation.   Key words: Conservation, relative abundance, mammals, Oaxaca, patterns.