Armadillo ecology in an heterogeneous Cerrado landscape of São Paulo: occupancy and spatial overlap

• Grant number: 18/15793-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Rita de Cassia Bianchi
• Grantee: Mateus Yan de Oliveira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Varying factors influence the spatial distribution of species across the landscape. To gain access to important resources and decrease competition, species may overlap along one axis of the niche and show differences in the use of resources along another axis. All armadillo species are of similar body size and life habits, such as the insectivorous diet and nocturnal activity pattern, and are excellent models for studies on resource partitioning. To foster coexistence, we expect different armadillo species to segregate some aspect of their ecological niche. Our objectives will be to: (1) evaluate spatial overlap and (2) identify factors that may affect occupancy of two sympatric species of armadillo, Cabassous tatouay and Dasypus novemcinctus, in Furnas do Bom Jesus State Park (PEFBJ). We used camera traps to collect photographs of wildlife at 60 sites distributed systematically throughout the study area. We will evaluate occupancy for the two species across the landscape while taking into account vegetative and water resources and the presence of exotic animals (dogs, cats and wild boar). For each species of armadillo, the other competing species will also be used as a covariate. We will use model selection to understand whether spatial partitioning occurs and which variables affect occupancy of the two species of armadillos most commonly recorded in the PEFBJ. These results will have management implications for armadillos and will be important for the advancement of knowledge on these under-studied animals.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BIANCHI, RITA DE CASSIA; OLIFIERS, NATALIE; RISKI, LETICIA LUTKE; GOUVEA, JESSICA ABONIZIO; CESARIO, CLARICE SILVA; FORNITANO, LARISSA; ZANIRATO, GISELE LAMBERTI; DE OLIVEIRA, MATEUS YAN; RODRIGUES DE MORAIS, KIMBERLY DANIELLE; ALVES RIBEIRO, RENAN LIETO; D'ANDREA, PAULO SERGIO; GOMPPER, MATTHEW E. Dog activity in protected areas: behavioral effects on mesocarnivores and the impacts of a top predator. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH, v. 66, n. 3 APR 6 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.