Effect of seasonality and human activities on functional groups of terrestrial mammals in the caatinga

• Grant number: 21/01982-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date until: June 01, 2022
• End date until: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Milton Cezar Ribeiro
• Grantee: Daiana Jeronimo Polli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/09930-0 - How do the occupation patterns of medium and large mammals influence conservation in the Caatinga?, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Habitat loss and modification resulting directly or indirectly from human activities represent a major threat to mammal populations, particularly in Neotropical regions. Losses can impact trophic cascades due to the ecological functions performed by this group of animals, such as seed dispersal, herbivore control, and nutrient cycling. Habitat fragmentation, hunting, mining, and extensive cattle ranching are responsible for the decline of species populations in different Neotropical regions, including the Caatinga. Although the conservation of fauna in the Caatinga is of high importance, the region is one of the least studied biomes in Brazil, and also one of the least protected. Thus, understanding how environmental changes influence functional groups of terrestrial mammals in the Caatinga is a priority. Several studies have evaluated the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the occupancy of medium and large mammals in other biomes, however, there are few studies on the spatiotemporal use of these mammals in the Caatinga. Therefore, understanding how anthropic and seasonal (climatic) factors influence functional groups of mammals in the Caatinga can contribute to a better understanding of the ecological functions performed by these groups of species, allowing the establishment of more efficient strategies to mitigate future population declines. This project aims to understand how factors related to changes caused by anthropogenic and seasonal (climatic) action interfere with the occurrence of medium and large terrestrial mammals in the Caatinga. The study area is the region of the Boqueirão da Onça National Park and the Boqueirão da Onça Environmental Protection Area, located in northern Bahia state. Data collection was carried out in the period from 2016 to 2019, using camera traps. Occupancy models will be used to assess the relative contribution of seasonality (dry or rainy season) and environmental covariates on the occurrence of functional groups. Occupancy of most groups is expected to be higher in the dry season, furthermore, the covariates of wind developments, human occupancy, and surface temperature are expected to negatively affect occupancy of most groups. Finally, proximity to water bodies and vegetation cover (i.e. remotely sensed vegetation index) are also expected to positively affect all functional groups. (AU)