Population density of syntopic brocket deer species

• Grant number: 22/16572-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 20, 2023
• End date: May 19, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
• Grantee: Francisco Grotta Neto
• Supervisor: Marcus Rowcliffe
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: ZSL Institute of Zoology, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/00966-9 - Co-occurrence and ecological drivers of brocket deer occupancy in the Atlantic Forest, BP.PD

Abstract

Density estimates of populations are fundamental for the formulation of management actions and policies for wildlife conservation. However, population density information is scarce for many species elusive behavior and that are difficult to observe in nature. Population density can be affected by interspecific interactions, such as competition. Non-invasive methods of density estimation make it possible to increase population and ecological knowledge for a wide variety of species. The Random Encounter Model (REM) and Faecal Standing Crop (FSC) methods emerge as alternative tools to estimate elusive species without individual markings. Brocket deer inhabit tropical forests in the Neotropics and are all elusive, shy and without individual patterns of distinction. They are strictly selective in resource and ecological similarities, and overlapping at niche dimensions suggests interspecific competition among them. Using non-invasive tools (camera traps and faecal DNA), our goal is to estimate population densities of brocket deer species in syntopy. The objectives of this project are: 1) to estimate population densities; 2) to compare REM and FSC methods; and 3) to evaluate the variation in densities in co-occurrence sites. Three Protected Areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest with different species compositions are being sampled using camera traps and scat detection dogs for faecal sampling. The parameters of the REM and FSC methods are being collected at the time of field data collection. Thus, we hope to advance in methodological improvement to obtain accurate density estimates in order to contribute to the knowledge of brocket deer populations and to support management plans and conservation actions for their species. (AU)