Protected areas and unpaved roads mediate habitat use of the giant anteater in anthropogenic landscapes

Author(s)

Versiani, Natalia F. ^[1] ; Bailey, Larissa L. ^[2] ; Pasqualotto, Nielson ^{[1, 3]} ; Rodrigues, Thiago F. ^[3] ; Paolino, Roberta M. ^{[1, 3]} ; Alberici, Vinicius ^{[1, 3]} ; Chiarello, Adriano G. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Colorado State Univ, Dept Fish Wildlife & Conservat Biol, Ft Collins, CO 80523 - USA

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Super Agr Luiz de Queiroz, Programa Interunidades Posgrad Ecol Aplicada, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY; v. 102, n. 3, p. 802-813, JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The drastic reduction of the Brazilian Cerrado has transformed this savanna hotspot into vast swaths of commodity-based agriculture fields, mainly soybean, sugarcane, and beef-production pasturelands. The resulting habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal factors underlying population decline of native species inhabiting the Cerrado, particularly those with a high demand for space, low population density, and specialized diet, such as the endangered giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Although the species has been studied in protected areas, we know much less about its ability to endure in disturbed landscapes. Here, we analyzed camera-trapping data to estimate a proxy of habitat use ((psi) over bar; occupancy) and detection probabilities of the giant anteater, identifying environmental covariates influencing these parameters in landscapes with intensive agriculture and commercial forestry. We found this species using about half of the study area (model average (Psi) over bar = 0.51, CI = 0.40-0.62), with two predictors strongly influencing habitat use: protected areas and unpaved roads. In turn, detection probability correlates positively with area of open Cerrado and negatively with area of settlements. The species is more likely to use unpaved roads inside protected areas ((psi) over bar = 0.90, CI = 0.47-0.75), compared to off road sites in the surrounding areas ((psi) over bar = 0.19, CI = 0.10-0.34). Our findings indicate that giant anteaters are dependent on nature reserves and native vegetation areas existing on private properties, whose protection is regulated by the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law. Given the relative paucity of state-owned protected areas in the Brazilian Cerrado, increasing the adherence of rural owners to this law is, therefore, key for the conservation of the giant anteater. The intense use of unpaved roads might reflect travelling and/or foraging optimization, a behavioral response that, nevertheless, may compound this species' susceptibility to suffer mortality from roadkill. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11788-1 - European Hare invasion and its association with structure, composition and agricultural crops cycle in the interior of São Paulo
• Grantee: Nielson Aparecido Pasqualotto Salvador
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/12914-7 - Remaining biodiversity in permanent preservation areas (PPAs) from the northeast of the state of São Paulo: medium and large sized mammals situation
• Grantee: Roberta Montanheiro Paolino
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 11/22449-4 - Conservation of the giant-anteater in Cerrado remnants of Northeastern São Paulo State: landscape occupancy in a region of intensive agriculture
• Grantee: Adriano Garcia Chiarello
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/19106-1 - Mammal occurrence and biological invasion in Cerrado remnants of agricultural landscapes
• Grantee: Adriano Garcia Chiarello
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants