Importance of natural protected areas for the conservation of terrestrial mammals in southern sierra Madre oriental, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to determine the population status of land mammals in two natural protected areas of the Sierra Madre Oriental Ecological Corridor in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach: the field work was carried out in two sampling periods (from August 2014 to January 2015 and from August 2015 to February 2016) in which two non-invasive techniques were used (photo-traps and tracks identification). The Relative Abundance Index was obtained for each technique. The Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test was performed.

Results: the most abundant species via photo-trapping were Sylvilagus floridanus and Sciurus aureogaster, and with tracks were Odocoileus virginianus and Mazama temama in the RBSAT and RFX, respectively. There were significant differences in the abundance of species between sites, being lower in the RBSAT by photo-trapping and higher by tracks. Twenty species were recorded by photo-trapping and 17 by tracks.

Limitations on study/implications: the results of this study can be used in natural protected areas and their influence areas, however, the methodology can be applicable elsewhere.

Findings/conclusions: based on the information generated, it is suggested that carnivore abundance decreases southward, and that RFX eventually could not sustain a carnivore population in the long term. Species listed in some risk category were found in both areas, so these areas must be conserved to avoid the disappearance of these wildlife species.