Water supply in artificial drinking troughs: A strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Mayan Forest
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Keywords
Drinking fountains, photo-trapping, mammals, drought, climate change., Drinking fountains, photo-trapping, mammals, drought, climate change
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this work was to verify the functionality of the troughs based on the fauna record.
Design/methodology/approach: About 70 artificial drinking troughs were installed, most of them inside the core zones of the CBR, and the remaining ones have been established in communities under the protection and supervision of beekeepers. A photo-trapping station was associated with each of the installed drinking troughs.
Results: 91 species of wildlife have been identified that use the water from the artificial drinking troughs, of which 30 are mammals, 53 are birds, 5 are reptiles and 3 are amphibians. Endangered species such as the jaguar and the tapir are among the most frequent visitors to these sites, especially during the dry season.
Study limitations/implications: The use of artificial water troughs is a good alternative to guarantee water availability in the Calakmul region. The high diversity of species that visit the drinking troughs constantly during the dry season makes evident the functionality of the water supply strategy in artificial drinking troughs.
Findings/conclusions: The drinking troughs can be a tool used for various objectives in the region, it arose from the need to respond to an emergency climatological event such as drought, but has been adapting to the needs of the area and adapting to other activities, being considered a successful management strategy in the face of climate change.