Importancia de lagunas naturales y artificiales para la fauna de la isla Santa Cruz y San Cristobal mediante fototrampeo

Abstract

Abstract: Freshwater is essential for many biological species. In Galapagos, this resource is limited and available on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal Islands, which due to factors such as the formation of older soils and biological activity have led to the retention of freshwater bodies. Additionally, there has been an increase in recent years in the construction of artificial freshwater bodies for agricultural use. In this context, we used camera trap methods to characterize and compare the richness and relative abundance of terrestrial vertebrates frequenting natural and artificial freshwater bodies, both in the dry and rainy seasons. As a result, we recorded 24 species, including endemic, native and introduced species. The most representative group was birds with 17 species. The richness and relative abundance varied between natural and artificial freshwater bodies, as well as between the rainy and dry seasons of the year. The increase in absolute numbers of species relative abundance in the rainy season and in natural freshwater bodies was statistically significant.