Diversidad de masto fauna en bosque seco tumbesino; el caso de estudio de la Reserva Ecológica Arenillas REA.

Abstract

The Arenillas Ecological Reserve (REA) is one of the last remaining dry forests in southern of Ecuador and it is a hot spot of biodiversity. The objective of the present study was to describe the diversity of mammals in the Arenillas Ecological Reserve. We used trap cameras for photosampled the mamals and describe the composition of species. 12 trap cameras were placed 1km apart each one, the cameras remained active by 24 hours during 5 months. In this time 12 species of mammals were registered, the carnivorous was the order most represented. White tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus was the species with highest Relative Abundance (41.87 individuals in 100 hours / camera). This species represented 75.44% of total abundance, while Didelphis marsupialis and Puma concolor were the species with less Relative Abundance (0.09 individuals in 100 hours / camera) each one. The information obtained from the study is very important since mammals are indicators of the forest conservation state and their disappearance would be implied an imbalance in the ecosystem.