Fortaleciendo la gestión del Parque Nacional Podocarpus: Diversidad, endemismo y esado de coservación de los mamíferos de un área protegida megadiversa

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to structure the list of mammals existing in Podocarpus National Park (PNP), located between the provinces of Loja and Zamora Chinchipe in the southern Andes of Ecuador. The purpose of the research was to consolidate existing information on the distribution, endemism, and conservation status of the mammals inhabiting the park, in order to incorporate updated data from local research. The methodology used in this research was based on a systematic review of bibliographic information. The results obtained show that the PNP is home to 76 mammal species in mountainous and high-humidity areas, with notable locations such as San Francisco, Cajanuma, Jamboé, and Tapichalaca. The presence of one species endemic to the southern Andes of Ecuador, from the order Eulipotyphla and the family Soricidae, was determined. Regarding the 14 threatened species, these species are in this category primarily due to agricultural development and occasional hunting. It was concluded that the PNP harbors a significant diversity of mammals; however, it is evident that further research efforts are needed to obtain more comprehensive information on mammal species that have not been adequately studied, and thus define appropriate conservation actions for them.