Medium and large-sized mammals of a fragment of cerrado in the Triângulo Mineiro region, southeastern Brazil

Authors

  • Giselle Bastos Alves Universidade Federal de Uberlândia
  • Oswaldo Marçal Junior Universidade Federal de Uberlândia
  • Vera Lúcia de Campos Brites Univesidade Federal de Uberlândia

Keywords:

Mammal community, Inventory, Tracks

Abstract

This work was developed to determine the species richness and composition of medium and large-sized mammals and to evaluate spatial and seasonal distribution of the more frequent of these species in a fragment of Cerrado. The fieldwork was conducted at the Gloria Experimental Farm, a property of the Federal University of Uberlândia, from August, 2008 to October, 2009. Four sample sites were investigated including three physiognomies: gallery forest, cerrado sensu stricto and semi-deciduous forest. The surveys were conducted during the day and mammals were recorded through direct (visualizations and vocalizations) and indirect (tracks, feces, bones and fur) evidences. A total of 18 species was recorded (seven Orders and fourteen families) and the majority of them was classified as medium mammals. The highest relative frequencies were registered for Procyon cancrivorus, Dasypus novemcinctus, Myrmecophaga tridactyla and Chrysocyon brachyurus. The gallery forest showed the highest species richness. However, most species roamed over several physiognomies, indicating a generalist use of habitat. There was no significant difference in the seasonal distribution of the majority of the analyzed species. M. tridactyla, C. brachyurus, Lontra longicaudis e Pecari tajacu are endangered mammal species in the State of Minas Gerais. We conclude that the study area has a representative mammalian fauna and great potential for conservation biology, as indicated by the presence of threatened species.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2014-03-24

How to Cite

ALVES, G.B., MARÇAL JUNIOR, O. and BRITES, V.L. de C., 2014. Medium and large-sized mammals of a fragment of cerrado in the Triângulo Mineiro region, southeastern Brazil . Bioscience Journal [online], vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 863–873. [Accessed23 December 2024]. Available from: https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/22784.

Issue

Section

Biological Sciences