Abundancia relativa de medianos y grandes mamíferos en el Bosque Protector Colambo-Yacuri, suroriente del Ecuador

Abstract

A rapid assessment on the richness and relative abundance of medium and large mammals was carried in three areas af the Colambo-Yacuri Protective Forest: the Angashcola Communal Reserve, Lagunas Negras-Bermejas and Manchananga. The evaluation was made on 20 km of trails, for each area, and using two techniques: the direct observation and the record of signs such as tracks, scats, nests, body parts and for analysis reasons, the vocalizations were also included as signs. Also, species were listed according to local information. Fifteen species of mammals were identified based on 135 indications, compiled among the three areas, of which 13 are present in the Communal Reserve Angashcola, 10 species were in Lagunas Negras-Bermejas and 12 in Manchananga. The species richness presents a relatively mean value, compared with the number of medium and great size species that on the whole present the temperate and high Andean level (26 species). Nevertheless, it will be necessary to carry out evaluations in another season to determine changes in the species composition and to be able to define conservation approa-ches. An important discovery is the expansion, within Ecuador, of the range of altitudinal distribution of the dwarf deer.