Influence of human activities on some medium and large-sized mammals’ richness and abundance in the Lacandon Rainforest

Abstract

We evaluated the influence of six human activities (related variables) on the richness and abundance of large and medium-sized mammals in the southern portion of the Lacandon Rainforest, including protected and non-protected areas. The human activities measured have different influences on mammal richness and abundance. Our results show that some human activities (human density and anthropogenic land cover, and agriculture/cattle ranching) had no effect on large and medium-sized mammal populations, but community-based protection, such as medium levels of tourism and hunting, had a negative influence on richness and abundance. Those variables negatively influencing the mammal community were reported in one of the study sites. Data indicate both an opportunity for applied integral conservation actions that involve people and their activities, as well as an opportunity to support biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes by integrating human activities with protected areas and conservation.