Relación entre la presencia de equinos de trabajo (Equus caballus) y la distribución espacial y temporal del venado cola blanca (odocoileus virginianus) en el Parque Nacional Santa Rosa
Fecha
2020-10
Autores
Morera Chacón, Brayan Heiner
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Resumen
Los caballos (Equus caballus) han sido grandes aliados en la restauración del bosque
seco del Parque Nacional Santa Rosa (PNSR), ubicado en el pacífico norte de Costa Rica, al
ser usados como agentes dispersores de semillas y controladores de pasto jaragua. Sin
embargo, en otras latitudes se ha documentado que los caballos pueden afectar a especies
animales nativas modificando el hábitat o cambiando su comportamiento. En esta
investigación: (i) realicé una revisión bibliográfica sistemática evaluando los efectos de la
presencia de equinos en poblaciones de mamíferos silvestres; (ii) analice la relación
espacial entre caballos y venados cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus) al comparar el uso de
hábitat de venados en presencia y ausencia de caballos, mediante monitoreo con cámaras
trampa; (iii) determiné la relación temporal entre caballos y venados, utilizando datos de
actividad diaria obtenidos con foto–trampeo. La toma de datos la realicé durante la estación
lluviosa (junio–noviembre) del 2019. Solo catorce estudios evaluaron el efecto de la actividad
de equinos en poblaciones de mamíferos silvestres, sugiriendo que los cambios en los
componentes estructurales del hábitat parecen ser más importantes para los pequeños
mamíferos, mientras que la competencia de interferencia por la presencia de caballos
generan respuestas en los mamíferos mayores. En el área de manejo de equinos del PNSR
los venados hicieron un mayor uso en comparación con las áreas donde los caballos
estaban ausentes, sugiriendo que el pastoreo de equinos en baja intensidad facilita a los
venados cola blanca la obtención de forraje. La actividad diaria del caballo y el venado cola
blanca fue principalmente diurna, con un alto grado de superposición temporal. Los
resultados muestran una respuesta indiferente al no ser atraídos ni segregados
temporalmente por la presencia de caballos. Los resultados sugieren que el manejo y
presencia de caballos en el PNSR no tiene efectos negativos en la distribución espacial y
temporal del venado cola blanca. Recomiendo mantener la intensidad de pastoreo actual
(0,05 caballos por hectárea) para evitar la degradación ambiental por la actividad de
caballos, mantener un monitoreo constante de la actividad de caballos y mamíferos silvestres
en el área de manejo de equinos, incluir en el plan general de manejo la importancia de
contar con un área de manejo de equinos para la implementación de estrategias de
conservación y, por último, incentivar la investigación en el área de manejo de equinos para
contar con mayor información para la toma de decisiones.
Horses (Equus caballus) have been great allies in restoring the dry forest of the Santa Rosa National Park (PNSR), located in the northern Pacific of Costa Rica, when used as seed dispersal agents and jaragua grass controllers. However, in other latitudes it has been documented that horses can affect the wildlife by modifying habitat or changing their behavior. Therefore, in this research: (i) carry out a systematic bibliographic review evaluating the effects of the presence of equines in populations of wild mammals; (ii) analyze the spatial relationship between horses and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by comparing the habitat use of deer in the presence and absence of horses, by monitoring with trap cameras; (iii) determine the temporal relationship between horses and deer, using daily activity data used with trap cameras. Data collection was carried out during the rainy season (June - November) of 2019. Few studies have evaluated the effect of equine activity on populations of wild mammals, suggesting that changes in the structural components of the habitat seem to be more important for small mammals, while the competition for interference by the presence of horses responds to larger mammals. In the equine management area within the PNSR, deer made greater use compared to areas where horses were absent, suggesting that low-intensity equine grazing makes it easier for white-tailed deer to obtain forage. The daily activity of the horse and the white-tailed deer was mainly diurnal, with a high degree of temporal overlap. The results indicated an indifferent response to not being attracted or segregated specifically by the presence of horses. The results found that the management and presence of horses in the PNSR does not have negative effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of the white-tailed deer. I recommend maintaining the current grazing intensity (0.05 horses per hectare) to avoid environmental degradation due to horse activity, maintain constant monitoring of the horses activity and wild mammals in the equine management area, include in the general management plan the importance of having an equine management area for the implementation of conservation strategies and, finally, to encourage research in the equine management area to have more information in making management decisions.
Horses (Equus caballus) have been great allies in restoring the dry forest of the Santa Rosa National Park (PNSR), located in the northern Pacific of Costa Rica, when used as seed dispersal agents and jaragua grass controllers. However, in other latitudes it has been documented that horses can affect the wildlife by modifying habitat or changing their behavior. Therefore, in this research: (i) carry out a systematic bibliographic review evaluating the effects of the presence of equines in populations of wild mammals; (ii) analyze the spatial relationship between horses and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by comparing the habitat use of deer in the presence and absence of horses, by monitoring with trap cameras; (iii) determine the temporal relationship between horses and deer, using daily activity data used with trap cameras. Data collection was carried out during the rainy season (June - November) of 2019. Few studies have evaluated the effect of equine activity on populations of wild mammals, suggesting that changes in the structural components of the habitat seem to be more important for small mammals, while the competition for interference by the presence of horses responds to larger mammals. In the equine management area within the PNSR, deer made greater use compared to areas where horses were absent, suggesting that low-intensity equine grazing makes it easier for white-tailed deer to obtain forage. The daily activity of the horse and the white-tailed deer was mainly diurnal, with a high degree of temporal overlap. The results indicated an indifferent response to not being attracted or segregated specifically by the presence of horses. The results found that the management and presence of horses in the PNSR does not have negative effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of the white-tailed deer. I recommend maintaining the current grazing intensity (0.05 horses per hectare) to avoid environmental degradation due to horse activity, maintain constant monitoring of the horses activity and wild mammals in the equine management area, include in the general management plan the importance of having an equine management area for the implementation of conservation strategies and, finally, to encourage research in the equine management area to have more information in making management decisions.
Descripción
Palabras clave
EQUUS CABALLUS, ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS, CABALLOS, HORSES, HABITAT, PASTOREO, PASTORING, MAMIFEROS, MAMMALS, BOSQUE TROPICAL SECO, DRY TROPICAL FOREST, VENADO COLA BLANCA, WHITETAIL DEER, GUANACASTE (COSTA RICA)