Inventory and Conservation of Mammals in an Araucaria Forest Remnant, Parana, Brazil

Abstract

The Araucaria Forest (AF) once covered 37% of State of Parana, but nowadays less than 1% of mature AF was left. Besides being one of the most threatened Brazilian ecosystems, the AF is also poorly studied. So, the main objective of the present study was to contribute with the knowledge and conservation of Parana state mammals, focusing on AF species. The field study was conducted in the Embrapa Florestas property (25º19´ S - 49º09´ W), that has 301 ha of which 105 ha are covered by disturbed primary AF and the other 196 ha by secondary AF forests and forest plantations. Mammalian records were made twice a week between April 2003 and February 2004 employing direct and indirect methods including visual observations, analysis of vestiges, collection of dead, hunted or car-bitten individuals, interviews and museum studies. Altogether those techniques revealed the presence of 27 mammals, but this number is an underestimation since small species were poorly sampled. However, the presence of rare and/or endangered species, like Cabassous tatouay, Mimon bennettii, Leopardus triginus, L. wiedii and Mazama spp., in the study area reinforce the importance of small forest remnants for the conservation of the Araucarian forest  mammals of State of Parana.