Terrestrial mammal diversity in forests close to pineapple crops, Cutris San Carlos, Costa Rica.

Terrestrial mammal diversity in forests close to pineapple crops, Cutris San Carlos, Costa Rica.

Authors

  • Jonathan Navarro P Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Costa Rica
  • Alexander Gómez L Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Costa Rica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v7i1.862

Keywords:

terrestrial mammals, forest patches, diversity, fragmentation, pineapple.

Abstract

Pineapple crops reduce the size of forest fragments and generate pressure on biodiversity in the remnants. To determine potential negative effects of forest fragmentation we assessed diversity and composition of terrestrial mammals in forest patches on three farms under pineapple crops. We placed
Sherman and Tomahawk traps, footprints traps near water bodies, and made daily tracks to obtain traces and direct observation of mammals. We identified seven species of wild mammals, mostly omnivorous and under a least concern conservation status. The effect of cover type generated by the pineapple crops is consistent with mammal composition. Pineapple crops could enhance the most common wildlife problems, such as predator-prey relationships. Therefore, pineapple plantations, by causing fragmentation and lack of connectivity among forest patches, threaten extinction of mammals in some of their original range.

Published

2015-06-05

How to Cite

Navarro P, J., & Gómez L, A. (2015). Terrestrial mammal diversity in forests close to pineapple crops, Cutris San Carlos, Costa Rica. UNED Research Journal, 7(1), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v7i1.862

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