*Dirección para correspondencia

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Abstract

In Venezuela, mammals represent an important group of wildlife with high anthropogenic pressures that threaten their permanence. Focused on the need to generate baseline information that allows us to contribute to document and conserve the richness of local wildlife, we conducted a mammalogical inventory in Yurubí National Park, located in Yaracuy State in Venezuela. We carried out fieldworks in three selected vegetation types: an evergreen forest at 197m, a semi-deciduous forest ranging between 100-230m, and a cloud forest at 1 446m. We used Victor, Sherman, Havahart and pitfall traps for the capture of small non-volant mammals and mist nets for bats. In addition, we carried out interviews with local residents and direct-indirect observations for medium-large sized mammals. At least 79 species inhabit the area, representing 28% of the species recorded for the North side of the country. Chiroptera (39 spp.), Carnivora (13 spp.) and Rodentia (9 spp.) were the orders with the highest richness, as expected for the Neotropics. The evergreen forest had the greatest species richness (n=68), with a sampling effort of 128 net-hours, 32 bucket-days, 16 hours of observations, and three persons interviewed, followed by cloud forest (n=45) with 324 net-hours, 790 traps-night, 77 bucket-days, 10 hours of observations, and one person interviewed. The lowest richness value was in the semi-deciduous forest (n=41), with 591 traps-night, 15 net-hours, 10 hours of observations and three persons interviewed. Data and observations obtained in this inventory (e.g., endemism, species known as “surrogate species” threatened in Venezuela) give an important role at the Yurubí National Park in the maintenance and conservation of local ecosystems and wildlife, threatened by human pressures in the Cordillera de la Costa.

Key words: inventory, mammals, Sierra de Aroa, Venezuela, Yurubí National Park.

Resumen

En Venezuela, los mamíferos representan un importante grupo de la fauna con altas presiones antropogénicas que amenazan su permanencia. Enfocados en la necesidad de generar información de línea base que nos permita contribuir con la documentación y conservación de la riqueza de la fauna local, realizamos un inventario de mamíferos en el Parque Nacional Yurubí, localizado en el estado Yaracuy, Venezuela. Llevamos a cabo trabajos de campo en tres tipos de vegetación seleccionados: un bosque siempreverde a 197m., un bosque semideciduo entre 100-230m y un bosque nublado a 1 446m. Utilizamos trampas Victor, Sherman, Havahart y un sistema de trampa de caída para la captura de pequeños mamíferos no voladores y mallas de neblina para murciélagos. Adicionalmente, entrevistamos a los pobladores locales para el registro de mamíferos de porte mediano a grande junto con observaciones ocasionales directas e indirectas. Al menos 79 especies están presentes en el área de estudio, representando el 28% de la fauna de mamíferos registrada para el norte del país. Chiroptera (39 spp.), Carnivora (13 spp.) y Rodentia (9 spp.) fueron los órdenes con las mayores riquezas taxonómicas, coincidiendo con los resultados esperados en el Neotrópico. El bosque siempreverde obtuvo la mayor riqueza de especies (n=68), con un esfuerzo de muestreo de 128 horas-malla, 32 baldes-día,16 horas de observaciones  y tres personas entrevistadas, seguida por el bosque nublado (n=45) con 324 horas-malla, 790 trampas-noche, 77 baldes-día, 10 horas de observaciones y una persona entrevistada. El valor más bajo de la riqueza fue en el bosque semideciduo (n=41), con 591 trampas-noche, 15 horas-malla, 10 horas de observaciones y tres personas entrevistadas. Los datos y observaciones obtenidos aquí (e.g., endemismo, especies conocidas como “especies sucedáneas” amenazadas en Venezuela), le confieren al Parque Nacional Yurubí un papel importante en la conservación y mantenimiento de los ecosistemas y fauna local, actualmente amenazados por presiones humanas locales en la Cordillera de la Costa.

Palabras claves: inventarios, mamíferos, Parque Nacional Yurubí, Sierra de Aroa, Venezuela.

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In Venezuela, ]]> after birds (Hilty et al. 2003, Ochoa & Aguilera 2003). Linares (1998) documented 327 species included in 12 orders and 42 families. Later, Ochoa & Aguilera (2003) reported 351 species in 13 orders and 43 families and this number has increased in recent years thanks to taxonomic contributions and new descriptions (e.g., Anderson 2003, Lew & ]]> et al. 2005, Lew et al. 2006, Weskler et al. 2006, Molinari 2007, Gutiérrez & Molinari 2008). The current checklist based on Wilson & Reeder (2005) and supported with additional publications (e.g., Gardner 2008, Dávalos & Corthals 2008, Gutiérrez & Molinari 2008, Ochoa et al. 2008, ]]> et al. 2006, Molinari 2007, Gardner 2008, Gutiérrez
& Molinari 2008, Anderson & ]]> et al. 2009).

Currently, Venezuela has 43 National Parks of which 23 have mammalogical records (Handley 1976, Valdez et al. 1984, Ochoa 1986, Gardner 1988, Guerrero et al. 1989, Fernández-Badillo & Ulloa 1990, Ochoa & Gorzula 1992, ]]> et al. 1992, Ochoa et al. 1993, 1995, 2000, 2005, Bisbal 1995, 1998, 2008, Soriano et al. 1990, 1999, Linares & Rivas 2003, MARN 2003, 2005, Rivas & Salcedo 2005, Lew et al. 2009).

Regarding the ]]>
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Taxonomic studies of other vertebrates in localities of the Sierra de Aroa and in the Yurubí National Park have resulted in descriptions of new endemic species: a highland forest frog (Dendropsophus yaracuyanus Mijares-Urrutia & Rivero 2000); a caecilian (Caecilia flavopuntacta Roze & Solano 1963), and 10 fishes (Rodríguez-Olarte et al. 2005). For Yurubí vegetation, there is endemism reported in some plant species in families Rubiaceae: Hoffmania aroensis, H. stenocarpa and Piperaceae: Piperomia croizatiana (Delascio 1977).

Because there is a lack of ]]> anthropogenic pressures that threaten the permanence of species that inhabit the mountain regions in Cordillera de la Costa (Ochoa et al. 1995, Rodríguez & Rojas 1998), here, we present the preliminary results of an inventory focused on the need to generate baseline information as an effort to contribute with some information and to stimulate the conservation of local wildlife.
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Materials and methods

Study Area: The Yurubí National Park is located in the Sierra de Aroa, Yaracuy State, Venezuela (Fig. 1). It ]]>

Data acquisition: The first step of ]]> mammals from specimens deposited in national institutions (museums and universities) and literature review. The second step consisted of three field expeditions, beginning on August 29- September 6 2008, for the locality called “Mayorica” (10°26’ N - 68°40’ W; 100-230m), and we then carried out two expeditions on February 6-14 2009 and May 16-21 2009, in the locality “El Silencio” (10°25’ N - 68°48’ W; 1 446m). The fieldwork consisted of seven days for “Mayorica” and six days for “El Silencio”, ]]>

We selected three vegetation types in Yurubí National Park: an evergreen forest at 197m, located in “Mayorica”. The understory was open with the families Palmae (e.g., Geonoma sp., Euterpe ]]> and Chamaedorea sp.), Melastomataceae, Piperaceae and Rubiaceae, being the most observed in the lower stratum. In watercourses, we noted Heliconiaceae (e.g., Heliconia psittacorum and H. bihai), Acanthaceae, Poaceae (e.g., ]]> e.g., Xiphidium caeruleum). Trees included Ficus spp. (Moraceae), Gyranthera caribensis (Malvaceae), Pachira aquatica (Bombacaceae), Clusia sp. (Guttiferae), Lecythis ollari (Lecythidaceae), Inga sp. (Leguminosae), Ocotea sp. ]]> Brownea grandiceps (Fabaceae) among others. Epiphytism was represented by Bromeliaceae (e.g., Guzmania), Orchidaceae (e.g., Epidendrum and Eulophidium) and Araceae (e.g., Philodendron).
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We selected within this same locality a strip of semi-deciduous forest ranging 100-213m, and here, trees belonging to the following genera: Bursera (Burseraceae), Hura (Euphorbiaceae), Ceiba (Bombacaceae), Cedrela (Meliaceae), Ceroxilum ]]> (Arecaceae), Tabebuia (Bignoniaceae) and Spondias (Anacardiaceae) were the best represented; in addition Leguminosae, Araceae, Selagineceae, abundant lianas and epiphytes in the lower stratum.

The last site chosen was a cloud forest at 1 446m in “El Silencio”. The following plant genera were the most common in this locality: Persea, Clusia, Guarea, Sapium, Lecythis, Calatea, Ficus, Podocarpus, Brosimum, Gustavia, Gyranthera, Oliganthes, Catoblastus, Guzmania, Cecropia and Cyathea belonging to the families Lauraceae, Guttiferae, Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lecythidaceae, Marantaceae, Moraceae, Podocarpaceae, Arecaceae, Malvaceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Urticaceae and Cyatheaceae.

Capture of small non-volant mammals: We set four types of traps following of Ochoa et al. (2008) recommendations.

1) Victor traps, were placed on the ]]> Musa sp.) and 3) food for birds (canary seed). These traps were placed at approximately ]]>

Capture of bats: The procedure followed Ochoa et al. (2008). ]]> e.g., caves, crevices, foliage, hollows in trees and logs, etc.). The total sampling effort was 323 net-hours.

]]> Medium-large sized mammals: To record medium-large sized mammals (e.g., Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Rodentia), we used a field guide to interview local residents together with our direct and indirect sightings (e.g., tracks, vocalizations and scats). We interviewed seven persons and we carried out 36 hours of observations.
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Identifications followed Wilson & Reeder (2005) and Gardner (2008) for most species, Weksler et al. (2006) for Oryzomyini, Larsen et al. (2007) for large-sized Artibeus, Lim et al. (2008) for small-sized Artibeus and Voss & Jansa (2009) for ]]> et al. (2007), for animals captured in the field. Voucher specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol, and are deposited at the Museo de la Estación Biológica de Rancho Grande (EBRG-Maracay) and Museo de Zoología (MZUC), Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología FACYT, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela.

]]> Results

At least 79 species, representing 10 orders inhabit in the study area (Table 1). Of these, 73% (n=58) represent new records in Yurubí National Park. Chiroptera ]]> Table 1), the evergreen forest (n=67), had the highest richness, followed by the cloud forest (n=45), and finally by the semi-deciduous forest (n=41). Sampling efforts in every inventoried locality are shown in Table 2.

Species accumulation ]]> Fig. 2). For Chiroptera, results indicated a high richness concentrated in Phyllostomidae (74.36%), Emballonuridae (7.69%) and Mormoopidae (5.13%) (Table 1). Noteworthy records of foliage gleaning bats (e.g., Micronycteris hirsuta, M. megalotis, M. microtis, M. minuta, Lonchorhina aurita, Mimon crenulatum, Tonatia saurophila and Lophostoma silvicolum) were obtained in this study (Table 1). There were no representatives of Molossidae (free-tailed bats), Natalidae (funnel-eared bats) and Thyropteridae (disk-winged bats), documented in other localities of the Sierra de Aroa and Cordillera de la Costa.

Rodents captured ( Transandinomys talamancae, Heteromys anomalus, H. catopterius, Nephelomys caracolus and Proechimys guairae) represented important records for the mammalian fauna from Yurubí National Park. Of these, the latter three species were endemics endemic for the Cordillera de la Costa and Sierra de San Luis and Proechimys ]]>

Marsupials documented were Didelphis marsupialis, Marmosa demererae, Marmosops fuscatus, Chironectes minimus and Monodelphis palliolata (Table 1). The first ]]> Chironectes, a terrestrial species associated with watercourses and Monodelphis, fully terrestrial. All these were captured and observed in primary habitats in Yurubí National Park.

We recorded 10 species assigned in ]]> Table 1). This number includes six species “Vulnerable”, one “Near threatened” and three with “Data deficient”. It is interesting to mention those mammals, such as monkeys (e.g., Alouatta seniculus and Cebus olivaceus), carnivores (e.g., ]]> ) and the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), were apparently common, according to the interviews and occasional records in the study area. Another situation occurs for the paca (Cuniculus paca), peccaries (Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu), agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), ]]> Mazama americana and Odocoileus cariacou), cats (Panthera onca, Puma concolor) and rabbits (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), which are the mainly hunted mammals, according to local residents. From the total of mammals listed, 15 taxa have their restricted distributions in Northern Venezuela: Marmosops fuscatus, Monodelphis palliolata, Diphylla ecaudata, Anoura cultrata, Lonchorhina ]]> and Proechimys guairae.

Discussion

]]> Records obtained here provide new data for the Sierra de Aroa (Handley 1976) and update the list of mammals from Yurubí National Park. The documentation of these species represents 28% of 278 reported mammals in Northern Venezuela (Wilson & Reeder 2005).

With respect to medium-large sized ]]> Pecari tajacu and Tayassu pecari), paca (Cuniculus paca), agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and deer (Mazama americana and Odocoileus cariacou) among others, their use as food can be considered as occasional, but it can be transformed if the daily use by local residents results successful in their hunting activities. They hunt very often, but this activity does not represent ]]> Mazama americana, a large-sized mammal evaluated in “Data deficient” for Venezuela (Rodríguez & Rojas 2008), was used in Yurubí National Park as food by local residents; the rest of mediumlarge sized mammals recorded in this study, and threatened in other localities of the country (Ochoa et al. 1995, Ochoa 2000), were apparently not hunted here.

Of carnivores defined in Venezuela within some threat category (Rodríguez & Rojas 2008), Puma concolor (Near threatened), Panthera onca, Leopardus pardalis and Leopardus sp. (Vulnerable) would be species mostly affected in the ]]> Panthera onca is defined as “umbrella species” and Puma concolor as “flagship species”. These species are used in ecosystem conservation programs in the Neotropics (Isasi 2011); however, in an occasional encounter with these cats in the study area, they can be hunted without any importance of their conservation status. Another taxon considered “flagship species” in Yurubí National Park was the tapir (Tapirus terrestris); this large-sized mammal apparently was not hunted in the study area according to interviews with local residents.

According to surveys, the following ]]> they were not used for any purpose: Didelphis marsupialis, Tamandua tetradactyla, Alouatta seniculus, Cebus olivaceus, Procyon cancrivorus, Conepatus semistriatus and Potos flavus.

]]> Small mammals showed a high number of species and families for bats (Phyllostomidae, Emballonuridae and Mormoopidae), marsupials (Didelphidae) and rodents (Sciuridae, Heteromyidae, Cricetidae and Echimyidae), very close to values found in other localities of the Northern side of the country (Handley 1976, Ochoa et al. 1995).

There are few ]]> Transandinomys  talamancae in the Sierra de Aroa (which Handley 1976, assigned to the Oryzomys “capito” complex), and this rodent together with Sciurus granatensis, Heteromys anomalus, H. catopterius, Nephelomys caracolus and Proechimys guairae were the only representatives of families Sciuridae, Heteromyidae, Cricetidae and Echimyidae in the evaluated vegetation types. Some researchers regarded ]]> Heteromys anomalus, as one of the most common terrestrial rodent of forests in Northern Venezuela from sea level to over 2 000m (Handley 1976, Valdez et al. 1984), but a recent taxonomic study (Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009), has confirmed a new species (Heteromys catopterius), from populations previously ascribed to the anomalus complex.

This new species was found between 1 500-1 940m (Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009). This record in Sierra de Aroa, represents the first one for this rodent, and a substantial range extension to the West occurring from the West of the Depresión de Yaracuy, it is likely disjunctive from known records to the East.

]]> It is noteworthy to mention the importance of Proechimys guairae, Heteromys catopterius and Nephelomys caracolus as endemic species to Northern Venezuela (Musser & Carleton 2005, Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009). In the present, these rodents have not been evaluated in threat categories defined in the country (Rodríguez & Rojas 2008).

]]> Phyllostomid bats such as Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus planirostris and Sturnira lilium were the most common and with higher capture frequencies, in agreement with other records in primary forests in Venezuela (Handley 1976, Ochoa et al. 1995, Ochoa 2000). They commonly represent the dominant fraction in the understory of ]]> et al. 1995, 2005), partly because of their very general food requirements (e.g., these bats consume fruits of understory and canopy plants like Piper spp., Ficus spp., Cecropia spp. and Solanum spp., Ochoa 2000); furthermore, there is no overlap in items consumed (Carollia is ]]> Piper, Artibeus in Ficus and Cecropia and Sturnira in Solanum, Ochoa 2000, Thies & Kalko 2004); there is no overlap in flight patterns during the search of food (flights in understory for Carollia spp. And Sturnira spp., and understory and canopy for Artibeus ]]>

Particularly in the evergreen forest, which had a primary condition, we observed forest Piper species in the understory, consumed mainly by Carollia spp. (Thies & Kalko 2004), as well as the typical species of Ficus spp., which provide fruits throughout the year. Some bats captured in this inventory were considered strict frugivores (e.g., Artibeus spp., Carollia spp., and Sturnira spp.), using these resources as items of their diet (Kalko et al. 1996, Thies & Kalko 2004).
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An interesting record is the presence in the study area of 13 of the 20 species in the Cordillera de la Costa (Linares 1998) of bats belonging to the subfamily Phyllostominae. Bats captured in Yurubí National Park of this subfamily are considered rare and have low relative abundances (Ochoa 2000); their feeding strategies include insectivorous (e.g., Lonchorhina aurita, Lophostoma ]]> and Mimon crenulatum), fruits consumers as an additional component to their diet of insects (e.g., Micronycteris spp., and Tonatia saurophila), pollen and nectar consumers (e.g., Phyllostomus discolor and P. hastatus) and small ]]> e.g., Chrotopterus auritus and Trachops cirrhosus).

In addition to their ecological preferences, which make their capture difficult (because these bats habit in primary forests ]]> et al. 1992, Ochoa 2000).

Another support of the primary condition of the vegetation inventoried was the absence of individuals of the common vampire (Desmodus ]]> ) in sampled days. This vampire consumes only blood, with preference for the cattle, and often is considered a “damaging species” in localities with great disturbances (Fernández-Badillo & Ulloa 1990). Although we did not captured Desmodus rotundus in the study area, local residents recognize it because sometimes their domestic animals suffer bite injuries.

Similarly, the capture of another ]]> Diphylla ecaudata, collected in the evergreen forest at 197m, indicates the primary condition of environments. This species unlike Desmodus rotundus, has been recorded mostly at elevations above 800m, in pristine forests in Venezuela (Handley 1976) and specializes in the consumption of vertebrate blood, with preferences for the avian one (Greenhall et al. 1984) from species that live in forested environments, making it a rare species to collect in disturbed areas.

The mammals of Yurubí National Park are an important component of the biodiversity of forests in the Cordillera de la Costa. Data and observations obtained in this inventory (e.g., endemism, mammals known as “surrogate species” threatened in Venezuela) ]]>

Acknowledgments

Authors wish to ]]>

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*Correspondencia: ]]> Franger J. García: Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología (FACYT), Universidad de Carabobo; cormura@yahoo.com,. Grupo de Exploraciones Científicas Minas de Aroa, Yaracuy (GECMA-Yaracuy).
Mariana Delgado-Jaramillo: Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología (FACYT), Universidad de Carabobo; marianadelgado13@yahoo.es Grupo de Exploraciones Científicas Minas de Aroa, Yaracuy (GECMA-Yaracuy).
Marjorie Machado: Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología (FACYT), Universidad de Carabobo; mmachado3@uc.edu.ve
Luis Aular: Grupo de Exploraciones Científicas Minas de Aroa, Yaracuy (GECMA-Yaracuy);guacharocuy@hotmail.com

1. Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología (FACYT), Universidad de Carabobo; cormura@yahoo.com, marianadelgado13@yahoo.es, mmachado3@uc.edu.ve
2. Grupo de Exploraciones Científicas Minas de Aroa, Yaracuy (GECMA-Yaracuy); guacharocuy@hotmail.com