Influences of long-term changes in land cover on mammal populations: an example from Mexico
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Influences of long-term changes in land cover on
mammal populations: an example from Mexico
CONSUELO LORENZO, EUGENIA C. SÁNTIZ
JORGE B O L A Ñ O S - C I T A L Á N and D A R Í O N A V A R R E T E - G U T I É R R E Z
Abstract Changes in vegetative cover and land use in the growth (Mas et al., ; Nájera et al., ), which increases
southern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, demand for space for housing and food production, and
Mexico, were identified by analysing satellite images from poor agricultural management, particularly with respect to
and . Fluctuations in population density of mam- livestock raising and prescribed burning of pastures (uncon-
mal species during – in response to these changes trolled burning of grasses to promote new growth of grazing
were analysed. During – the types of land use that pasture for cattle) for seasonal crops (López-Granados et al.,
increased in area (per year) were prescribed burning (un- ; Peralta-Rivero et al., ). Both of these matters have
controlled burning caused by humans) by . ha, seasonal led to reduction, degradation and fragmentation of habitat
agricultural plots by . ha, areas without vegetation by (Bender et al., ; Rioja et al., ; Lorenzo et al., ),
. ha, and human settlements by . ha. In the same directly affecting the amount and quality of vegetation, as
period, savannahs decreased by . ha, tropical dry forest well as food availability for wild animals.
by . ha, secondary forests by . ha, and human- In the southern region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,
induced grassland by . ha per year. The loss of these habitat consists of scrub and mangrove, with submerged vege-
habitats resulted in low population densities of mammals, tation in coastal lagoons (Superior Lagoon and Inferior
including the eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus and Lagoon; Ortiz et al., ), as well as extensive areas of savan-
the Tehuantepec jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis, which is cate- nah with isolated shrubs and trees (Rzedowski, ; Sántiz
gorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We recom- et al., ). Large areas of low tropical deciduous and low de-
mend establishing a communal ecological reserve in the ciduous forest (Torres-Colín, ), as well as savannahs and
study area to implement appropriate management strategies human-induced grasslands (native or exotic species that
for grassland communities and develop a programme of develop in sites in which the original vegetation has been
semi-captive breeding to conserve L. flavigularis. eliminated or in abandoned agricultural areas; Aristida,
Bouteloua, Cathestecum, Cenchrus, Digitaria, Eragrostis,
Keywords Carnivores, conservation, land management,
Panicum, Paspalum and Schizachyrium) are found in this
land use, Lepus flavigularis, Oaxaca, population density,
region (Rzedowski, ; INEGI, ; Sántiz et al., ).
Sylvilagus floridanus
Grasslands of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec have been
transformed for agriculture and livestock raising, causing
degradation and reduction of the original vegetation
(Sántiz et al., ). One mammal species of the region
Introduction that depends on savannahs and human-induced grasslands
is the endemic Tehuantepec jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis
I n tropical regions changes in land use have been the main
cause of biodiversity loss, with the associated loss of
habitats for wild flora and fauna (Arriaga & Gómez, ;
(Anderson & Gaunt, ; Lorenzo et al., ), which is ca-
tegorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Cervantes
et al., ). This lagomorph shares its habitat with other
González et al., ; INEGI, ). The principal causes of lagomorphs, such as the eastern cottontail Sylvilagus florida-
changes in vegetative cover and land use on the Isthmus of nus, as well as their predators: the coyote Canis latrans and
Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico, are human population the grey fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Lorenzo et al., ;
López et al., ).
Interactions among taxa influence abundance and dens-
CONSUELO LORENZO (Corresponding author), EUGENIA C. SÁNTIZ and JORGE ity (Erlinge et al., ; Daniel et al., ; Bailey, ) and
BOLAÑOS-CITALÁN Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El
Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal, Carretera Panamericana y can cause population fluctuations in response to environ-
Periférico Sur s/n, Barrio de María Auxiliadora, C.P. 29290, San Cristóbal de mental changes and the amount and quality of available
Las Casas, Chiapas, México. E-mail clorenzo@ecosur.mx
food (Keith & Windberg, ; Keith, ). Therefore,
DARÍO NAVARRETE-GUTIÉRREZ Laboratorio de Información Geográfica, El Colegio identifying the impact of changes in vegetative cover and
de La Frontera Sur, Unidad San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas,
México land use on distribution and population fluctuations of
Received August . Revision requested February .
mammals, using basic ecological parameters such as popu-
Accepted April . First published online June . lation abundance and density, facilitates decision making
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485322 C. Lorenzo et al.
for the conservation of endemic and threatened mammal turn to subsistence hunting, which has a negative effect on
species, such as L. flavigularis, as well as adequate manage- populations of lagomorphs, mainly L. flavigularis. Grey
ment of agriculture and other land-based economic foxes and coyotes are also hunted, although not on a regular
activities. basis (J. Antonio, pers. comm.).
Densities of – individuals km− have been reported
for L. flavigularis (Lorenzo et al., ; Vargas, ;
Methods
Sántiz, ), and abrupt changes in density have been re-
corded over years of monitoring. These changes have been
Surveys
partially attributed to management practices such as pre-
scribed burning and grazing (Lorenzo et al., ). The population density of L. flavigularis, S. floridanus and
Given the importance for wildlife management and con- the carnivores U. cinereoargenteus and C. latrans was esti-
servation of identifying long-term fluctuations in the popu- mated annually during at least month in the dry season
lation density of lagomorphs, the relationship of these (November–April) and month in the rainy season
fluctuations to those of carnivores, and the responses of (May–October) over years (–). As there were
lagomorph population densities to changes in vegetative few sightings of U. cinereoargenteus and C. latrans, these
cover and land use (such as grazing and prescribed burn- were grouped together as carnivores. We used the line tran-
ing), the objective of this study was to examine the relation- sect method (Buckland et al., ) to monitor mammal spe-
ships between fluctuations in population densities of cies along an km transect of variable width between
mammals (L. flavigularis, S. floridanus, and their natural Montecillo Santa Cruz and Huamuchil. This transect was
predators U. cinereoargenteus and C. latrans) and changes established according to accessibility (traversable roads)
in land use and vegetative cover over a -year period. and visibility (flat open areas) (Fig. ). Number of indivi-
duals was recorded while travelling along the transect in a
Study area pickup truck at – km per hour, at night, using halogen
lanterns for illumination. Geographical location, altitude,
Land use and vegetative cover were analysed in four muni- habitat type, and perpendicular distance (the shortest dis-
cipalities in the southern region of the Isthmus of tance from the individual to the transect, in m; Buckland
Tehuantepec in the Mexican state of Oaxaca: et al., ) were recorded for each individual observed.
San Francisco del Mar, San Francisco Ixhuatán, San The perpendicular distance was recorded for jackrabbits
Dionisio del Mar, and Juchitán de Zaragoza. Mammals and cottontail rabbits since , and for carnivores since
were monitored in Montecillo Santa Cruz in the municipal- . For this, an electronic distance measuring device
ity of San Francisco del Mar, and Huamuchil in the muni- (Bushnell Yardage Pro, Bushnell Corporation, Overland
cipality of San Dionisio del Mar (Fig. ). The study area Park, USA) was used. All surveys were conducted during
comprised . km and the area surveyed for mammals .–., when lagomorphs and carnivores are most ac-
was . km. Climate is warm sub-humid, with a mean an- tive (Carrillo-Reyes et al., ; Rioja et al., ). Each night,
nual temperature of °C, and mean total annual precipita- the same km transect was travelled in both directions, at
tion of . mm (García, ). least hours apart to avoid duplicating data (in number of
Residents of Montecillo Santa Cruz are traditional fish- records and kilometers travelled); each mammal observed
ers, although over the past decade they have begun to was recorded, and density was estimated using these data.
plant sorghum for sale and use as fodder for livestock, Data were analysed using Distance . (Buckland et al.,
and maize and watermelon for family consumption ) to estimate density for each mammal species, and
(Vargas, ; Sántiz et al., ). Cattle are raised extensive- we considered each direction travelled along the transect
ly in all grassland areas, and prescribed burning is carried to be independent (i.e. we analysed the data for each direc-
out to promote regeneration of grasses (Lorenzo et al., tion independently). To evaluate the probability of detecting
, ; Vargas, ). animals, the four models used by Distance were tested: half-
Within the study area a sand bar connects the Inferior normal, uniform, hazard rate, and negative exponential.
Lagoon with the Gulf of Tehuantepec (Fig. ). The sand Each model varies depending on homogeneity of sightings,
bar closes and opens cyclically, changing in length as a result probability of detecting individuals according to the dis-
of natural events (e.g. changes in sea level, hurricanes). This tance from which they are observed, and number of sight-
process affects local people’s socio-economic activities, as ings (Buckland et al., ). In each case a cosine
they principally engage in fishing. When the sand bar is adjustment was assessed using likelihood ratio tests. The
closed, movement of fish and nutrients from the Gulf of longest % of the perpendicular distances recorded through-
Tehuantepec to the Inferior Lagoon is inhibited, and fish out the analyses were eliminated to avoid bias introduced by
and shrimp populations decrease, and therefore local people atypical outlier distance sightings. The final model was
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485Effects of land cover change in Mexico 323
FIG. 1 Study area in Montecillo Santa
Cruz, south-eastern Oaxaca, Mexico, in
which vegetative cover and land use were
analysed, with the location of an km
transect between Montecillo and
Huamuchil along which lagomorphs and
carnivores were monitored during –
.
chosen based on a combination of the lowest value for
Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) and the lowest vari-
ance (Rizo-Aguilar et al., ) for each year of monitoring.
The population density obtained corresponds to the area
monitored for mammals (. km; i.e. the length of the tran-
sect ( km) multiplied by the maximum perpendicular dis-
tance ( m each side of the transect) at which it is possible
to identify observed animals). The results obtained for the
density in the monitoring area (. km) were extrapolated
to the total study area (. km).
FIG. 2 Fluctuations in population densities of the Tehuantepec
jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis, the eastern cottontail Sylvilagus
floridanus, and carnivores (Canis latrans and Urocyon
Changes in vegetative cover and land use
cinereoargenteus) in Montecillo Santa Cruz, Municipality
Maps of vegetation and land use were created using analysis San Francisco del Mar, and Huamuchil, Municipality San
Dionisio del Mar, Oaxaca, Mexico (Fig. ) during –,
of a satellite image, from the Landsat Enhanced
with years indicated in which the sand bar was closed and in
Thematic Mapper (ETM+), and a image from the which there was extensive burning.
Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI). Changes in vege-
tative cover and land use were processed using the inter-
dependent classification method (FAO, ), stratifying correctly or incorrectly from satellite images (Velázquez
the two scenes with ArcGIS . (ESRI, Redlands, USA). et al., ). For these points, types of vegetation and land
Using this approach we delimited polygons for each type use were described.
of vegetation and land use, to avoid bias in delimiting Once vegetation and land-use maps were drawn up for
each thematic class. Estimating changes in surface area and , along with the road layer and the digital ele-
also involved the road layer, taken from a base map, vation model, rates of change were estimated using the tran-
using ArcGis ., and the digital elevation model of sition matrices (Bocco et al., ) by superimposing maps
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (for , using the Land Change Modeler module of IDRISI Selva
with m resolution). v. . (Clark Labs, Worcester, USA). An equation pro-
To verify classification of the satellite image and ensure posed by the FAO () was used to obtain rates of percent-
reliability of vegetative cover and land-use maps, control age change in surface area for each type of vegetation and
points were recorded using a global positioning system in land use. This procedure was applied to all types of vegeta-
sites where the vegetation could potentially be interpreted tion and land use: human-induced grassland, savannah,
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485324 C. Lorenzo et al.
TABLE 1 Percentage change (δ) in surface area (ha) for each type of vegetation and land use in Montecillo Santa Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico
(Fig. ), in and , with the change in area (ha), the percentage lost or gained, and the change per year (ha).
Types of vegetative cover and Surface area (ha) Change in % loss Change per
land use 2001 2014 δ (%) area (ha) or gain year (ha)
Human-induced grassland 6,806.5 6,804.8 −0.002 −1.710 −0.03 −0.13
Savannah 8,174.5 6,823.4 −1.4 −1351.2 −16.5 −103.94
Seasonal agriculture 3,087.1 3,842.9 1.8 755.8 24.5 58.14
Human settlements 202.1 255.9 1.9 53.7 26.6 4.13
Tropical dry forest 6,474.9 5,961.4 −0.7 −513.5 −7.9 −39.50
Burned area 957.2 2,323.5 7.4 1366.4 142.8 105.11
Areas without vegetation 833.7 1,152.7 7.4 319.1 38.3 24.54
Secondary forest 5,721.8 5,533.8 2.6 −187.9 −3.3 −14.46
Bodies of water 28,895.2 28,531.4 −0.3 −363.8 −1.3 −27.98
Mangrove swamp 3,399.9 3,323.0 −0.1 −76.9 −2.3 −5.92
seasonal agriculture, human settlements, tropical dry forest, with an annual loss of .%, and an increase in
burned areas, areas without vegetation, secondary forest, human-induced grassland (. ha) and burned areas
bodies of water, and mangrove swamps. The results describe (. ha; Table ).
transitions from one type of land cover to another through- From to seasonal agriculture, human settle-
out the region (Velázquez et al., ). ments, burned areas and areas without vegetation showed
annual increases in surface area. Burned areas increased
by .% annually, with a total increase of ,. ha
Results (.%). During the same time period, areas without vege-
In Montecillo Santa Cruz the mean estimated density of tation increased by .% annually, with a total increase of
L. flavigularis during – was . ± SE . . ha (.%; Table ). Burned areas were located mainly
individuals per km (range .–.; model hazard rate/ in savannahs (,. ha), human-induced grasslands (
cosine; AIC = .; CV = .%) and of S. floridanus . ± ha), and forests (. ha; Table ). All changes (losses
SE . individuals per km (range .–.; model hazard and increases) in land use and surface area of vegetative
rate/cosine; AIC = .; CV = .%). The mean estimated cover from to are shown in Fig. .
density of the carnivores U. cinereoargenteus and C. latrans
during – was . ± SE . individuals per km Discussion
(range .–.; model hazard rate/cosine; AIC = .;
CV = .%). The total sampling effort (for all years) The estimated population density of L. flavigularis (. in-
was km travelled for L. flavigularis and S. floridanus, dividuals km−) in the study region is similar to estimates
and km travelled for the carnivores. from previous studies (.–. individuals km−; Vargas,
Fluctuations in mean annual population density for each ; Sántiz, ; Lorenzo et al., ). However, mean
mammal species/group are shown in Fig. . Although sev- densities of L. flavigularis are low compared to other lago-
eral fluctuations occurred during –, as a general morph species, such as Lepus californicus (– indivi-
trend the density of L. flavigularis indicates a general de- duals km−; Hayden, ; Davis & Schmidly, ;
cline; Sylvilagus floridanus has also declined but appears Portales-Betancourt et al., ). The estimated population
to be stable since ; and carnivores tended towards sta- density for S. floridanus in this study (. individuals
bility throughout the study period (Fig. ). km−) is also low compared to other studies of the same spe-
Savannah (,. ha in ; ,. ha in ) and cies (.–, individuals km−; Chapman et al., ;
human-induced grassland (,. ha in ; ,. ha Silvano et al., ). Alteration and degradation of lago-
in ) were the dominant cover types in the study area morph habitat has probably led to a decrease in available
(Table ), accounting for . and .% of total surface food and space over time, resulting in lower population
area on average, respectively. Almost all vegetative cover densities (Lorenzo et al., ; Sántiz, ).
types showed losses in surface area from to , but The density of L. flavigularis decreased drastically over
the most drastic loss occurred in savannah, with a .% de- the study period, whereas the density of S. floridanus de-
crease annually, and a total loss of ,. ha (.%) of the creased significantly only during –. Highs and
original surface area. This was principally a result of fires lows in densities of the two species (Fig. ) did not overlap
(burned area = ,. ha) and an increase in agricultural except in – and ; this may be explained by the
areas ( ha). Tropical dry forest lost . ha (.%), differential response of the two species to habitat use and
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485Effects of land cover change in Mexico 325
food availability. Lepus flavigularis inhabits savannahs and
22.14 (0.08)
human-induced grasslands (Lorenzo et al., ;
swamp, ha
Mangrove
Carrillo-Reyes et al., ; Sántiz et al., ) and feeds
mainly on grasses (Lorenzo et al., ), whereas S. florida-
water, ha (%) (%)
nus inhabits human-induced grasslands, tropical forests,
and scrub-brush, feeding on herbaceous and woody plants
9.72 (0.1)
6.57 (0.1)
70.02 (8.4)
Secondary for- Bodies of
(Chapman et al., ; Chapman & Ceballos, ). It is
likely that the two species avoid competing with each other.
The combined population density of the carnivores U. ci-
nereoargenteus and C. latrans was stable over time. These
190.53 (2.8)
98.37 (1.2)
46.17 (0.7)
76.14 (8.0)
384.75 (12.5)
2.07 (0.2)
species are adapted to a range of environments and can tra-
est, ha (%)
vel long distances in search of food, without excessive en-
ergy expenditure (Villa & Cervantes, ). In our study
area, at least, they do not appear to be greatly affected by
TABLE 2 Change in area (ha) from one type of vegetation and land use to another in Montecillo, Oaxaca, Mexico (Fig. ), during –.
changes in land cover.
Areas without
Burned area, ha vegetation, ha
2.7 (0.04)
2.97 (0.05)
381.87 (1.3)
37.17 (1.1)
In the study area, burned areas, areas without vegetation,
and human settlements increased in surface area from
to . Undisturbed land has been converted to agriculture,
(%)
with an increase in surface area of . ha during this per-
iod. This land was initially planted with corn; however, as a
286.02 (4.2)
1024.11 (12.5)
10.44 (0.3)
190.89 (2.9)
178.74 (3.1)
result of changes in geographical and environmental condi-
tions (sandy soil, drought and intense rainfall), cultivation
of sorghum has increased since (Vargas, ;
(%)
Lorenzo et al., ; Rioja-Paradela et al., ).
forest, ha (%)
Savannahs and forests have increasingly been converted
Tropical dry
8.82 (0.11)
1.08 (0.03)
64.08 (6.69)
0.09 (0.01)
to pastures for livestock raising (Lorenzo et al., ;
Rioja-Paradela et al., ), affecting the coverage and diver-
sity of vegetation (Altesor et al., ). Trampling by cattle
modifies the soil’s physical properties, causing it to lose its
16.74 (0.54)
1.98 (0.03)
15.93 (0.28)
19.08 (0.07)
Seasonal agri- settlements,
capacity for water retention, thereby facilitating erosion
(Drewry & Paton, ). It has been observed that the per-
Human
culture, ha (%) ha (%)
manence of the height and cover of species of bunchgrass
such as Muhlenbergia macroura and Jarava ichu benefits
the presence and abundance of other threatened lagomorph
246.24 (3.6)
301.95 (3.7)
82.17 (1.3)
25.74 (2.7)
524.43 (9.2)
3.24 (0.01)
species, such as the volcano rabbit Romerolagus diazi, be-
cause it provides refuge from potential predators and nest-
ing (Hoth et al., ; Rizo-Aguilar et al., ).
To manage grazing areas, residents of Montecillo Santa
22.95 (0.4)
69.75 (7.3)
0.63 (0.01)
Cruz carry out prescribed burning, which consists of delib-
Savannah,
erately causing fires to promote regeneration of grasslands
ha (%)
during the dry season. However, these fires frequently be-
come uncontrolled, affecting large areas of land (Lorenzo
et al., , ; Vargas, ).
grassland, ha (%)
Human-induced
Changes in land use to accommodate agriculture, includ-
Modified to:
Seasonal agriculture 14.94 (0.5)
11.25 (0.1)
Tropical dry forest 238.77 (3.7)
88.11 (9.2)
33.48 (4.0)
263.25 (4.6)
23.76 (0.1)
61.92 (1.8)
ing prescribed burning, have been the main cause of de-
struction of large areas of savannah (.% of the original
surface area), which is the preferred habitat of L. flavigularis.
This is a significant threat to this Endangered species, as la-
Human settlements
gomorphs are unable to quickly recolonize intensively
Mangrove swamp
Secondary forest
Human-induced
burned areas (Meslow & Keith, ; Driessen, ;
Bodies of water
Areas without
Salvatori et al., ). The time it takes for lagomorphs to
vegetation
Burned area
grassland
Savannah
recolonize these areas depends on how long it takes for habi-
tat to recover its capacity to provide them with sufficient
food and protection (Parker, ), and burning results in
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485326 C. Lorenzo et al.
FIG. 3 Vegetative cover and land
use in the municipalities of San
Dionisio del Mar, San Francisco
del Mar, San Francisco Ixhuatán,
and Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca,
Mexico, in (a) and (b) .
temporary habitat fragmentation, which could affect popu- habitat. Such a programme could be certified as a Wildlife
lation densities of several species (Fahrig & Paloheimo, ; Use and Management Unit by the Department of the
Diffendorfer et al., ; Klok & De Roos, ). Our find- Environment and Natural Resources, to obtain legal use per-
ings support this observation, as the population density of mits for a threatened mammal species, and economic sup-
L. flavigularis decreased in , when burned areas in- port for programme development. () As part of the
creased (Fig. ). However, fires have had a positive effect Wildlife Use and Management Unit a Communal
on the abundance of R. diazi, as they maintain and promote Ecological Reserve could be established, to be administrated
new growth of the dominant zacaton bunchgrass, the main by community authorities, with universities playing a tech-
food source for this rabbit (Hunter & Cresswell, ). nical advisory role. Local protected areas have been shown
Additionally, the closing of the sand bar affects lagomorph to promote appropriation of territory by communities, and
population density. The sand bar closed in and , the patrimony of natural resources, and their management
and the following years the mean population density of could be a viable method of conserving habitat and the
L. flavigularis decreased (from . individuals km− in Tehuantepec jackrabbit, as well as improving the quality
to . individuals km− in , and from . indivi- of life of local residents. This could ensure the persistence
duals km− in to . individuals km− in ). This of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit, with economic support
process appears to be affecting survival of the species, al- from the government.
though the sand bar remained open in and and
the population recovered slightly.
Acknowledgements
Conservation and management strategies
We thank Miguel Aquino, Roberto Gutiérrez, Leyberto
We offer several recommendations to conserve L. flavigularis Gutiérrez, Juan Antonio, Julieta Vargas, Felipe Barragán,
and establish appropriate management strategies for grass- and the people of the municipality of San Francisco del
land and savannah communities. () Grasses should be con- Mar for their valuable help during fieldwork, Ann
trolled annually by fire, taking care that fire does not spread Greenberg for editorial support, and the families of
beyond targeted areas. () Livestock-raising practices should Antonio Gutiérrez and Gutiérrez Vázquez for housing our
be improved to avoid a negative impact on grasses; for ex- crew. We thank El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, the Chicago
ample, by periodically rotating cattle among pastures to Zoological Society, the Lincoln Park Zoo Neotropic Fund,
avoid overgrazing, thereby facilitating recovery of grasses and Mexico’s Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología,
to increase their vegetative cover and fodder productivity. and Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
() A programme of reproduction in semi-captivity in situ for funding this research. Recommendations and comments
in protected enclosures should be developed. If successful, from Martin Fisher and an anonymous reviewer improved
jackrabbits could be released and reintroduced into the this article.
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485Effects of land cover change in Mexico 327
Author contributions D AV I S , B. & S C H M I D LY , D.J. () Black-tailed jackrabbit. In The
Mammals of Texas – Online Edition. Texas Tech University. Http://
CL has provided funding for this study since . She has www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot/Default.htm [accessed April ].
monitored mammals in the field since , and managed D I F F E N D O R F E R , J.E., G A I N E S , M.S. & H O LT , R.D. () Habitat
fragmentation and movements of three small mammals (Sigmodon,
the mammal database. She supported the analysis of popu-
Microtus and Peromyscus). Ecology, , –.
lation density, and was the principal author. ECS has been D R E W R Y , J.J. & P AT O N , R.J. () Effects of cattle treading and
monitoring mammals in the field since . She managed natural amelioration on soil physical properties and pasture under
the mammal database, reviewed satellite images and ana- dairy farming in Southland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of
lysed changes in vegetation cover and land use, and assisted Agricultural Research, , –.
D R I E S S E N , M. () Effects of fire on the broad-toothed mouse,
in writing the article. JBC has monitored mammals in the
Mastacomys fuscus, and other small mammals in buttongrass
field since . He managed the database, analysed density, moorlands of western Tasmania – preliminary findings. Conference
and assisted in writing the article. DNG managed the data- proceedings. Australian Bushfire Conference, Albury, Australia.
base, analysed changes in vegetative cover and land use, and E R L I N G E , S., G Ö R A N S S O N , G., H Ö G S T E D T , G., J A N S S O N , G., L I B E R G ,
assisted in writing the article. O., L O M A N , J. et al. () Can vertebrate predators regulate their
prey? The American Naturalist, , –.
F A H R I G , L. & P A LO H E I M O , J. () Determinants of local population
References size in patchy habitats. Theoretical Population Biology, , –.
FAO (FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS)
A LT E S O R , A., O E S T E R H E L D , M., L E O N I , E., L E Z A M A , F. & R O D R Í G U E Z , () Forest resources assessment . Survey of tropical forest
C. () Effect of grazing on community structure and productivity cover and study of change processes. FAO Forestry Paper, . FAO,
of a Uruguayan grassland. Plant Ecology, , –. Rome, Italy.
A N D E R S O N , S. & G A U N T , A. () A classification of the white-sided G A R C Í A , E. () Modificaciones al sistema de clasificación climática
jack rabbits of Mexico. American Museum Novitates, , –. de Köppen (para adaptarlo a las condiciones de la República
A R R I A G A , L. & G Ó M E Z , L. () Posibles efectos del cambio climático Mexicana). Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma
en algunos componentes de la biodiversidad de México. In Cambio México, Mexico City, Mexico.
Climático: una visión desde México (eds J. Martínez & G O N Z Á L E Z , P.G., B R I O N E S -S A L A S , M. & A L F A R O , A.M. ()
A. Fernández), pp. –. INE/SEMARNAT, Mexico. Integración del conocimiento faunístico del estado. In Biodiversidad
B A I L E Y , T. () Peninsula Snowshoe Hares on the Decline. Kenai de Oaxaca (eds A.J. García-Mendoza, M.J. Ordóñez &
National Wildlife Refuge. Refuge Notebook. U.S. Fish and Wildlife M. Briones-Salas), pp. –. Instituto de Biología,
Service, Alaska, USA. UNAM-Fondo Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza–
B E N D E R , D.J., C O N T R E R A S , T.A. & F A H R I G , L. () Habitat loss and World Wildlife Fund, Mexico.
population decline: a meta-analysis of the patch size effect. Ecology, H A Y D E N , P. () Seasonal occurrence of jackrabbits on Jackass Flat,
, –. Nevada. The Journal of Wildlife Management, , –.
B O C C O , G.M., M E N D O Z A , E. & M A S E R A , O. () La dinámica del H O T H , J., V E L A Z Q U E Z , A., R O M E R O , F.J., L E O N , L., A R A N D A , M. &
cambio del uso del suelo en Michoacán. Una propuesta B E L L , D.J. () The volcano rabbit—a shrinking distribution and a
metodológica para el estudio de los procesos de deforestación. threatened habitat. Oryx, , –.
Boletín Investigaciones Geográficas, , –. H U N T E R , M. & C R E S S W E L L , W. () Factors affecting the
B U C K L A N D , S.T., R E X S T A D , E.A., M A R Q U E S , T.A. & O E D E KO V E N , C.S. distribution and abundance of the Endangered volcano rabbit
() Distance Sampling: Methods and Applications. Springer, Romerolagus diazi on the Iztaccihuatl volcano, Mexico. Oryx, ,
Heidelberg, Germany. –.
C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S , A., L O R E N Z O , C., N A R A N J O , E.J., P A N D O , M. & INEGI (I N S T I T U T O N AC I O N A L D E E S T A D Í S T I C A Y G E O G R A F Í A )
R I O J A , T. () Home range dynamics of the Tehuantepec () Carta de uso actual del suelo y vegetación. Serie III, Mexico.
jackrabbit in Oaxaca, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, , INEGI (I N S T I T U T O N AC I O N A L D E E S T A D Í S T I C A Y G E O G R A F Í A )
–. () Guía para la interpretación de cartografía. Uso del suelo y
C E R VA N T E S , F.A., L O R E N Z O , C., F A R Í A S , V. & V A R G A S , J. () Lepus vegetación. Escala :. Series IV. Mexico.
flavigularis. In The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : K E I T H , L. () Dynamics of snowshoe hare populations. In Current
e. TA. Http://dx.doi.org/./IUCN.UK..RLTS. Mammalogy (ed. H.H. Genoways), pp. –. Plenum Press,
TA.en [accessed April ]. New York, USA.
C H A P M A N , J.A. & C E B A L LO S , G. () The cottontails. In Rabbits, K E I T H , L.B. & W I N D B E R G , L.A. () A demographic analysis of the
Hares and Pikas, Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan (eds J. snowshoe hare cycle. Wildlife Monographs, , –.
A. Chapman & J.E.C. Flux), pp. –. IUCN/SSC Lagomorph K LO K , C. & D E R O O S , A.M. () Effects of habitat size and quality on
Specialist Group, Oxford, UK. equilibrium density and extinction time of Sorex araneus
C H A P M A N , J.A., H O C K M A N , J. & E D WA R D S , W. () Cottontails populations. Journal of Animal Ecology, , –.
(Sylvilagus floridanus) and allies. In Wild Mammals of North L Ó P E Z , J.A., L O R E N Z O , C., B A R R A G Á N , F. & B O L A Ñ O S , J. ()
America (eds J.A. Chapman & G.A. Feldhamer), pp. –. Johns Mamíferos terrestres de la zona lagunar del Istmo de
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, USA. Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, México. Revista Mexicana de
C H A P M A N , J.A., H O C K M A N , J.G. & O J E D A , C.M.M. () Sylvilagus Biodiversidad, , –.
floridanus. Mammalian Species, , –. L Ó P E Z -G R A N A D O S , E., M E N D O Z A , M. & A C O S T A , A. () Cambio
D A N I E L , A., H O L E C H E K , J., V A L D E Z , R., T E M B O , A., S A I WA N A , L., de cobertura vegetal y uso de la tierra. El caso de la cuenca endorreica
F U S C O , M. & C A R D E N A S , M. () Jackrabbit densities on fair and del lago de Cuitzeo, Michoacán. Gaceta Ecológica, , –.
good condition Chihuahuan desert range. Journal of Range L O R E N Z O , C., C E R VA N T E S , F.A., B A R R A G Á N , F. & V A R G A S , J. ()
Management, , –. New records of the endangered Tehuantepec jackrabbit (Lepus
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485328 C. Lorenzo et al.
flavigularis) from Oaxaca, Mexico. The Southwestern Naturalist, , R I Z O -A G U I L A R , A., G U E R R E R O , J.A. H I D A L G O -M I H A R T , M.G. &
–. G O N Z Á L E Z -R O M E R O , A. () Relationship between the
L O R E N Z O , C., C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S , A., G Ó M E Z -S Á N C H E Z , M., abundance of the Endangered volcano rabbit Romerolagus diazi and
V E L Á Z Q U E Z , A. & E S P I N O Z A , E. () Diet of the endangered vegetation structure in the Sierra Chichinautzin mountain range,
Tehuantepec jackrabbit, Lepus flavigularis. Therya, , –. Mexico. Oryx, , –.
L O R E N Z O , C., C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S , A., R I O J A -P A R A D E L A , T.M., D E L A R Z E D O W S K I , J. () Vegetación de México. Comisión Nacional para
P A Z -C U E VA S , M., B O L A Ñ O S -C I TA L Á N , J. & Á LVA R E Z -C A S T A Ñ E D A , el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, Mexico.
S.T. () Estado actual de conservación de liebres y conejos en S A LVAT O R I , V., E G U N Y U , F., S K I D M O R E , A.K., D E L E E U W , J. & V A N
categoría de riesgo en México. Technical Report. Project HK. G I L S , H.A.M. () The effects of fire and grazing pressure
Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, on vegetation cover and small mammal populations in the
Mexico City, Mexico. Maasai Mara National Reserve. African Journal Ecology,
L O R E N Z O , C., R E T A N A -G U I A S C O N , O., C E R VA N T E S , F.A., V A R G A S , J. , –.
& P O R TA L E S , G.L. () Status Survey of the Critically Endangered S Á N T I Z , E.C. () Distribución y abundancia de la liebre endémica
Lepus flavigularis. Final report to Chicago Zoological Society, El Lepus flavigularis y el conejo castellano Sylvilagus floridanus
Colegio de la Frontera Sur. San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, (Mammalia: Lagomorpha) en el Istmo de Tehuantepec. Oaxaca,
Mexico. México. Undergraduate thesis. Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de
L O R E N Z O , C., R I O J A , T.M., C A R R I L LO , A. & C E R VA N T E S , F.A. () Chiapas, Mexico.
Population fluctuations of Lepus flavigularis (Lagomorpha: S Á N T I Z , E.C., G O N Z Á L E Z -R O M E R O , A., L O R E N Z O , C.,
Leporidae) at Tehuantepec Isthmus, Oaxaca, Mexico. Acta G A L L I N A -T E S S A R O , S. & C E R VA N T E S , F.A. () Uso y selección
Zoológica Mexicana, , –. de asociaciones vegetales por la liebre de Tehuantepec (Lepus
M A S , J.F., V E L Á Z Q U E Z , A. & C O U T U R I E R , S. () La evaluación de flavigularis) en Oaxaca, México. Therya, , –.
los cambios de cobertura/uso del suelo en la República Mexicana. S Á N T I Z , E.C., L O R E N Z O , C., C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S , A., N AVA R R E T E , D.A.
Investigación Ambiental, , –. & I S L E B E , G. () Effect of climate change on the distribution of a
M E S LOW , E.C. & K E I T H , L.B. () Demographic parameters of a critically threatened species. Therya, , –.
snowshoe hare population. The Journal of Wildlife Management, , S I LVA N O , F., A C Q U A R O N E , C. & C U C C O , M. () Distribution of the
–. eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus in the province of
N Á J E R A , O., B O J Ó R Q U E Z , J.I., C I F U E N T E S , J.L. & M A R C E L E Ñ O , S. Alessandria. Hystrix, , –.
() Cambio de cobertura y uso del suelo en la cuenca del río T O R R E S -C O L Í N , R. () Tipos de vegetación. In Biodiversidad de
Mololoa, Nayarit. Revista Biociencias, , –. Oaxaca (eds A.J. García-Mendoza, M.J. Ordóñez &
O R T I Z , P., H E R N Á N D E Z , J.R. & F I G U E R O A , J.M. () M. Briones-Salas), pp. –. Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Fondo
Reconocimiento Fisiográfico y geomorfológico. In Biodiversidad de Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza–World Wildlife
Oaxaca (eds A.J. García-Mendoza, M.J. Ordóñez & Fund, Mexico City, Mexico.
M. Briones-Salas), pp. –. Instituto de Biología, UNAM-Fondo V A R G A S , J. () Distribución, abundancia y hábitat de la liebre
Oaxaqueño para la Conservación de la Naturaleza–World Wildlife endémica Lepus flavigularis (Mammalia: Lagomorpha). MSc thesis.
Fund, Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
P A R K E R , G.R. () Use of spruce plantations by snowshoe hare in V A R G A S , Z. () Valoración de los vertebrados terrestres por huaves y
New Brunswick. The Forestry Chronicle, , –. zapotecas del Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, México. MSc thesis.
P E R A LTA -R I V E R O , C., C O N T R E R A S -S E R V Í N , C., El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas,
G A L I N D O -M E N D O Z A , M.G., M A S C A U S S E L , J.F. & Mexico.
A L G A R A -S I L L E R , M. () Analysis of land use and land cover V E L Á Z Q U E Z , A., M A S , J.F., P A L A C I O , J.L., D Í A Z , J.R., M A Y O R G A , S.R.,
changes and evaluation of natural generation and potential A L C Á N TA R A , C. et al. () Patrones y tasas de cambio de uso del
restoration areas in the Mexican Huasteca region. Open Journal of suelo en México. Gaceta Ecológica INE-SEMARNAT, , –.
Forestry, , –. V I L L A , R.B. & C E R VA N T E S , F.A. () Los Mamíferos de México.
P O R T A L E S -B E T A N C O U R T , G., H E R N Á N D E Z , L., L A U N D R É , J. & Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico
C E R VA N T E S , F.A. () Reproducción y densidad de la liebre and Grupo Editorial Iberoamérica, Mexico.
cola-negra (Lepus californicus) en relación a factores ambientales, en
la Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, Desierto Chihuahuense. Therya, ,
–. Biographical sketches
R I O J A , T., L O R E N Z O , C., N A R A N J O , E., S C OT T , L. & C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S ,
A. () Breeding and parental care in the endangered Tehuantepec CO N S U E L O LO R E N Z O is interested in the molecular systematics,
jackrabbit (Lepus flavigularis). Western North American Naturalist, taxonomy and conservation of lagomorphs and tropical rodents
, –. and has been monitoring populations and habitat of the
R I O J A -P A R A D E L A , T., C A R R I L LO -R E Y E S , A. & L O R E N Z O , C. () Tehuantepec jackrabbit Lepus flavigularis for years. EU G E N I A
Análisis de población viable para determinar el riesgo de extinción SÁ N T I Z studies the ecology and effects of global climate change on
de la liebre de Tehuantepec (Lepus flavigularis) en Santa María del the distribution of threatened mammals, and the conservation and
Mar, Oaxaca. Therya, , –. management of the Tehuantepec jackrabbit and its habitat. JO R G E
R I Z O -A G U I L A R , A., D E L F Í N -A LO N S O , C., G O N Z Á L E Z -R O M E R O , A. & BO L A Ñ O S -CI T A L Á N ’ s work is focused on the conservation and
G U E R R E R O , J.A. () Distribution and density of the zacatuche management of tropical mammals, especially bats and rodents.
rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) at the Protected Natural Area “Corredor DA R Í O NA V A R R E T E -GU T I É R R E Z studies changes in distribution of
Biológico Chichinautizin”. Therya, , –. mammals, as well as consequences of land-use changes.
Oryx, 2019, 53(2), 321–328 © 2017 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605317000485
Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 46.4.80.155, on 20 Dec 2021 at 14:33:46, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000485You can also read
