Nestedness in a Carnivorous Mammal Assemblage in Forest Fragments of the Araucanía Region, Southern Chile

• Дата: 2024
• Автори: Sanhueza, R., Moya, W., Rau, J. R.
• Формат: Стаття
• Мова: English
• Опубліковано: Publishing House "Akademperiodyka" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 2024
• Онлайн доступ: https://ojs.akademperiodyka.org.ua/index.php/Zoodiversity/article/view/602
• Назва журналу: Journal Zoodiversity

Habitat fragmentation is one of the main factors threatening biodiversity, especially in regions where natural ecosystems are under anthropogenic pressure, such as the Araucanía region in southern Chile. This study explores the presence of nestedness patterns in the composition of carnivorous mammal species in six fragments along the southern part of the Coastal Range in the Araucanía region. Using scent stations and actively searched five species were recorder over a nine-month period: hog-nosed skunk, kodkod, cougar, gray fox, and culpeo fox. The analysis revealed that the nested pattern, with a temperature of 13.661 °C, suggests a risk of local extinction in smaller fragments (less than 14 ha). The hog-nosed skunk was detected in four fragments, including one of the smaller ones (3.1 ha), while the cougar and kodkod were more restricted, being recorded in three and two fragments, respectively. The culpeo fox and gray fox were present in only one or two fragments. These results support the island biogeography theory, highlighting that larger fragments sustain greater species diversity. This study highlights the importance of conserving larger forest fragments to maintain carnivore diversity, as specialized species rely on denser and more connected habitats. It is recommended to prioritize the preservation of continuous forest areas and restore connectivity between fragments to mitigate the negative effects of fragmentation.