Human Impacts on Peruvian Cloud Forest Wildlife
Justin Johnson
I. Introduction
The growing importance of conservation concessions in the Amazon to protect
threatened wildlife and habitats has lead to a significant increase in remote monitoring
of major vertebrates to estimate population densities. Remote monitoring is often
completed using thermal or motion sensitive camera traps set along paths where
frequent mammalian foot prints are found. These photos are checked in weekly or biweekly intervals and the data are transferred into a mammal monitoring database.
Database information is then compiled into site-specific population distribution maps
which are sent to major stakeholders in order to disclose the biodiversity that is
contained within the concession, in hopes of further development of the concession
through donations.
In this investigation, two distinct research plots were analyzed in order to determine
the effect that human activity had on the monitoring program. The effect of frequent
human presence on mammalian cloud forest populations is largely unknown, but my
hypothesis was that human disturbance would have an effect on biodiversity—logically
that as disturbance increases biodiversity will decrease.
(Left) Cuddleback Capture TM camera traps were used for this study,
set to trigger every 30 seconds for
any motion or thermal movements.
IV. Results
School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
1) Over 266 captures were recorded between the two sites from the camera traps from November
2011-April 2012. After careful analysis, I found there to be roughly 153 unique individuals
frequent the trails of Villa Carmen’s biological research station (Tayassu pecari accounting for 100
captures).
III. Methods
1) Attached a motion and thermal sensitive camera trap to a nearby tree at each
positive location near ground level.
2) Performed weekly maintenance and data collection on cameras within site A
and bi-weekly maintenance and data collection on site B over a 6 month interval.
2) The site designed for low human disturbance (site B) recorded only 3 major vertebrates,
compared to 11 vertebrates that frequented the high human disturbance area (site A)
3) Site B only recorded prey species that either traveled in large herds (White-lipped Peccary—
Tayassu pecari) or were able to burrow out of sight from predators (Spotted Paca-Cuniculus
paca).
3) Data were then analyzed in order to determine multiple instances of an
individual organism where possible.
4) Jaguars (Panthera onca) were captured at nearly every camera station (Site A: 88%, Site B:
100%), and dominated the relative frequency for both sites (Site A: 18%, Site B: 50%).
4) Compiled data into a master Mammal Monitoring Database, which includes:
sampling period, date/time, camera location, photos taken, species, and distinct
number of individuals present.
5) In terms of population density (PD) and relative abundance (RA), the family of peccaries,
Tayassuidae, dominated both sites (RA: tajacu : A: 27% ; pecari : B: 95%).
6) 87 out of 266 wildlife speices (33%) were captured during the night (19:00-5:00).
5) Data were further analyzed to determine population density, frequency, relative
abundance, relative frequency, relative dominance, and importance values for
each species.
6) Database information was then distributed onto a digital map of the research
station, where positive locations of each species could be easily visualized.
(Right) Camera traps were deployed by locating biological markings left by vertebrates, such as
this jaguar (panther onca) scratch-
II. Background
Both sites in this study were located within the Manú National Reserve at the Villa Carmen
biological research station, nestled in the Southeastern Andean slopes of Peru. Data collection
was supervised by the Amazon Conservation Association. Elevation for the low disturbance site
(A) ranged from 500-700 meters, while the high disturbance site (B) ranged in elevation from
650-725 meters. The high disturbance site was characterized by frequent foot traffic during all
times of the day, including fishermen in the morning, tourists during the day, and
photographers at night. Additionally, livestock such as cattle, goats, and dogs were
occasionally herded along major trails. The high disturbance site was cleared of overgrowth
using machetes bi-weekly and the larger trails had occasional motor traffic from county
workers. The low disturbance site had zero human activity aside from bi-weekly camera
maintenance and bi-monthly overgrowth control. This will be referenced as site A. Both sites
had cameras placed in forests of similar maturity and where overall plant diversity was similar.
Camera locations were decided from positive locations of major rainforest vertebrates within a
two kilometer radius from the research station through footprints, excrement, or other
biological indicators. Each site had at least one camera placed on the crest of a ridge where
jaguars (panther onca) are known to hunt, in addition to at least one in an area that receives
lots of through fall and standing water.
V. Discussion
My investigation arrived at some surprising results, such as the discrepancy between
wildlife biodiversity at the high disturbance and low disturbance sites. It seems possible
that prey species such as Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) and Red Brocket Deer (Mazama
americana) commonly travel along human-use trails because less predators are active near
human activity. Wildlife recorded at the low disturbance site employ survival tactics that
decrease mortality when living in the midst of predators, such as burrowing by the Paca
(Cunniculus paca) and strength-in-numbers by White-Lipped Peccaries (Tayassu pecari).
Limitations to this study include the variance in elevation between the two study sites, the
lack of funding for additional cameras in the low disturbance site, and the somewhat
random placement of camera traps. Camera trap placement in this study caused individuals
to be captured multiple times, and many organisms who do not use well-worn trails were
likely excluded entirely. My major recommendation for a future study would be to place an
equal number of camera traps in geometric patterns in two study sites of equal elevation.
Furthermore, video-camera collars on species could give great insight into the impacts of
human activity on the behavior of individuals and their relationship to their changing
habitats in this age of climate change, illegal logging, mining, and poaching.
Acknowledgements
Research made possible primarily thanks to:
xAmazon Conservation Association (Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca
Amazónica) under the leadership of Adrian Tejedor and Nicole Wischlinski
x Aaron Wirsing, Project Advisor, University of Washington
xJason Scullion, Field Advisor, University of Washington
Scientific Name
Mazama americana
Tayassu tajacu
(Above) Population Distribution for Villa Carmen, each shape represents a species of wildlife with a
number inside indicating how many individuals were recorded.
(Above) Example of vegetation; Site
A: Camera 9; Razor-Billed Curasow
Mitu tuberosum.
(Above) Physical site dispersal with
elevation gradients included.
(Right/Below)
Surveillance Data for Sites
A&B
(Above) Example of vegetation; Site
B: Camera 12B; White-lipped Peccary
Tayassu pecari.
Site B Information
High Disturbance Site A. Sampling Period: October 2011 - May 2012
Common Name
Raw Count
PD
F
RA
Red Brocket Deer
9
6.767
63%
19%
Collared Peccary
13
9.774
75%
27%
RF
13%
16%
RD
19%
27%
IV
0.51
0.70
Cunniculus paca
South American Paca
5
3.759
38%
10%
8%
10%
0.29
Dasypus novemcinctus
9 Banded Armadillo
2
1.504
25%
4%
5%
4%
0.14
Panthera onca
Eira barbara
Jaguar
Tayra
3
3
2.256
2.256
88%
38%
6%
6%
18%
8%
6%
6%
0.31
0.20
Tapirus terrestris
South American Tapir
5
3.759
50%
10%
11%
10%
0.31
Priodontes maximus
Leopardus pardalis
Tayassu pecari
Dasyprocta punctata
Atelocynus microtis
TOTAL POSITIVES:
Giant Armadillo
Ocelot
White-lipped Peccary
Central-American Agouti
Short-eared Dog
2
3
0
2
1
48
1.504
2.256
0
1.504
0.752
36.09
25%
38%
0%
25%
13%
475%
4%
6%
0%
4%
2%
5%
8%
0%
5%
3%
4%
6%
0%
4%
2%
0.14
0.20
0.00
0.14
0.07
PD: Population Density
F: Frequency
(Above/Right) Organisms were identified
through slight injuries, such as this male
jaguar captured multiple times from site B.
(Far-Left) The concession boasted fantastic
biodiversity, demonstrated by this Giant
Armadillo and Ocelot
(Mid-Left) Prominent injures, such as the
scratches and bite marks caused by a local
jaguar on this tapir, demonstrates that
jaguars were hunting for large prey.
(Left) The horn growth on this Red Brocket
Deer gives a sense of the developmental
progress that is made within 3 months
(January-April) as well as helps
identification of the individual.
Low Disturbance Site (B). Sampling Period: October 2011 - May 2012
Common Name
Raw Count
PD
F
RA
RA: Relative Abundance
Species
RF
RD
IV
RD: Relative Dominance
Mazama americana
Red Brocket Deer
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
IV: Importance Values
Tayassu tajacu
Collared Peccary
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
1.5625
# of Cameras:
3
Area of Site (Km2):
0.64
Cunniculus paca
South American Paca
1
33%
1%
17%
1%
0.19
Dasypus novemcinctus
9 Banded Armadillo
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
Active Cameras: 12A, 12B, 12C
Panthera onca
Jaguar
4
6.25
100%
4%
50%
4%
0.58
Site A Information
Eira barbara
Tayra
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
PD: Population Density
Tapirus terrestris
South American Tapir
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
F: Frequency
Priodontes maximus
Giant Armadillo
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
RA: Relative Abundance
Leopardus pardalis
Ocelot
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
Tayassu pecari
White-lipped Peccary
100
156.25
67%
95%
33%
95%
2.24
Dasyprocta punctata
Central-American Agouti
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
Short-eared Dog
0
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0.00
105
164.06
200%
RD: Relative Dominance
IV: Importance Values
#of Cameras:
8
Atelocynus microtis
Area of Site (Km2):
1.33
TOTAL POSITIVES:
Active Cameras: 2, 5L, 5L-2,
5R, 5R-2, 6, 8, 9