Baseline for monitoring and habitat use of medium to large non-volant mammals in Gran Sabana, Venezuela

A comprehensive baseline for monitoring medium to large non-volant mammals in the Gran Sabana, Venezuela, reveals significant habitat associations and species richness comparable to lowland Guianas and Amazon sites. The study identified 29 mammal species, including endangered and vulnerable ones like Priodontes maximus and Panthera onca, using a stratified sampling design with camera traps across forest, shrub-intermediate, and savanna habitats. Notable findings include the first record of Myoprocta pratti in Canaima National Park and significant habitat preferences such as Cerdocyon thous for savanna (P < 0.01) and Leopardus pardalis for shrub-intermediate habitats (P < 0.05). The research also highlights ecological concerns due to the uncontrolled development of the Orinoco Mining Arc, which threatens biodiversity in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stachowicz, I., Ferrer Paris, J. R., Quiroga-Carmona, M., Moran, L., & Lozano, C. (2020). Baseline for monitoring and habitat use of medium to large non-volant mammals in Gran Sabana, Venezuela. Therya, 11(2), 169–179. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-20-891