An assessment of the terrestrial mammal communities in forests of Central Panama, using camera-trap surveys

摘要: Abstract The Isthmus of Panama, part the planet's third largest megadiversity hotspot, and connecting faunas North South America, has lost more than half its forest due to agriculture economic development. It is unknown what degree remaining forest, which fragmented subject poaching, still supports wildlife diversity found in intact forests. Here, we use camera-trap surveys assess whether forests Central narrowest most disturbed portion Isthmus, have communities medium- large-bodied terrestrial mammals. During 2005–2014, collected survey data from 15 national parks fragments on both sides Panama Canal, compared these similar two sites Darien National Park Eastern nearest available reference. We that – including some had lower mammal species richness evenness reference sites, less structurally-complex communities. Forests little or no apex predators large frugivores, with exception directly connected site. Our results indicate community currently degraded, even inside parks. These provide a baseline for evaluating success conservation efforts prevent Panamanian become bottleneck movement animals.