Effects of habitat and landscape characteristics on medium and large mammal species richness and composition in northern Uruguay

摘要: The increasing world population and demand for food other products has accelerated the conversion of natural habitats into agricultural lands, plantations urban areas. Changes in habitat landscape characteristics due to land-use change can have a significant effect on species presence, abundance, distribution. Multi-scale approaches been used determine proper spatial scales at which communities are responding transformation. In this context, we evaluated medium large mammal richness composition gallery forest (n = 10), grassland exotic tree plantation 10) region where grasslands converted plantations. We quantified with camera traps track surveys. community was related local variables, variables measured seven scales. found 14 forest, 11 plantation, 7 grassland. Two exotics, wild boar Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 European hare Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778. most common crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous 1766, nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus gray brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira G. Fischer, 1814 generalist species. Our results showed differences among three types. Plantations positive negative effects presence restricted grasslands. Positive reflected wider distribution some that rarely use important influenced were vertical structure index, canopy cover, diversity, percentage grass, scale 0.1 km. advise following measures conservation community: 1) reduce logging cattle grazing 2) increase buffer zones between forest.