Results
Monitoring time for individual sloths ranged from 12 to 40
months. A total of 199 locations of the three radio-collared maned
sloths were recorded (Table 1). Both MCP and kernel methods
indicated that the adult female (BT464) had the smallest home
range, followed by the male juvenile (BT162) and the female
juvenile (BT065) (Fig. 2). The cabrucas comprised the majority
of home range of the mother and the male juvenile and a
significant proportion of the home range of the female juvenile
(Table 1). The latter individual stayed in the cabruca tract
where it was born during the first year of study. Subsequently,
it used a mix of land-use types including secondary forest, the
border of a swamp vegetation and another tract of cabruca
(Fig. 2). The female juvenile moved continuously northwards in
what seems to be a dispersal movement (Fig. 2). Areas of more
intensive use (kernel contours) corresponded to groves or individual
trees used repeatedly by the sloths (Fig. 3). These include
Ficus clusiaefolia, Inga edulis, Tapirira guianensis, Cecropia hololeuca,
Ocotea pretiosa and one individual from the Olacaceae Family covered
by an unusually high number of vines. Leaves of all these
species were consumed by maned sloths, except the Olacaceae
tree and the vines. The kernels in cabrucas indicated that sloths
are using this habitat both for resting and for feeding. In addition
to the two tagged juveniles, the mother gave birth to two
other infants during the study. One was seen when the adult
female was first tagged, in October 2004, and the second when
the mother was last captured for removal of the radio collar in
February 2008. Besides the tagged individuals, five opportunistic
observations of other maned sloths were recorded in the study
cabruca or in adjacent areas, two of which within areas of cabruca
(Fig. 2).
The frequency with which the three sloths were located in
each vegetation type was significantly different from expected
(Chi-square goodness-of-fit test; 2 = 111.517; d.f. = 3; p < 0.0001).
The residuals showed that swamp/pastures and early secondary
forests were used less than expected, cabrucas were used more
than expected and the late secondary forests were used according
to their availability within the home range’s area (Table 2).
Similarly, the frequency of fixes differed significantly from the
expected value based on availability of habitat in the buffer area
(Chi-square goodness-of-fit test; 2 = 119.001; d.f. = 3; p < 0.0001)
and the residuals showed the same pattern found in the previous
analysis (Table 2).
Sloths were observed feeding on leaves of six tree species from
cabrucas and on 11 plant species (10 trees and one vine) from
mature forests at the Ecoparque de Una (Table 3). Five of the 10 tree
species found in mature forests and four of the six species found in
cabrucas at Una have also been previously recorded in other cabrucas
from southern Bahia by Sambuichi (2002, 2006) and Sambuichi
and Haridasan (2007). Most trees used as food in the mature forest
are considered shade tolerant, i.e., indicative of late succesional
phases, while the opposite was observed for tree species consumed
solely in cabrucas (Table 3).
ResultsMonitoring time for individual sloths ranged from 12 to 40months. A total of 199 locations of the three radio-collared manedsloths were recorded (Table 1). Both MCP and kernel methodsindicated that the adult female (BT464) had the smallest homerange, followed by the male juvenile (BT162) and the femalejuvenile (BT065) (Fig. 2). The cabrucas comprised the majorityof home range of the mother and the male juvenile and asignificant proportion of the home range of the female juvenile(Table 1). The latter individual stayed in the cabruca tractwhere it was born during the first year of study. Subsequently,it used a mix of land-use types including secondary forest, theborder of a swamp vegetation and another tract of cabruca(Fig. 2). The female juvenile moved continuously northwards inwhat seems to be a dispersal movement (Fig. 2). Areas of moreintensive use (kernel contours) corresponded to groves or individualtrees used repeatedly by the sloths (Fig. 3). These includeFicus clusiaefolia, Inga edulis, Tapirira guianensis, Cecropia hololeuca,Ocotea pretiosa and one individual from the Olacaceae Family coveredby an unusually high number of vines. Leaves of all thesespecies were consumed by maned sloths, except the Olacaceaetree and the vines. The kernels in cabrucas indicated that slothsare using this habitat both for resting and for feeding. In additionto the two tagged juveniles, the mother gave birth to twoother infants during the study. One was seen when the adultfemale was first tagged, in October 2004, and the second whenthe mother was last captured for removal of the radio collar inFebruary 2008. Besides the tagged individuals, five opportunisticobservations of other maned sloths were recorded in the studycabruca or in adjacent areas, two of which within areas of cabruca(Fig. 2).The frequency with which the three sloths were located ineach vegetation type was significantly different from expected(Chi-square goodness-of-fit test; 2 = 111.517; d.f. = 3; p < 0.0001).The residuals showed that swamp/pastures and early secondaryforests were used less than expected, cabrucas were used morethan expected and the late secondary forests were used accordingto their availability within the home range’s area (Table 2).Similarly, the frequency of fixes differed significantly from theexpected value based on availability of habitat in the buffer area(Chi-square goodness-of-fit test; 2 = 119.001; d.f. = 3; p < 0.0001)and the residuals showed the same pattern found in the previousanalysis (Table 2).Sloths were observed feeding on leaves of six tree species fromcabrucas and on 11 plant species (10 trees and one vine) frommature forests at the Ecoparque de Una (Table 3). Five of the 10 treespecies found in mature forests and four of the six species found incabrucas at Una have also been previously recorded in other cabrucasfrom southern Bahia by Sambuichi (2002, 2006) and Sambuichiand Haridasan (2007). Most trees used as food in the mature forestare considered shade tolerant, i.e., indicative of late succesionalphases, while the opposite was observed for tree species consumedsolely in cabrucas (Table 3).
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
