In southern Mexico, Voluntarily Designated Conservation Areas (VCA) represent a biological conservation strategy wherein governance and management are entrusted to the territory. Within the VCAs of ...the La Chinantla region in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, community monitoring utilizing camera traps has been conducted with the assistance of government programs. This initiative has yielded a substantial number of records for medium and large mammals. Nevertheless, the available information has not undergone systematic analysis, constraining its utility in strategic planning and the evaluation of biodiversity conservation endeavors. This study seeks to highlight the impact of community monitoring in 18 VCAs on understanding the altitudinal distribution of mammal diversity in La Chinantla. The analysis incorporates data from a community monitoring covering 129 camera trap stations (4,384 camera days) strategically positioned along an elevation gradient ranging from 50 to 2000 m above sea level, over the period 2011–2014. We assessed alpha and beta diversity, as well as the community structure of medium and large mammals within three distinct elevation zones. A total of 26 species of medium-sized mammals were documented, revealing distinct mammal assemblages in each zone. However, 15 species were common across all zones. We found that the highest species richness was observed below 400 m, where tropical rainforest vegetation predominates. We also found that the species turnover component had a significant impact on the total beta value. Despite the considerable involvement of local residents in the monitoring program and their acquisition of social, technical, and ecological knowledge, there is still a need to strengthen their capabilities to enhance community monitoring. Finally, fostering collaboration between local communities, academic institutions, and governmental initiatives is essential for the successful conservation of mammals in La Chinanlta.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) has been experiencing a considerable range reduction due to habitat loss and poaching. Habitat suitability models have identified areas likely to maintain populations, but ...field data are scarce for several of them. Between 2012 and 2017, we investigated the jaguar occurrence in 35 communities of the Chinantla region, southern Mexico, throughout camera trapping in non-systematic surveys. We recorded 124 independent events of 23 jaguars in thirteen communities. Jaguars recorded over the years, couples and pregnant females are highlighted in the Chinantla region as a stronghold to the jaguar.
El jaguar (Panthera onca) ha experimentado una reducción considerable de su área de distribución debido a la pérdida de hábitat y la cacería. Modelos de hábitat han identificado áreas con probabilidad de mantener poblaciones, sin embargo se carece de información de campo de varias de ellas. Entre 2012 y 2017 se investigó la presencia del jaguar en 35 comunidades de la región Chinantla, sur de México, mediante fototrampeo en muestreos no sistemáticos. Se registraron 124 eventos independientes de 23 jaguares en trece comunidades. Se destacan los jaguares registrados a lo largo de los años, parejas y hembras preñadas y la región de Chinantla como un baluarte del jaguar.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) has been experiencing a considerable range reduction due to habitat loss and poaching. Habitat suitability models have identified areas likely to maintain populations, but ...field data are scarce for several of them. Between 2012 and 2017, we investigated the jaguar occurrence in 35 communities of the Chinantla region, southern Mexico, throughout camera trapping in non-systematic surveys. We recorded 124 independent events of 23 jaguars in 13 communities. Jaguars recorded over the years, couples and pregnant females are highlighted in the Chinantla region as a stronghold to the jaguar. Keywords. Camera trapping, community conservation, human-carnivore coexistence, montane tropical forest, Oaxaca, participatory monitoring. El jaguar (Panthera onca) ha experimentado una reducción considerable de su área de distribución debido a la pérdida de hábitat y la cacería. Modelos de hábitat han identificado áreas con probabilidad de mantener poblaciones, sin embargo se carece de información de campo de varias de ellas. Entre 2012 y 2017 se investigó la presencia del jaguar en 35 comunidades de la región Chinantla, sur de México, mediante fototrampeo en muestreos no sistemáticos. Se registraron 124 eventos independientes de 23 jaguares en 13 comunidades. Se destacan los jaguares registrados a lo largo de los años, parejas y hembras preñadas y la región de Chinantla como un baluarte del jaguar. Palabras clave. Bosque tropical de montaña, coexistencia humano-carnívoro, conservación comunitaria, fototrampeo, monitoreo participativo, Oaxaca.
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