Ungulate relative abundance in hunted and non-hunted sites in Calakmul Forest (southern Mexico)

Published source details Reyna-Hurtado R. & Tanner G.W. (2007) Ungulate relative abundance in hunted and non-hunted sites in Calakmul Forest (southern Mexico). Biodiversity and Conservation, 16, 743-756.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use wildlife refuges to reduce hunting impacts Action Link

Use wildlife refuges to reduce hunting impacts

A replicated, site comparison study in 2001 of four forest areas in Campeche, Mexico (Reyna-Hurtado & Tanner 2007) found that one of five ungulate species was more numerous in a non-hunted refuge area compared to in hunted areas and two were more numerous in hunted areas. There were more white-lipped peccaries Tayassu pecari in non-hunted (0.24 tracks/km) than hunted (0.08 tracks/km) areas. White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus were more numerous in hunted areas (non-hunted: 0.24; hunted: 0.88 tracks/km) as was Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii (non-hunted: 0.03; hunted: 0.42 tracks/km). No differences between areas were found for brocket deer Mazama sp. (non-hunted: 6.4; hunted: 6.7 tracks/km) or collared peccary Pecari tajacu (non-hunted: 0.9; hunted: 1.0 tracks/km). Transects were established on land not hunted on since the 1980s, and on three adjacent hunted sites with similar habitat. Transects were ≥3 km from villages and had start points ≥2 km apart. Twenty-eight transects (total 57 km) were walked in the non-hunted area and 18–24 transects (35–70 km/site), were walked in hunted areas. Transects were walked in February–July 2001. Ungulate tracks within 1 m of transects were counted and recorded to species.

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)