Spatial patterns of medium and large size mammal assemblages in varzea and terra firme forests, Central Amazonia, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Várzea forests account for 17% of the Amazon basin and endure an annual inundation that can reach 14 m deep during 6-8 months. This flood pulse in combination with topography directly influences the várzea vegetation cover. Assemblages of several taxa differ significantly between unflooded terra firme and flooded várzea forests, but little is known about the distribution of medium and large sized terrestrial mammals in várzea habitats. Therefore, our goal was to understand how those habitats influence mammalian species distribution during the dry season. Specifically, we: (1) compared the species composition between a terra firme (Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve) and a várzea forest (Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve); and (2) tested the influence of the várzea habitat classes

SUBMITTER: Alvarenga GC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5976171 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature