Composição de espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em plantio de eucaliptoe fragmentos de florestas nativas, no sudeste do Estado de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Among the main factors that contribute to the fragmentation of wildlife habitat is the growing expansion of the agricultural, livestock and forestry frontier. This study aimed to evaluate the composition of species of the medium and large sized mammal communities in eucalyptus plantations and native forest fragments in a forestry project in the southeast of the Minas Gerais State. The surveys were carried out through camera-traps, tracing of traces and active day and night search, in Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserve, unpaved roads and firebreaks, and eucalyptus plantations present within the enterprise. A total of 23 species of medium and large sized mammals belonging to seven orders, 15 families and 21 genera were recorded. In the Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserve 17 species were recorded; on the unpaved roads and firebreaks, 11 species; in the eucalyptus plantations six species. The chi-square test showed a significant difference in mammal richness observed in the Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserve when compared to eucalyptus plantation areas (?2 = 5, 261; valor p = 0, 02; valor a = 0, 05). The cumulative curves of the species reached the asymptote after three sampling campaigns, which considered the seasonality of the region. The presence of arboreal, scansorial and semi-aquatic habitat species associated with native forests, suggest the importance of the Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserve for the maintenance of the richness of medium and large sized mammals species in eucalypt plantations.