Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico

The scarcity of available surface water affects ungulates inhabiting sites where the effects of climate change are more evident, especially for endangered species such as the Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii). The objective of this study was to estimate tapir water use in artificial water tr...

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Main Authors: Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno, Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón, Daniel Jesús-Espinosa, Jose Mauricio Méndez-Tun, Jesus Lizardo Cruz-Romo, Pedro Bautista-Ramírez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2025-04-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/5483
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author Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno
Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón
Daniel Jesús-Espinosa
Jose Mauricio Méndez-Tun
Jesus Lizardo Cruz-Romo
Pedro Bautista-Ramírez
author_facet Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno
Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón
Daniel Jesús-Espinosa
Jose Mauricio Méndez-Tun
Jesus Lizardo Cruz-Romo
Pedro Bautista-Ramírez
author_sort Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno
collection DOAJ
description The scarcity of available surface water affects ungulates inhabiting sites where the effects of climate change are more evident, especially for endangered species such as the Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii). The objective of this study was to estimate tapir water use in artificial water troughs in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR), Mexico. Between January 2019 and August 2021, 8 digital camera traps were placed in 8 artificial watering holes. The Photographic Index of Visits (PIV) was obtained, and occupancy (Psi), detectability (p), and activity patterns were calculated, and analyzed. A sampling effort of 4,672 nights/camera, and 289 grouped records of T. bairdii were obtained. The PIV, occupancy, and detectability obtained in the present study were similar to those reported in natural water bodies in the Maya Forest, which supports the idea that the water troughs could temporarily supply maintenance functions for tapirs during the dry season or in periods when water is scarce in the landscape, being this the only source of water available to satisfy their requirements for this resource in the CBR.
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2007-8706
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series Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
spelling doaj-art-7d04b921f10a453b8f6bc1740af871a82025-08-20T03:52:57ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062025-04-019610.22201/ib.20078706e.2025.96.5483Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, MexicoFernando M. Contreras-Moreno0Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón1Daniel Jesús-Espinosa2Jose Mauricio Méndez-Tun3Jesus Lizardo Cruz-Romo4Pedro Bautista-Ramírez5World Wildlife Fund Inc.Grupo de Monitoreo SocioambientalGrupo de Monitoreo SocioambientalGrupo de Monitoreo Socioambiental Espacios Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable, A.C.Grupo de Monitoreo Socioambiental The scarcity of available surface water affects ungulates inhabiting sites where the effects of climate change are more evident, especially for endangered species such as the Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii). The objective of this study was to estimate tapir water use in artificial water troughs in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR), Mexico. Between January 2019 and August 2021, 8 digital camera traps were placed in 8 artificial watering holes. The Photographic Index of Visits (PIV) was obtained, and occupancy (Psi), detectability (p), and activity patterns were calculated, and analyzed. A sampling effort of 4,672 nights/camera, and 289 grouped records of T. bairdii were obtained. The PIV, occupancy, and detectability obtained in the present study were similar to those reported in natural water bodies in the Maya Forest, which supports the idea that the water troughs could temporarily supply maintenance functions for tapirs during the dry season or in periods when water is scarce in the landscape, being this the only source of water available to satisfy their requirements for this resource in the CBR. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/5483Climate changePhoto-trappingEndangeredDroughtUngulates
spellingShingle Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno
Khiavett Sánchez-Pinzón
Daniel Jesús-Espinosa
Jose Mauricio Méndez-Tun
Jesus Lizardo Cruz-Romo
Pedro Bautista-Ramírez
Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Climate change
Photo-trapping
Endangered
Drought
Ungulates
title Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
title_full Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
title_fullStr Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
title_short Use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the Maya Forest, Mexico
title_sort use of artificial water sources by tapirs in the maya forest mexico
topic Climate change
Photo-trapping
Endangered
Drought
Ungulates
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/5483
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