MEDIUM TO LARGE-SIZED MAMMALS OF A PROTECTED AREA IN THE CERRADO HOTSPOT

Mammals from the Furnas do Bom Jesus State Park

Abstract

Species surveys are one of the first steps to implement conservation actions. Previous studies carried out in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, have provided relatively comprehensive knowledge about its medium to large-sized mammals, but there is a gap of information concerning this group in the Cerrado protected areas. In this work, we used data collected from camera traps between 2011 and 2022 to identify medium to large-sized mammal species from Furnas do Bom Jesus State Park, a protected area in the Cerrado hotspot, in the municipality of Pedregulho, state of São Paulo, Brazil. We estimated observed and expected (first-order Jackknife estimator) species richness and the species accumulation curve to assess sampling sufficiency. We recorded 31 mammal species, 26 of which were native (six of which are classified as threatened to extinction) and five of which were exotic. The Jackknife-1 species richness estimator indicated a potential of up to 39 species. This comprehensive species inventory provides valuable foundational data for future ecological and conservation research in the region. The presence of top predator species underscores the ecological relevance of the area. However, increasing pressure from exotic species and habitat fragmentation can pose significant threats to local biodiversity.