Mammals large and medium of the municipality of Victoria, Biosphere Reserve Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

Conservation of mammals in central Mexico is vital, because of their complex functional roles in ecosystems locally. The aim of this study is to determine the richness and abundance of medium and large size mammals in the different vegetation types in the municipality of Victoria, Guanajuato. Between 2007 and 2013 five localities of the municipality were surveyed by placing camera traps along random sites on wildlife trails. With a sampling effort of 9803 trap-days we recorded 18 species of mammals of six orders, highlighting three wild felidae (bobcat, cougar and jaguarundi). The pine-oak forest contained the highest richness with 17 species, whereas in the submontane scrub 16 species were registered. These results increase our understanding of the regional patterns of mammal richness and distribution for areas of central Mexico, and are particularly relevant for the design of management plans for the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve.