Local forest proportion and proximity to large forest patches are important for native mammal conservation in Dry Chaco agroecosystems

Abstract

Habitat loss is a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide, and the Argentine Dry Chaco is one of the most active global deforestation hotspots. Medium-large mammals are especially vulnerable to land-cover change, and in the Dry Chaco, they are subjected to the combined effect of habitat loss and hunting. In agroecosystems, blocks of natural habitat can contribute to maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functionality, and it is necessary to identify human-modified landscape configurations that are compatible with wildlife conservation. Through camera-trapping in five agroecosystems of the Argentine Dry Chaco, we assessed the role of local-scale forest proportion and distance to large forest patches on medium-large mammal richness and frequency of records. Forest proportion positively influenced medium-large mammal estimated richness, and large-bodied mammals were more frequent in stations near large forest blocks and in stations with higher forest proportion when larger forest blocks were distant. Small-medium sized generalist carnivores were more frequent in stations with lower forest proportion. Forest remnants and the presence of large forest patches are thus important for medium-large mammals in the region and more specifically for the conservation of larger-bodied species. Forest loss may also facilitate the increase of mesopredator populations, with potential consequences on the dynamics of ecosystems and human-wildlife interactions. For agroecosystems to contribute to the conservation of mammals in the Dry Chaco, the preservation or restoration of forest remnants and of large extensions of forests should be incorporated in regional and local land-use planning.