Medium and large-sized mammals from Isla Santay National of Recreation Area in western Ecuador

ABSTRACT

Future research should prioritize both the preservation of ecological processes and the understanding of the negative effects of human impacts on local biodiversity. Unfortunately, Western Ecuador has suffered several environmental problems over a prolonged period, such as deforestation, illegal hunting, and rapid change in land use (Dodson & Gentry 1991, Parker & Carr 1992), causing declines in mammalian species. [...]the loss of large herbivores affects seed dispersal and recruitment, the loss of carnivores decreases predatory activity and nutrient recycling, and the decline of other mammalian species impacts pollination (Rumiz 2010). [...]to aid in mammal management and conservation, it is important to document current species richness and evaluate potential threats (Cervera et al. 2016, Lizcano et al. 2016). [...]there are 21 protected areas that include coastal-marine landscapes, mangroves, the humid forest of Chocó, and Tumbesian dry forests (MAE 2015).