USO DO HÁBITAT PELA PREGUIÇA-DE-COLEIRA ... - CNCFlora

BARRETO, R.M.F. 2007. Uso do Hábitat por Preguiça-de-coleira Bradypus torquatus
HABITAT USE TO MANED SLOTHS Bradypus torquatus Illiger 1811, IN
SOUTHERN BAHIA, BRAZIL.
ABSTRACT
Bradypus torquatus (maned sloth) is an important part of the Atlantic Forest
deforestation scenario. This endemic species is included in international and national
lists of animals threatened by extinction. Vegetation characteristics directly influence
the ecological strategies of sloths, which are strictly tree residing mammals.
Information about herbivore habitat use is extremely important to determine smallscale
relationships with vegetative resources. These relationships can then be
considered on larger scales. This study contains information about micro-habitat
resource use for application on a macro scale, which is important for planning maned
sloth (B. torquatus) conservation management practices. Eight individuals were
located using radio telemetry and accompanied. Three of these animals were located
in Primary Forest, three were in secondary forest and two were in Cabruca (cocoa
plantation in initial secondary forest). The position of the animal in the tree top
(external, middle and internal) and the height of the animal in the tree were
registered. All of the trees, hemi-epiphytes, vines and palms used by the animals
were collected, identified and measured (height, DAP and liana and latex presence).
Samples of the vegetative species eaten by the animals were collected from each
site to analyze the microhabitat nutritional aspects. Adult animals were encountered
in the external part of the tree in the majority of cases. Juveniles positioned
themselves in the internal part of the tree and at lower heights than the adults. The
tree and animal height differed in the environments. Sloths in disturbed areas used
smaller trees and were found at reduced heights. The data showed that there were
not significant differences between the nutritional variables in the canopy sites. 73%
of the 232 analyzed trees did not have latex and 69% contained lianas. There was a
greater concentration of lianas in the Primary Forest. 243 botanical specimens were
identified. 46 of theses were identified to the genus and 167 to the species level. 64
different species were identified. The most used families were Fabaceae,
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