Using noninvasive techniques to monitor game species targeted by poaching in Misiones, Argentina

ABSTRACT

Misiones, Argentina contains the largest remnant of Upper Paraná Atlantic forest; however, half of it is unprotected. The long-term survival of its biodiversity is threatened by poaching and habitat loss, which eliminate animal populations and decrease genetic variability in species. Noninvasive techniques were used to evaluate the presence of four mammals [white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and paca (Cuniculus paca)] often targeted by poachers. With detection dogs, 179 scats were collected across intact and modified habitats in the northern-central zones of Misiones. Of the samples collected, 76.5% (n = 137) could be genetically confirmed as one of the three targeted prey: 98 white-lipped peccaries, 13 collared peccaries, and 26 tapirs. A greater proportion of white-lipped peccary and collared peccary samples were associated with heterogeneous landscapes (74.5% and 76.9%, respectively), which contrasts with tapirs that had a higher proportion (76.9%) in native forest. While collared peccaries and tapirs had close association with protected areas (84.6% and 96.2%, respectively), over half (57.1%) of the white-lipped peccary samples were located outside of protected areas. Despite a higher proportion of survey coverage in the central zone (64.0%), the majority (81.8%) of prey samples were in the northern zone. While samples were found across habitats that varied in integrity and degree of protection, the restrictions seen among prey species distributions indicate concern for their long-term survival if the threats imposed by poaching, habitat loss, and human expansion are not controlled, especially in the central zone of Misiones.

KEYWORDS:

• Detection dogs
• genetics
• poaching
• scat

Acknowledgments

Funding for all training, field work, and genetic analyses of prey samples was awarded to Proyecto Zorro Pitoco (K. DeMatteo) by the Conservation, Food, & Health Foundation, Eppley Foundation for Research, and Georgia AAZK. P. Delgado was awarded the “Iniciación en la investigación: jóvenes estudiantes avanzados” scholarship by CEDIT (Comité Ejecutivo de Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica). Permits for field work, collection of training samples for the detection dogs, and field housing were provided by the Ministerio de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Renovables of Misiones (MEyRNR). Sincere thanks to the provincial park guards, private land and reserve owners, forestry companies, numerous Argentinean students who assisted in the field, and, of course, Train and April the hard-working detection dogs. Thank you to the other UNaM/GIGA “pitocos” that collaborated and assisted P. Delgado during lab training.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors Contributions

Pryscilha M. Delgado: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing Original-Draft, Visualization. Carina F. Argüelles: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation Verification, Formal Analysis, Resources, Writing-Review & Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration. Karen E. DeMatteo: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation Verification, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing-Review & Editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project Administration, Funding Acquisition.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (US); Eppley Foundation for Research (US); Comité Ejecutivo de Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (CEDIT) [Disposición N° 047/16]; Georgia AAZK (US).