Occupancy, relative abundance and activity patterns of three sympatric deer in ponds of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche

A nine-year camera-trapping study in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, reveals distinct occupancy, abundance, and activity patterns among three sympatric deer species: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Yucatán brown brocket deer (O. pandora), and Central American red brocket deer (Mazama temama). White-tailed deer were the most abundant but exhibited low pond occupancy with high colonization probability, while brown brocket deer showed the highest occupancy despite lower abundance. Red brocket deer had the lowest occupancy and abundance. Activity patterns varied, with diurnal activity in Odocoileus species and cathemeral (day-night) activity in Mazama. Ponds serve as critical semi-perennial water sources, food, and shelter for these species, emphasizing their importance for conservation efforts in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jiménez-Sánchez, A., Huerta-Rodríguez, J. O., Poot-Sarmiento, I., Duarte-Morales, A., & Reyna-Hurtado, R. (2024). Occupancy, relative abundance and activity patterns of three sympatric deer in ponds of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche. Therya, 15(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-24-5896