Buffer zone use by mammals in a Cerrado protected area

A study on the Cerrado Protected Areas, specifically Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, reveals that buffer zones are actively utilized by medium and large-sized mammals, including those of conservation concern. The research, conducted using camera traps from April to September 2013, modeled occupancy probabilities for five key species, finding that while some, like Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater) and Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), showed higher occupancy in the interior, others, such as Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), preferred the buffer zone. Puma concolor (puma) exhibited similar use across both areas. Despite overlapping confidence intervals suggesting weak differences, the study underscores that buffer zones are crucial for wildlife conservation, particularly when enforcement is lacking. The research also recorded 31 mammal species, with no significant difference in richness between interior and buffer zones, highlighting the importance of effective management strategies to mitigate external threats.

Paolino, R. M., Versiani, N. F., Pasqualotto, N., Rodrigues, T. F., Krepschi, V. G., & Chiarello, A. G. (2016). Buffer zone use by mammals in a Cerrado protected area. Biota Neotropica, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2014-0117