Baseline Diurnal Activity and Seasonal Patterns of the Critically Endangered Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis heude 1888) and Co-occurring Mammals in a Strict Protection Zone
Keywords:
bovine, conservation, ethology, tropical ecosystem, protected areasAbstract
Mammal activities are influenced by temperature and foraging opportunities particularly in the tropics which highlights the importance of understanding diel patterns and seasonal variations for evidence-based conservation. However, in the Philippines, behavioral studies on mammals remain scarce However, in the Philippines, behavioral studies on mammals remain scarce particularly for the critically endangered tamaraw Bubalus mindorensis (Heude, 1888). Hence, a targeted camera trap survey was conducted in the Tamaraw Strict Protection Zone of Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park to provide baseline information for the species From the survey, a total of five medium-large sized mammal species (B. mindorensis, Sus oliveri Groves, 1997, Rusa marianna [Desmarest, 1922], Macaca fascicularis [Raffles, 1821], Viverra tangalunga (Gray, 1832) were captured across 3,556 camera trapping days from March 2016 to October 2018. Among the mammals, B. mindorensis, R. marianna and M. fascicularis were the most frequently detected species (>100). Among these, only M. fascicularis was observed to exhibit seasonal variations in detections (p = 0.026). Furthermore, observations reveal a predominantly diurnal pattern for the tamaraw, likely as foraging adaptations in a strictly protected habitat. These findings provide crucial baseline information for the conservation and monitoring of threatened Philippine mammals.
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