Landscape use by giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) by satellite monitoring in Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara, São Paulo State, Brasil

Abstract

Protected areas are considered as essential tools to limit the biodiversity loss. However, they are insufficient to guarantee species existence and maintenance; and their ecologic communities. One essential element in the conserving strategies must be the biodiversity protection inside and outside of conservation units (such as fragments and agroecossystems). The native areas of São Paulo State is highly fragmented and changed. The Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara is a native vegetation reservoir, surrounded by anthropic areas (urbanization, roads, pasture and cultures), being a maintainer and a shelter for some species such the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Characteristics as: big animal, low reproductive and populational rates, big home ranges as ecological requirement do this animal, listed as vulnerable to the State, be the focus of this study. The aim is analyze how the giant anteaters occur spatially and use Estação Ecológica de Santa Bárbara landscape and its anthropic surroundings (agrosystems). The study site is composed by savanna and semideciduous forest, some remnant Pinus areas and the surroundings. The evaluation of home ranges and habitat use will be done by satellite and conventional telemetry. One technique to identify giant anteaters by camera traps will be proposed. Data analysis will be focused in movement patterns, habitat use and home ranges. This study will be pioneer in evaluate those ecologic parameters to giant anteaters in São Paulo, and the first to use the GPS telemetry on medium term.