IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Castano, J.H.; Corrales, J.D.
Mam¡feros de la cuenca del r¡o La Miel (Caldas): diversidad y uso cultural
2010  Boletin Cientifico Centro de Museos (14): 56-75

This study examined the alpha and beta diversity of mammals recorded in three areas (high: 2600-3000 m, middle: 700-1200 m, and low: 400-420 m) in the La Miel River basin which is located on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central of the Andes Mountains in the Caldas Department in Colombia. 77 species, 10 orders and 27 families were recorded. The bats were the most representative order with 45% of the species, followed by rodents (21%) and carnivores (14%). The high zone presented a lower species richness (18 spp.) than the middle zone (48 spp.) and the low zone (45 spp.). However, the upper zone had the highest proportion of exclusive species (89%), while the middle and lower zones shared less than 50% of species, which indicates high beta diversity due to species changes between altitudinal levels. Nine new mammals were recorded in Caldas; two of which are new records for the northern Andes: _C. centralis _and _N. leporinus_. 20 medium sized mammal species are used by farmers as food, medicine or ornament. The Silvery-brown Tamarin (_Saguinus leucopus_) is endangered and four species are vulnerable to extinction. This research demonstrates the scarcity of information on mammals in the North Andes.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)