O que sabemos sobre ecologia e conservação de mamíferos carnívoros no Rio Grande do Sul?

Abstract

The order Carnivora comprises mammals originally adapted to feed on animals. Consequently, these animals have an important ecological role, regulating their prey populations. However, most of these species are naturally rare and consequently, due to the human impact, they are easier to extinct or get endangered. In order to find or improve strategies for the conservation of these species, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of their ecology, such as diet, home range area and capacity of locomotion, for example. Thus, the objective of this study is to gather the existing literature about the ecological habits and conservation status for carnivorous mammals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, detecting gaps and formulating guidelines. Besides the studies on the ecology of these species, the occurrence records of these species in the state were also considered, the conservation status of these species in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and in the world were presented too. 27 studies were carried out presenting information on at least one of the carnivorous mammal species. Nine studies were focused on felids, five on canids, two on mephitid, nine on mustelids and two on procyonids. Among the studies found, most only report the occurrence of the species. Following, the most frequent studies were on diet and parasitology. It is important to highlight the absence of studies on reproduction and use of landscape by these animals in the state. In general, the species with smaller body size were more studied, and the neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, was the most studied species. The most studied regions of the state were the Taquari Valley and the municipality of Maquiné. Important conservation units in the state, such as the Ibirapuitã Environmental Protection Area and the Taim Ecological Reserve, had only one study and were insufficiently analyzed.