Ecologia e comportamento de tamanduá-Bandeira Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 no município de Jaguariaíva, Paraná

Abstract

Giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla is a critically endangered species in Paraná, however little is known on its biology in this State. This study had as main objective the attainment of ecological and behavior information of this species in Jaguariaiva County. For both study area was covered monthly during the years 2007 and 2008. The population density was estimated by the number of individuals observed in a 30 m band along the roads. Home range from captured’ individuals were obtained by Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel 90%. Leafcutter ants’ consume were identified from the collection of fecal samples and a stomach content. A map of fire risks was prepared considering information like kind of vegetation, roads, water influence and management of different environments. Two giant anteaters, a male and a female, had been captured and equipped with radio transmitters. The localizations of the male (13 months) had resulted in home ranges with 8.92 km2 (MCP) and 16.62 Km2 (Kernel 90%). The localizations of the female (04 months) had resulted in home ranges with de 1.60 km2 (MCP) and 11.19 km2 (Kernel 90%). The giant anteater’s density esteem in the study area was 0.119 ind./km2. The diet analysis confirmed the consumption of leafcutter ants Acromyrmex and Atta, and pointed others gennus consumed (ants: Camponotus, Solenopsis, Pheidole, Forelius (cf.), Ectatomma, Odontomachus and Labidus – termites: asutitermes, Syntermes and Neocapritermes). The consumption of Atta and Acromyrmex wasn’t registered in the literature until then. The species’ reproduction in the study area was confirmed. The fire risk analysis had resulted in 41.3% of very higher fire risk areas, followed by areas from moderate risk (35.5%), low risk (20.9%), and high risk 2.3% of the study area. Among all the records of giant anteaters in the study area, 40.6% from the tracks had been registered in the very higher fire ri k zone, what means that giant anteater is citizen to the resultant forest fires’ impacts, if they occur. The zoning of fire risks was a useful tool to be used in intention to protect animal species from fire in natural areas.

Giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla is a critically endangered species in Paraná, however little is known on its biology in this State. This study had as main objective the attainment of ecological and behavior information of this species in Jaguariaiva County. For both study area was covered monthly during the years 2007 and 2008. The population density was estimated by the number of individuals observed in a 30 m band along the roads. Home range from captured’ individuals were obtained by Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel 90%. Leafcutter ants’ consume were identified from the collection of fecal samples and a stomach content. A map of fire risks was prepared considering information like kind of vegetation, roads, water influence and management of different environments. Two giant anteaters, a male and a female, had been captured and equipped with radio transmitters. The localizations of the male (13 months) had resulted in home ranges with 8.92 km2 (MCP) and 16.62 Km2 (Kernel 90%). The localizations of the female (04 months) had resulted in home ranges with de 1.60 km2 (MCP) and 11.19 km2 (Kernel 90%). The giant anteater’s density esteem in the study area was 0.119 ind./km2. The diet analysis confirmed the consumption of leafcutter ants Acromyrmex and Atta, and pointed others gennus consumed (ants: Camponotus, Solenopsis, Pheidole, Forelius (cf.), Ectatomma, Odontomachus and Labidus – termites: asutitermes, Syntermes and Neocapritermes). The consumption of Atta and Acromyrmex wasn’t registered in the literature until then. The species’ reproduction in the study area was confirmed. The fire risk analysis had resulted in 41.3% of very higher fire risk areas, followed by areas from moderate risk (35.5%), low risk (20.9%), and high risk 2.3% of the study area. Among all the records of giant anteaters in the study area, 40.6% from the tracks had been registered in the very higher fire ri k zone, what means that giant anteater is citizen to the resultant forest fires’ impacts, if they occur. The zoning of fire risks was a useful tool to be used in intention to protect animal species from fire in natural areas.