http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
Home Range, Habitat Use, and Activity of Baird’s Tapir in Costa Rica
Fecha
2002Registro en:
10.1646/0006-3606(2002)034[0423:hrhuaa]2.0.co;2
Autor
Foerster, Charles R.
Vaughan, Christopher
Institución
Resumen
Home range size, habitat utilization, and activity patterns of five adult Baird’s tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) were studied via
radiotelemetry from June 1995 to May 1996 in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Estimates of 4153 animal
locations were made. Home range sizes (95% minimum convex polygon) for the entire study period (wet season and
dry season) averaged 125.0 ha (SD 5 72.7), 94.9 ha (SD 5 47.6), and 96.8 ha (SD 5 51.2), respectively. Monthly
home range sizes averaged 55.5 ha (SD 5 32.1) and did not vary between seasons. Across the entire study, secondary
forest, the most commonly used habitat type (61.3%) was utilized more than expected as predicted by availability
(49.6%), while the second most used habitat, primary forest, was used (25.0%) less than expected (36.2%). The same
general habitat selection pattern was observed in the dry season. Wet season habitat utilization values showed tapirs
using both primary and secondary forest habitats in proportion to their availability. Diurnal and nocturnal activity
levels were estimated at 20.2 and 80.4 percent, respectively. More diurnal and less nocturnal activity was observed
during the wet season compared to the dry season.