Integrando conhecimentos locais e armadilhas fotográficas para avaliar a detecção e as características ecológicas que afetam a presença e a abundância de vertebrados médios e grandes no Vale do Xingu, Amazônia Oriental

Abstract

The choice of appropriate methods to observe population changes of species of interest in environmental monitoring is crucial to ensure the sustainability of long-term programs. This is a challenge in assessing medium and large vertebrates due to their ecological importance and relatively high costs for evaluation. In tropical regions, the methods commonly used are transect censuses or camera traps. However, both methods have limitations and can incur high costs and difficult maintenance, especially in megadiverse tropical countries. Including methods based on local ecological knowledge (LEK) can contribute to the sustainability of monitoring programs. We assessed the congruence between detection rates obtained from camera traps and sightings and traces detected through LEK in two protected areas of Eastern Amazonia, comparing detection probabilities and testing the influence of three ecological traits. We observed that, despite an overall positive relationship, the rates obtained by both methods show high variability. For 11 out of 20 species, the probability of detection was greater using the method that identified traces through LEK from local monitors. Among the selected traits, body mass, sociability, and trophic niche, only the last characteristic was significant within our models, indicating a detection capability primarily based on the behavioral patterns of the species. Our results demonstrate the significant ability of local monitors to detect the presence of species of interest, as well as the applicability of LEK in faunal monitoring. We recommend collaborative research strategies and the inclusion of the knowledge and experience of local populations in monitoring and conservation programs in the Amazon and other tropical systems, which are the regions richest in both biological diversity and sociocultural richness.