ADDRESS (CENTRAL OFFICE): Caixa Postal 47, Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo - BRAZIL - CEP: 12960-000.

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PROJECT TITLE: "Conservation Biology of the lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) and their potential as "landscape detectives" at Pontal do Paranapanema Region - São Paulo State - Brazil".

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Atlantic Rainforest - Pontal do Paranapanema Region - Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding forest fragments - Extreme West of São Paulo State - BRAZIL.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT: The Brazilian Atlantic forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems of the planet and is at risk of large-scale destruction. Today, these forests have been fragmented and reduced to about 7 % of their original size. This project includes a long term study on the aspects of the conservation of tapirs in Pontal do Paranapanema Region, São Paulo State, which includes Morro do Diabo State Park (35,000ha), one of the last remnants of significant size of this ecosystem, and the surrounding forest fragments. The main objectives of this project are to estimate the population size of tapirs in Morro do Diabo State Park and neighboring Atlantic Forest fragments; to assess the genetic status of these fragmented and, at some extent, isolated populations; to investigate their potential as "landscape detectives" showing us the most used dispersal routes and pathways in the landscape, and therefore the potential areas to be conserved and restored as wildlife corridors; to train Forestry and Biology College students on Conservation Biology and, to teach landless people settled around the forest fragments about the importance of conserving such species. Individuals of this species are trapped and radio-collared and their movements continuously monitored and mapped throughout the landscape. Emphasizing one of the main conservationist justifications of this project, we argue that we need the Park together with the remaining forest fragments to maintain a genetically and demographically viable population of these ungulates. We intend to increase their habitat by creating corridors and buffer zones around the natural habitats. Data collected through this study, have already been crucial to influence the landscape management of the Plateau Forests in the region of the Pontal do Paranapanema.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. It has been reduced to 7% of its original area (SOS Mata Atlântica & INPE, 1993). Still, this ecosystem supports 8% of species on the planet, many of these endemic and threatened with extinction (Quintela, 1990). The forests of the Planalto Paulista (Plateau Forests) region are characteristic of the Interior Atlantic Forest and once covered a large portion of the interior of São Paulo State (Eiten, 1974). The Plateau Forests of today are the most threatened ecosystem of the Atlantic Forest, approximately 2% of the original cover remains (Dean, 1995; SOS Mata Atlântica & INPE, 1993). Nearly all remaining forest in the Plateau is found in the Pontal do Paranapanema region in the extreme west of São Paulo State. This region alone supports 85% of all the Plateau ecosystem in the state, and a large part of this percentage is represented by the 35,000 hectares of the Morro do Diabo State Park.

The species relevant to the present research is the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Tapirs are becoming rare in their occurrence areas which are the forests of southwestern of Asia, Central and South America. The four species of tapirs (T. bairdii, T. terrestris, T. pinchaque and T. indicus) are listed as, in danger of extinction, by the IUCN (1982). Tapirus terrestris distribution ranges from Venezuela to the north of Argentina and its occurrence is decreasing due to hunting pressure and habitat loss (Hershkovitz, 1957; Ojeda and Mares, 1982, Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).

Tapirs are the largest of the Brazilian mammals and their reproduction is slower than most mammal species due to a long period of gestation (13 months) and there is only one offspring per gestation. These factors, added to the destruction of their habitat in recent years, justifies the need for studies that can help to demonstrate the status of the species, and in the creation of management and conservation plans, when they are needed. They are accurate ecological indicators and critical to maintaining the biological integrity of ecosystems (Greene, 1988; Terborgh, 1990, 1997). The loss of large ungulates such as tapirs may trigger adverse effects in the Plateau remnants and affect ecosystem integrity (Redford, 1992; Fragoso, 1994). The scanty evidence available from the Atlantic Forest leads us to believe that the absence of tapir may also cause disruptions of some key ecological process, such as seed predation, seed dispersal and nutrient recycling that help to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (Cullen, 1997). Local extinction or population decreases of the species in question could lead to substantial ecological distortions and eventually compromise the long-term biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest.

Preliminary information about their dispersal behavior has shown that this large and, to some extent, generalist mammal, is still surviving in very small forest patches, mainly because tapirs are able to exploit surrounding resources and move long distances between forest fragments. The most used dispersion routes or corridors should be restored and conserved, keeping the landscape connected and therefore keeping the metapopulation scenario for this large keystone species for this threatened ecosystem.

Conservation biologists who manage animals in small and isolated forest fragments should ask the question: "How many individuals should be maintained within a particular reserve to ensure that a local population will still be thriving 100 years from now?" Although there has been much discussion over the optimum numbers, the 50-500 rule is still the most common (Hunter 1996). This rule states that a local population of 50 individuals is the minimum viable population size (MVP) required to avoid problems of inbreeding. But, long term survival requires at least 500 so that a population will not lose genetic variability and will be able to cope and evolve with changing environments (Soulé and Wilcox 1980). The long-term presence, as well as the genetic diversity of ungulates in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding fragmented landscape should be critical to the ecological integrity and biological diversity of these last remaining Atlantic Forest Fragments. Guaranteeing the permanence of this key ungulate, along with their ecological roles in the ecosystem is a national responsibility. Additionally, research with this species as landscape detectives is an innovative conservation approach and should provide essential information for the future management of other highly fragmented landscapes. Consequently, in addition to its stated applications, the present research can be an important contribution to the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity.

OBJECTIVES, GOALS AND JUSTIFICATIONS

The study is currently investigating the conservation status of tapirs in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding forest fragments of the Atlantic Forest, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Specifically, population size, conservation genetics and dispersal pattern information have been continuously monitored and evaluated. This information will facilitate the implementation of two management plans critical to the long-term conservation of this Atlantic Forest ecosystem. They are: 1) metapopulational management of tapirs (e.g. promotion of genetic exchange between reduced or fragmented populations) and, 2) restoration of main wildlife corridors to improve biological diversity in fragmented rural landscapes.

Specific objectives of this project include:

1. description of home range size and territorial behavior of this species;
2. estimation of population size for lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding Atlantic Forest fragments;
3. description and mapping of the principal daily and dispersal routes throughout the landscape;
4. assessment of the genetic status and health conditions of these fragmented and, at some extent, isolated populations;
5. investigation of their potential as "landscape detectives" showing us the most used dispersal routes and pathways in the landscape, and therefore the potential areas to be conserved and restored as wildlife corridors;
6. training of Forestry and Biology college students on conservation biology and;
7. teaching landless people settled around the forest fragments about the importance of conserving such species and its habitat.

The specific objectives are justified (in terms of conservation planning) by the following underlined topics. Description of home range and territoriality: Data on home range size and territorial behavior for this relevant species will be used to estimate respective population size and, ultimately, enable an assessment of the local population viability (Lacy, 1993). These analyses will evaluate the risk of local extinction due to genetic or demographic constraints. The study of the actual genetic status of these populations will also be an important consideration in these assessments and provide essential information for population viability analysis and metapopulation management. Metapopulation management and a habitat conservation plan, which involves identification and restoration of main animal routes and corridors, are seen as the most feasible strategies for conservation efforts. Preliminary information obtained from eight radio-collared tapirs, along with systematic census results, suggest that no more than 300 tapirs survive in this landscape (Cullen, 1997, Medici et al, 1997). This number is also well below the 500 reproducing individuals recommended for long-term population viability.

Studies of the principal daily use and dispersal routes in the surrounding areas of the Park indicate that tapirs frequently wander outside large forests sources such as Morro do Diabo State Park. They normally cross open areas using degraded forest corridors along small rivers, and home into smaller forest fragments (pers. observation). We suggest that these individuals temporarily use the smaller fragments as stepping stones during their temporary movements outside main forest sources. Therefore, we propose that this species be used as a "landscape detective", showing us the most used dispersal routes and pathways in the landscape, and therefore the potential areas to be conserved and restored as wildlife corridors.

To achieve the specific objectives the following methods have been used:

1. Captures: the capture goal is 10% of the lowland tapir population. This is considered to be a significant sample size for analysis of tapirs (IUCN, 1997). This represents about 20-25 tapirs. We have been using the pitfall trapping technique to capture the animals. This is a 240 x 150 x 230 cm ground hole covered and camouflaged with forest debris. This method has proved to be very successful and safe for the eleven tapirs already captured and radio-collared (Medici and Mangini, 1998). The veterinarian responsible for anesthetizing captured animals uses a blowgun (Telinject USA, Inc) and a syringe dart with a 0.7 inch needle. Medetomidine and Zoletil are used as the anesthetic agent/drugs at the recommended dosages. These drugs have a large margin of safety and have often been recommended and tested in Neotropical ungulates (Mangini and Medici, 1998).

2. Description of territorial behavior and home range sizes: after fitting the animals with radio-collars, they are tracked on foot or by car, depending on the terrain conditions. After the reception of a signal, the animal's position is triangulated and plotted on a latitude/longitude grid using CAMRIS 3.46 (Computer Aided Mapping Resource Inventory System) (Ford, 1989). The GPS (Global Positioning System) is used to mark the coordinates of the located areas. A combination of the minimum convex polygon, arithmetic center and harmonic mean methods is used to best calculate and space use and home range area (Ford, 1989, Crawshaw, 1995). These analyses, during the proposed four years of research, should yield an accurate description of the species' home range and main roaming routes throughout the landscape. All data has been plotted and studied in a georeferenced context produced by TRACKER software.

3. Population estimate and viability: data obtained on home range sizes and territorial behavior will be used to estimate the respective population size of the species in Morro do Diabo State Park and surrounding landscape. Indirect observations such as tapirs' tracks and trails will also be also used as population indicators. Together all of this information will allow for later analysis of the local population sizes. VORTEX (Lacy, 1993) software will be used to analyze and simulate population trends and viability.

4. State of genetic conservation and health studies: genetic data is becoming an important tool in the conservation management of wild and fragmented populations (Avise, 1996). In the present research, this information will be used to analyze evidence of inbreeding (Ralls et al., 1988), social structures, and the construction of pedigrees. These will facilitate analyses of inbreeding coefficients (Crow & Kimura, 1970), social systems (Burke, 1989), demography, and the long-term genetic viability of the populations. Blood samples have been collected from captured animals. Also, blood and external parasites have been collected for analysis of possible diseases (Mangini et al. 1998). Collected blood has been treated with anti-coagulant and stored for analysis (Sherwin, 1991). These analyses will be carried out in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at CERC (Center of Environmental Research and Conservation), Columbia University, New York.

5. Teaching local people: the project's principal investigator and field assistants work closely with teachers from rural schools and Environmental Education personnel from Morro do Diabo State Park implementing an intensive environmental education program all over the settlements. The work is based on lectures in schools (including adults) and visits to the farmer's plots.

6. Training: the project hosts and trains a team of 2 students per month.

DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

The results gathered through the conduction of the project have been disseminated on scientific and general publications, talks and presentations in Brazilian Universities and National and International meetings, symposiums and congresses. The project also has a home page on the Tapir Gallery Web Pages - Tapir Preservation Fund. Finally, the principal investigator is a member of the Tapir Specialist Group - IUCN - which is also a strong vehicle to promote discussions and dissemination of results.

1. Forestry Institute of São Paulo State license to work inside the Morro do Diabo State Park. OBTAINED for the next three years (2000/2001/2002).
2. IBAMA license to capture and manipulate the animals. RENEWED for the period between February 2000 and February 2001.

CL¡UDIO VALLADARES-P¡DUA, Executive Director of IPE - Institute for Ecological Research. E-mail: ipe@ax.ibase.org.br

SHERYL TODD, President of the Tapir Preservation Fund and Deputy-Chair of the Tapir Specialist Group/IUCN. E-mail: tapir@tapirback.com

SHARON MATOLA, Director of the Belize Zoo and President of the Tapir Specialist Group/IUCN. E-mail: BelizeZoo@btl.net

MARY PEARL, President of the Wildlife Preservation Trust International USA. E-mail: pearl@wpti.org

HEIDI FROHRING, Project's representative at the Woodland Park Zoo - Jungle Party Conservation Fund. E-mail: heidilemur@mihalyo.com

RICK BARONGI, Director of the Houston Zoo. Tapir Advisory Group (TAG). E-mail: RBarongi@aol.com