Ecologia e conservação de catetos, Tayassu tajacu (Linnaeus, 1758) (Artiodactyla, Tayassuidae) em áreas de Cerrado do Estado de São Paulo

Abstract

Among the present mammals in the units of conservation Estação Ecológica de Jataí (EEJ) and Parque Estadual de Vassununga (PEV) and in the unit of production, Estação Experimental de Luiz Antônio (EELA), located in the northeast of the State of São Paulo, are the peccaries, Tayassu tajacu. Between March of 2000 and January of 2004, the home range of them, the use of the space, diet and the impacts on the populations in these areas were studied. For obtaining the data, the radiotelemetry technique was used as tool and methods of terrestrial tracking. Seven peccaries received radio-collars for monitoring. It was established four home ranges being three referring to each one of the peccaries of the Estação Ecológica de Jataí (EEJ) and Estação Experimental de Luiz Antônio with 161, 930 and 1.387 hectares and one regarding of the Parque Estadual de Vassununga (PEV), with 350 hectares. It were identified 22 species of plants used by the peccaries and 16 of wich were of confirmed use in the diet, five were considered as of probable use and one species was used as shelter. The diet also included ingested fruits of two palm trees (Família Arecaceae), other native species and five exotic species cultivated at orchards of EELA. It was identified some in this study factors that can be interfering negatively on the populations of peccaries and of other animals as weed killer application, hunts and activities of collection of exotic wood. Indirect impacts were also identified showing the need to improve the system of administration of units of conservation, including the definition of Management Plans that prioritize the regional biodiversity.