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M. García et al. 2010. The effect of land cover changes on the habitat of Baird’s tapir in Laguna Lachuá
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The effect of land cover changes (1960’s-2003) on the habitat
morphological spatial pattern and population viability of Baird’s tapir
in Laguna Lachuá National Park Influence Zone, Guatemala
Manolo García 1* , Fernando Castillo 1 , Raquel Leonardo 1 , Liza García 1 & Ivonne
Gómez 1
1 Centro de Datos para la Conservación, Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas,
Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala
Abstract
The current anthropogenic morphological spatial patterns (MSP) of forests usually are not
suitable for large mammals such as Baird’s tapir, the largest terrestrial mammal in the
Neotropics. We intended to evaluate how changes in MSP affected the population viability (PV)
of this species. Using land cover images we determined the MSP in different years using
software GUIDOS. PV was modeled using software VORTEX. The species habitat reduced
from approximately 95% to 46% of the study area. From 1960 to 1983 the majority of the area
was core with a few perforations. In 1991 more than the 50% of the core was loss, since then,
the reduction of corridors, islets and branches, increased the isolation of the park. The PV
changed from 0% to 80% probability of extinction. Results show that habitat modification has
accelerated the extinction process. Redirect this tendency is a challenge to land use planning and
wildlife conservation.
Keywords: spatial pattern population viability Tapir
1. Introduction
Human activities have modified morphological spatial patterns of natural ecosystems causing
great impacts in wildlife (Cuarón, 2000, McCullough, 1996, Escamilla et al., 2000). One of the
most common disturbances in tropical lowlands at northeastern Guatemala is the transformation
of tropical forest for livestock and currently Oil palm plantations, causing habitat reduction and
fragmentation, as well as its degradation. Large mammals are especially susceptible to habitat
reduction and fragmentation (Kinnaird et al., 2003). Baird’s tapir is the largest native terrestrial
mammal in the Neotropics, including Guatemala, with a body size of 2 meter long, 1.5 meters
height and a body weight of 100 to 350 kilograms (Emmons, 1990). We intended to evaluate
how changes in land cover from 1960s to 2000s have affected the population viability of this
species.
2. Methodology
2.1 Study area
The study area was the Laguna Lachuá National Park’s (LLNP) influence zone. The LLNP is a
14.5 square kilometers protected area in the north of Guatemala surrounded by rural
communities, mainly Mayan Kekchí, and also big farms. It is traversed by a road known as
* Corresponding author. Tel.:+502 55538913
Email address: garcia.manolo@usac.edu.gt
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.