Presença e importância do tatu-canastra, Priodontes maximus (Kerr, 1792), em um dos últimos refúgios para espécie na Mata Atlântica: o Complexo Florestal Linhares-Sooretama

Abstract

Priodontes maximus, known in Brazil as the tatu-canastra, diverged within the Xenarthra superorder at least 22 Ma and is one of the oldest living mammal species on Earth. It is classified within large mammals, and an adult individual can measure 1.60 m and weigh 60 kg in free life. The giant armadillo is a flag species of South American forests and is endangered throughout its distribution. In Brazil, its occurrence is wide, currently encompassing the Cerrado, Pantanal, Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes, but the species is threatened in the Vulnerable category. In the Atlantic Forest, it is Critically Endangered and the Linhares-Sooretama Forest Complex, formed by the Sooretama Biological Reserve, Vale Nature Reserve and other contiguous reserves, is one of the last refuges for the species in the entire Atlantic Forest. Until now, there were few records and isolated information about the species in this forest complex, in addition its ecological role had not yet been studied in the Atlantic Forest. In this sense, this dissertation aimed to overcome this gap, generating knowledge about the conservation status and about the ecological role of the species. In the first chapter, the historical records and knowledge of research on terrestrial vertebrates carried out in the forest complex in the last 15 years were gathered. In addition, searches were conducted for evidence of the presence of the species. In total, there were 70 records, including carcasses, excavations and images of the giant armadillo. 23 armadillo excavations were found and three individuals were recorded in the cameras trap. The records showed that the conservation status of the species in the region is very worrying, as the number of individuals surviving in the area is small and the population is under strong threats from hunting and from the BR-101 highway. In view of this scenario, the species existence in this forest complex is highly compromised and its population is endangered. In the second chapter, the first study on the ecology of the armadillo in the Atlantic Forest was carried out. The giant armadillo is known to be an allogeneic engineer of the ecosystem, because through its excavations, they alter the physical environment, create new habitats and influence the resources for several species of wild vertebrates. In the present study, camera traps were installed for monitoring 14 excavations of giant armadillo in the Sooretama Biological Reserve. The results showed that at least 37 species of vertebrates used the excavations and the richness of species detected in front of the excavations was greater than the points without excavations. In addition, 15 species were detected exclusively by excavations and only two at points without excavation. Many of these species are endangered. Thus, the giant armadillo is an ecosystem engineer also in the Atlantic Forest and despite being in danger of extinction, its excavations still provide resources, shelter and protection for many other animal species. However, unless the course of extinction can be reversed soon, the giant armadillo will no longer be able to play its important ecological role.