Vertebrate fauna as perceived by local farmers: ecosystem service or dis-service?

PERIAGO M.E., D.M. TAMBURINI, R.A. OJEDA, DM CÁCERES, S.M. DÍAZ

Ohio

Congreso; 4th International EcoSummit; 2012

Ecological Society of America

Over the past few years, the accelerated expansion of the agricultural frontier in Argentina has led to loss in forest cover in the Chaco ecoregion at an annual rate of 2.2%. Coupled with technological advancements and socioeconomic factors, this has resulted in a reduction of primary forest with isolated patches of natural and semi-natural habitats, and little consideration to long-term sustainability. The remaining habitats present different ecological conditions and potentials to provide ecosystem services. These include the capacity to sustain native animal populations that act as agents of seed dispersal of key plant species or as protein source for local subsistence farmers. Our goal was to analyze the capacity of different ecosystem configurations to sustain vertebrate fauna as source of ecosystem services, both from an ecological viewpoint and the perspectives of local communities, using methods from ecology and the social sciences. We evaluated intensity of use by two native mammals, grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) and grey fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), in six land use configurations. Our results indicate that the brocket deer selects sites within primary and secondary forest, and avoids sites with mixed and Larrea shrublands. The grey fox selects sites within secondary forests, mixed and Larrea shrublands, and avoids sites within primary forest. Both animals avoided logged pastureland and cultivated crops. On the social side, all individuals interviewed considered the fox as detrimental for damaging domestic animals, while 85% considered the brocket deer a beneficial animal either for bushmeat or for wildlife-watching. Although the fox is fundamental in the semi-arid Chaco for being a major seed disperser of native trees, rural communities consider it an “ecosystem dis-service”. Our findings illustrate the need to have an overall view of an ecosystem when assessing which services are provided, how they are perceived by the community and how they influence decision-making.