Grade of similarity of native wildlife in two environmental units in the Carcarañá river high basin (Santa Fe Province)

RIMOLDI, PABLO G.; NORIEGA, JORGE I.

Casilda

Congreso; XIV Congress - XXXII Annual Meeting; 2012

Sociedad de Biología de Rosario

The biomes in the Región Pampeana meadow have been dramatically changed by the influence of humans on agricultural and farming activities. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats to the survival of mammal communities in the South of Santa Fe province. This work compares the specific richness with the grade of similarity of large and medium-sized mammals in two environmental units in the Carcarañá River high basin. The two units of study are the farmlands and the halophylic communities of Spartina spartinae associated with the left bank of Tortugas stream, both located in the Belgrano department (32° 35 45 S 61° 53 12 O). The methodology used was based on identifi cation through direct observation and activity signs such as animal tracks, faeces and other traces. As a result 11 species grouped in 7 families and 4 orders were found. Specific richness (S) showed 10 species for the halophylic communities of Spartina Spartnae and 5 for the farmlands. The analysis of faunistic similarity between both environmental units measured (0.36) using Jaccard index and (0.57) using Sorensen index. Due to the measure differences of specifi c richness and wildlife similarity, it is suggested that the existence of wildlife has been changed and influenced by a stark contrast on the environmental characteristics of the units. Before such a situation it is extremely necessary to do research on key, endangered and ecology relevant species with the aim of finding out effi cient strategies for the conservation proposals leading to a careful handling of the region resources.