PADRÃO DE ATIVIDADE E DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE CATETOS (DICOTYLES TAJACU) EM PAISAGENS ALTERADAS DO SUDOESTE GOIANO.

Abstract

Dicotyles tajacu (collared peccary) is a common species in different Brazilian biomes, including the Cerrado. As a medium-sized species, it may be potentially impacted by the rapid alteration of natural landscapes observed in this biome. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the interaction between the number of records and temporal activity of D. tajacu with habitat fragmentation and environmental pressures in areas of the Cerrado where the species occurs. The research was conducted across 31 sampling points during four campaigns, with a total effort of 3,720 camera-trap days. Native vegetation cover ranged from 7.36% to 25.65%, while agriculture dominated areas with over 70% agricultural use, showing a strong negative correlation between the two land cover classes (r = -0.95; P < 0.01). A total of 517 records of the species were obtained, with a decrease in records in areas with higher agricultural coverage. Collared peccaries exhibited both diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns throughout the year. Time of day was the main predictor explaining the number of species records, although temperature also appeared as a secondary factor in the models. The species showed a preference for temperatures between 20°C and 32°C. Activity patterns revealed two peaks: one in the morning, between 3:00 and 7:00, and another at night, after 18:00, suggesting behavioral adjustments to avoid predation or human activities. Collared peccaries were more frequently recorded in less altered areas with higher percentages of native vegetation, where they can adjust their activities according to time of day and temperature. These results highlight the importance of preserving natural areas for the maintenance of collared peccary populations and suggest that agricultural expansion may have a negative impact on the species' distribution. Future research should investigate the interactions between Dicotyles tajacu and other sympatric species, as well as the alignment of their activity patterns with human activities, and their influences on spatial distribution and activity patterns.