Damages caused by wild vertebrate species in corn crops at the Lacandon Forest, Chiapas, Mexico Danos ocasionados por vertebrados silvestres al cultivo de maiz en la Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico
Romero-Balderas, K.G.; Naranjo, E.J.; Morales, H.H.; Nigh, R.B.
Interciencia 31(4): 276-283
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0378-1844 Document Number: 398314
The purpose of this study was to identify wild vertebrate species causing damage in corn crops at the Lacandon Forest of Chiapas, Mexico, and to estimate and compare losses in corn plots with different traits, such as water availability, dead trees, shape, slope, sowing date, distance to towns, and presence of adjacent corn crops. Twenty-two corn plots were sampled in two communities neighboring the Mantes Azides Biosphere Reserve, randomly establishing ten 100m line transects and ten 25m2 quadrants per ha. The main con? damage-causing species identified in the study area were the raccoon (Procyon lotor), collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), coati (Nasua narica), paca (Agouti paca), grey squirrel (Sciurus aureogaster), pocket gopher (Orthogeomys hispidus), mexican deer mouse (Peromyscus mexicanus), white-fronted parrot (Pionus senilis), brown jay (Cyanocorax morio), and lineated woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus). Average losses assessed (8.9 plus or minus 1% of the harvest per ha) were equivalent to 90kg.ha-1 of corn. The greatest damages caused by each species Were observed in corn plots with the following attributes: presence of streams (collared peccary), presence of dead trees (lineated woodpecker), presence of surrounding secondary forests (coati), and during the first sowings and far from the village (white-fronted parrot).