Mammalian Trophic Diversity in Tropical and Temperate Regions
Event Type
Research Presentation
Academic Department
Biology
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
26-4-2024 1:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 3:00 PM
Description
Under the direction of Dr. Renee Godard
Tropical and temperate forests can differ in physical structure as well as species diversity. These differences in structure and composition can impact the structural composition of animal food webs. Using remote camera traps, compared animal activity patterns in relationship to trophic levels in temperate forests in Virginia those found in tropical rainforests in the Pastaza Province, Ecuador. To evaluate animal activity, camera trap data from three trail cameras placed in a mature, second-growth temperate forest in Botetourt County, Va. (August-January 2024) was compared to animal activity in two tropical forests (2 cameras in a primary forest and 2 in a secondary forest) in the Pastaza Province (October 2023 to January 2024). Our analysis showed much higher animal activity rates in the temperate zones (2.266 captures/camera day) compared to tropical forest (0.108 captures/camera a day). A total of eleven species were captured in both locations with two species dominating the temperate zone (white-tailed deer accounted for over 65% of all captures, and grey squirrels for over 23%). The dominance of this large herbivore in the temperate zone suggests that these forests may be impacted strongly by one species, while the tropical forests appear to have a balance of species in different trophic levels.
Mammalian Trophic Diversity in Tropical and Temperate Regions
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Under the direction of Dr. Renee Godard
Tropical and temperate forests can differ in physical structure as well as species diversity. These differences in structure and composition can impact the structural composition of animal food webs. Using remote camera traps, compared animal activity patterns in relationship to trophic levels in temperate forests in Virginia those found in tropical rainforests in the Pastaza Province, Ecuador. To evaluate animal activity, camera trap data from three trail cameras placed in a mature, second-growth temperate forest in Botetourt County, Va. (August-January 2024) was compared to animal activity in two tropical forests (2 cameras in a primary forest and 2 in a secondary forest) in the Pastaza Province (October 2023 to January 2024). Our analysis showed much higher animal activity rates in the temperate zones (2.266 captures/camera day) compared to tropical forest (0.108 captures/camera a day). A total of eleven species were captured in both locations with two species dominating the temperate zone (white-tailed deer accounted for over 65% of all captures, and grey squirrels for over 23%). The dominance of this large herbivore in the temperate zone suggests that these forests may be impacted strongly by one species, while the tropical forests appear to have a balance of species in different trophic levels.