Resumen

OCHOA G., José; BEVILACQUA, Mariapía  y  GARCIA, Franger. Evaluación ecológica rápida de las comunidades de mamíferos en cinco localidades del Delta del Orinoco, Venezuela. INCI [online]. 2005, vol.30, n.8, pp.466-475. ISSN 0378-1844.

The results of a rapid ecological assessment of mammal communities in five localities of the Orinoco Delta (four of them included in the Delta del Orinoco Biosphere Reserve) are presented. The study area embraces six ecosystems and their associated aquatic environments, representing the ecological range from the upper to the lower Delta. The research is based on the analysis of the taxonomic composition and guild structure of the evaluated communities, by means of intensive inventories. At least 123 mammals inhabit the study area, including some taxa restricted in Venezuela to the Guayana region and 39 species previously unknown for the Delta Amacuro. The mammal communities in pristine swamp forests had the maximum taxonomic richness and the highest complexity of the guild structure, while in secondary forests and grasslands these attributes showed the highest simplification, due to absence or reduction of arboreal strata, fragmentation of forest masses, low availability of some resources, and the effects of hunting. In some areas dominated by mangroves we recorded an unexpected taxonomic diversity and a relatively complex guild structure, as a result of the association of this ecosystem with swamp forests. The attributes of the evaluated communities could be also influenced by the typical seasonal flooding pattern of the delta region, biases of sampling methods, and the relative evolution of some habitats. The importance of the results for biodiversity conservation is pointed out and some complementary research activities are recommended.

Palabras clave : Delta del Orinoco; Ecología; Evaluación Rápida; Mamíferos.