Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus

Wild ungulates, and particularly deer, can cause severe damage to commercial plantations, resulting in reduced tolerance of their presence by forestry producers. The marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is declining throughout South America. A population...

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Main Authors: Iezzi, María Eugenia, Fracassi, Natalia, Pereira, Javier Adolfo
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1587
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/conservation-of-the-largest-cervid-of-south-america-interactions-between-people-and-the-vulnerable-marsh-deer-blastocerus-dichotomus/B6662CCBCC8FFF728CC3F5F4762DD9A2
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000837
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author Iezzi, María Eugenia
Fracassi, Natalia
Pereira, Javier Adolfo
author_browse Fracassi, Natalia
Iezzi, María Eugenia
Pereira, Javier Adolfo
author_facet Iezzi, María Eugenia
Fracassi, Natalia
Pereira, Javier Adolfo
author_sort Iezzi, María Eugenia
collection INTA Digital
description Wild ungulates, and particularly deer, can cause severe damage to commercial plantations, resulting in reduced tolerance of their presence by forestry producers. The marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is declining throughout South America. A population of c. 500 individuals survive within a matrix of commercial plantations in the lower delta of the Paraná River, the southernmost stronghold for the species. Local forestry producers usually report that damage to plantations is attributable to marsh deer, thus justifying persecution of the species. Seventy-six forestry producers (representing c. 33% of the total plantation area of the lower delta) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess perceived levels of tree damage, associated economic losses, and attitudes towards the deer. Simultaneously, plantation stands were surveyed to quantify the actual tree damage caused by this ungulate. Seventy-six percent of producers reported damage to trees by deer (i.e. browsing, fraying caused by antler rubbing) but most of them perceived low levels of damage per property (median < 0.2%), with negligible economic effects. However, 5% of producers (all of them with ≤ 2 km2 in production, usually family enterprises) perceived high levels of damage and economic losses, and supported deer hunting as a management option. Field surveys indicated that damage caused by deer could be more severe than perceived by producers, although spatially confined within the landscape. Monitoring of damage perception by forestry producers, and compensation schemes to assist small producers are necessary for adequate management of this threatened marsh deer population.
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spelling INTA15872018-06-28T18:50:50Z Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus Iezzi, María Eugenia Fracassi, Natalia Pereira, Javier Adolfo Ciencias Forestales Salicaceae Salicáceas Vida silvestre Cervidae Forestry Wildlife Deer Venado Blastocerus Dichotomus América del Sur Wild ungulates, and particularly deer, can cause severe damage to commercial plantations, resulting in reduced tolerance of their presence by forestry producers. The marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is declining throughout South America. A population of c. 500 individuals survive within a matrix of commercial plantations in the lower delta of the Paraná River, the southernmost stronghold for the species. Local forestry producers usually report that damage to plantations is attributable to marsh deer, thus justifying persecution of the species. Seventy-six forestry producers (representing c. 33% of the total plantation area of the lower delta) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess perceived levels of tree damage, associated economic losses, and attitudes towards the deer. Simultaneously, plantation stands were surveyed to quantify the actual tree damage caused by this ungulate. Seventy-six percent of producers reported damage to trees by deer (i.e. browsing, fraying caused by antler rubbing) but most of them perceived low levels of damage per property (median < 0.2%), with negligible economic effects. However, 5% of producers (all of them with ≤ 2 km2 in production, usually family enterprises) perceived high levels of damage and economic losses, and supported deer hunting as a management option. Field surveys indicated that damage caused by deer could be more severe than perceived by producers, although spatially confined within the landscape. Monitoring of damage perception by forestry producers, and compensation schemes to assist small producers are necessary for adequate management of this threatened marsh deer population. EEA Delta del Paraná Fil: Iezzi, María Eugenia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Fracassi, Natalia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; Argentina Fil: Pereira, Javier Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados Unidos 2017-10-25T15:13:45Z 2017-10-25T15:13:45Z 2017-07 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1587 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/conservation-of-the-largest-cervid-of-south-america-interactions-between-people-and-the-vulnerable-marsh-deer-blastocerus-dichotomus/B6662CCBCC8FFF728CC3F5F4762DD9A2 0030-6053 (Print) 1365-3008 (Online) https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000837 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Cambridge University Press Oryx : the international journal of conservation : 1-7. (July 2017)
spellingShingle Ciencias Forestales
Salicaceae
Salicáceas
Vida silvestre
Cervidae
Forestry
Wildlife
Deer
Venado
Blastocerus Dichotomus
América del Sur
Iezzi, María Eugenia
Fracassi, Natalia
Pereira, Javier Adolfo
Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title_full Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title_fullStr Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title_full_unstemmed Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title_short Conservation of the largest cervid of South America : interactions between people and the Vulnerable marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus
title_sort conservation of the largest cervid of south america interactions between people and the vulnerable marsh deer blastocerus dichotomus
topic Ciencias Forestales
Salicaceae
Salicáceas
Vida silvestre
Cervidae
Forestry
Wildlife
Deer
Venado
Blastocerus Dichotomus
América del Sur
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1587
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/conservation-of-the-largest-cervid-of-south-america-interactions-between-people-and-the-vulnerable-marsh-deer-blastocerus-dichotomus/B6662CCBCC8FFF728CC3F5F4762DD9A2
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000837
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