Camera trap and eDNA assessments of mammal population recovery in gold mining regions of the Peruvian Amazon

CONSERVATION CONTEXT

Mining is a threat to large mammals globally. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) occurs in 80 countries, including all containing Amazon rainforest. In Madre de Dios, Peru, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, ASGM is the biggest driver of deforestation. It leaves behind a highly altered, mercury-polluted landscape where 15-30% of the surface area is water. Information is lacking on how medium- and large-bodied mammals use these landscapes and on how their populations are impacted in adjacent forest.

The objective for this DPhil project is to understand the recovery of mammalian biodiversity in landscapes degraded by gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon and to inform ongoing ecological restoration. Using camera traps and aquatic eDNA, I am conducting original research into spatial patterns of species richness, habitat use and functional diversity of medium- and large-bodied mammals in gold mining landscapes and I will investigate the implications of those patterns for the key process of seed dispersal.  I hope to explore the role of carnivores as secondary seed dispersers, which to our knowledge has not been investigated in Amazon rainforest, and assess bioaccumulation of mercury.

The project’s outcomes will inform strategies for optimising reforestation, which can be applied more broadly to tropical forests. Reforestation is critical for reversing the carbon impacts of deforestation and mitigating climate change. Results will inform local and national management through CINCIA’s policy unit in Peru and be disseminated through reports in Spanish and peer-review publications.

APPROACH

Gold mines

Camera trap surveys are being conducted across three different habitats in gold mining landscapes. Each camera trap grid encompasses gold mines and adjacent forest. An additional non-mined forest site is also being surveyed to act as a control. Data will provide information on species richness, abundance and habitat use. This project is a collaboration between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), and WildCRU.

eDNA

Aquatic eDNA samples have been collected from the non-mined forest site in collaboration with Junglekeepers. I am also collaborating with CINCIA. They have collected aquatic eDNA samples from the gold mining areas. I will compare aquatic eDNA sampling with camera traps as a method for assessing biodiversity in Amazon rainforest habitat.

Giant armadillo

This project is led by Holly. It is funded by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and donors to a crowd funding campaign.

The giant armadillo is a keystone species and ecosystem engineer listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Its burrows are used by many species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Colombian Llanos, and Argentine Chaco, including important seed dispersers, keystone species, and species which contribute to ecosystem function This has not been fully investigated in the Amazon rainforest. My project will explore the function giant armadillo burrows play in resource provision for other species and assess the effects impacted populations may have on the ecosystem function in areas recovering from gold mining. I am particularly interested in burrow use by the short-eared dog and bush dog.

Short-eared dog.

This project is led by Holly in collaboration with Daniel Rocha, a former Diploma student. Using camera trap data from across Peru, I will conduct the first study of habitat use of the short-eared dog in the Peruvian Amazon.