O fogo e seus efeitos sobre a herpeto e a mastofauna terrestre no Parque Nacional de Ilha Grande (PR/MS), Brasil

Abstract

This research was developed in Ilha Grande National Park, a Brazilian Conservation Unit, located in the southern region of high Paraná River flood plain, between the states of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. The objectives were to characterize the forest fire statistics of the unit, define the forest fire risk season, describe wild animals’ attitudes to fire, identify the species affeccted by fire and correlate the nature of the lesions with the fire action, and identify the species in burned area. The wildfire statistics were determined by the evaluation of the occurences between 1999 to 2003. The forest fire risk season were defined by the evaluation of the meteorological data of temperature, umidity and precipitation from 1998 to 2003. The fire effects on wildlife were determined by the evaluation of the direct and indirect effects of the fire observed in two wildfires occurred in september of 2003. The evaluation of the direct effects were made by the description of the animals attitudes to fire and by the evaluation of the mortality and the lesions related with the fire action. Indirect effects were evaluated by the identification of the species that made use of the burned areas. In the period from 1999 to 2003, 52 occurrences were registered. The total burned area was 129,481.5 ha. The fire season extends from august to september, when 64% of the fires occurred. “Ilha Grande”, the major Park island, ranked first both in registered fires (13) and burned surface (100,097.5 ha). Incendiary, with the 50% occurrences was the leading cause. According to the meteorological data of the region, the fire risk season in the Park extends from july to september. The attitudes of three species of reptiles and six species of mammals to fire were registered. The animals observed were three snakes, one Tapirus terrestris, four Alouatta caraya, thirty-one Blastocerus dichotomus, two Cavia aperea, two Tamandua tetradactyla and one Dasypus novemcinctus. The animals’ attitudes to fire were compatible with reactions to threatening situations. During the monitoring of the burned surface, there were found sixteen dead animals and three alive animals presenting extensive burn injuries. The dead animals were four Bothrops moojeni, one Thamnodynastes hypoconia, one not identified snake, two Cavia aperea, one Tamandua tetradactyla, six Dasypus novemcinctus and one Puma concolor. The injured animals found alive were one Micrurus lemniscatus, one Blastocerus dichotomus and one Cavia aperea. During the one year monitoring period many species of reptiles and mammals used the burned areas according to their biological characteristics and the available resources of the area. The results showed that in Ilha Grande National Park forest fires are periodical occurences and intensive and extensive wildfires affect direct and indirectly terrestrial reptiles and mammals. For the first time there were registered the death of a Puma concolor and the aquatic dislocation of Alouatta caraya, both due to the direct effects of the fire.