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17 - The mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) and Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus): two charismatic, large mammals in South American tropical montane cloud forests

from Part II - Regional floristic and animal diversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
J. Cavelier ,
D. Lizcano ,
E. Yerena  and
C. Downer
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
J. Cavelier
Affiliation:
The Global Environmental Facility, USA
D. Lizcano
Affiliation:
University of Kent, UK
E. Yerena
Affiliation:
Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela
C. Downer
Affiliation:
Andean Tapir Fund, USA
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Mountain tapir and Andean bear are the two largest mammals in the tropical Andes, both charismatic, survivors of old lineages of mammal evolution, and threatened with extinction. Their current distribution is montane cloud forest and páramos (high-altitude grasslands) in South America, where they feed on fruits and vegetative parts, having an important role as seed dispersers. The distribution and population size of both species was analyzed based on expert opinion and a rule-and-base model within a GIS context. A gap analysis was performed to determine the animals their conservation status within National Parks. Areas of past and present distribution for the mountain tapir were 205 000 km2 and 31 400 km2, respectively. Based on existing suitable habitat, the population of mountain tapirs in their current range was estimated at 5700 individuals at the most. The overall population of Andean bears ranges between expert estimates of 5000–10 000 individuals. Several conservation recommendations emerge from the present analysis and review for the two species.

INTRODUCTION

The tropical cloud forests of the Andean region support some of the greatest plant and animal species diversity on Earth (Rahbek and Graves 2001; Barthlott et al., 2005; Brehm et al., 2005; Krömer et al., 2005), with a remarkable number of endemic and rare species (Duellman, 1988; Kessler, 2002; Kattan and Franco, 2004). At the same time, the tropical Andes is one of the most endangered biodiversity “hot spots” (Myers et al., 2000; Brooks et al., 2002; cf. Mosandl et al., 2008) due primarily to the conversion of forests to agriculture and cattle ranching, a process that continues today (Kattan et al., 2004).

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 172 - 181
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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