O impacto do regime de fogo e da estrutura da paisagem sobre o uso do habitat de três espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em uma área protegida no Cerrado

Abstract

Fire is a natural element present in various terrestrial ecosystems, influencing the structure and functioning of biological communities. Changes in fire regimes, including frequency, intensity, and the extent of burning, can profoundly modify species distribution patterns and alter habitat structures at both local and landscape scales. Pyrodiversity, referring to the variability and diversity of fire events in terms of frequency, intensity, and area affected, plays a critical role in shaping species’ responses to fire. In this study, we investigated how fire regimes influence the habitat use of three mammal species: the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) (Linnaeus, 1758), the red brocket deer (Mazama americana) (Erxleben, 1777), and the gray brocket deer (Subulo gouazoubira) (Smith, 1827). We examined whether the Habitat Use Intensity (H.U.I.) of these species is influenced by fire regime variables, such as fire frequency diversity, fire age diversity, and total burned area over the last two years, or by distinct landscape characteristics, such as forest formations, savannas, and anthropized areas, across different spatial scales (250, 500, and 1000 meters). The study was conducted in Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, within the Cerrado biome, using camera traps distributed across 78 sampling units between 2016 and 2023. Statistical analyses were performed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMER) to select the best models that explained the variation in habitat use. Our results showed that the lowland tapir (T. terrestris) exhibited reduced H.U.I. in areas with high fire frequency diversity, regardless of the spatial scale. For the deer species, we observed a mixed response: negative correlation with fire frequency diversity and positive correlation with fire age diversity, suggesting a preference for areas with longer periods since the last fire. Landscape variables, such as vegetation structure and composition, also consistently influenced habitat use for deer across multiple scales.These findings highlight the complexity of interactions between mammals and fire in the Cerrado and underscore the importance of pyrodiversity in modeling habitat use. For effective conservation, we recommend management strategies that incorporate mosaic burning and consider variability in fire return intervals.