Density and occupancy of the Andean tapir in the Northern Andes of Ecuador

Abstract

The Andean tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) is one of the most endangered species of the genus, due to habitat fragmentation, hunting and limited distribution in the montane forests and paramos of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Despite its ecological relevance, there are few robust studies on the factors influencing its occupancy. This study estimated its density and spatial occupancy by photo-trapping in two habitats: montane forest and paramo in the northern Andes of Ecuador. Four areas of 100 km² each were sampled with 40 cameras per area, active for 70.8 days summing a total of 160 cameras. Density was analyzed with the Random Encounter Model (REM), while occupancy was estimated using occupancy models. Sampling effort was 5192 traps/night in montane forest and 6131 in paramo. Andean tapir density was 23.6 individuals/100 km² in montane forest and 11.6 in paramo. In montane forest, occupancy was influenced by the presence of carnivores (ψ̂ = 0.77), while in paramo, by vegetation cover (ψ̂ = 0.44). The results indicate a higher occupancy in montane forest, although without significant differences in density between the two habitats. The study highlights the importance of protected areas and the need to periodically assess Andean tapir occupancy to monitor ecosystem integrity and the effectiveness of conservation measures.