Influencia de la intervención antrópica en la composición y estructura de pequeños mamíferos terrestres no voladores en la reserva “La Ilusión” (Cundinamarca)

Abstract

Sabana de Occidente is one of the most transformed areas due to population growth and excessive use of resources, it has high mountain ecosystems such as high Andean forest, sub-páramo and páramo that have a high biological diversity; the fragmentation and loss of these habitats turns the ecosystems into mosaics composed of pastures, fragments of secondary forest, extensions of crops and forest plantations (Velasco & Vargas, 2008). Human intervention in this territory has led to a reduction in vegetation cover, which leads to a decrease in the efficiency, services and functions of the ecosystems on which humans depend (Cardinale et al, 2012; Maza et al, 2012). These ecosystems are highly transformed, representing a risk to biodiversity, as well as the goods and services it provides, therefore their conservation should be promoted (Hurtado et al, 2020). Small mammals are key components of natural and agricultural ecosystems, even considered pests (Benedek & Sîrbu, 2018). According to Fauth et al (1996), knowing the assembly allows the study of a group of taxonomically related species belonging to a community. They allow us to understand the organization of mammals in a habitat taking into account attributes such as structure, composition and function, especially if they are located in areas vulnerable or affected by human action (Díaz et al, 2016). The aim of this research proposal was to evaluate the influence of human intervention on the structure and composition of an assembly of small terrestrial mammals in high Andean forest ecosystems; this evaluation was carried out in the “La Ilusión” reserve located in the municipality of El Rosal, Cundinamarca. This proposal was carried out in different phases, mainly consisting of a field phase where two anthropogenic sampling areas (with major and minimum) were selected, accompanied by a structural physiognomic study of the vegetation cover, the second phase corresponding to the treatment of the specimens collected in the laboratory of the High Mountain Biodiversity research group (BAM). Finally, biological diversity, its ecosystem relationship and the degree of anthropization to which the reserve is exposed were evaluated in order to strengthen the conservation strategies of mammals in the reserve.