SPECIES RICHNESS AND INDICES OF ABUNDANCE OF MEDIUM-SIZED MAMMALS IN ANDEAN FOREST AND REFORESTATIONS WITH ANDEAN ALDER: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

We studied the species richness and two indices of abundance of medium-sized
mammals in areas with Andean forest and Andean alder (Alnus acuminata)
reforestations in a reserve at the Central Andes of Colombia. Since reforested areas
have a less complex habitat structure and lower plant diversity than native forests, we
predicted that they have lower richness of mammals than areas with Andean forest.
We obtained the indices of abundance from direct contacts in transects and from the
use of track stations. Our results suggest that, indeed, areas with Andean forest had
a higher richness of mammals than reforestations, but this pattern may be modified
by anthropogenic factors. We found no differences between the indices of abundance
of the squirrel, Sciurus granatensis, in the two forest types. In contrast, the coatis
were recorded more frequently in the reforestations than in areas with Andean forest
at the reserve.