Mastozoología Neotropical ISSN: 0327-9383 [email protected] Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Argentina Matson, John O.; Ordóñez-Garza, Nicté; Bulmer, Walter; Eckerlin, Ralph P. SMALL MAMMAL COMMUNITIES IN THE SIERRA DE LOS CUCHUMATANES, HUEHUETENANGO, GUATEMALA Mastozoología Neotropical, vol. 19, núm. 1, enero-junio, 2012, pp. 71-84 Sociedad Argentina para el Estudio de los Mamíferos Tucumán, Argentina Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45723408007 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Mastozoología Neotropical, 19(1):71-84, Mendoza, 2012 ISSN 0327-9383 ©SAREM, 2012 Versión on-line ISSN 1666-0536 http://www.sarem.org.ar SMALL MAMMAL COMMUNITIES IN THE SIERRA DE LOS CUCHUMATANES, HUEHUETENANGO, GUATEMALA John O. Matson1, Nicté Ordóñez-Garza2, Walter Bulmer3, and Ralph P. Eckerlin3 1 Department of Biological Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0100 [Corres- pondence: <[email protected]>]. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-3131. 3 Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Northern Virginia Com- munity College, Annandale, VA 22003-3796. ABSTRACT: Very little is known concerning small mammal ecology and their distribution in the highlands of Guatemala. Small mammals were trapped from five different cloud forests in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Cloud forest elevations ranged from 2600 m to 3350 m. Most sites had evidence of human disturbance with only Cerro Bobí having a relatively pristine forest. A total of 13 species was recorded with the species density at sites ranging from six to ten. Accounts of each species are given. The most common species present was Reithrodontomys sumichrasti, except at Cerro Bobí where Peromyscus guatemalensis was most abundant. Differences between years and between seasons (wet versus dry) were minor. Only the site at Cerro Bobí, with relatively pristine cloud forest, appeared to have a species composition that resembled other cloud forests in the highlands of Guatemala. Information on reproduction is summarized. RESUMEN: Comunidades de pequeños mamíferos en la Sierra de los Cuchumata- nes, Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Se sabe muy poco sobre la ecología y distribución de micromamíferos en las tierras altas de Guatemala. Los micromamíferos fueron cap- turados en cinco diferentes bosques nubosos de la Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, Hue- huetenango, Guatemala. Las elevaciones de los sitios de muestreo oscilaron entre los 2600 y los 3350 m. La mayoría de los sitios tenían evidencia de perturbación humana, excepto por Cerro Bobí que tenía un bosque relativamente prístino. Se registraron 13 especies con densidad de especies entre sitios de seis a diez. Las especies más co- munes presentes fueron Reithrodontomys sumichrasti, excepto en el Cerro Bobí, donde Peromyscus guatemalensis fue la especie más abundante. Las diferencias entre años y entre estaciones (húmeda versus seca) no fueron significativas. Sólo el sitio en el Cerro Bobí, con bosque nuboso relativamente prístino, parece tener una composición de es- pecies similar a otros bosques nubosos de tierras altas de Guatemala. Adicionalmente, se presentan datos sobre las especies capturadas, incluyendo información reproductiva. Key words. Cloud forests. Ecology. Mesoamerica. Rodents. Shrews. Palabras clave. Bosque nublado. Ecología. Mesoamérica. Musaraña. Roedores. Recibido 4 octubre 2011. Aceptado 23 febrero 2012. Editor asociado: T Escalante 72 Mastozoología Neotropical, 19(1):71-84, Mendoza, 2012 JO Matson et al. http://www.sarem.org.ar INTRODUCTION remain poorly known. As part of a long-term effort to better determine the communities of Few studies have been conducted on terrestrial small mammals inhabiting highland habitats in small mammals from Neotropical Montane this region, we surveyed the remnant mixed (Cloud) Forests. Most studies have concentrat- hardwood/coniferous cloud forests at elevations ed on altitudinal gradients of species diversity ranging from 2600 m to 3350 m in the Sierra (Patterson, et al., 1989; Patterson et al., 1998; de los Cuchumatanes, Guatemala. Vargas-Contreras and Hernández-Huerta, 2001; Prior to this study, few works have been Sanchez-Cordero, 2001; Monteagudo-Sabaté published related to small mammals from this and León-Paniagua, 2002; McCain, 2004). mountain range. Goldman (1951) and Wood- With the exception of a few studies in Mexico man (2010) summarized the collecting that (e.g. Rickart, 1977; Vázquez et al., 2000, occurred in the late 1800’s under the auspices 2004; Castro-Arellano, 2005, 2006), basic of the Biological Survey and the subsequent ecological data such as population structure, taxonomic papers that followed. Carleton species diversity, and life history information and Huckaby (1975) described Peromyscus are generally lacking for montane forest areas. mayensis from the Sierra, and provided a list Castro-Arellano (2005, 2006) studied small of small mammals associated with that spe- mammal communities in the northernmost cies. Recently, Ordóñez-Garza et al. (2010) cloud forest in the Neotropics, Tamaulipas, and Woodman (2010) have presented studies México. Castro-Arellano (2005) and Vázquez that help to clarify the taxonomic status of et al. (2000) are the only studies which ad- several species of small mammals that occur dress, in detail, the community structure of in the region, the latter publication included small mammals in montane forests. Rickart the descriptions of two new species of short- (1977) studied reproduction in two species of eared shrew (genus Cryptotis). cloud forest Peromyscus. Some life history Because of the paucity of information on information is also available for selected mam- montane forest mammals and the precarious mal species (Janzen, 1983 and papers therein; nature of these forests, we present some eco- Timm et al., 1989; Timm and LaVal, 2000; logical information on small mammals from and Vázquez et al., 2004). several highland (montane) forests in the Sierra Montane forests (cloud forests) of Guate- de los Cuchumatanes, Guatemala. mala, indeed most montane forests throughout Central America, are threatened by on-going STUDY AREAS human activity. The fragility of montane for- ests, their importance in providing watershed The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is an immense and valuable habitat for floral and faunal ele- limestone massif that covers a large area of ments (Doumenge et al., 1995), and the fact northern Nuclear Central America (sensu that the entire region is listed as one of the Savage, 1982; Donnelly, 1989; Donnelly et World’s biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al., al. 1990; Campbell, 1999) in Guatemala. The 2000), begs for a more complete understand- Sierra de los Cuchumatanes is the highest, ing of their biota. Human activity, especially largest, and most diverse geologic unit in timber and agricultural activities are rapidly Northern Central America (Anderson et al., destroying these fragile habitats (Hamilton et 1973). The mountain range is composed of al., 1995). Because the Central American high- sedimentary rocks, mostly limestone (Anderson lands are rapidly being exploited, especially in et al., 1973; Donnelly et al., 1990), bounded the northern regions, such as Chiapas, Mexico on the south by the Chixoy-Polochic fault zone (Cayuela et al., 2006), they are considered and to the north and northeast by a series of a priority area for conservation (Wege and step faults that reach into southern Chiapas, Long, 1995). Mexico (Anderson et al., 1973). The abundance and fine-scale distributions of While our sampling included seven locali- mammals in the highland forests of Guatemala ties over the years 2004-2008, only five had SMALL MAMMALS IN CUCHUMATANES 73 sufficient trapping effort, at least 300 trap The site was located on a west facing slope, nights, to warrant analysis. All study areas in a small valley leading east, up the moun- were in the Province of Huehuetenango (Fig. tain side from the main dirt road that leads 1). Tree species listed were determined using to Todos Santos. The small community of El Parker (2008). Rancho was down slope from the road. The locality was along the same ridge, but farther Aldea El Rancho south, that Goldman (1951) described for his This site was 6.5 km SE Todos Santos Cu- Todos Santos locality. chumatán, Aldea el Rancho, 3020 m, Reserva The site was a coniferous cloud forest com- Forestal Todos Santos Cuchumatán, (15° 29’ posed of several species of conifers, includ- 22” N, 91° 33’ 16” W). We sampled this site ing pines (Pinus oaxacana and P. hartwegii), on two occasions, both in the dry season (30 Guatemala fir (Abies guatemalensis), and December 2004 through 2 January 2005 and Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica) with 5-8 January 2008). The weather was cold, frost a few broad-leaved trees scattered about, such formed on the ground each morning. Maxi- as oak (Quercus sp.) and monkey hand tree mum temperatures during the day averaged (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon). A variety of 17°C, while low temperatures averaged 2°C. A bushes dotted the area, but were not identified. “SPER” Scientific max-min thermometer was Ground cover along the base of limestone cliffs placed in the shade at 1.5 m above the ground consisted of several grasses and a thick layer