Checklist of medium-sized to large mammals of Campos Gerais National Park, Paraná, Brazil

Campos Gerais National Park lies within the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot and a priority for conservation. Current analysis, featuring a list of large and medium-sized mammal species in the park, was conducted between July 2013 and July 2014 and between May 2016 and April 2017. With a 780-hour sampling effort in active research and 157,516 hours in camera traps, 31 species of 17 families and 8 orders were recorded. Furthermore, 42% of recorded mammals in the park proved to be endangered species at state, national, or international levels. Two exotic and 1 domestic species were reported in the park. Results contribute towards an in-depth knowledge of the fauna in south Brazil and may help in further research work and management, complying with conservation proposals in the biodiversity of the Campos Gerais region in the state of Paraná, Brazil.


Introduction
The Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest Biome, which has only 12.4% of its original cover area, represented mostly by fragments less than 100 ha in area (SOS Mata Atlântica and INPA 2018), is a biodiversity hotspot and priority area for conservation (Myers et al. 2000).It is estimated that more than 298 mammal species are extant in the Atlantic Rainforest, with approximately 100 animals with an adult body mass of at least 1 kg, or rather, medium-sized and large animals (Paglia et al. 2012, Reis et al. 2014).
Mammals have an important role in the maintenance and equilibrium of forest ecosystems (Miller et al. 2001, Magioli et al. 2015), with several ecological services.These comprise prey population control, plant pollination and seed dispersal, contributing towards the regeneration of forests (Terborgh et al. 1999, Galetti et al. 2015, Derhé et al. 2017).However, owing to anthropogenic forest fragmentation, modification of habitats, introduction of exotic species and other factors, several species of this group are endangered in many Brazilian states (MMA 2014, IUCN 2018).The above factors plus hunting activities (Oliveira and Cassaro 2006) lead to loss of biodiversity, which cause the near extinction of several species (Mazzolli 2005).
The establishment of conservation units comprises a type of action taken by the Brazilian government for the preservation of biodiversity (SNUC 2000).Conservation units have several aims, such as the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, the safeguarding of endangered species at the regional and national levels and defending the region's flora and fauna.In fact, conservation should exist parallel to the aims of forest production (SNUC 2000).National Parks (PARNA in Portuguese) feature among the models of conservation units.In fact, the aim of PARNAs is to protect the nature, subsidizing the natural sciences, allowing for tourist visits, and preserving forest and biodiversity for future generations (SNUC 2000).The state of Paraná, Brazil, is currently responsible for 5 National Parks, namely Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Superagui, Parque Nacional de Ilha Grande, Parque Nacional Saint-Hilaire/ Lange, and Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais.The latter was the last to be established (Oliveira 2012).
Although the Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais was established in 2006 to preserve remnants of the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest and native woods in the state of Parana (Oliveira 2012), no inventory of mediumsized and large mammals has been produced after 12 years.There is a knowledge gap for the Paraná Devonian Escarpment, as the region is scientifically called.
Increasing changes in land use and occupation, and low representativeness of protected areas, rank the ecosystems of the Campos Gerais among the most endangered in the Brazil (Almeida and Moro 2007).Because crucial requirements for the development of conservation actions depend on basic knowledge of species and their distribution (Kasper et al. 2007), and the Campos Gerais study area lacks deep scientific information on biodiversity, especially of medium-sized and large mammals, the current analysis provides a list of medium-sized and large mammals for Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais, Paraná, Brazil.
Yearly rainfall ranges between 100 and 300 mm, with the mean temperature at 17.8 °C (Maack 2017).Soils are constituted of acric red-yellow latosol and dystrophic haplic cambisol (Almeida and Moro 2007).Remnants are frequently represented by almost circular patches of forests (regionally called "capões" in Portuguese), gallery forests or mixed woodland, particularly on slopes or diabase dikes (Moro 2001).The association between the Araucaria pine-tree forest and fields form the region's typical landscape, combining significant forest areas and the last remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest (Maack 2017).
Sampling.Sampling occurred at 2 different stages, namely, between July 2013 and July 2014, (permit 37691-1 ICMBio for scientific activities) and between May 2016 and April 2017 (permit 53800-1 ICMBio), totaling more than 780 hours of search in approximately 815 km of trails and roads.The following methods were applied: (1) direct search for evidences using the active search method (Voss and Emmons 1996), which consists of walking at an average speed of 1 km/h, on trails and dirt roads, searching for direct (e.g., sightings, vocalizations) and indirect (e.g.footprints) evidences, and (2) camera traps.
The sand and clay soil in the park did not require sand plots to record footprints.Temporal independence of the samples or counting the number of recorded footprints by a single researcher at intervals of at least 300 m between the first footprint up to the next one, was avoided.Continuous sequences on the same road were avoided, following Pardini et al. (2004).Surveys were monthly, starting at 8:00 h and lasting for 4-6 hours, depending on the number of records.Footprints were identified in the field and photographed.They were based on measurements and print format, confirmed later by specific literature on the theme (e.g.Becker andDalponte 2013, Reis et al. 2014).
Camera traps obtained information on nocturnal species and on those with difficult visualization, such as most medium-sized and large mammals (Srbek-Araujo and Chiarello 2013).Nineteen camera traps (Bushnell model) were distributed throughout the forest fragments, near water sprouts, on the treks and pathways of the park, taking into account the commonest trails used by species.Cameras were kept at a distance of at least 1 km and placed 50 cm above the ground on trees.The researchers also talked to local residents to complement information on their search on the species of the park.Camera traps were active during the 24 months of sampling, with a monthly change of memory cards and batteries during the study period.Sampling effort was equal to the number of camera traps multiplied by the number of sampling days (with 24 hours).An event was independent when there were (a) consecutive photographs by the same camera with an interval of at least 60 minutes and (b) non-consecutive photographs by the same camera (Srbek-Araujo and Chiarello 2013).Observations of species were opportunistically recorded in the study area to improve the species inventories obtained by camera-traps.
Species were identified by camera trap records and opportunistic photos based on specialized literature (e.g.Oliveira and Cassaro 2006, Reis et al. 2011, 2014).Felines were identified by body size, pelage, nose, eyes and tail characteristics (for small felines) and by size and shape of footprint (for Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) (Oliveira and Cassaro 2006).
All the species with an adult body mass equal of 1 kg or more were considered medium-sized and large mammals (Reis et al. 2011) and included in the list.Conservation status was obtained for each species within state, country and international context (BRASIL 2010, MMA 2014, IUCN 2018).Trophic guild classification followed Reis et al. (2014).The taxonomic nomenclature followed Paglia et al. (2012).Furthermore, the recent distinction between Leopardus guttulus (Hensel, 1872) and Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775) in southern and southeastern Brazil was acknowledged (Trigo et al. 2013).Patton et al. (2015) was consulted for xenarthrans and rodents.Data analysis.Records of footprints, camera traps and visual searches together made up the data for the list.Footprint records and photographs were separated to estimate expected richness according to different methodologies.By separating footprint and camera-trap records, 2 rarefaction curves of mammal species were drawn, with 1,000 randomizations and first-order jackknife (Jackknife 1) estimator by EstimateS 8.2 (Colwell 2009).

Results
We recorded 31 medium-sized and large mammal species, distributed in 17 families and 8 orders (Figs 2-30; Table 1).Twenty-four species were recorded in 2013-2014 sampling, to which 7 additional species were added from the 2016-2017 survyes (Table 1).Twelve species belonged to the order Carnivora and 5 species from orders Rodentia and Cetartiodactyla, followed by the orders Cingulata, Didelphimorphia, Pilosa, Primates and Lagomorpha, which had 2 species each (Table 1).
Following the methodology in the current study, 54 footprint registrations were observed, with 10 species identified.Estimated richness was 12.7 ± 1.37 species (Fig. 31).Furthermore, 16 species were recorded by opportunistic observations and 2 species of primates were identified by vocalization (Table 1).
Camera-trap sampling efforts from the 2013/2014 and 2016/2017 campaigns totaled 80,016 and 77,500 camera hours, respectively.Total sampling effort amounted to 157,516 camera trap hours and 26 recorded species with an estimated richness of 35 ± 1.56 (Fig. 31).

for coordinates).
Identification.Didelphis aurita has black hairless ears; variable head color, ranging from black to yellow.Black spots on the eyes and dark coloration on the dorsal region.
Identification.Two species of anteaters are known in the region of PNCG, with each having different body size and color pattern of pelage.Myrmecophaga tridactyla is a large species and weighs up to 45 kg.It has small ears and small eyes, long snout and an extremely long tongue; the thick pelage varies from dark gray and black, but with the paws white paws and some black bands at the top.The tail is robust and covered by hair.Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) Figure 5 Records.First record was in August 08, 2016, camera trap 11 (25°03.04ʹS, 049°59.33ʹW) and subsequently in the same monitoring site.
Identification.This is a smaller species, with an elongated snout and tongue (Fig. 5) and short, dense and pale-yellow pelage.There are 2 black stripes on the scapular region towards the posterior region of the animal.Identification.The species differentiation was based on characteristics of carapace that covers the body of the animals.Species-based variations exist in the moving bands located in the median region of the body.Dasypus novemcinctus has long, pointed ears, about 50% of the length of the head, which has a pinkish-yellow plaque (Fig. 6); dark carapace, with yellowish dermal shields.Although 9 mobile bands are extant, the number may range from 8 to 11.
Identification.The identification of species of the genus Cervidae was based on differences in body size, coat color and distribution area.Mazama americana is the largest species of the genus in Brazil, medium to moderately large, a factor that helps in the differentiation of the species.It has a reddish coloration, with white spots below the tail, inner face of limbs and ears.
Identification.Mazama gouazoubira is a smaller species when compared to M. americana, weighing between 17 and 23 kg.The coloration is quite varied, with brown, gray and reddish variations.
Identification.Mazama nana is the smallest species, with weight not exceeding 15 kg.The skin is characterized by an intense bright reddish hue.
Identification.The identification of the Brazilian native pig Pecari tajacu (Linnaeus, 1758) was based on pelage characteristics.A collar formed by slightly clear hair may be observed around its neck, differentiating the species from other native pigs.
Identification.Sus scrofa is a swine native to Europe, Africa and Asia.Featuring great individual variations in body size and pelage color, it was introduced in the area under analysis.Although S. scrofa may be confused with P. tajacu, the species is usually larger.

Primates Cebidae
Sapajus nigritus (Goldfuss, 1809) Identification.Sapajus nigritus has a generally black coloration, even though hue may vary by region.The face is pigmented, usually light brown, and the coat of the head is rather blacker.
Identification.Alouatta guariba clamitans is larger than S. nigritus.Males have a uniform reddish color, while the color of females ranges from blackish to dark-brown.The face is pigmented in darker shades of gray.
Identification.Cerdocyon thous was identified by its small size, and short, dense coat with a gray to brown hue.
Identification.Chrysocyon brachyurus is larger, with a small head in relation to body, small ears and tapering muzzle, with a general brown-orange coloration at the tip of the muzzle and end of the black limbs.The latter was only identified through footprints and personal reports of residents of farms near the PNCG.
Identification.Five feline species were identified, based on patterns of body size and pelage.Leopardus pardalis was identified by its large body size, elongated rosettes pattern on the side of the body and a relatively smaller tail, when compared with other Leopardus species.
Identification.Leopardus guttulus was identified by its relatively smaller tail with narrow rings, pink nose and pattern of circular shapes and eyespots on the sides of the body that differentiated the species from Leopardus wiedii.
Identification.Leopardus wiedii is characterized by a long tail, large eyes, protruding muzzle and large paws.
Identification.Puma concolor is distinguishable by its short and uniform coat of brown color, ranging from light to reddish tones.
Identification.Puma yagouaroundi was identified by its monochromatic long body and tail.
Identification.Two mustelids were registered in the PNCG.The identification of these animals was based on the pattern of the 2 species, namely, long body, short limbs and long tail.In the case of Eira barbara the color of the coat is dark brown throughout the entire body, with a lighter brown for head and neck, with regional variations.
Identification.Galictis cuja is smaller in size than E. barbara; paws, belly, throat and face are black, with a yellowish back.
Identification.Two species of the family Procyonidae were registered.Nasua nasua, an exclusive species of South America, has an enlarged head tapering into a narrow and prolonged pointed snout.Coloration varies according to group, although the general pattern ranges between light and dark brown, with a generally striped tail.
Identification.Procyon cancrivorus is easily identified by its black mask that descends from the eyes to the base of the mandible; its tail is characterized by several dark rings.
Identification.Lepus europaeus is a species of European origin introduced in South America.It is larger in size than the native Sylvilagus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758), with long ears and legs; general brownish gray color on the upper parts and of a somewhat lighter hue on the lower part.The above characteristics distinguish the hair of S. brasiliensis.
Identification.Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is the largest rodent in the world, easily identifiable due to the shape of the head with short ears and hue ranging between reddish to grayish brown.The species was recorded based on the analysis of footprints and opportunistic observations (Table 1)
Identification.Cuniculus paca is a medium-sized rodent.
Identification of the species was based on the pattern of the coat, ranging between brownish-red and dark brown, with a pattern of whitish rounded spots in longitudinal lines.

Discussion
Because Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais has the largest phytophysionomy area of the Campos Gerais in Paraná (Maack 2017), it is highly important for the conservation of biodiversity.In fact, it harbors endemic and threatened species within its borders (Oliveira 2012).Species richness recorded by us corresponds to 56% of all medium-sized and large mammals with current occurrence for the state of Paraná (Reis et al. 2009) and approximately 31% of medium-sized and large mammals for the Atlantic Rainforest (Paglia et al. 2012, Reis et al. 2014).Although there is a stabilization of the species accumulation curve in our study (Fig. 34), other species may also occur in the park.In fact, sampling in 2016-2017 also included M. tridactyla, T. tetradactyla, M. nana, S. scrofa, C. brachyurus, G.brasiliensis, and C. spinosus to the final list.According to Srbek-Araujo and Chiarello (2007), periods longer than 250 days are sufficient for a faunal survey.
The species richness recorded in the PNCG is similar to that observed in other studies carried out in conservation units nearby.Borges (1989) reported 40 species of medium-sized to large mammals in Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, which is located 20 km from PNCG.In Reserva Biológica das Araucarias some 56 km from PNCG, the richness amounted to 28 species (D 'Bastiani et al. 2018).In the Floresta Naciona de Irati, some 70 km from PNCG, 24 species of medium-sized to large mammals were recorded (Pereira and Bazilio 2014).Species such as M. nana, C. brachyurus, and M. tridactyla were The wild boar is in the list of 100 invading and heavily impacting species worldwide (Lowe et al. 2000).Loss of biodiversity and the extinction of native species caused by the introduction of wild pigs have already been documented (Wolf and Conover 2003).Competitive interaction with the wild boar mainly excludes peccaries (Gabor andHellgren 2000, Galetti et al. 2015).At least 4 java pigs have been reported in the Alagadas Reservoir in northwestern PNCG.Piglets with spots characteristic of the java pig are common among other piglets with spots or common features of domestic pigs.
The domestic dog (C.lupus familiaris) has been recorded on trails and roads, as well as within forests in PNCG.The presence of domestic animals may have serious ecological consequences for native fauna in conservation units (Rangel andNeiva 2013, Doherty et al. 2017).The predation of wild fauna by almost savage domestic dogs is compounded by direct competition for resources with native carnivores (Galetti and Sazima 2006).Exotic species are nowadays acknowledged to be the secondmost important threat to biodiversity, but also cause economic losses and pose serious risks to human health (Dorcas et al. 2012).
In the wake of processes that alter habitat, knowledge of biodiversity in conservation units is a basic requirement for management plans, proposals for conservation, and studies on ecological patterns and species distribution, (Silveira et al. 2010, Oliveira et al. 2017).Our study demonstrates the importance of PNCG as a haven for Paraná's medium-sized and large mammals.However, the occurrence of exotic and domestic species and the presence of hunters in the conservation unit underscore the need for more surveillance and monitoring, the repression of hunting, the control of exotic species, and the development of environmental education within the local community .

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Map of the Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais, state of Paraná, Brazil, with monitoring sites by camera traps during the 2013-2014 and 2015-2017 sampling periods.

Figure 31 .
Figure 31.The rarefaction curve (observed and estimates by jackknife 1) of mammal species registered by identification of footprints and trap cameras.Vertical bars represent standard deviation.CT: Camera trap; F: footprints.
for coordinates).Coendou spinosus was identified by coat and body shape.The coat is formed by a mixture of rigid, aculeiform (cylindrical 'spines') hairs and finer hairs.The former are longer than the latter ones.Coloration varies from yellowish to dark brown at the back.The squirrel Guerlinguetus brasiliensis may be included among the native species.Although small in size, it is easily identifiable through photographs.The species is an average sized squirrel with occurrences recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest.It is distinguished from other squirrels due to its intermediate body size and such characteristics as voluminous tail, longer than or equal to the body.