Structural Habitat on the Presence of Ungulates in Maya Forest, Mexico

In the Balam Beh corridor in Campeche, Mexico, 217 transects were established, yielding a total of 301 independent records of ungulates: 198 records of white-tailed deer, 65 of collared peccary, 22 of tapir, and 16 of red brocket deer. A total of 503 vegetation structure points were characterized. Vegetation variables were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis, Multidimensional Scaling, and Logistic Regression. White-tailed deer was the most frequently recorded species and was found in more open areas, which could be explained by its habitat generalist characteristics. In contrast, tapir and brocket deer are species that prefer highly conserved sites far removed from human activity and tend to have lower abundances. Vertical canopy cover was the most important variable for ungulate presence. It is necessary to conserve or restore the structural features of the Balam Beh corridor, particularly the vertical cover, as it provides protection against predators and allows ungulates to perform their basic functions.