FAZENDA TRAPSA, A REFUGE OF MAMMALIAN DIVERSITY IN SERGIPE, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome is a “hotspot” of biodiversity and endemicity, which has suffered extensive deforestation. Anthropogenic impact is especially intense in the biome’s northern extreme. In many areas, however, few data are available on the local fauna. Recent fieldwork at the Fazenda Trapsa, a privately-owned site in the state of Sergipe has revealed an unexpected diversity of vertebrates, despite its relative isolation, intense fragmentation and limited total area of forest (< 500 ha). The property’s owner has protected its fauna and flora over the past fifteen years. This fauna includes endangered species of birds, mammals and reptiles, in addition to an alpha predator, Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771). This is also one of only two sites at which two endangered primate species – Callicebus coimbrai Kobayashi & Langguth, 1999 and Cebus xanthosternos Wied-Neuwied, 1826 – are known to occur in sympatry. The site also constitute an important range extension for two other endangered species, Bradypus torquatus Desmaret, 1816 and Amazona rodocorytha (Salvadori, 1890). While the species lists are still far from complete, the site has an important role to play in the conservation of local ecosystems, especially in association with other larger fragments of forest further south.