Mammalian responses to agricultural cycles in Brazilian Atlantic Forest croplands

Abstract

This study investigated how mammal communities responded to crop type, crop development stage, and distance from forest fragments in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We examined mammal diversity in annual crops (corn and soybeans) in Southern Brazil, testing three hypotheses: (a) crop types support distinct mammal communities, (b) diversity decreases with distance from forest fragments, and (c) mammal presence varies across crop development stages. Camera traps and pitfall traps were deployed across seven sites during 2020–2021 to monitor small and medium-large mammals. Crop type significantly influenced mammal communities, with corn fields showing higher trapping efficiency than soybeans, particularly for medium-large mammals. Species richness and capture efficiency declined as distance from forest fragments increased, regardless of crop type. Temporal patterns differed between groups: small mammals were more prevalent during later crop stages, while medium-large mammals were more active during early development, especially in corn. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining vegetative fragments within agricultural matrices and accounting for temporal wildlife activity patterns. Results contribute to developing wildlife-friendly farming practices and conservation strategies in agricultural landscapes of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.