Abstract

PACHECO, Luis F. et al. Death of mammals caused by 2019 fires in the Chiquitania. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2021, vol.56, n.1, pp.4-16. ISSN 1605-2528.

The fires that occurred in 2019 burned more than 2 million hectares of Chiquitano forest in Bolivia. Using theoretical tools, based on allometry, we estimated that the number of mammals killed directly by fire was approximately 5.914.527 individuals. The major part occurred in protected areas with numbers per species varying between four jaguars up to> 3,6 million rodents. Estimates based on field sampling indicate the possible death of 3,060 individuals of Tayassu pecari and 6,220 of Pecari tajacu. Our estimates are not unrealistic, when compared with limited field data; and they show the magnitude of the damage caused by policies leading to the advancement of the agricultural frontier.

Keywords : Abundance; Agricultural frontiers; Allometry; Bolivia; Density; Fire effects; Protected areas.

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