Impactos de origem antrópica a uma população de jacaré-de-papo-amarelo (Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1801)), Parque Natural Municipal Bosque da Barra, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Abstract

Studies with populations of broad-snout caiman (Caiman latirostris (Daudin, 1801)) are still scarce, especially when inserted within urban regions. The Bosque da Barra Municipal Natural Park (MNPBB), located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, has an area of 53.7 ha, where the predominant vegetation is restinga of flooded areas. This ecosystem, as in many other nature conservation units in urban areas, suffers great anthropogenic pressure. The MNPBB has constructions in its surroundings, the Hospital Bosque Medical Center and an underground roadway known as "Mergulhão", which drained the underground waters. The objective of this study was to study the population of C. latirostris that live in the lakes of the PNMBB and to verify if how constructions in the surroundings of the park affected the condition factor of the caimans. High numbers of females (2.2 for each male), nests and juvenile were registered, compared nearby studies in degraded regions. The condition factor of caimans was similar among the age groups in the Park. ANCOVA statistical analyzes were carried out to evaluate the condition factor, water level and water temperature according to the period of the constructions. No relations were found between the constructions and the variations in the population and the environment of the MNPBB, such variations could not be measured in the present study