Cavity occupancy by lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) in the Lacandon Rainforest, Chiapas, Mexico

Habitat occupancy is a good indicator of wildlife behavior and interactions with their environment. We used camera traps to study the use of cavities by lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) in three sites in the Lacandon Rainforest of Chiapas, Mexico. To understand the biotic, environmental, physical, anthropic, and behavioral elements that affect spotted lowland paca, the cameras recorded lowland paca activity in front of 29 cavities. Monitoring occurred continuously in cavities near permanent natural water bodies, underneath roots of trees, or inside hollow logs. These cavities were more frequently found in Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve (MABR), where hunting pressure was low. The daily occupancy and permanence of lowland paca in these cavities were associated with the presence of its offspring. There were no offspring recorded in cavities alongside rivers within grazing areas. This suggests the potential existence of a sink-source type of metapopulation, where community reserves and MABR would serve as source habitat, while riparian corridors would be sink habitat for this species. Lowland pacas used these locations, which were scattered through the study area, so long as hunting was moderate and riparian corridors with safe cavities in large trees were well preserved.