Variation in mammal ecological patterns in response to seasonality in a Brazilian tropical dry forest

The scientific question addressed in this study is how mammals in the Caatinga dry forest of northeast Brazil adapt to seasonal variations, specifically regarding their activity and occupancy patterns and species richness and composition. To investigate, we deployed camera traps across Furna Feia National Park during both wet and dry seasons in 2018. We utilized methods such as rarefaction curves, circular statistics, and occupancy models to analyze data collected from 44 and 40 sampling points during the wet and dry seasons, respectively. We obtained 485 records of 11 mammal species from six orders and nine families, including endangered species like Leopardus tigrinus and Herpailurus yagouaroundi. Notably, we captured the first photographic evidence of a free-living Dicotyles tajacu in Rio Grande do Norte state. Results indicate that some mammals adjust their activity to avoid peak heat, particularly during the dry season, with no significant change in species richness but with important changes in occupancy and relative abundance between seasons. Our research expects to shed light on mammalian ecology in seasonally dry environments, contributing to species management and conservation efforts.