Local ecological knowledge and line-transect surveys for estimation of species occupancy data in Central Amazon

The Amazon, renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, faces significant threats from deforestation. Effective biological monitoring, essential for conservation strategies, remains challenging in these remote areas. This study assesses the accuracy of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) in estimating habitat occupancy in the Central Amazon, comparing traditional line-transect surveys with structured interviews of local people. Sampling targeted 13 fluvial islands and 5 continuous forest sites, focusing on 10 taxa, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. The interviews provided higher detection (p=0.73) and occupancy (ψ=0.70) probabilities compared to line-transect (p=0.42, ψ=0.52). The positive correlation between interviews and line-transect occupancy estimates (0.69; p<0.03), suggests the potential of LEK-based methods as a surrogate for traditional surveys. The interviews provided insights into iconic species occupancy, including brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) and jaguar (Panthera onca). The jaguar, brown-throated sloth and red howler monkey (Alouatta juara) demonstrated highest occupancy probabilities in line-transects. The jaguar, brown-throated sloth, and red howler monkey showed the highest detection probabilities in interviews, while red howler monkey exhibited the highest in line-transects. We highlight the potential of integrating LEK-based approaches with traditional surveys to attempt more comprehensive, rapid and cost-effective monitoring of biodiversity, crucial for conservation efforts in the Amazon and similar remote ecosystems globally.以其无与伦比的生物多样性闻名的亚马孙流域，正面临着来自森林砍伐的严重威胁。而对保护策略至关重要的高效生物监测工作，在这些偏远地区依然困难重重。本研究以亚马孙中部地区为研究区域，评估了当地生态知识（Local Ecological Knowledge，LEK）在估算栖息地占有率方面的准确性，并将传统样线调查与针对当地居民的结构化访谈进行了对比。本次采样覆盖13个河流岛屿与5片连续森林样地，研究对象涵盖鸟类、哺乳类、爬行类在内的10个类群。相较于传统样线调查（检测概率p=0.42，栖息地占有率ψ=0.52），结构化访谈得到的检测概率（p=0.73）与栖息地占有率（ψ=0.70）均更高。访谈结果与样线调查的栖息地占有率估算值之间呈现显著正相关（相关系数0.69，p<0.03），这表明基于当地生态知识的方法有望作为传统调查的替代方案。访谈还为标志性物种的栖息地占有率情况提供了参考，包括褐喉树懒（Bradypus variegatus）与美洲豹（Panthera onca）。在样线调查中，美洲豹、褐喉树懒与红吼猴（Alouatta juara）的栖息地占有率最高。在结构化访谈中，美洲豹、褐喉树懒与红吼猴的检测概率最高；而红吼猴在样线调查中的检测概率则为最高。本研究强调，将基于当地生态知识的方法与传统调查手段相结合，有望实现更全面、快速且经济高效的生物多样性监测，这对于亚马孙流域乃至全球同类偏远生态系统的保护工作均至关重要。