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.以其超凡生物多样性闻名的亚马逊流域，正面临森林砍伐带来的严峻威胁。针对保护策略至关重要的高效生物监测工作，在这些偏远地区仍面临诸多挑战。本研究以亚马逊中部地区为研究区域，评估了本土生态知识（Local Ecological Knowledge, LEK）在估算栖息地占用率方面的准确性，并将传统样线调查法与针对当地居民的结构化访谈法进行了对比。本次采样覆盖13个河岛与5片连片森林样地，研究对象涵盖鸟类、哺乳类、爬行类在内的10个分类群。相较于样线调查法（检出率p=0.42，占用率ψ=0.52），访谈法的检出率（p=0.73）与占用率（ψ=0.70）均更高。访谈法与样线调查法的栖息地占用率估算值之间呈显著正相关（相关系数0.69，p<0.03），这表明基于本土生态知识的调查方法有望作为传统调查的替代方案。访谈法还为标志性物种的栖息地占用情况提供了宝贵见解，包括褐喉树懒（Bradypus variegatus）与美洲豹（Panthera onca）。美洲豹、褐喉树懒与红吼猴（Alouatta juara）在样线调查中展现出最高的栖息地占用率。而在访谈法中，美洲豹、褐喉树懒与红吼猴的检出率最高；红吼猴则在样线调查中拥有最高的检出率。本研究强调，将基于本土生态知识的调查方法与传统调查手段相结合，有望实现更全面、高效且经济的生物多样性监测——这对于亚马逊流域乃至全球同类偏远生态系统的保护工作而言至关重要。