The forests of the northeastYucatan Peninsula supports wild ungulate populations such as the white-taileddeer (Odocoileus virginianus (Hays 1874), brocket deer (Mazama americanaErxleben 1777 and M. pandora Merriam 1901) and collared pecari (Pecaritajacu Merriam 1901). For its conservation and use, it is necessary to knowthe current status of wild ungulates populations. Basic ecological aspects suchas density and distribution of the ungulate populations in different vegetationtypes were evaluated. The study area was El Edén Ecological Reserve (EER),located in the northern Yucatan Peninsula in Quintana Roo State, Mexico. Themethod used to assess ungulate density and distribution was the strip transectcounts. The transects were set on the existing roads and footpaths. Using GIS,the habitat and five vegetation types were classified: secondary vegetation(acahual), tropical evergreen forest, tintales, savanna of palms and aquaticvegetation. Thirty eight observations of white-tailed deer were obtained,14 of brocket deer and 6 groups of pecaries in 293.4 km of routes. The observationperiod was between September 2004 and April 2005 (six months of sampling). Theabsolute density of the white-tailed deer was 5,5 ± 4,1 ind/km2,for the pecari was 1,9 ± 0,8 ind/km2 or 0,2 ± 0,1 herd/km2and for brocket deer was 1,7 ± 1,8 ind/km2. Acahual was thevegetation type where white-tailed deer and collared pecari were found.This is the first time that M. americana was registered in this regionof the State. These results suggest the important role that have the EER toconserve ungulates, nevertheless the continued risk of hurricanes and fires.The white-tailed deer population is high compared with other tropical zones.
