128 



Three, "Combined/Early Secondary Forest" (Transects # 5, 9, 10, and 11). These 

 transects were located in Early Secondary Forest, created as a result of shifting 

 cultivation, and were contiguous with gardens, as above. The density of gardens in 

 Uiis category was relatively high. Wildlife population estimates based on these 

 transects were assumed to be most affected by human disturbances or habitat 

 alteration. (Note: Since Combined/Early Secondary Forest was defined by the 

 presence of gardens, there was no transect category called "Combined/Early 

 Secondary Forest without Gardens.") 



It was not possible to construct transects in randomly chosen sites. Instead, transects were 

 located in technically suitable sites without prior knowledge of the game populations. For transects 

 located in Late Secondary Forest, it was especially important to select sites with reasonable access 

 while maintaining a minimum distance of at least 300 m from the nearest garden or road. Areas slated 

 for logging during the study were avoided. For transects located in Combined/Early Secondary Forest, 

 it was necessary to avoid roads, gardens, cattle pastures, and the ejido boundaries. It also was 

 necessary to select areas sufficiently extensive to accommodate the transect without it extending into 

 another forest successional stage. Local residents and aerial photographs (see Chapter 3 for additional 

 information about aerial photographs of the area) were consulted in evaluating potential sites. 



Wildlife Censuses 



Censuses were conducted by walking slowly (ca. 1 km/h; cf., Emmons [1984]) and stopping 

 briefly every 20-40 m during two time periods, sunrise and sunset, but the results were combined for 

 these analyses. These time periods were selected in order to include diurnal, nocturnal, and 

 crepuscular species. Hunters also recommended these times as being propitious for observing wildlife. 

 The starting time and walking rate of each outing were adjusted so that each census lasted about 2 h 



