132 

 underestimated. For example, the coati population may have been overestimated as this species was 

 observed to move extensively between gardens and make a great deal of noise while feeding (B. Can 

 Chi and M. Aban Noh, pers. comm.). Populations of ocellated turkeys and great curassows may have 

 been underestimated as these species were observed to be highly secretive and occupy only specific 

 areas of forest (G. Yeh Foot and A. Foot Ake, pers. comm.). Five, human hunting may have affected 

 the behavior of some game species and made them less easy to sight than other nongame species. In 

 summary, these factors may have affected the results, but their individual and cumulative impacts are 

 unknown at this time. 



Results 

 Mean Sighting Distances and Forest Successional Stages 



Mean sighting distances were tested in order to determine if there might be any observability 

 biases between forest successional stages. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were detected for 

 sighting distances between forest successional stages by species (four species tested), taxonomic group 

 (five groups tested), or game versus nongame status (four game status combinations tested; 

 Appendix J). 



Number of Taxa and Sightings 



Sightings . A total of 23 taxa were sighted (16 mammals and 7 birds; Appendix J; Figure 4-2) 

 during the 121 censuses (total distance censused = 240.460 km; total time censused = 244.27 h; 

 Appendix H). Transects were censused five times each during the sunrise period and five or six times 

 each during the sunset period. Censuses on Transect # 1 were discontinued after six censuses due to 

 problems with a local resident. More than 50% of the taxa had been sighted by census number 22, 

 while no new taxa were sighted after census number 75. 



A total of 240 sightings were recorded (150 mammals and 90 birds; Appendix J). Among the 

 mammals, the most frequently sighted taxa were squirrels (47 sightings; Sciurus deppei and S. 



