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Six crops of the 13 planted by Maya gardeners at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos were consumed by 

 game species: com, squash, other/zacate, sweet potato, kidney bean, and yuca (see Chapter 6). These 

 species are among the most abundant crops by percent occurrence in gardens and number of stalks/m^. 



An analysis of crop consumption patterns by game species indicates that there are differences 

 among game species. By percent volume of crops in game stomachs, die agouti (59.3%), coati 

 (53.5%), and ocellated turkey (51.1%) ranked highest among game species. By percent occurrence of 

 stomachs with ^ one crop species, Uie ocellated turkey (80.0%), agouti (50.0%), paca (41.7%), and 

 coati (40.3%), ranked highest among game species (Table 5-2). By number of crop taxa consumed, 

 the paca (4 crop taxa), agouti (4), and collared peccary (4), ranked highest among game species. This 

 shows that crops are relatively important to five taxa (paca, agouti, coati, collared peccary, and 

 ocellated turkey), whereas crops are relatively unimportant to six taxa (white-lipped peccary, brocket 

 deer, white-tailed deer, thicket tinamou, great curassow, and plain chachalaca). 



A comparison of percent volume of crops in game stomachs and percent occurrence of kill 

 sites in areas categorized as Combined/Early Secondary Forest (primarily gardens and fallow areas), 

 shows that gardens may be important to some game species for reasons other than the availability of 

 crops. Four taxa had relatively low consumption levels of crops and relatively high proportions of kill 

 sites in areas categorized as Combined/Early Secondary Forest; brocket deer, white-tailed deer, thicket 

 tinamou, and plain chachalaca; Figure 5-2). One possible reason for this is that these species could be 

 ignoring crops, but feeding on plant or animal material that occurs in gardens and fallows. Another 

 possible reason is that gardens and fallows may be important as nesting sites or for social interactions. 



Seasonal Variation in Consumption of Major Crop Species by Selected Game Species 



Crops are not equally available in gardens throughout the year. Depending upon when the 

 seasonal rains begins, crops are planted during May-July (Figure 6-1). Crops are harvested during 

 November- January, but this also depends upon the weather and the specific type of crop (see Chapter 

 6). Com, for example, is harvested at this time, but squash and sweet potatoes may be left in the 



