183 

 track sets recorded. Three, there was no difference among months in the occurrence of wildlife track 

 sets in the track slicks. 



Methods 

 Study Area 



The study took place at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos, Quintana Roo, Mexico, during 1989-1990 

 (total area = 552.95 km^; Figure 2-1). Gardening data were obtained from residents at the village of 

 X-Hazil Sur (19°23'30"N, 88°05'00"W; population = 1,040), the largest of three villages on the ejido 

 (total population = 1,680). The mean annual temperature is about 26°C and the area typically has one 

 dry season (December-May) and one wet season (June- November). Rainfall during 1 January-12 

 December 1990 was 1,277.3 mm (Figure 2-4). About 88.52% of the ejido was categorized as Late 

 Secondary Forest, 6.07% as Plots & Gardens, 5.18% as Early Secondary Forest, and 0.23% as Other 

 (Table 2-3). Since about 1915 the area has been occupied by Maya Indians, whose main subsistence 

 activity has been shifting cultivation, primarily com. Prior to 1915 the area was not inhabited by Maya 

 Indians. 



Gardener Interviews 



During 1989 a complete census of X-Hazil Sur households was conducted in order to 

 determine the number of residents who planted gardens and the characteristics of those gardens. Only 

 limited information about the annual horticultural cycle was obtained at that time for two reasons; one, 

 the villagers did not yet trust me, and two, the planting season already had passed and gardeners did 

 not remember when specific garden activities were conducted. In 1990, a random sample of those who 

 planted gardens in 1989 was selected and interviewed to enable comparisons about gardening between 

 years. The 1990 interviews were more successful and included additional questions about the annual 

 horticultural cycle that were not asked in 1989 (e.g., dates of clearing and burning). Interviews usually 

 were conducted at the home of the gardener (see Appendix Y for a copy of the data form). A local 



