221 

 per 10,000 km in Early Secondary Forest. No significant differences in sighting frequencies were 

 detected between forest successional stages for game mammals (P = 0.1972), nongame mammals (P = 

 0.1752), or nongame birds (P = 0.1994). 



While it may be premature to speculate on these data, it appears that there was little difference in 

 sighting frequencies of wildlife between three forest successional stages at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos. 

 Although sample sizes were small, it appears that the wildlife was using each of the three forest 

 successional stages and not selecting for or against any of the three stages. This suggests that all three 

 stages collectively or any one stage individually could be sufficient to ensure the survival of the wildlife 

 on the study area. 



Crops and game food habits . Of the several crops planted in gardens at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos, 

 only six taxa were recorded as being consumed by game species. Com was most frequently taken by 

 wild animals and occurred in 25.4% (frequency of occurrence) of 284 game stomachs that were 

 analyzed during June 1989-October 1990 (Table 5-2). Squash was the second most frequently taken 

 crop (6.0% of stomachs), while sweet potato, kidney bean, yuca, and the category other/zacate 

 occurred in ^ 3.2% of stomachs each. 



Of die 12 game species, 10 consumed crops at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos; crops were not recorded 

 for die white-lipped peccary (three stomachs analyzed), and no pocket gopher stomachs were analyzed 

 (contents could not be identified visually). By frequency of occurrence (each species considered 

 separately), the ocellated turkey most frequently consumed crops (80.0% of stomachs; Table 5-2). The 

 frequency of crop consumption for die remaining nine game species (excluding the pocket gopher), in 

 declining rank order, was as follows: agouti (50.0% of stomachs), paca (41.7%), coati (40.3%), diicket 

 tinamou (33.3%), great curassow {Crax rubra; 30.8%), collared peccary (24.1%), brocket deer 

 {Mazama americana; 12.5%), white-tailed deer (9.1%), and plain chachalaca (4.8%). 



These results suggest that, by frequency of occurrence in game stomachs, most crops were of litUe 

 or no importance to game diets. Com, however, was relatively important. Com also was the most 

 frequendy planted crop. While die relative importance of com in game diets may suggest selection by 



