227 

 The lack of significant differences in game population densities among forest successional stages 

 determined at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos also has been noted in other areas. Wilkie and Finn (1990) 

 studied densities for 19 species of terrestrial mammals at the Ituri Forest and determined that (1) only 

 three species were less dense in post-agricultural forest and (2) small duikers {Cephalophus spp. , 

 Bovidae Family), although an important source of food for humans, seemed unaffected by forest 

 clearing for subsistence farming. Wilkie and Finn (1990) indicated, however, that habitat loss or 

 hunting pressure had reduced the abundance of larger ungulates near villages. This would suggest that 

 game species at X-Hazil could sustain limited levels of horticulture and hunting without experiencing 

 differences in their population densities among forest successional stages, but that increased levels could 

 negatively affect the larger species. 



Consumption of Garden Crops by Game Species 



Linares' (1976) fourth premise was that the game species taken by hunters would consume crops 

 from the gardens. At X-Hazil Sur, 16 taxa of crops were planted, but not all gardens had all 16 crops. 

 Com, kidney beans, and squash were the three most frequently planted crops. Com was planted in 

 99% of the gardens during 1989 (n = 150 gardens) and 100% of the gardens in 1990 (n = 40 gardens; 

 Figure 6-4). Squash and kidney beans also were planted in most gardens during 1989 and 1990. 

 Crops generally were available in gardens between May, the beginning of plant season, and January, 

 the end of the harvest season (Figure 6-1). 



Six crops were frequently consumed by game species. Com was most frequently consumed 

 (25.4% of 284 stomach samples), but squash (6.0%), other/zacate (3.2%), sweet potato (2.8%), kidney 

 bean (1.4%), and yuca (0.3%; Table 5-2) also were eaten by game taxa. Com, squash, and 

 other/zacate, including crops from the currents and previous growing seasons, were consumed 

 throughout the year by game species, whereas the other three crop species were consumed only during 

 January- April, when gardens were being cleared and bumed (Table 5-3). Thus, whereas com was the 

 crop taxa most frequently consumed by game species, 6 of the 16 crops planted in gardens were eaten. 



