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Submitted September 24, 2025
Published 2026-01-14

Artículos

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026): Scientia

Influence of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Vertebrate Community Structure in an Urban Forest : A Case Study of the Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso Campus


DOI https://doi.org/10.48204/j.scientia.v36n1.a8248

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References
DOI: 10.48204/j.scientia.v36n1.a8248

Published: 2026-01-14

How to Cite

Atencio, E., Pinto, C., Nieto, C. A., Rodriguez G., R. D., Sánchez G., A. G., Martínez, E., Frizzarin, D., Ortega, L., & Quijada-Alarcón, J. (2026). Influence of Anthropogenic Disturbances on Vertebrate Community Structure in an Urban Forest : A Case Study of the Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso Campus. Scientia, 36(1), 75–107. https://doi.org/10.48204/j.scientia.v36n1.a8248

Abstract

Urban biodiversity conservation relies on protecting forest fragments embedded within these areas, although the environmental filters structuring these communities are often unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic disturbances on the vertebrate community structure of the Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso campus of the Universidad Tecnologica de Panamá. A systematic sampling of fauna and environmental variables was conducted, analyzing data using Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and gradient correlations (noise, artificial light, impermeable soil). A total of 208 species were recorded, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, eight of which are listed in a threatened category according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), confirming the campus as a biodiversity refuge. Beta diversity analysis showed high heterogeneity in species composition among sites. Noise pollution emerged as the main determinant, showing a significant correlation with the second axis of community ordination (r= 0,747; p= 0,021). It was evidenced that the campus fauna is structured by anthropogenic micro-gradients, where noise acts as a selective environmental filter. These results confirm that the management of urban green spaces requires strategies to mitigate these disturbances to ensure their function as ecological refuges.

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