Resumo

GONZALEZ SALDIVAR, Fernando et al. Population and distribution study of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana , Merriam, 1901) in Sonora state. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.4, pp.61-73. ISSN 2007-1132.

Aerial surveys are an important tool for wildlife management. This paper presents the state of preservation of bighorn sheep populations in northern and southern areas of the State of Sonora. A demographic analysis was made, expressed in the number of individuals observed per hour of flight between the Northern and the Southern range of this species, located at the Northwest of the State; finally, a comparative study of the census carried out in the area over time and were determined the right rates of harvest for each zone. For this ending, data were taken from the census carried out by the Government of the State of Sonora and by Arizona State University, by the National Committee for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep and the Department of Wildlife of SEMARNAT, based on the guidelines of the National Development Plan 2001-2006. Student's t test was used to determine mean differences. The number of individuals detected per hour showed a significant difference between the two sampled areas. The value for the South zone was 12.8 sheep per hour, while in the Northern was of 7.04 sheep per hour. With these results the recommended harvest rate was 13 sheep for the North area and 17 sheep for the south.

Palavras-chave : Bighorn sheep; distribution; population; Ovis canadensis mexicana; Sonora; harvest rate.