deletions | additions       diff --git a/textbf_INTRODUCTION_Evaluating_the_abundance__.tex b/textbf_INTRODUCTION_Evaluating_the_abundance__.tex  index 69c5f93..10ccbdb 100644  --- a/textbf_INTRODUCTION_Evaluating_the_abundance__.tex  +++ b/textbf_INTRODUCTION_Evaluating_the_abundance__.tex 
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  Although Ecuador is among the most biologically diverse countries of the world \cite{myers2000biodiversity}, accurate data on the distribution and abundance of terrestrial mammals inhabiting the Pacific lowlands forests remains incomplete \cite{parker1992status}. The high diversity present in the area and the vast threats the species are facing, make this region an ideal location to apply standardized methods to collect information on the mammal communities and their adaptation to human modified landscapes.     The most commonly used methods to study the mammals present in an area include line transects (direct and indirect observation), the use of traps and interviews \cite{plumptre2000monitoring, silveira2003camera,agostini2015population}. Yet, most of the time these methods are hard to replicate, standardize and are likely to present some degree of bias \cite{ahumada2013monitoring}. Camera traps provide an alternative tool for improving data recording of small and large mammal species \cite{tobler2008evaluation}. Several factors have led to an increase of this method over the last decades, which include the opportunity to maximize encounter rate of terrestrial mammals, especially the cryptic ones, they are relatively inexpensive, efficient and easy to provide the basis for a standardized methodology \cite{carbone2001use,tobler2008evaluation, rovero2009camera, ahumada2013monitoring} ahumada2013monitoring}.    Thus, we identified the need to conduct a study in the Machalilla NP applying a randomized study design with camera traps to provide an up-to-date regional list of medium and large sized mammals and evaluate the conservation status of the species present. In addition to providing baseline data on the species present in this protected area, we considered important to compare our results with a similar study conducted in 1992 \cite{parker1992status} to evaluate possible changes in species distribution.     
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