Diversity and conservation status of terrestrial mammals in a wind farm in Tamaulipas, Mexico

We documented the diversity of medium-sized and large terrestrial mammals at the Tres Mesas wind farm in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Monitoring was conducted over three years (July 2019–October 2022) using camera traps. We estimated diversity using Hill numbers ( q = 0, 1, 2) and calculated the relative abundance index (RAI) to compare species abundance among sampling periods. We recorded 17 species of mammals, including three species of protected felids. Species richness ( q 0) did not differ significantly among sampling periods; however, diversity at orders q 1 and q 2 increased significantly during the third sampling period. Most species showed an increase in abundance, particularly herbivores. Although the Tres Mesas wind farm represents a partially modified landscape, it supports a mammal diversity comparable to that of nearby protected natural areas in the region. These results highlight the ecological importance of this site and its potential contribution to wildlife conservation in northeastern Mexico.