Relationship patterns between biological information and physical and socioeconomic information: The Otun River Basin in Risaralda (Colombia)

Biophysical and socioeconomic data were gathered at the basin of the Otun River (Colombia) and then processed with the objective of identifying relationship patterns between the two types of information. This task was carried out by using Geographic Information Systems software (ArgGis 9.1 ®), the development of a code for the assessment of relationships (Matlab 7.1®), and data mining tools based on trees; using the J-48 algorithm developed at the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA). The identification of patterns allowed concluding that, at least, three physical variables (altitude, rainfall and temperature) and a socioeconomic variable (land use) influence the presence of mammals. This information will be employed in other studies related to Decision Support Systems in the realm of management and conservation of wildlife at the basin.