DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e206551

Authors: Rodolfo Salm, Karin Elisabeth von Schmalz, Emil Hernandez Ruz, Dilaílson Araújo de Souza, Angelino Pereira de Oliveira Jr, Cássio Cardoso Pereira

Abstract: The distribution of palm (Arecaceae) species distribution is closely associated with topography, hydrology, and forest architecture, but site- and species-specific studies remain scarce in the Amazon. Here, we describe patterns of palm community structure and their associations with environmental gradients in a remote area of the eastern Amazon, helping fill an approximately 500-km geographic knowledge gap. We hypothesized that local environmental heterogeneity, particularly hydrographic conditions, topography, and forest structure, would promote spatial variation in palm community structure, with species richness and composition varying along these gradients and dominant species showing species-specific associations with local environmental conditions. A field survey across a 5-km transect, subdivided into 100 plots in the Riozinho do Anfrísio Extractive Reserve, Pará, Brazil, identified palm species and collected environmental data, including NDVI, altitude, terrain characteristics, and proximity to permanent and intermittent streams. We assessed associations between species richness, community composition, and environmental variables using multivariate and regression-based analyses. Eighteen palm species were recorded, with the palm community overwhelmingly dominated by Attalea speciosa, which reached exceptionally high local abundance, followed by Geonoma baculifera and Euterpe longibracteata. Variation in species composition was significantly associated with NDVI, altitude, and distance to streams, whereas species richness showed stronger associations with the presence of igarapés and terrain shape. A. speciosa was associated with lower NDVI values and areas away from igarapés, whereas Euterpe oleracea and G. baculifera were positively associated with the presence of igarapés. The observed patterns partially support the hypothesis that local environmental heterogeneity promotes spatial variation in palm community structure by creating habitats differing in environmental suitability for palm species. These findings provide a baseline characterization of palm communities in a poorly documented region of the Eastern Amazon and contribute to understanding how local environmental gradients shape palm community structure and species distribution.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e202837

Authors: Miguel A. Quispe-Puma, César R. Luque-Fernández

Abstract: Plant-hummingbird interactions are key components of Neotropical ecosystems, yet they remain poorly documented in arid inter-Andean valleys of southern Peru, which are characterized by marked climatic seasonality. We evaluated the structure, temporal dynamics, and central species of a plant-hummingbird interaction network in the Sogay valley, Arequipa. From March to August 2025, feeding, perching, and competitive interactions were recorded through direct observation surveys. The feeding network comprised 10 plant species, four hummingbird species, and 21 observed links. It showed moderately high connectance (0.525), intermediate specialization (H2’ = 0.550), moderate modularity (Q = 0.386), and presence-absence-based nestedness (NODF = 65.23). Visits were concentrated on Tecoma fulva (47.5%), Ligaria cuneifolia (25.1%), and Nicotiana glauca (10.3%), whereas Rhodopis vesper was the most central hummingbird species. Activity peaked in May and June, which also showed the highest temporal similarity. Nectar concentration was not associated with visitation frequency (ρ = 0.018; p = 0.969), and floral length showed only a non-significant positive trend. These results reveal a temporally dynamic feeding network in which interaction frequency was concentrated around a small set of floral resources, while plants were also used as perches and sites of agonistic interactions. Overall, this study highlights the ecological importance of floral and structural resources for hummingbird activity in arid Andean landscapes.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e190179

Authors: Heru Lee, Cin-Ty Lee

Abstract: Two colonies of Pinguicula L. (Lentibulariaceae) were discovered in March 2025 within the Maya Mountains of west-central Belize. Previously, this genus had been documented only twice in Belize; however, the current study provides the first detailed description of the morphology and ecology of Pinguicula in the region. Individuals from both colonies exhibited the closest affinity to the P. lilacina Schlechtendal & Chamisso–P. sharpii Casper & Kondo complex from the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. Notable differences between the two colonies were identified: one colony exhibited characteristics similar to those of P. lilacina from central Mexico, while the other displayed features more similar to those of P. sharpii from southern Mexico and Guatemala. Based on these preliminary findings, it is not possible to determine whether these colonies are new species unique to the Maya Mountains or represent recently established populations of P. lilacina and P. sharpii originating from the Sierra Madre regions of Mexico. However, subtle differences from their Mexican counterparts warrant further investigation.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e178289

Authors: Nancy Carlos, Fanny M. Cornejo

Abstract: In tropical biodiversity hotspots, understanding the socio-ecological aspects of human-wildlife interactions is crucial for effective conservation. This study offers an integrated assessment of the Campesino Community of Corosha in the Peruvian Amazon. Using 155 household surveys, we characterised the productive landscape, documented the presence of wildlife and analysed local perceptions. First, we describe a community dependent on subsistence agriculture, where most families (92.9%) have chacras (agricultural plots), mainly growing tubers (85.4%) with frequent daily visits (66.7%). Second, we report a high prevalence of domestic animals (~ 80% of households), creating a multi-species interface, with poultry (52.9%) and cattle (43.6%) exhibiting high disease rates. Notably, domestic dogs were identified as significant predators, responsible for 83.3% of recorded wildlife hunting events (n = 12). Third, perception analysis reveals a dual co-existence: while wildlife is culturally valued, negative perceptions prevail (63.2%), primarily due to crop damage (51.6%) and are strongly linked to rodents (49.7%) and parrots (33.5%). These interconnected findings across various aspects, including livelihoods, animal health, predation and human perception, highlight the need for an integrated One Health approach. We recommend that conservation strategies combine participatory crop protection, community-based animal health programmes and environmental education to support sustainable co-existence in Amazonian communities.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e187054

Authors: Jessica Gómora-Cercas, Norberto Martínez-Méndez, Aníbal Díaz de la Vega-Pérez, Omar Mejía

Abstract: Mexico’s complex topography, variety of climates, geological history, and geographic position combine to produce heterogeneity in the amphibian fauna of biogeographic regions such as the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TVB), a physiographic province with a semi-warm western region and a temperate eastern region. Richness, endemicity, and phylobetadiversity patterns of amphibian communities in the TVB were evaluated using different grid-cell sizes. A total of 143 species in 36 genera were studied. Species richness was higher in the eastern region than in the western region. Endemicity and phyloendemicity values were low, except in a few cells in the eastern region. The amphibian communities in the TVB comprise distinct assemblages, and biotic interactions are the primary drivers of community structure. Taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity indices were correlated with geographic distance, and differences in precipitation seasonality between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and current conditions, as well as soil temperature, were the main factors explaining species turnover. The study results confirm that environmental heterogeneity promotes high levels of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity among the Mexican amphibian fauna. These findings may be useful in future management and conservation efforts.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e199685

Authors: Selene Davey, Pier Cacciali, José Paredes, Lorena Sforza

Abstract: Neotropical grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide, and their degradation has particularly affected grassland specialist birds. Alectrurus tricolor and Alectrurus risora are two globally Vulnerable tyrant flycatchers associated with these environments, whose ranges partially overlap in southern Paraguay. Despite their ecological similarity, interspecific interactions between these congeners have not previously been documented. Here, we report repeated interspecific associations between A. tricolor and A. risora based on field observations conducted between November 2023 and August 2025 at two localities in southern Paraguay. Eight independent association events were recorded, most involving one individual of each species, although some included two A. risora individuals. Birds remained in close spatial proximity, shared perches, moved in a coordinated manner, and engaged in simultaneous aerial foraging. In some cases, the movement of one individual appeared to flush arthropod prey subsequently captured by the other. Territorial behavior was also observed, including the active expulsion of another grassland bird species by A. risora while associated with A. tricolor. Most observations occurred during the austral autumn–winter period, when prey availability may be reduced. These behavioral patterns suggest that the association may provide ecological benefits related to foraging efficiency, prey detection, or vigilance. Additionally, ongoing habitat reduction affecting A. tricolor may contribute to increased heterospecific associations under changing environmental conditions. Our observations represent the first documented evidence of repeated syntopic association between these two Alectrurus species and provide new insights into the behavioral ecology of threatened Neotropical grassland birds.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e181931

Authors: Natalia Majin-Quiñonez, Shirly Luligo-Miranda, Giselle Zambrano-Gonzales, Jorge Becoche-Mosquera

Abstract: Peri-urban forests play a key role in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity within expanding urban landscapes. However, the ecological processes that sustain their functionality—such as the reproductive phenology of plant species—have been poorly documented in the Colombian Andes. This study aimed to conduct a floristic inventory and qualitatively evaluate the phenological events of a peri-urban forest in the Municipality of Popayán (Cauca, Colombia). Sampling was carried out through direct observation of fertile individuals and recording of reproductive phases (flowering and fruiting). A total of 68 species belonging to 31 angiosperm families were identified, with Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae and Araceae being the most diverse. The predominant growth forms were herbs and shrubs, suggesting that the forest is at an intermediate stage of ecological succession. Phenological events showed marked temporal variation: flowering peaks occurred mainly in March, April and September during the monitoring period. These temporal patterns indicate an association between reproductive phenophases and climatic variation. Vismia baccifera, Besleria solanoides and Psychotria carthagenensis stood out for maintaining prolonged flowering and fruiting, providing continuous resources to pollinators and dispersers, thereby reinforcing their ecological role in the regeneration and stability of the ecosystem. The results highlight the importance of peri-urban forest fragments as biodiversity refuges and providers of essential ecosystem services, even under anthropogenic pressures. Additionally, they underscore the need to conserve these fragments, which function as biological corridors and key spaces for ecological connectivity and the resilience of Andean ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e187958

Authors: Manfredo A. Turcios-Casco, Mario R. Jolon-Morales, Bianca Padilla, Edgard Scott, Celeste M. López

Abstract: Forest–farm interfaces in tropical landscapes are pivotal hotspots of human–wildlife interaction. However, they remain poorly documented across Central America. This study investigated crop depredation at the forest edge of a 10 ha cassava (Manihot esculenta) field (“yucal”) in Mavita, Honduran Mosquitia, embedded within a mosaic of Pinus caribaea and tropical moist forest. From December 2024 to February 2025, three camera traps, coupled with solar-powered, motion-activated LED lights (“silent technology”), were deployed to identify the true crop-raiding community and describe diel activity. Contrary to local expectations, rabbits (Sylvilagus hondurensis) emerged as the primary crop raiders, while tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) were present but not the sole culprits. No evidence of pacas (Cuniculus paca) or armadillos (Dasypus mexicanus) was found. Light-assisted traps consistently recorded rabbits but were less effective for other taxa (e.g., ocelots), despite moderate-to-high temporal overlap among species. Ordinal models indicated that higher behavioral response codes were more likely later in the day, and rabbits showed lower behavioral intensities than other groups. These findings highlight how forest structure and edge context can shape detection and behavior and how misattribution of damage can arise in remote forest landscapes. Non-invasive diagnostics, including light-assisted camera traps, and buffer cassava plots at forest margins are recommended to accommodate wildlife foraging while reducing direct impacts on fields. This study provides forest-centric evidence to guide conflict mitigation and coexistence strategies within Miskitu territories of the Honduran Caribbean Lowlands.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e187352

Authors: César C. Julián-Caballero, Eufemia Cruz-Arenas, Emilio Martínez-Ramírez, Gabriel I. Cruz-Ruiz, Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde

Abstract: Distribution data and reproductive biology of freshwater catfishes of the genus Rhamdia remain insufficiently explored, limiting our knowledge of these ecologically, nutritionally, and economically important species. We provide updated distribution data and a preliminary study of the reproductive biology of the Pale catfish, Rhamdia guatemalensis, and the Filespin chulín, Rhamdia laticauda in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR), Oaxaca, Mexico, based on vouchered records and analyses of sex ratio, sexual size dimorphism, size at first gonadal maturation, and total fecundity. Specimens were collected from 20 sites within the TCBR using electrofishing during two periods, 2006–2007 and 2015–2016. The Pale catfish was recorded in eight municipalities, whereas the Filespin chulín occurred in five, with a similar elevation range. Both species exhibited an overall sex ratio of 1:1 and female-biased sexual dimorphism in standard length (SL) and body mass (BM). Size at first sexual maturity was estimated at 97.6 mm SL in R. guatemalensis and 79 mm SL in R. laticauda. Both species exhibited high fecundity, with mean numbers of eggs per female of 9647 for the Pale catfish (n = 13) and 1457 for the Filespin chulín (n = 11). Fecundity was positively correlated with ovary weight in both species. Our results contribute to the understanding of the distribution and reproductive biology of native freshwater catfishes in the TCBR.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e185618

Authors: John W. Rowe, Jennifer A. Moore, Morgan R. Fonley, David L. Clark, Carlos A. Valle

Abstract: Activity of terrestrial ectotherms in seasonal equatorial environments can be challenging due to temporal variations in temperature and water availability. Social interactions among conspecifics, along with predation risks, can also place limitations on activity patterns and spatial ecology. We studied the spatial ecology, habitat use, and habitat selection in the San Cristóbal lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus) during a hot-wet period (March), and a cool-dry period (August). Overall, lizards used rock faces under canopy more frequently than other microhabitats. Compared to the hot-wet period, lizards increased their use of rock crevices and detritus and were sometimes inactive for several consecutive days during the cool-dry period. Lizards varied in their selection of structural features and thermal characteristics across seasons and throughout the day, relying on open areas for basking (especially during the mornings) during the hot-wet period and shifting to sheltered, cooler microhabitats during the cool-dry season. Within their larger activity areas, each lizard concentrated movements within a single area but occasionally and often repeatedly traveled to peripheral specific areas. While minimum convex polygons and AKDE-95% utility distributions (UDs) overlapped among individuals extensively, AKDE-50% UDs rarely overlapped among individuals that resided adjacent to one another. Lizards showed a reduction in space use metrics by over 50% between the hot-wet and the cool-dry period further indicating seasonal limitations on activity between seasons. Overall, San Cristóbal lava lizards are sensitive to both thermal and structural habitat characteristics and vary their habitat use and activity patterns seasonally.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e187967

Authors: Travis D. Bayer, Maggie A. McGreal, A. Rafael Chacón D.

Abstract: Insular isolation can drive rapid evolutionary divergence, including pronounced dwarfism, in mammals. A dwarfed fox (Urocyon sp.) has inhabited the island of Cozumel, Mexico, for millennia, yet prior evidence of its existence was limited to subfossil remains. Additionally, no comprehensive morphological or genetic studies have been conducted, and sightings of the Cozumel fox are exceptionally rare. Here, we report the first photographic record and the first confirmed sighting in over two decades. On 14 September 2023, an adult male was photographed near kilometer 29 on Cozumel’s coastal highway. This observation confirms the species’ continued presence and highlights its likely critical conservation status. Targeted surveys, population monitoring, and taxonomic assessments are urgently needed, along with habitat protection and measures to minimize human-wildlife conflict, to ensure the survival of this rare and cryptic fox.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e190757

Authors: Luis Damián Ramírez-Guillén, Jorge L. León-Cortés, Armando Falcon-Brindis

Abstract: A new species of Scoliidae, Lissocampsomeris bribri sp. nov. (Scoliinae, Campsomerini), is described from a single female found in Panama. We propose a taxonomic key to the females of Lissocampsomeris, including the new species. Additionally, images of Lissocampsomeris columba (Saussure, 1858) and Lissocampsomeris wesmaeli (Lepeletier, 1845) are provided for the first time. This finding increases the list of known Scoliidae in America to 72 species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e172764

Authors: Luiggi Alessandro Carrasco-Escudero, Morgan J. Hughes

Abstract: Despite their suitable size, bats (Chiroptera) represent rare to occasional prey for the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), a generalist carnivorous feline with a wide geographic distribution. This work documents the first observed predation of Artibeus lituratus, a Neotropical fruit bat, by Leopardus pardalis from a mist net in Peru. The individual L. pardalis exhibited an ocular anomaly—the absence of the tapetum lucidum reflex in its left eye—which could have affected its night vision. This observation highlights plasticity in the hunting behavior of L. pardalis, allowing this individual to persist despite likely visual limitations. In addition, this case underscores the value of ecological monitoring in documenting unusual interactions between predators and prey.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e186009

Authors: Guillermo A. Woolrich-Piña, Geoffrey R. Smith, Jesús A. Loc-Barragán, Rafael Loaiza-Ramírez, Erik J. Torres-Romero, Julio A. Lemos-Espinal

Abstract: Surprisingly little is known about the thermal ecology of Mexican kinosternid turtles. We studied the body temperatures of Kinosternon cora, K. durangoense, and K. herrerai from Mexico. Mean body temperatures of the three species were 25.0 °C for K. cora, 21.9 °C for K. durangoense, and 23.3 °C for K. herrerai. Body temperature (Tb) in K. cora were negatively related to water temperatures (Tw). Body temperatures in K. cora were lower than Tw and the differences between Tb and Tw increased with Tw. In both K. durangoense and K. herrerai, Tb increased with both Ta and Tw. In K. durangoense, Tb was higher than Tw below ≈ 22 °C and lower than Tw above ≈ 22 °C. In K. herrerai, Tb was higher than Tw below ≈ 23.5 °C and lower than Tw above ≈ 23.5 °C. Males and females did not differ in Tb in all three species. Our results suggest a role for environmental temperatures—especially water temperature—in determining body temperature in these three species of Mexican Kinosternon. However, our results also suggest that these turtles can maintain Tb different from their aquatic habitat, suggesting at least a limited ability to thermoregulate.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e180457

Authors: Stefan Hohnwald

Abstract: The Bragantina region is one of the most densely settled regions of the Amazon Basin. Rainforests were clear-cut during the last two centuries and replaced by a tessellated rural landscape of pastures, fields, oil palm plantations, gallery forests, and secondary vegetation. However, the impact of the still ongoing land-use changes on biodiversity has hardly been studied, so the purpose of this paper is to summarize bird observations from the Belém area and its rural hinterland. Audiovisual bird surveys were carried out around Belém, on ten farms in the municipality of Igarapé-Açu, and along the Atlantic coast between 1999 and 2018. Compiled species lists are compared with historical studies of the Bragantina, adjacent Maranhão, and Marajó. To evaluate regional community assembly, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was employed and beta diversity was partitioned into turnover and nestedness components. Results indicate that community differentiation is primarily driven by species turnover (replacement) rather than nestedness (species loss), reflecting a significant ecological shift while maintaining high regional richness. Species diversity was further analyzed using Hill numbers (q = 0, 1, 2) and integrated rarefaction/extrapolation curves to ensure robust regional comparisons independent of sampling effort. In total, 300 bird species (220 genera; 62 families) were reconfirmed. Although the mosaic-like landscape resembles savannas today, the data elucidate that bird composition is still more similar to that of the ancient rainforest biome than to that of adjacent savannas. While robust, widespread neotropical generalists, such as Crotophaga ani and Columbina passerina, became dominant, and Guira guira and Melanerpes candidus established themselves, large understory game birds of pristine rainforests are virtually absent. However, endemic canopy species, such as Xipholena lamellipennis, might survive within the Bragantina if sufficiently large forest patches and mast trees are protected and planted at regular intervals across the whole region. Thereby, it may be more promising to protect robust, common (to rare) Amazonian bird species that can follow dynamic land-use changes than to concentrate on the last remaining pristine forest specialists.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e183324

Authors: Robert B. Wallace, Guido Ayala, Maria Viscarra, Zulia Porcel

Abstract: The short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) is one of the world’s least-known canids and one of Latin America’s least-known carnivores. We performed a systematic summary of published and unpublished distributional records for the species across Bolivia (n = 500), and between 2001 and 2024, we ran 34 intensive camera-trap surveys across the lowland portions of the Greater Madidi-Tambopata Landscape (northwestern Bolivia and southeastern Peru) and the Llanos de Moxos Biocultural Landscape (northern Bolivia), which resulted in 594 independent events for the short-eared dog. Short-eared dogs were primarily diurnal, with camera-trap capture frequencies of 0.18–2.4 independent events per 100 camera-trap nights across 21 (61.8%) of the 34 surveys. A comparison with camera-trap data from ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) extrapolated an average density of 15 individuals/100 km2, suggesting that short-eared dogs are less abundant than other medium-sized carnivores but more abundant than larger-bodied carnivores (e.g., jaguar). Our results reveal variation in short-eared dog relative abundance and occupancy between survey sites and over time. Occupancy analyses emphasized a strong preference for intact forest, underscoring the importance of protected areas and other management units that preserve forest cover in the Amazon.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e184592

Authors: Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei, Wilian Vaz-Silva, Cássio Cardoso Pereira, Francisco Leonardo Tejerina-Garro

Abstract: Anurans are highly sensitive vertebrates whose ecological distribution is strongly shaped by environmental conditions, particularly moisture availability and habitat stability. Although most species are associated with epigean environments, several anurans use subterranean habitats, such as caves, as shelters, refuges, or complementary habitats. Caves represent unique ecological environments in Neotropical landscapes and are characterized by high environmental stability, acting as ecological filters that select for species capable of utilizing them. Because anurans typically depend on humid environments and are predominantly nocturnal, they are potential users of subterranean environments. In this study, we evaluated how taxonomic variables (species and family) relate to the conservation status, geographic distribution, and life-history traits of anurans recorded in natural caves in Brazil. For this purpose, 177 occurrence records for 54 species were compiled from the scientific literature. The species were characterized by their conservation status, distribution range, endemism, and life-history attributes (period of activity, habitat frequency, and mating site). The data were analyzed using redundancy analysis (RDA). The results indicate that geographic and conservation-related variables (conservation status, distribution range, and endemism) are the main predictors of anuran occurrence in caves. The predominance of widely distributed anurans classified as IUCN Least Concern suggests that their use of caves is opportunistic, with caves functioning primarily as refuges or as complements to surface habitats. These findings indicate that cave use by anurans is largely driven by ecological plasticity rather than specialization to subterranean environments, and, by compiling and analyzing records from across Brazil, this study provides the first macroecological synthesis of cave-associated anurans in the country, highlighting important sampling gaps and reinforcing the need to systematically incorporate amphibians into research and conservation policies for Neotropical subterranean ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.21.e175492

Authors: Ricardo Petersen-Silva, Francisca Ribeiro, Inês Ferreira, Gregor Ernst

Abstract: Introduction: Brazil, with 846 million hectares, struggles to manage its varied environmental landscape, as 60% is used for farming, affecting soil ecosystems that rely on organisms for nutrient cycling and water infiltration. The diversity of these organisms is influenced by land use, rainfall, temperature, and humidity. Establishing Specific Protection Goals (SPGs) for pesticides is essential, considering their Normal Operating Range in agricultural ecosystems. A literature review on the biodiversity of earthworms, enchytraeids, springtails, and soil mites in Brazil examined their abundance in relation to abiotic factors. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across 11 specialized databases and Google Scholar, retrieving 120 peer-reviewed Brazilian field trials up to June 2023, and applying strict inclusion criteria and descriptive statistical analysis on standardized density data. The associations between organism density and factors such as season, organic matter percentage, pH, and tillage were evaluated. Results: Results showed that soil mites were the most studied group (>40%), followed by earthworms, springtails, and enchytraeids. Tillage generally reduced organism density, and both Collembola and soil mites showed lower densities in the dry season compared to the rainy season. Collembola and mite densities also varied with soil pH, whereas earthworms were pH independent. Conclusions: The study shows that soil fauna densities in Brazil vary widely with land use, soil type, season, and farming practices—particularly tillage—yet significant gaps remain in regional coverage and methodological consistency, underscoring the need for harmonized research and collaborative efforts to inform soil biodiversity management and ecosystem service-oriented policies.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e166466

Authors: Luis Damián Ramírez-Guillén, Jorge L. León-Cortés, Armando Falcon-Brindis

Abstract: Two new species of Scolia (Scoliinae, Scoliini) are described from Mexico and Panama: Scolia bartletti sp. nov. and Scolia albumtenebris sp. nov., respectively. Morphological diagnostic characters are provided to distinguish the new species from other Scolia species, together with a taxonomic key to Scolia from North and Central America. This study adds two species to the known Scolia fauna in America, increasing the total to 14 species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e154791

Authors: Justin Santiago, Lindsey Swierk

Abstract: The Amazon Basin is a biodiversity hotspot, with vertically stratified forests fostering complex habitats and high mammal diversity. Although mammals play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem structure, less is known about arboreal mammal activity and habitat use across forest canopy layers. As forest fragmentation increases, understanding how these changes impact arboreal species is essential for effective conservation efforts. Here, we provide a snapshot of canopy walkway use by arboreal mammals in an Amazonian forest with unfragmented canopy cover, providing insight into their spatial and temporal movement patterns across different canopy layers. This study was conducted at the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies, in the Napo-Sucusari Biological Reserve outside Iquitos, Perú. During a three-week survey, we deployed camera traps at multiple heights along a canopy walkway system to monitor arboreal mammal activity. A total of seven mammal species used this canopy walkway system during our study period. Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and the long-tailed porcupine (Coendou longicaudatus longicaudatus) were the most commonly observed species, with several observations of the more reclusive and data-deficient C. ichillus also recorded, among other species. Peak activity occurred between 1900 and 2100 h, coinciding with higher temperature and humidity than nighttime averages. Mid-canopy layers (ca. 21 to 27 m above ground) were most frequently used, with decline in use at higher and lower canopy layers. Our findings provide baseline data on arboreal mammal use of canopy walkways in a tropical forest, which may help inform the design of human-created arboreal corridors to connect forest fragments.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e156777

Authors: Fernanda G. L. Moreira, Fernanda A. Carvalho, Luiza F. A. de Paula

Abstract: The invasion of non-native species into spatially restricted habitats with unique plant communities poses a major challenge to biodiversity conservation. Inselbergs, granitic and/or gneissic outcrops with distinct abiotic conditions, host highly specialised plant species, but are increasingly threatened by the colonisation of exotic plants. This study aimed to: (1) compile the first comprehensive checklist of non-native plant species on inselbergs in two Brazilian phytogeographic domains: Atlantic Forest (AF) and Caatinga (CA), with a focus on identifying the invasive species; (2) analyse domain-specific associations of non-native species; (3) evaluate whether specific life forms of non-native species are associated with a particular domain; and (4) propose future research directions and management strategies. We documented 99 non-native species across AF (71 spp.) and CA (54 spp.) inselbergs using data from public online databases and published literature, of which 33 (33.3%) were classified as invasive. Therophytes were significantly associated with CA inselbergs and chamaephytes with AF inselbergs, reinforcing that certain life forms amongst non-native species exhibit domain-specific affinities, likely reflecting adaptations to contrasting environmental conditions. The findings of this study reveal that non-native species are widespread across inselbergs in both analysed domains, with many of them being invasives, underscoring the urgent need for early intervention. Future studies should concentrate on linking functional traits to invasion patterns in inselbergs, as well as integrating biogeographic and phylogenetic information, which will be crucial to anticipating and mitigating the spread of invasive species in these vulnerable environments.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e159659

Authors: Rodrigo M. Barahona-Segovia, Eduardo Quintanilla Iturra, Camila Meneses Rubio, Pablo Silva-Reyes, Leonardo Hormazábal

Abstract: Terrestrial planarians are important soil predators of a variety of invertebrate groups, including exotic and invasive mollusc species. However, data on prey in natural conditions are scarce. Polycladus gayi is a giant planarian from the forests of southern Chile whose predatory behaviour is poorly known. Here, we report two cases of predation on Limax maximus, an invasive slug recorded within native forests. We suggest that P. gayi displayed two distinct types of predatory behaviour: (1) helicoidal tube formation and (2) surrounding immobilisation. As the reported distributions of the invasive slug and P. gayi are similar, we suggest this predator-prey interaction might be common. Furthermore, depending on the prey type and size, P. gayi might exhibit different types of predatory behaviour. This knowledge reveals little-known aspects of P. gayi ecology, raising new questions about ecological and conservation issues.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e154485

Authors: Daniel Castro, Fernando Fernández

Abstract: Cohabitation between ants and termites is a widespread yet understudied ecological interaction in tropical forests. This study explores the patterns of termite–ant cohabitation networks across different forest coverages in the Colombian Amazon, focusing on taxonomic composition, nesting substrates, and ant functional guilds. A total of 413 specimens were collected from 283 cohabitation networks, identifying 197 interacting species (110 ants and 87 termites). The network exhibited moderate connectance (C = 0.279) and high modularity (Q = 0.602), indicating that only a subset of potential interactions occurred, with distinct species groups forming stronger intragroup connections. Ant genera such as Pheidole, Camponotus, Crematogaster, Acropyga, and the species Pseudoponera stigma played central roles, interacting with multiple termite genera, while termite genera like Nasutitermes, Heterotermes, and Araujotermes emerged as key nodes due to their nesting habits and high abundance. Cohabitation patterns varied across forest types, with primary forests supporting more complex networks than secondary forests, underscoring the importance of habitat conservation in maintaining biodiversity. Wood-based nests supported the highest diversity of cohabiting ants, and generalist ants—particularly Pseudoponera stigma and species of Pheidole—were frequent connectors across modules. These findings provide new insights into the ecological mechanisms underlying termite–ant cohabitation and emphasize the importance of preserving structurally complex habitats to maintain these interactions.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e153327

Authors: Michelle Bustamante-Castillo, Estefany De León-Robles, Manuel Alejandro Barrios-Izas, Lesbia Albertina Calderón-Aguirre

Abstract: Urbanization is widely recognized as a driver of increased pathogen transmission, primarily through landscape modification and heightened contact rates between hosts and vectors, which can elevate parasite prevalence and virulence. In this survey, we investigated the prevalence and parasitemia rates of avian malaria in urban and rural areas within a tropical dry forest region of eastern Guatemala—an area undergoing substantial transformation from natural landscapes to urbanized environments. Using a combination of microscopy and PCR-based techniques, we diagnosed and quantified malaria parasites in 181 blood samples collected from 33 wild bird species. Our findings revealed a moderate overall prevalence of avian malaria (38%), with Plasmodium spp. being the most prevalent, followed by Haemoproteus spp. Notably, no Leucocytozoon infections were detected in the sampled populations.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e155025

Authors: Cesar Jacobo-Pereira, Francisco Martín Huerta-Martínez, Joel Flores, Alvaro Edwin Razo-Leon, Alejandro Muñoz-Urias

Abstract: The higher temperatures and lower rainfall generated by global warming can have negative repercussions on the physiological responses of plants. This study aims to understand how the higher temperatures and declining precipitation will affect the germination of Populus luziarum and P. primaveralepensis, two endangered endemic species from western Mexico. The germination of these species was evaluated through the combined effect of three temperatures (24, 28, and 32 °C) and five water potentials (0, –0.07, –0.15, –0.3, and –0.6 MPa). The evaluated response variables utilized were the minimum time that seeds need to begin germination, the mean germination rate, and the final percentage of germination. Significant differences were found in the germination of both species due to the factors and their interaction. The highest germination percentages were registered with the combination of 24 °C and 0 MPa for both species (90% and 94%, respectively). The lowest percentage for P. luziarum was recorded at –0.6 MPa for any temperature (26–32%), while the lowest germination (23%) was found for P. primaveralepensis at –0.6 MPa and 32 °C. In addition, germinability was slowest in both species because of the highest temperatures and lowest water potential and their interactions. It is concluded that higher temperatures and drought stress will negatively affect the germination and recovery of populations of these two species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e151162

Authors: Nelson Colihueque, Alberto Gantz

Abstract: Landscape alterations have strong impacts on the distribution of genetic variation within and between populations, and understanding these effects can provide insights for design conservation strategies. We analyzed 20 georeferenced individuals of pudu deer (Pudu puda) of three populations from southern Chile to obtain genetic diversity and distance parameters based on five polymorphic microsatellite loci. The genetic population structure was assessed by using STRUCTURE 2.3.4 and the effective population sizes (Ne) with NeEstimator 2.0 software. Habitat fragmentation metrics were also analyzed to correlate these data with the genetic variation focused to assess the effect of native forest fragmentation on the genetic structure of pudu deer. The mean number of alleles ranges from 2.8 to 4.2, while the mean number of private alleles ranged from 0.4 to 1.2. The mean observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.423 to 0.547. All populations displayed significant deficits of heterozygotes (FIS = 0.091-0.189, P < 0.0001). The FST on the whole populations and loci was low (mean FST = 0.0942) and without statistical significance (P > 0.05), indicating no genetic differentiation among populations. The STRUCTURE analysis did not reveal a population structure, and the NeEstimator found a markedly low Ne in a population compared to other analyzed populations. Multiple regression analysis indicates that two fragmentation metrics, namely, the proportion of the landscape covered by forest (PLAND) and the patch density (PD), negatively and significantly affected the number of alleles per locus as well as the observed heterozygosity (PLAND, β = -0.8740, P < 0.05; PD, β = -0.6594, P < 0.05). This result suggests that a greater degree of habitat fragmentation contributes to a decrease in genetic variation of pudu deer. Therefore, maintaining the native forest continuity across the distribution range of pudu deer could contribute to preserving the genetic diversity, enhancing the long-term survival of this mammal.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e151337

Authors: Sofia de Oliveira Cabral, Raul dos Santos, Arthur Queiros, Juan Lima, Cecilia Calabuig

Abstract: The Caatinga, the largest seasonal dry tropical forest in South America, has been experiencing significant environmental disturbances due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and increasing energy infrastructure installation. These changes can impact local biodiversity, particularly aspects of natural history, such as trophic ecology. This study investigates the diet of Oxyrhopus trigeminus (the Brazilian false coral snake) in the Caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil, combining a literature review and an analysis of stomach and intestinal contents of 48 specimens. Our findings confirm that the species primarily preys on lizards, particularly Tropidurus hispidus and Ameivula ocellifera, which are among the most abundant lizards in the semiarid region of the Caatinga. Additionally, we report for the first time the presence of Micrablepharus maximiliani in the diet of O. trigeminus. The study also documents the ingestion of plastic fragments, highlighting a growing concern regarding pollution in natural environments and its potential effects on trophic interactions. As part of the study, weight and morphometric data were collected from all examined specimens; although not the primary focus, these measurements are included as supplementary information, given their potential value for future comparative and ecological analyses. Given the increasing habitat alterations in the Caatinga, changes in prey availability may potentially affect the dietary patterns of Oxyrhopus trigeminus and other snake species. Despite the limited sample size, our findings highlight the importance of baseline dietary data and underscore the need for long-term monitoring to better understand how environmental changes may influence predator-prey dynamics and the ecological stability of semiarid ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e148738

Authors: Brian J. Armitage, Steven C. Harris, Viterbo Rodriguez

Abstract: In this study, we describe and illustrate nine new species of microcaddisflies: Oxyethira jaramillo sp. nov., Neotrichia afuera sp. nov., Neotrichia aguirrei sp. nov., Neotrichia betegui sp. nov., Neotrichia rancheria sp. nov., Neotrichia sona sp. nov., Metrichia riosi sp. nov., Ochrotrichia mariettae sp. nov. and Ochrotrichia martinez sp. nov. The majority of these new species were collected on the Soná Peninsula or offshore on the Coiba National Park islands. With these additions, there are now 544 species of caddisflies known from Panama, distributed amongst 15 families and 56 genera.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e142405

Authors: César N. Cedillo-Leal, Gabriel Barrios-Quiroz, Sergio E. Padilla-Paz

Abstract: Human-crocodile interaction in the Laguna del Carpintero, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico has been a growing concern for the last several years, with homeless people being the most affected, although individuals of fixed address have also been involved. The objective of this document is to describe in detail a case of non-fatal human-crocodile interaction in this lagoon and the response of the SOS Crocodile Tampico working group. To document the case, we collected information on the interaction, the causative crocodile and the affected person. On June 8, 2024 a male person was involved in a non-fatal interaction with a 278 cm long crocodile, which caused a fracture in his left leg, requiring him to be transported to the nearest hospital. This event activated the first response team who provided pre-hospital and hospital care; search and capture of the crocodile involved, as well as the custody, handling and final disposal of the crocodile into captivity. Therefore, we consider that inter-institutional coordination between federal, state, municipal, health and crocodile specialists, integrated as the SOS Crocodile working group, is fundamental to rapidly and efficiently attend the interactions with crocodiles in urban areas.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e146972

Authors: Elvio Sergio Figueredo Medeiros, Mayara Mirelly da Silva Monteiro, Silvia Yasmin Lustosa-Costa, Julia Martini Falkenberg, Telton Pedro Anselmo Ramos

Abstract: The histological organization of labial development of trahira Hoplias malabaricus found in a drying pool was compared with normal fish from a similar environment. It was found that labial development was not associated with any visible histological change in key tissues. We hypothesize that the fish had been recently trapped in the pool (for a few weeks) and did not have the time to respond to the stressful conditions, and that the labial development was not associated with increase in respiration surface area but rather may serve to channel oxygen-rich surface water more efficiently into the mouth chamber.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e148221

Authors: Juan Sebastián Restrepo-Cardona, Paúl Monar-Barragán, Adrián Orihuela-Torres, Evelyn Edith Araujo, Fabricio Narváez, Rubén Pineida, Betsabé Trujillo, Abel Recalde, Andy Salazar, Daniela Fernández, Marek Castel-Tapia, Sebastián Kohn

Abstract: Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) significantly threaten endangered vertebrates worldwide. In this study, we report 11 documented cases of dogs chasing, harassing, competing for food resources, biting, and killing six native vertebrate species in the Ecuadorian Andes: Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), little red brocket deer (Mazama rufina), Andean fox (Lycalopex culpaeus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and Andean tapeti (Sylvilagus andinus). Dog attacks on wildlife can lead to mortality through direct injury and by transmitting diseases, potentially threatening the conservation of globally endangered species such as the Andean condor, mountain tapir, and little red brocket deer. Effective management and conservation of native vertebrates in Andean ecosystems require a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted impacts of dogs on wildlife populations. These impacts include direct attacks, disease transmission, fear-induced behavioral changes, competition for food resources, and conflicts with local farmers, which may inadvertently lead to wildlife poisoning.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e144508

Authors: Diana Cruz-Luna, Socorro Pina Canseco, José Luis Hernández Morales, Teodulfo Aquino Bolaños, Edgar García-Sánchez

Abstract: Haloarchaea produce metabolites of biotechnological importance and grow in hypersaline environments such as coastal lagoons, marine solar salterns, natural brines, and salt lakes. Haloarchaeal compounds from hypersaline environments in Mexico have been scarcely studied. This research aimed to identify a haloarchaea isolate and evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of the culture’s biomass pigments (BPs) and supernatant pigments (SPs). One extremely halophilic archaeal strain designated AS8 was isolated from brine samples of the Bahía de Lobos coastal lagoon, Sonora, and identified as Halomicrobium mukohataei based on analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. The SPs showed the best free radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS assays, with 74 and 67% inhibition values, respectively. The extracts also showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with inhibition halos between 7 to 17 mm. Cytotoxic activity of extracts using nauplii of Artemia salina showed CL50 850 µg/mL to SPs and > 1000 µg/mL to BPs. This work represents the first isolation study of H. mukohataei from Bahía de Lobos lagoon. Likewise, H. mukohataei is an alternative source of natural pigments with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties, which have potential in biomedical applications and the development of new drugs.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e143760

Authors: Rafael Reyna-Hurtado, Jonathan O. Huerta-Rodríguez, Edith Rojas-Flores

Abstract: We report and describe unusual types of behaviour of fighting and whistling in a species considered shy and calm. Baird’s tapir is the largest of all Neotropical mammals and lives in dense well-conserved tropical forests in America. For ten years, in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve of Southern Mexico, we have monitored a tapir population in ponds locally named aguadas that serve as social arenas for the species. Recently, we obtained 97 video records in which some tapirs get involved in serious fights and perform other types of behaviour related probably to courtship, including several types of whistles. We describe what we recorded and interpret these types of behaviour whenever possible. These rare types of tapir behaviour can explain several of the wounds and scars on many adults of the population and help us better understand the social dynamics of this shy and endangered species of Neotropical ungulate. We hope that all this information can help tapir conservation.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e135435

Authors: Fernando José Castillo-Cabrera, Rosa Alejandra Roldán, Mercedes Barrios, Claudia L. Burgos-Barrios, A. Lucía Grajeda, Manolo J. García, Harim Cruz, J. Renato Morales-Mérida, Daniel Tenez, Mabel Vásquez, Emmanuel O. Agreda, Isabel Velásquez, Alicia Eufragio, Raiza Barahona-Fong, Carmen Lucía Yurrita, K. Samanta Orellana

Abstract: This short communication synthesizes biodiversity records of urban green spaces in Guatemala City. The research was conducted in the “Cinturón Ecológico Municipal”, or “Municipal Ecological Green Belt”, which consists of ravines covered with natural vegetation within Guatemala City. Available information from digital biodiversity platforms, previous studies and a short biological survey resulted in a checklist of 1688 terrestrial species, classified in 112 families of invertebrates (463 spp.), 77 families of vertebrates (348 spp.), 29 families of fungi (90 spp.), and 132 families of plants (787 spp.). A total of 113 species (7%) have some degree of vulnerability according to international and national lists of threatened species. The ongoing degradation of urban ecosystems demands urgent attention to increase biological surveys to support biodiversity conservation efforts and stricter protection measures as well as restoration of damaged areas.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e145580

Authors: Armando Sunny, Rosa Laura Heredia-Bobadilla, Hublester Domínguez-Vega, Elisa Sandoval-Serés, Yuriana Gómez-Ortiz, Carmen Caballero-Viñas

Abstract: This study reports two notable predation events involving Thamnophis scaliger (Jan 1863) and Crotalus triseriatus (Wagler 1830), which target Ambystoma altamirani (Dugès 1895), a critically endangered salamander species endemic to high-altitude streams in central Mexico. In the first event, T. scaliger was observed to capture and consume A. altamirani by removing the salamander from its aquatic habitat and consuming it on land – a behavior that underscores the adaptability of the snake to handling aquatic prey. In the second instance, C. triseriatus exhibited attempted predation in a montane stream, swimming in pursuit of the salamander but ultimately failing to capture it. These observations provide critical insights into predator–prey dynamics in montane ecosystems, highlighting the ecological pressures faced by A. altamirani. Furthermore, the documentation of these events expands our understanding of the feeding behaviors of T. scaliger and C. triseriatus, emphasizing their potential impact on vulnerable amphibian populations. This study underscores the necessity of further ecological research to assess the frequency and ecological consequences of such interactions, as well as their implications for the conservation of endangered amphibians in high-altitude habitats.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e140661

Authors: Vanessa I. Martin, Vanessa L. Kilburn, Mathieu Charette, Bruce W. Miller

Abstract: Although chromatic disorders are widely reported in the animal kingdom, few reports of true leucism have been published in Neotropical bats. In this note we report our observations of a leucistic Thyroptera tricolor Spix (Spix’s Disc-winged Bat) in the Maya Mountains of the Stann Creek District of Belize, Central America. Observations made between March 2023 and April 2024 at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S) research station recorded a group of Thyroptera tricolor with a leucistic male identified on three separate occasions. Our observations are the first documented account of leucism for this species and the Thyropteridae family.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e124522

Authors: Silvio Boyat, Esmeralda Arévalo-Huezo

Abstract: Wildlife-vehicle collisions may be the most visible impact of road networks on ecosystems. It has been shown that roadkill does not randomly occur across space and is distributed depending on environmental and ecological factors, such as habitat suitability and landscape connectivity of the interest species. In Costa Rica, the Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) is one of the mammal species most affected by road mortality. This study aimed to predict roadkill risk for the species in northwestern Costa Rica, considering habitat suitability and landscape connectivity. Roadkill data was retrieved from a local citizen science project and collected through a field survey. Habitat suitability and landscape connectivity models were calibrated on publicly available presence data. The models were then used as input, including additional road characteristics to calibrate a maximum entropy roadkill risk model. The final model had an excellent predictive performance (AUC = 0.989) and identified 108.7 km of road sections throughout the region as high risk, mainly found on primary roads. The most significant variables in the model were road width, traffic speed and habitat suitability. Landscape connectivity did not contribute significantly to the model. This study shows that road characteristics are the main contributors to roadkill regionally and highlights the relevance of the species’ ecological features, such as habitat suitability, in its prediction. Thus, such variables should be considered in the design of mitigation measures for the impacts of roads on wildlife.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.20.e131792

Authors: Sofia Aguilar-Jocol, Michelle Bustamante-Castillo, Marco Tax

Abstract: Guatemala’s Pacific coastal plain, although largely dominated by agricultural land, still contains patches of diverse vegetation that could be vital for supporting bird diversity. Despite the country’s recognition for its rich avian biodiversity, updated data on species richness in this region are still lacking. Understanding the role of different vegetation types in maintaining bird diversity is essential for developing targeted conservation strategies that can both preserve and improve biodiversity in these fragmented landscapes. In this study, we compared species richness and the composition of bird communities across four distinct vegetation types along Guatemala’s Pacific coastal plain and analyzed species turnover and replacement to understand how these habitats contribute to maintaining overall bird diversity at the study site. The avian community consisted predominantly of species adapted to open habitats, with generalist bird species prevailing and only a limited representation of species typical of the understory in subtropical wet forests. Additionally, the observed species turnover value suggests a moderate level of species replacement among different vegetation types at the study site. The moderate nestedness, wherein species-poor communities are subsets of more diverse ones, further implies a decline in overall biodiversity. These findings suggest that the homogenization of the avian community indicates that our study focused on isolated areas that remain in this transformed environment. Our findings argue that protecting and restoring seminatural patches, even modestly sized patches, can be critical for safeguarding biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes and highlight the importance of landscape-level conservation, which enables connectivity between habitat patches to support species with different ecological requirements.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e131700

Authors: Luis Ángel Pozos-López, Noé González-Ruiz, José Ramírez-Pulido

Abstract: The Neotropical otter, Lontra annectens, is a predator specialized in aquatic prey, and the main diet of this otter is fish, supplemented mainly by crustaceans and opportunistically by mollusks, insects, and vertebrates such as mammals, amphibians, birds, and reptiles. Occasionally, they eat fruits. This study was conducted on the El Despoblado River near Villa Comaltitlán, in southern Chiapas. We carried out monthly visits along the riverbanks to collect otter scats from April 2018 to April 2019 and found that insects make up more than half of the diet of otters living in this river. Although insects are a common food in the diet of Neotropical otters, the abundant presence of hellgrammites (dobsonfly larvae; Insecta, Megaloptera) had not been recorded before. Otters were found to consume hellgrammites, which are abundant, easy to catch, and have a high nutritional value. This is probably due to the scarce availability of fish and crustaceans in this part of Chiapas.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e129163

Authors: Javier Torres-Jiménez, Sylvia M. Seger, Camila Acosta-López, María Mercedes Gavilánez, Sebastián Kohn, Fabricio Narváez, Andrés Laguna, Marco Monteros, Hugo Ramírez-Piedra, Denis Lucero-Toapanta, Christian Armas

Abstract: Jaguar populations (Panthera onca) on the Ecuadorian coast are critically endangered, with only a few dozen individuals remaining in the region. In some areas, no records have been documented for decades. Between November 2023 and January 2024, independent camera trap monitoring in northwestern Ecuador yielded evidence of the presence of a jaguar, marking a significant recovery after seven years of absence in Manduriacu and at least 15 years in Junín. The jaguar was observed moving through an area of approximately 25 km, traversing forested and human-altered zones. Furthermore, additional evidence from the Ecominga Foundation and the Cielo Verde community indicated the occurrence of livestock attacks, which aligns with the typical predatory patterns observed in jaguar behavior. The attack site was located approximately 8 km from where the jaguar was initially recorded, suggesting that both events refer to the same individual. In response, local authorities inspected the area and organized community workshops. Furthermore, an Andean bear was recorded in Manduriacu during the same sampling period, confirming the co-occurrence of both species in the area. The documented movement of this jaguar, along with the presence of other species, underscores the imperative need to continue research and conservation initiatives in the region. These initiatives will ensure the protection and coexistence of wildlife and human populations in this highly biodiverse region.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e131710

Authors: Martín A. H. Escobar, Nélida R. Villaseñor

Abstract: Bats play an integral key ecological role in forests, but there is limited understanding of how their richness and activity vary over time in temperate forests and the effect of habitat variables on these species. Herein we describe the seasonal variation of bat species richness, activity and assemblage structure during the reproductive season in a sclerophyllous forest, an endangered temperate Mediterranean forest located in Chile’s biodiversity hotspot. Additionally, we explored the relationship between bat activity and environmental variables (air temperature, vegetation cover, and proximity to water bodies). Species richness and bat activity varied during the breeding season and exhibited two peaks: spring and summer end, markedly decreasing in mid-summer. During spring, the bat assemblage exhibited greater species richness, diversity and evenness, whereas from the end of summer until autumn, both diversity and evenness decreased. Monthly average air temperatures had a positive association with total bat activity, although there was evidence of a threshold temperature over which bat activity significantly decreased. Canopy cover had a negative influence on the activity of Tadarida brasiliensis and Lasiurus varius, whereas increasing distance to water bodies was associated with a lower activity of T. brasiliensis and L. villosissimus. Our study demonstrates that bat diversity and bat activity vary greatly during the reproductive season in an endangered temperate forest, highlighting the importance of knowing seasonal patterns and evidencing that multiple surveys will improve our understanding of bat communities. This study provides relevant information to aid bat monitoring and conservation in the biodiversity hotspot of central Chile.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e136190

Authors: Edmar Meléndez-Jaramillo, Laura Sánchez-Castillo, Juana María Coronado-Blanco, Ma. Teresa de Jesús Segura-Martínez, César Martín Cantú-Ayala

Abstract: This study compares the variation of richness, abundance, and diversity of butterfly species for vegetation communities along an elevational gradient and during different seasons in the Priority Region for Conservation of Biodiversity, Sierra Chiquita, located in the northeast of Mexico. We also analyze the influence of environmental variables on the abundance and richness of butterfly species. Seven sampling sites were established based on criteria of vegetation distribution per altitudinal gradient. Sampling was on a monthly basis and carried out in six permanent plots at each site, using an aerial entomological net during November 2015 to October 2016. A total of 38,011 specimens, representing six families and 195 species, were collected. All parameter values showed significant differences across sites, except between thorn forest and gallery forest. Seasonality effect was absent on richness and diversity species; however, for species abundance, the differences between dry season and rainy season were significantly different in each site except for the comparison of thorn forest and gallery forest. The association between the environmental variables and butterfly communities in the elevational gradient was significant, being the dew point, the solar radiation, the canopy leaf area, and the number of flowering plants the most important variables. The present work represents an important contribution of the vegetation communities variation in richness, abundance, and diversity of butterflies in the northeast of Mexico. These results highlight the importance of the conservation of this heterogeneous habitat and establish reference data for the diurnal Lepidoptera fauna of the region.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e132703

Authors: Itainara Taili, Fabiano Séllos Costa, João Marcelo Azevedo de Paula Antunes, Ayko Shimabukuro, Raul dos Santos, Sofia de Oliveira Cabral, Cecilia Calabuig

Abstract: Highways are one of the anthropogenic factors that have the greatest impact on terrestrial biodiversity. Barriers, depletion effects, and roads are the most common locations of wild animal roadkill, leading to biodiversity loss in wild vertebrates. However, the corpses of these animals can be used as opportunistic samples, an excellent source of information on topics such as population dynamics, which is one of the aims of road ecology. Nonetheless, there are only a few studies on injuries in roadkilled wild animals. Between 2018 and 2021, road monitoring was performed around three Federal Conservation Units in Brazil. Twenty-four animals, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, were collected. This study aims to characterize the lesions in wild animals that were roadkilled on roads in the Brazilian semi-arid region using necropsy and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Also, the bone mineral density was measured using QCT and compared with the number of lesions and body condition score. Four types of bone lesions were found in 13 different bones, with an average of 3.25 lesions per bird and 3.75 lesions per reptile and mammal, with no statistical difference between the means (p > 0.05). Providing a database on the main injuries found in wild animals that are frequently roadkilled serves as an aid to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation professionals who contribute to the conservation of species. In addition, the data on road ecology serves as a basis for the implementation of mitigation measures against wildlife roadkills, also contributing to the conservation of species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e128529

Authors: Esmeralda Floreán-Díaz, Miguel Angel De Labra-Hernández

Abstract: Trogonidae make up a family of birds with a mixed diet composed of fruit and animal matter. However, there is little research examining the foraging ecology of Trogon citreolus in regenerating tropical forest. We studied T. citreolus abundance and diet from November 2020 to April 2022 in a regenerating dry tropical forest of Central Pacific Mexico. Also, we investigate the relationship between food availability and trogon abundance. The relative trogon abundance was 2.6 ± 2.3 individuals per point count, which varied temporally. The species consumed the fruits of 14 plant species from 10 families. The three most consumed species were Ficus cotinifolia, Comocladia engleriana, and Randia gentlei. Trogon citreolus displayed a moderate niche breadth (Best = 0. 420) whit low food diet diversity (H’ = 0.94), and the dominance of a particular type of food (λ = 0.85). Our results demonstrated a positive correlation between trogon abundance and food resource availability. The dietary breadth of T. citreolus enable the species to adapt to fluctuations in fruit availability in regenerating forests. These findings highlight the ecological importance of forest regeneration in providing food resources for T. citreolus and other frugivorous birds.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e128704

Authors: Rogemif Fuentes

Abstract: Polygyny is common among lizards, and sexual dimorphism in coloration and size influences sexual selection by females. Courtship and copulation include ritualized behaviors such as chasing, cloacal rubbing, and head bobbing, observed especially in the family Teiidae. Ameiva praesignis, a diurnal Neotropical lizard, inhabits various terrestrial habitats in Central America, and juveniles have bright blue tails that they lose as they mature. During a mating event, the male and female were observed to remain motionless during copulation, followed by a dominant posture by the male, while another smaller male watched them without intervening. This behavior suggests that males guard females to reduce competition and increase reproductive success. Marked sexual dimorphism was noted, with larger, more corpulent males and intense coloration. The courtship and mating behaviors of A. praesignis are like those of A. ameiva, perhaps suggesting that they are characters that are fixed at the genus level. Although mating events are common, in some species they are poorly documented, highlighting the influence of size and coloration on sexual selection.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e129627

Authors: Sebastián O. Montilla, Juan Diego Salazar, Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves, Andrés Link

Abstract: Tree cavities used as sleeping sites are a limited resource for arboreal mammals. The shared use of arboreal cavities as sleeping sites between Neotropical mammals is rarely observed and has been little studied. We documented an event of sleeping site sharing between two medium-sized mammals, the Caribbean night monkey (Aotus griseimembra) and the Quichua porcupine (Coendou quichua), recorded in the humid lowland forests of the inter-Andean basin of the Magdalena River in the eastern part of the Department of Caldas, Colombia. The sleeping site sharing occurred in an avocado tree (Persea americana) over a period of three days and included an agonistic encounter between the two species. The group of Caribbean night monkeys was always near one of the two cavity entrances, entering near sunrise and leaving near sunset, while the two Quichua porcupines were inside the cavity, in different positions, and remained in the sleeping site even after dusk and before dawn. This study provides new information on the interaction between night monkeys and porcupines, and on the sharing of tree cavities as sleeping sites.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e124324

Authors: Sarah Wicks, Christopher Beirne, Cristina Azzopardi Schellmann, Eleanor Flatt, Sandy Quirós Beita, Rigoberto Pereira Rocha, Andrew Whitworth

Abstract: The sparsity of post-translocation monitoring data for rehabilitated felids leaves a pressing gap in our current understanding of their integration into and use of novel landscapes. Remote monitoring tools such as GPS collars can provide crucial insights into animal movement behavior and habitat selection following translocation and assist in the decision-making process for rehabilitation and release sites. In January 2023, a young male ocelot was released on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, after eight months of rehabilitation following a vehicle strike. Six months of post-translocation monitoring using a GPS and VHF-enabled collar revealed distinctive spatial patterns between the ocelot’s initial exploratory phase (~75 days) and subsequent residential period, as well as a selection for agricultural-forest matrix habitat over primary forest. We discuss the findings in terms of learning lessons for future post-release monitoring effects and provide insight into an individual’s patterns of habitat selection in an anthropogenically modified landscape.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e121917

Authors: Ana Carolina Srbek-Araujo, Luiza de Carvalho Alzuguir

Abstract: The chemical communication signals the presence of individuals and territorial occupation, providing information about identity, sex, and reproductive status. This study aimed to characterize the use of latrines by the gray brocket deer, Subulo gouazoubira, in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest located in southeastern Brazil, as well as to describe its territorial marking behaviors, contributing to a better understanding of the species’ social communication strategies. Four monitoring points were used, but latrine use was recorded at only two of them. Twenty-seven independent records of S. gouazoubira were obtained, totaling 29 specimens recorded, comprising 59% males, 28% females, and 14% deer with undetermined sex. Twenty-five interactions with latrines and five types of behavior were recorded: defecation, urination, front paw scratching against the ground, tail shaking, and sniffing the area near the latrine. Among the recorded behaviors, 56% were performed by females, 40% by males, and 4% by specimens with undetermined sex. There was variation in the types and frequency of behaviors recorded, indicating that territorial marking behavior might be variable between latrines. Latrine use also varied temporally concerning the time of day when behaviors were recorded and the interval between records of odoriferous marking at the same latrine. Differences in latrine use between males and females were also observed, suggesting intersexual variations in territorial marking strategy. The obtained results, although limited to a few sampling points, suggest complexity in territorial marking behavior and interaction with latrines in S. gouazoubira, highlighting spatial differences, distinct temporal dynamics, and variations between sexes.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e127528

Authors: Yostin Añino, Roberto A. Cambra, Darlenys Díaz, Juliet Gómez, Carlos Ramos, Paul E. Hanson, Luis Damián Ramírez-Guillén

Abstract: A list of Scoliidae species recorded in Panama is presented. Considering the recent taxonomic updates made on this tribe of wasps, as well as the lack of a formal study on its geographical distribution, richness, and species diversity in Panama, this study aimed to document the existing species in the country. Based on literature records and an examination of 383 specimens, we found a total of 13 species and 7 genera. The following two species and one subspecies are recorded for the first time in Panama: Dielis tolteca (Saussure, 1857), Pygodasis hyalina (Saussure, 1864), and Pygodasis ephippium wagneriana (Saussure, 1864).

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e126767

Authors: Eduardo López-Segovia, Jorge Pérez-Díaz, Luis Fernando Del Moral-Flores, Tao Hernández-Arellano

Abstract: The “Mexclapique” Girardinichthys viviparus, is a goodeid endemic to the Valley of Mexico basin. This species is endangered following habitat alterations due to urbanization and pollution in central Mexico over the last 70 years, which has contributed to its population decline. From collections in the aquatic systems of Tlaxcala, 160 juveniles and adults of G. viviparus were captured (17.9–53.4 standard length) in six sites located in the upper basins of the Moctezuma and Atoyac rivers and extended its distribution to the east of the state of Tlaxcala in the Tecolutla River basin. Its presence in these sites may be the result of the processes of expansion, adaptation and establishment that the species has had in central Mexico, as well as the intercommunication through artificial channels in some of these lakes. These new records of G. viviparus are vital as they provide information about the prevailing populations in habitats in a region that has experimented with anthropogenic activities conjointly with the loss of aquatic systems. Besides, the lack of aquatic biodiversity preservation projects in Tlaxcala does not guarantee its long-term conservation.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e125890

Authors: Rogemif Fuentes, Melquiades Castillo, Ricardo Moreno, Helio Quintero-Arrieta, Edgar Pérez, Jacobo Araúz, Yostin Añino, Daniel Murcia-Moreno, Roderick Valdés, Braulio Bonilla, Dumas Gálvez

Abstract: Coloration anomalies are widespread across the animal kingdom; however, they pass underreported for some taxa or are extremely rare, like in the case of mammals. Three of those anomalies are albinism, leucism, and erythrism, each of which generates atypical colorations in white with white spots and reddish-brown, respectively. Here, we report five cases of coloration anomalies in mammals from Panama: 1) albinism in the Derby’s woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus Waterhouse, 1841), the lowland Paca (Cuniculus paca Linnaeus, 1766), and the variegated squirrel (Echinosciurus variegatoides Ogilby, 1839). 2) leucism in the Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata J. E. Gray, 1842), and 3) erythrism in the northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana Saussure, 1860). We discuss some implications of these observations and the importance of gathering this type of data for developing more complex studies in the future.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e115345

Authors: Alcides Sánchez-Monge, Jorge Cortés

Abstract: Nematoda is the fourth most diverse animal phylum and is widely distributed. Marine nematodes are generally the most speciose group of meiofauna, yet there are relatively few studies on the taxonomy and biodiversity of free living marine nematodes. Here we present a review of the existing scientific literature and data in international databases on marine nematodes of Costa Rica. Most of the papers currently available mentioned Nematoda as the most abundant phylum in terms of the number of individuals within sand samples, nonetheless, only three publications included taxonomic data such as the description of new species or new records. Most publications are for the Pacific coast and we found only one paper for the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Large sections of the coasts and almost all the Exclusive Economic Zone remain unexplored in terms of nematode diversity, abundance and ecological role. Ten species, five free-living and five parasitic species, have been reported from the coasts of Costa Rica. Several reports indicate the presence of nematodes without further identification. More effort should be dedicated to the taxonomic identification of nematodes since, in addition to being the most abundant group, they can also be used as biological indicators.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e117876

Authors: Jeffrey A. Sibaja-Cordero, Jesús S. Troncoso

Abstract: The ecology of macrofauna on the sandy bottom of oceanic islands in the tropics has rarely been studied. The present study was conducted at Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, a tropical oceanic island, to determine how the soft-bottom macrofauna assemblages vary along different levels of ocean exposure and their associated environmental conditions. The macrofauna was collected from five grabs at each of the 27 stations (between 3 and 75 m deep) in April 2010. The broad-scale pattern consists of a gradual increase in the complexity of assemblages (taxonomical or feeding guilds in the sediment) from the inner part to the outside of the bays. The leading determinant of this pattern was the interplay between ocean exposure and sediment variation with depth that produces habitat heterogeneity. The main taxa responsible for differences between ocean exposure zones were the polychaetes Westheidesyllis heterocirrata and Magelona californica, the filter-feeding bivalve Gouldia californica, and the predatory isopod Eurydice caudata. Coarse bottoms had more mobile predators and suspension feeders, whereas passive suspension feeders or subsurface deposit feeders dominated fine sands. The deeper stations were dominated by organisms feeding actively on particles from the water or on the sediment surface. Moreover, more feeding guilds were found in deeper waters. Additionally, at the small-scale view (grabs within each station), macrofauna composition evidences a mosaic pattern, mainly at the inner and middle of the bays, caused by biological or environmental disturbances.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e113487

Authors: Brian J. Armitage, Steven C. Harris, Tomás A. Ríos González, Yusseff P. Aguirre, Roger J. Blahnik, Robin E. Thomson, Tatiana I. Arefina-Armitage

Abstract: The flora and fauna of Panama is species-rich due to its location and topography, and the resulting diversity of microclimates and habitats. The last two summaries (benchmarks) of information about the caddisfly fauna (Insecta, Trichoptera) Panama were published in1992 and 2015. From 1861 to 2015, researchers from outside of Panama recorded 13 families, 45 genera, and 257 species of caddisflies. From 2015 through 2023, a series of publications by the Aquatic Invertebrate Research Group at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí in David, Panamá have recorded an additional 2 families,11 genera, and 278 species. Thus, a total of 535 species of caddisflies, now recorded from the Republic of Panama, are distributed among 15 families and 56 genera. Panama’s Trichoptera fauna shows greatest affinity to other Central American countries, and to Costa Rica in particular. Indeed, 289 Costa Rican species are shared with Panama, including 91 former Costa Rican endemics now known from both countries. The Hydroptilidae is the most species rich family in Panama. Although the number of new species and new country records of macro-Trichoptera has diminished somewhat over this third benchmark period, no similar fall-off has yet been detected in the micro-Trichoptera. The caddisfly fauna of Panama is now better known, but much more work remains to define the fauna and, just as importantly, to map the surficial and altitudinal distribution of each genus and species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e113285

Authors: Pavel García, Robert O. Hall Jr

Abstract: Aquatic shredder insect diversity declines latitudinally toward the equator, contrary to the general latitudinal biodiversity gradient. Shredder diversity along tropical elevational gradients mimics this shredder latitudinal pattern. One of the hypotheses proposed to explain this pattern of diversity is that dispersal capacity drives variation in shredder assemblages given their low dispersal capacity in tropical streams. Additionally, tropical shredders probably have lower dispersal capacity than the rest of tropical aquatic insects, which have lower dispersal capacities than their counterparts in temperate areas. We tested this hypothesis in an elevational gradient of more than 2000 m in 16 reaches of streams distributed in the Usumacinta, Cahabon, and Polochic river watersheds. We quantitatively sampled aquatic insects and measured 12 environmental variables. We found a regional pool of 118 taxa, with 13 taxa classified as shredders, and 2 taxa of predator-shredders. Contrary to expectations, shredder rarefied richness decreased with increasing elevation, which suggests that dispersal capacity did not change with elevation. Assemblage similarity decreased with increasing distance between reaches due to low capacity to fly long distances. This relationship had a smaller slope when using the shortest spatial distances between pairs of reaches due to potential lateral scatter by flying adults. In sum, the results support the hypothesis that dispersal capacity drove aquatic shredder assemblage structure in these 16 tropical streams.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e111865

Authors: Julia M. Portmann, Grace H. Davenport, Bela H. Starinchak, Heather P. Griscom

Abstract: Dry tropical forests are unique, biodiverse ecosystems threatened by human development, especially deforestation for agricultural land use. Deforestation reduces carbon sequestration in landscapes and, in turn, pollutes nearby waterways. Agroforestry practices, like silvopastoralism, can mitigate these impacts by integrating trees into working landscapes, but their effect on stream water quality has not been studied. We assessed the stream condition on five silvopastoral farms in Panama’s Azuero Peninsula by utilizing aquatic macroinvertebrates as indicators. We collected aquatic macroinvertebrates and calculated the percent EPT, Diptera, and Odonata. Using ArcGIS, we measured distance to live fence, riparian connectivity, and forest patch size. We also measured tree carbon stored in the riparian area and throughout each farm. We analyzed the relationships between landscape or habitat variables and water quality scores using single linear regressions in R Studio. Percent EPT, Odonata, and diversity were positively predicted by riparian tree carbon, while percent Diptera was negatively predicted by riparian tree carbon. Our results highlight the importance of expanding agroforestry in this region and suggest that increasing tree cover in agricultural landscapes may be beneficial to stream condition, but additional research is needed.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e119499

Authors: Monika M. Lipińska, Cecylia Barabasz

Abstract: This literature review aims to synthesise existing knowledge on research on pollination of orchid species in Guatemala. Orchids, known for their diverse and specialised interactions with pollinators, play a key role in the ecosystems of this Central American country. As a base for our research, we have used the orchid checklist published in 2018 where more than 1200 taxa have been listed. Then we conducted a systematic search of academic databases, including, but not limited to PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and relevant botanical databases. From 1231 orchid species reported to occur in Guatemala and classified in 221 genera, we have found data on pollination of only 98 taxa, classified in 71 genera. Through an exhaustive survey of the relevant scientific literature, this review intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the available data, highlighting gaps in current knowledge and suggesting directions for future research. Research on pollination in tropical orchids presents a formidable challenge due to the immense diversity of species, the intricacies of pollination mechanisms, the elusive nature of pollinators and the susceptibility of these ecosystems to environmental changes. Despite these challenges, the importance of unravelling these mysteries is underscored by the critical role orchids play in tropical ecosystems and their potential implications for conservation and biodiversity.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e113507

Authors: Luis F. de Armas, Alex M. Cubas-Rodríguez

Abstract: A significant study of the amblypygid fauna of Honduras is lacking. Historically, species were misidentified and data on distribution, natural history and conservation status of the known species are lacking or insufficient. In this contribution, an overview on the amblypygids of Honduras, including taxonomy, distribution, natural history and comments on their conservation are provided. In a review of the literature of the Honduran amblypygids, we examined 21 works, including books, unpublished thesis, articles, the World Amblypygi Catalogue (2023), as well as the website Arácnidos de Centroamérica and the citizen-science websites Alamy, iNaturalist and Flicks. Only the family Phrynidae, with the genera Paraphrynus Moreno, 1940 and Phrynus Lamarck, 1801, is known to occur in Honduras. A total of seven species have been recorded, but only four [Paraphrynus laevifrons (Pocock, 1894), Phrynus palenque Armas, 1996, Ph. similis Armas, Víquez & Trujillo, 2017 and Ph. whitei Gervais, 1842] have been positively identified. No endemic species are known, but available data suggest that some undescribed new species may be restricted to Honduras. In order to understand the amblypygids of Honduras, sampling within the country must be conducted and revisionary studies will be needed. This paper examines our current knowledge of the fauna.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e119775

Authors: Frederik C. De Wint, Dominik Oorts, Michael G. Branstetter, Dario De Graaf, Wouter Dekoninck, Merlijn Jocque, Thomas E. Martin, Jennifer Sudworth, Ronja Van Osselaer, Matthew T. Hamer

Abstract: Ant diversity in tropical montane rainforests is globally understudied. This is true for Cusuco National Park (CNP), a cloud forest ecosystem in northwestern Honduras that supports geographically isolated and threatened habitats. The current study presents the first comprehensive ant species checklist for CNP, which is also the first ant checklist for Honduras in over a century. Species records from several projects are also combined and presented. Sampling occurred along an elevational range (mainly between 1170 and 2030 m a.s.l.), with methodologies and intensities varying among projects and dates. Overall, 162 ant species belonging to nine subfamilies and 60 genera are reported from the CNP. Five species are recorded for the first time in Honduras (Pheidole natalie Longino, 2019; Strumigenys cf. calamita; Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972; Solenopsis texana/carolinensis; Pseudomyrmex pallens Mayr, 1870). For the first time, male individuals are reported in Pheidole balatro Longino, 2019. For each species, we provide information on observed habitat preference, elevational range, and sampling technique. Species accumulation curves are provided for each sample technique, representing sampling intensity and community sample coverage. We also provide a key to the ant genera of Honduras to aid future taxonomic efforts in the country. Our research demonstrates that CNP harbours a surprisingly rich diversity of ant species, despite its small area, similar to many other taxa in the park. The information provided here represents baseline information for future work on ants in CNP and other Honduran cloud forests and will help guide research in these otherwise poorly explored yet highly threatened ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e117386

Authors: Ana Lucía Interiano, Dulce Herrera, Habibi Orellana Carrera, Nery D. Monroy R., Pavel García, Jorge Erwin López, Rosa Alicia Jiménez

Abstract: Biogeography has as a central theme, which is the study of geographic ranges of species that are determined by evolutionary history, abiotic factors, and biotic interactions. Understanding the influence of biotic interactions on geographic ranges is a topic that has been little explored, especially in a way that compares species that vary in intensity of interaction. Here, we assessed interaction intensity as a determinant of geographic range overlap between ant-following birds and army ants in Mexico and Central America. We hypothesized that the intensity of the interaction between army ants and ant-following birds, obligate or facultative, predicts the overlap of geographic ranges of interacting species, as well as the extension of geographic ranges. We generated species distribution models with MAXENT and estimated the percentage of overlap between two species of army ants and 10 species of ant-following birds. Contrary to our predictions, Bayesian regression models found no support for an estimated higher range overlap for obligate ant-following birds and army ants, or wider geographic ranges for facultative ant-following bird species. However, our results suggested trends for higher percentages of range overlap between obligate ant-following birds and army ants, and for geographic ranges of facultative ant-following birds extending to areas without the presence of army ants. Our research encourages further exploration of the biogeography of biotic interactions as part of a quantitative gradient of intensities and not as qualitative categories, integrating spatial and temporal variation in the intensity of interaction.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e119908

Authors: César Camilo Julián-Caballero, Emilio Martínez-Ramírez, Rosa María Gómez-Ugalde, Eufemia Cruz-Arenas

Abstract: The trophic ecology of fishes in the genus Rhamdia remains poorly reported. Here, we aim to describe the diet composition and infer the trophic levels, niche breadth, and niche overlap between Rhamdia guatemalensis and Rhamdia laticauda in northeast Oaxaca, Mexico. Fishes were sampled using an electrofishing device between 2016 and 2017. We calculated the Quotient index and the diet composition was analyzed using the percentage of the Index of Relative Importance (%IRI) to analyze possible ontogenetic and sexual differences on feeding ecology. We then calculated the trophic niche breadth using the Levins´ standardized index (BA). Trophic levels (TLk) of each species were calculated using the trophic index and trophic niche overlap using Pianka´s index (Ojk). The results indicate that both species are carnivorous and tend to prey on aquatic insects, with R. guatemalensis feeding on nine different orders of animals and R. laticauda displaying a broader diet spectrum, encompassing 19 orders. Our data showed ontogeny and sex differences in the trophic ecology of R. guatemalensis. They were secondary consumers (TLk > 3) and showed a specialized diet (BA < 0.4). We found evidence of trophic niche partitioning between adults (Ojk = 0.40) and females (Ojk = 0.42). Our results highlight the fundamental role of this species in the area as a carnivorous/insectivorous, predatory fishes, secondary consumers, and biological control for Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Megaloptera. Both species minimize the trophic overlap through food resource partitioning mediated by fish body size. Additionally, adults and females consume different prey, which allows the coexistence of closely related species. Our findings regarding trophic ecology could be crucial for devising conservation and management plans for these particular Rhamdia species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e120434

Authors: Alex M. Cubas-Rodríguez, Fabio G. Cupul-Magaña

Abstract: A case of a non-fatal crocodile attack on a human was reported on the banks of the Segovia River on the Honduras and Nicaragua border. The 12-year-old girl survived the attack, only with damage to the tibia of her right leg, where she lost part of the muscle tissue due to the bite. It was after the attack that the American crocodile was shot and killed by local people. In this paper, we discuss the possible causes of crocodile attacks.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e120902

Authors: Alexandra E. Laking, José M. Solís, Tom Brown, Simon T. Maddock, Oliver Burdekin, Peter Taylor, George Lonsdale, Stephen E. W. Green, Thomas E. Martin, Josue R. Galdamez, Jonathan E. Kolby, Jesse Erens, Merlijn Jocque

Abstract: Mesoamerican cloud forests support a rich and unique biodiversity but face severe threats from increasing habitat degradation and climate change. Here, we present an updated overview of the amphibians and reptiles of Cusuco National Park (CNP), an isolated cloud forest in the Sierra de Omoa, Northwest Honduras. Based on surveys conducted over a 17-year period, we report the presence of 105 confirmed species of amphibians (30) and reptiles (75) within the reserve. This includes numerous threatened and regionally endemic amphibian species, as well as several reptile species previously unrecorded within the park. Given that it harbours approximately 26% of all recorded Honduran herpetofauna, our study highlights CNP as the most diverse forest region in Honduras with respect to the reptile and amphibian diversity documented to date. Our findings reinforce the plea to actively protect CNP as a globally valuable biodiversity hotspot and a centre of herpetofaunal endemicity. Furthermore, in the face of rapid deforestation across Mesoamerica, our findings highlight the need for expanded biodiversity studies across extant forest regions in Honduras to refine species distribution ranges and facilitate timely and effective conservation measures.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e119836

Authors: Angel I. Contreras-Calvario, César Camilo Julián-Caballero, Abigail Mora-Reyes, Medardo Arreortúa

Abstract: In Mexico opossums are difficult to find, and much of their natural history, ecology, and behavior are unknown. Through photographic and visual records, we obtained data on the presence of two species of marsupials in southern Mexico. We report new municipal records of Derby’s woolly opossum, Caluromys derbianus in Veracruz, and new municipal records of the Gray four-eyed opossum Philander opossum for Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas. Local mammal records are crucial for understanding the biology and ecology of species, as well as identifying its threats.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e117799

Authors: Hermes Santiago-Dionicio, Medardo Arreortúa, Angel I. Contreras-Calvario, Edna González-Bernal, César Camilo Julián-Caballero

Abstract: We provide new records of Neogale frenata and Potos flavus, two carnivores with elusive behaviors that are challenging to observe in their natural habitats. Through direct records compiled in diurnal and nocturnal monitoring over three years, we record two individuals of N. frenata, a juvenile and an adult, and three individuals of P. flavus, an adult and two juveniles. The juvenile of N. frenata increases the distribution range to 68 km from its nearest record. The two juveniles of Potos flavus represent an extension of their distribution range of 22 km away from their nearest record. This new data highlights the importance of opportunistic records in combination with passive methods as part of fauna inventories. We emphasize the relevance of considering the habitat conditions of each record to identify possible threats to their conservation, like human disturbances.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e114194

Authors: Tiberio C. Monterrubio-Rico, Leticia Núñez-Landa, Juan F. Charre-Medellín

Abstract: Camera trap studies on ocelots in Mexico have focused on abundance, habitat use, and activity patterns, mainly within Protected Areas of tropical humid forests in southern regions. However, their ecology, including breeding effort and productivity in seasonal dry Pacific forests and areas outside Protected Areas, has received less attention. The species’ low reproductive rates make their populations vulnerable to decline. In evaluating the reproduction, the species’ breeding activity was examined for two survey periods performed during 2010–2016. We estimated the percentage of females raising young in the surveys and their associated fecundity–”productivity”. The overall results revealed a population of 26 males and 46 females that included 10 females (21%) rearing 12 young, defined as kittens, cubs, or juveniles, for an effective sample area (ESA) of 200 km2. Overall, the productivity averaged 2.05/100 km2 per season. All parameters varied between the two areas, and productivity was not constant in time in either area or site. Information on species breeding activity in combination with density estimations may facilitate determining the minimum area required for a viable ocelot population in the region. Protected Areas are required in the studied region for the ocelot in order to maintain a viable local population. This is due to the increasing fragmentation caused by agriculture, cattle ranching, and forest fires, and it is hypothesized that ocelots do not tolerate disturbance or severe fragmentation.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e115561

Authors: Melisa Celia Jazmin Rolón, David Gustavo Vera, Facundo Leonel De Los Santos, Micaela Harkes, Germán Tettamanti, Rodrigo Calvo, Diego Omar Di Pietro, Melina Alicia Velasco, Luciano Javier Avila, Jorge Daniel Williams, Federico Pablo Kacoliris

Abstract: Laguna Blanca National Park (LBNP) is located in the mid-west of Neuquén Province, Argentina. It was created in 1940 with the aim of conserving the nesting and breeding habitats of an important diversity of birds. Until now, there have been no exclusive works that address the herpetofauna present. The aim of this article is to provide an updated inventory of reptile and amphibian species in LBNP. We used four sources of information to create the species list: 1) data coming from field observations; 2) specimens deposited in herpetological collections; 3) scientific literature review; 4) online biodiversity databases. We confirm the occurrence of 18 species of herpetofauna in LBNP, including 13 reptiles and 5 amphibians. We also included six species with probable presence according to the range of distribution and habitat similarity. We added the conservation status of the national and international lists for each species. Five species are in some threat category at the national (Vulnerable, Endangered) or international level (Endangered, Critically Endangered). Seven taxa are listed as “Species of Vertebrates of Special Value” by the Administración de Parques Nacionales. Despite being protected within a national park, the herpetofauna present face threats such as prolonged drought events, habitat modification due to the presence of livestock, introduced exotic species, and emerging diseases. Conservation efforts are imperative to protect these species and mitigate their threats.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e117513

Authors: Brian J. Armitage, Yusseff P. Aguirre, Tomas A. Ríos Gonzalez, Viterbo Rodriguez, Roger J. Blahnik, Steven C. Harris

Abstract: Herein we add eight new country records to Panama’s caddisfly fauna (Insecta, Trichoptera): Hydropsychidae – Leptonema turrialbum Flint, McAlpine & Ross, 1987; Polycentropodidae – Polyplectropus bravoae Bueno-Soria, 1990; Hydroptilidae – Mayatrichia ayama Mosely, 1937 and Bredinia selva Harris, Holzenthal & Flint, 2002; Glossosomatidae – Mortoniella stilula Blahnik & Holzenthal, 2008; Anomalopsychidae – Contulma talamanca Holzenthal & Flint, 1995; Helicopsychidae – Helicospyche planata Ross, 1956; and Odontoceridae – Marilia crea Mosely, 1949. The Republic of Panama now has 533 species of caddisflies distributed among 15 families and 56 genera.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e117437

Authors: Juan Camilo Cepeda-Duque, Eduven Arango-Correa, Christian Frimodt-Møller, Diego J. Lizcano

Abstract: Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are recognised worldwide not only as man’s best friend, but also as a form of anthropogenic edge effect impacting wildlife through predation, competition and disease infection. In the Northern Andes, there is growing evidence of dogs inducing activity shifts or alterations in the habitat use of native mammalian species. However, little information exists on direct attacks of dogs on wildlife, even in the case of species of conservation concern such as the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Here, we used camera traps to report two cases of dogs chasing and attacking mountain tapirs in a protected area of the Central Andes of Colombia. The first event showed a direct physical contact between a living adult mountain tapir and two dogs, but the picture’s angle did not lead to observable signs of wounds or other injuries. The second event showed an adult mountain tapir running while being chased by the same two dogs of the first event, denoting a stressful moment for the tapir. This may have negative consequences on the populations of mountain tapirs through decreased reproductive performance and foraging efficiency, increased potential for disease outbreaks and more. Population management and control of domestic dogs inside and around protected areas must be considered a priority in future conservation actions to support a healthy population of mountain tapirs and other imperilled species in the region.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.19.e115562

Authors: Daniel Barona, Jorge Podestá

Abstract: Sanderling Calidris alba is a migratory coastal bird species whose populations are affected by climatic and anthropogenic issues. Additionally, its behavioural patterns depend on habitat variety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation in the frequency and duration of C. alba behaviour in relation to habitat variety in a Peruvian coastal wetland. Based on types of behaviour recorded in a previous study of C. alba during August and September 2019 at low, mid and high tide periods in three habitats of the Coastal Wetland Poza La Arenilla (HCPA) (La Punta, Callao, Peru), differences and diversity in the frequencies and durations of such behaviour between habitats were assessed according to tide condition. Additionally, a correlation analysis between the duration and frequency of behaviour for each habitat according to tide condition was conducted. General differences in behaviour (frequency and duration) between habitats were found, although there was a high similarity of behaviour between areas particularly when mid- and high tide levels were present. The greatest diversity of behaviour, both in frequency and duration, was observed generally during mid-tide conditions in rocky habitats. In most cases, there was a high correlation between the frequency and duration of behaviour for habitats according to tide condition. It is concluded that mid-tide conditions are associated with greater availability of soft substrates, favouring a wide variety of types of behaviour for C. alba, including behaviour related to foraging and locomotion.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e110615

Authors: Ricardo Villalba-Briones, Paolo Michael Piedrahita, Daniel Omar Garces, Juan S. Monrós

Abstract: Non sustainable land uses are disturbing natural habitats and wild animals’ ecology worldwide. Nevertheless, the sensitisation of key actors combined with research and a consequent management can influence decision-making and improve animals’ well-being. COVID-19 has influenced the number of interactions with wildlife in urban environments and the ESPOL Polytechnic University is a university campus that holds forested areas in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We implemented an environmental education course with an empathetic approach for the security guards of the university. We used questionnaires to evaluate their attitudes and knowledge on wildlife before and after the sensitisation course. In addition, we registered the incidences of native fauna resulting from the guards’ collaborations and we designed management strategies according to the data gathered. The guards showed an improvement in their knowledge of the issues covered (n = 81–87; X̄ = 163.4%) and an increased preference for wild and native fauna after the sensitisation course (n = 67; 151.6%). Furthermore, the collaborations of guards with the Biodiversity Unit of the university concerning animal-human interactions increased, as did the supporting actions towards the well-being of native animals. Moreover, the information about direct and indirect interactions with wildlife included reports on traces of large to medium animal activity and a record of illegal hunting of Choloepus hoffmanni for bushmeat consumption. Obtained data sustained adaptive management actions such as signalling and restrictions in use. We recommend educating key actors with an empathetic approach, developing critical skills and promoting collaborations to reduce human impacts in wild areas.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e110272

Authors: Nelson Colihueque, Víctor Vidal, Contanza Vásquez, Alberto Gantz

Abstract: The mammal community of the Coastal Range of southern Chile has been little studied even though they inhabit an environment under severe threats due to anthropic disturbance. During the spring-summer seasons of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, we characterized the communities of wild terrestrial mammals in a native forest (NF) and an exotic plantation of Eucalyptus (PL) of the Coastal Range of Osorno province by phototrapping. We used 1,060 camera-trap days in the NF and 960 camera-trap days in the PL to explore the effect of habitat type on wild mammal diversity in two localities (L-1 and L-2). We quantified the species richness, abundance, community similarity and daily distribution of mammal communities. Species richness was higher in the NF (7–8 spp) than in the PL (3–4 spp). Two community similarity index (CSI) was significantly higher between native forests (CSI = 0.728 ± 0.088) than between Eucalyptus plantations (CSI = 0.211 ± 0.097) (95% CI). Mean abundance was also higher in the NF than in the PL (L-1: 0.011 vs. 0.004 occurrence/camera-trap day (OCT); L-2: 0.008 vs. 0.004 OCT). In L-1, the most abundant mammals in the NF were Leopardus guigna (45.3% of relative occurrence (RO)) and Pudu puda (18.9% RO), and in the PL, they were Lycalopex culpaeus (50% RO) and L. guigna (37.5% RO). In L-2, the highest abundances in the NF were for P. puda (34.5% RO) and Puma concolor (27.6% RO), while in the PL, P. puda was predominant (66.7% RO). In NF of both localities, 22.2% of melanic L. guigna individuals were observed. The highest frequency of occurrences in both locations was between 12:00 and 23:59 hours, with 60% and 76.9% of detections, respectively. The species richness found in native forest is in accordance with studies carried out in other temperate rainforests of southern Chile. In addition, native forests support a richer and more similar community of terrestrial mammals than exotic forest plantations, which indicates that native forests are the main habitat for most mammals detected and that exotic plantations function as a complementary habitat for some species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e113743

Authors: Patrícia Bernardes Rodrigues Witt, Helder Henrique de Faria, Juliano de Oliveira, Larissa Rosa de Oliveira

Abstract: A implantação de áreas protegidas, em especial, Unidades de Conservação da Natureza (UCs), é uma estratégia de conservação reconhecida mundialmente. No entanto, estes limites de uma gestão eficiente para atingir os seus objetivos de conservação. Quando a gestão das UCs ​​é deficiente, resulta em prejuízos aos seus próprios objetivos, afetando a biodiversidade e os processos ecológicos, além de causar impactos sociais e econômicos. Nesse contexto, avaliamos a efetividade da gestão de 11 Unidades de Conservação Integrais da Natureza no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil, por meio de entrevistas, visitas a essas UCs ​​​​e revisão de seus documentos oficiais.Para esta análise utilizou-se o método adaptado de Efetividade de Gestão de Áreas Protegidas (EMAP) que foi desenvolvido por meio de uma escala Likert com cinco níveis oito escopos 73 indicadores e 65 cenários de avaliação. Noventa e um por cento das UCs ​​avaliadas no Sul do Brasil pelo método EMAP oscilaram entre eficácia média e muito insatisfatória e baixa efetividade de gestão: 18% das UCs ​​apresentaram qualidade de gestão muito insatisfatória, 37% insatisfatória, 36% média e apenas 9% alta ou garantia. Além disso, as UC não cumpriram os objetivos principais para os quais foram criados. Neste contexto, recomendamos uma série de ações a aplicar para a melhoria da UC, como a adoção de um modelo de avaliação quali-quantitativo das unidades, através de um modelo matemático;aumento de pessoal; treinar equipes e gestores; melhoria da infraestrutura e insumos da UC; alocação orçamentária regular; regularização fundiária, implementação de conselhos consultivos e revisão urgente dos planos de manejo. Noventa e um por cento das UCs ​​avaliadas no Sul do Brasil pelo método EMAP oscilaram entre eficácia média e muito insatisfatória e baixa efetividade de gestão: 18% das UCs ​​apresentaram qualidade de gestão muito insatisfatória, 37% insatisfatória, 36% média e apenas 9% alta ou garantia. Além disso, as UC não cumpriram os objetivos principais para os quais foram criados.Neste contexto, recomendamos uma série de ações a aplicar para a melhoria da UC, como a adoção de um modelo de avaliação quali-quantitativo das unidades, através de um modelo matemático; aumento de pessoal; treinar equipes e gestores; melhoria da infraestrutura e insumos da UC; alocação orçamentária regular; regularização fundiária, implementação de conselhos consultivos e revisão urgente dos planos de manejo. Noventa e um por cento das UCs ​​avaliadas no Sul do Brasil pelo método EMAP oscilaram entre eficácia média e muito insatisfatória e baixa efetividade de gestão: 18% das UCs ​​apresentaram qualidade de gestão muito insatisfatória, 37% insatisfatória, 36% média e apenas 9% alta ou garantia.Além disso, as UC não cumpriram os objetivos principais para os quais foram criados. Neste contexto, recomendamos uma série de ações a aplicar para a melhoria da UC, como a adoção de um modelo de avaliação quali-quantitativo das unidades, através de um modelo matemático; aumento de pessoal; treinar equipes e gestores; melhoria da infraestrutura e insumos da UC; alocação orçamentária regular; regularização fundiária, implementação de conselhos consultivos e revisão urgente dos planos de manejo.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e111801

Authors: Roger J. Blahnik, Yusseff P. Aguirre, Brian J. Armitage

Abstract: The caddisfly genus Protoptila (Trichoptera, Glossosomatidae) in Panama is currently represented by 15 species, including four endemic species and 11 species also found in Costa Rica. The shared occurrences of Panamanian species with other countries in the region are minimal. Herein, we describe and illustrate a new species, Protoptila harrisi sp. nov., and add one new country record, Protoptila bribri Holzenthal & Blahnik, 2006. These additions are the result of several projects conducted by the Aquatic Invertebrate Research Group at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí. The Republic of Panama now has 17 species of Protoptila and 535 species of caddisflies distributed among 15 families and 56 genera.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e110008

Authors: Matheus Fragoso Etges, Demétrio Luis Guadagnin, Andreas Kindel

Abstract: Invasive species pose significant threats to ecosystems and biodiversity, necessitating effective management strategies to mitigate their impacts. One such invasive species of concern is the wild boar in Brazil, which has the potential to cause widespread environmental changes. A national plan for monitoring and controlling invasive species, including the wild boar, was developed in response to this threat. Despite this initiative, uncertainties persist regarding the presence of wild boars in protected areas (PAs) and the effectiveness of current management actions. This study intends to diagnose the situation of wild boars in protected areas within the southern region of Brazil, specifically focusing on their distribution, management techniques employed, and reasons for the lack of management actions. An online questionnaire was sent to 297 PAs, with 134 responding. The findings revealed that wild boars were present in 36 surveyed PAs, but management efforts were only being carried out in 14 of them. Cages and corrals were identified as the most commonly used techniques, with corn serving as the preferred bait. The study identified two primary reasons for the lack of management actions: the wild boar’s low invasion intensity and management capacity limitations. To address these challenges effectively, this study advocates for a centralized organization of management actions and emphasizes the development of materials and resources to support successful management strategies. Implementing these measures is essential to safeguard the conservation of ecosystems and vulnerable species in Brazil’s protected areas and ensure the long-term resilience of these valuable ecological assets.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103019

Authors: Patrícia Bernardes Rodrigues Witt, Helder Henrique de Faria, Juliano de Oliveira, Larissa Rosa de Oliveira

Abstract: The implementation of protected areas, in particular, nature Conservation Units (CUs), is a conservation strategy recognised worldwide. However, these territories require efficient management to achieve their conservation goals. When the management of CUs is deficient, it results in damage to their own goals, affecting biodiversity and ecological processes, as well as causing social and economic impacts. In this context, we evaluated the management effectiveness of 11 integral Conservation Units of nature in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, through interviews, visits to these CUs and a review of their official documents. For this analysis, we used the adapted method of Effectiveness of Management of Protected Areas (EMAP), which was analysed using a Likert scale with five levels, eight scopes, 73 indicators and 65 evaluation scenarios. Ninety-one percent of the CUs assessed in southern Brazil by the EMAP method oscillated from average to very unsatisfactory efficacy and low management effectiveness: 18% of the CUs had a very unsatisfactory quality of management, 37% unsatisfactory, 36% average and only 9% high or satisfactory. Moreover, the CUs did not fulfil the main objectives for which they were created. In this context, we recommended a series of actions to be applied for CU improvement, such as the adoption of a quali-quantitative evaluation model for the units, through a mathematical model; increase in staff; training teams and managers; improvement of CU infrastructure and inputs; regular budget allocation; land regularisation, implementation of consultative councils and urgent review of management plans.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103506

Authors: Gabriela Morais Olmedo, Mateus Raguse-Quadros, Guilherme Taboada Conrado, Juliano Morales Oliveira

Abstract: The study of vegetative and reproductive phenophases of plants is critical for understanding aspects related to plant behavior in different environments. In the tropics, there is a gap of understanding related to plant phenology since the theoretical framework on the topic has been built from perspectives of the temperate region. Furthermore, there are few studies in tropical regions influenced by anthropic conditions, which may be important for understanding these issues in the face of future climate scenarios. This study aimed to describe the vegetative and reproductive phenology of trees in an urban subtropical forest community and to test the influence of climatic variables on the tree community. In an urban forest fragment in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, eight individuals of locally dominant species were monitored: Allophylus edulis, Casearia sylvestris, Guarea macrophylla, Mimosa bimucronata, Myrsine coriacea, Myrsine umbellata, Schinus glandulosum, and Schinus terebinthifolia. The monitoring occurred every two weeks, for two years, with the recording of the presence of leaf flushing, leaf shedding, flowering, and fruiting phenophases for each tree. The seasonality of the species was tested using the Rayleigh test. We described the common pattern of community phenological activity by a Principal Component Analysis. Finally, we correlated the common patterns of each phenophase in the community with climatic variables of total precipitation, average temperature, and day length. All species showed a non-uniform phenological pattern for the evaluated phenophases despite the variable intensity. We evidenced common patterns for the community only for the vegetative phenophases. The reproductive phenophases of flowering and fruiting present themselves independently among species in the community. Finally, we identified influences only of temperature and day length on the vegetative phenophases.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103523

Authors: Marlon Ferraz, Uwe Horst Schulz, Carlos Alberto Santos de Lucena, Pablo Lehmann A.

Abstract: Fish populations in environments with a high degree of geographic isolation may be prone to mutations expressed in the phenotypes. These mutations may be related to color pattern, forming leucistic individuals. This work aims to register and to describe possible mechanisms that influence this mutation. Additionally, the study compares other morphometric variations among different populations and leucistic individuals of Heptapterus mustelinus. A total of four leucistic individuals were collected in a small shaded stream, highly segmented by rapids and waterfalls. The biometric analyses showed no significant morphological differences when compared to other populations of the same ecoregion. The selection of leucism may be directly related to the sampled environment, since the leucistic specimens occurred in a shaded stream with dense vegetation cover. Low occurrence of predatory species of fish can be an important point to maintain the characteristic. Consequently, predation may not exert a negative selective pressure on leucistic individuals.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103357

Authors: Piter Kehoma Boll, Ilana Rossi, Silvana Vargas do Amaral, Ana Maria Leal-Zanchet

Abstract: Planarians are known for their ability to regenerate missing body parts. However, little is known about the regeneration ability of land planarians, especially regarding Neotropical species. Herein, we investigated the regeneration in the Neotropical land planarian Luteostriata abundans. Specimens were cut in two at different points along the body and monitored for 50 days. Larger and anterior pieces survived more than smaller posterior pieces. Anterior pieces that retained the pharynx continued to feed normally as intact animals, while posterior pieces that retained the pharynx lost its function temporarily. The growth rate was similar amongst all pieces across 50 days. Anterior mouthless pieces regenerated the pharynx and mouth significantly faster than posterior mouthless pieces. After 50 days, the relative position of the mouth along the body reached values close to intact animals in all regenerating pieces. In general, anterior pieces showed higher survival and regenerated faster than posterior fragments, which agrees with observations with other planarian species. However, surviving posterior pieces were able to retain the proportions of intact animals as well. Our results suggest that L. abundans has a good regenerative capacity similar to many freshwater planarians.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103322

Authors: João C. F. Cardoso, Fernando Carbayo, Marcelo O. Gonzaga

Abstract: Although spiders and land planarians constitute diverse groups of terrestrial predators, interactions between them are still unknown. Here, we describe a predatory event of a land planarian (Choeradoplana cf. gladismariae) on a web-building spider (Helvibis longicauda) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The prey was constricted and covered with sticky mucus while remaining on its web trying to protect its egg sac. The event was observed in the middle-end afternoon at ca. 1.80 m height. Our observation broadens the scope of possible natural enemies of web-building spiders and the prey items of land planarians. It also indicates that these organisms can capture and overpower dangerous predatory arthropods, suggesting that even complex three-dimensional sticky webs can be ineffective against the attack of land planarians. Finally, we also show that land planarians can exhibit a flexible foraging strategy, exploiting the environment during the day and at higher heights from the ground. Our observation opens new possibilities involving focal observations and experiments using spiders and land planarians as models in predator-prey research.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e101390

Authors: Izidoro Sarmento do Amaral, Jéssica Bandeira Pereira, Maurício Humberto Vancine, Ariadna E. Morales, Sérgio Luiz Althoff, Renato Gregorin, Maria João Ramos Pereira, Victor Hugo Valiati, Larissa Rosa de Oliveira

Abstract: Tadarida brasiliensis, the Brazilian free-tailed bat, is an insectivorous molossid with a wide distribution in the Americas. It occurs in different ecosystems and uses varied shelters, from caves and crevices to human constructions, such as roofs and ceilings. Despite its wide distribution, there are several sampling gaps that make it difficult to identify the regions where the species occurs. This is a particular problem for the subspecies T. brasiliensis brasiliensis in South America, a region with few studies in comparison to North America. Considering these problems involved with identifying the distribution of T. b. brasiliensis in South America, we inferred its distribution based on 121 confirmed occurrences for the subspecies. We created a species distribution model (SDM) using the ensemble approach from the combination of BIOCLIM, SVM, GLM and MaxEnt algorithms. The resulting model suggested that the subspecies is unlikely to occur in the Amazon region and has a positive affinity with human population density, topography, a lower vegetation index, and the precipitation in the driest month. Our results show there is a large continuous area suitable for T. b. brasiliensis in central and eastern South America, with interruptions and narrow areas toward Central America. The population in this last area is separated from a smaller site in Chile by Andean deserts, snowy peaks, and high-altitude points. Our results demonstrated that along its distribution suitable habitat for T. b. brasiliensis is not continuous. The discontinuities in populations require further investigation to determine if there are phylogeographic consequences for the species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e100778

Authors: Vinícius da Fontoura Sperandei, Denizar de Almeida Alvarenga, Marcel Santos de Araújo, Cássio Cardoso Pereira

Abstract: Not applicable

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e103070

Authors: Piter Kehoma Boll, Lucas Krüger

Abstract: On 22 July 2022, the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), a private institution and community university in southern Brazil, announced the interruption of 12 of its postgraduate programmes, including the Postgraduate Program of Biology (PPG Biologia), whose professors founded the journal, Neotropical Biology and Conservation. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of papers published by PPG Biologia in the past 20 years to assess its impact on biological research at a national level. The number of publications and citations increased constantly over the years, with publications growing exponentially. Although most collaborations with other research programmes occurred inside Brazil, a significant number of studies were co-authored by researchers from other countries from at least four continents. The main research lines focused on biological sciences, ecology, sociology, education, environmental sciences and genetics. Despite being affected by the decrease in research funding and the reduction of personnel, PPG Biologia kept its high impact score according to the national evaluation, above that of most programmes in private universities and similar to public ones. With a team of renowned researchers working on different and sometimes unique research lines, the interruption of PPG Biologia will harm the progress of biological research and conservation across the Neotropical realm.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e108887

Authors: Cássio Cardoso Pereira, Marco A. R. Mello, Daniel Negreiros, João Carlos Gomes Figueiredo, Walisson Kenedy-Siqueira, Lara Ribeiro Maia, Stephannie Fernandes, Gabriela França Carneiro Fernandes, Amanda Ponce de Leon, Lorena Ashworth, Yumi Oki, Gislene Carvalho de Castro, Ramiro Aguilar, Philip M. Fearnside, G. Wilson Fernandes

Abstract: Our motivation for writing this editorial is to alert the academic community about the risks of predatory publishing in Biology. By piggy-backing on the open access (OA) movement and taking advantage of the “publish or perish” culture in a system that prioritises quantity over quality, predatory publishing has grown exponentially in recent years and spread across all areas of knowledge. Thousands of predatory journals and books have emerged and (provided a fee is paid) they publish scientific papers and chapters without submitting them to rigorous peer review. Now there are even predatory meetings, which promise to accept talks and publish complete works for a fee, also without reviewing them properly. These profit-making machines can damage both academia and society, putting at risk the quality of science and public trust in it, the well-being of the population, the conservation of biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change. We show the modus operandi behind invitations to contribute to predatory journals, books and meetings and suggest ways to separate the wheat from the chaff. Finally, we discuss the need to create regulatory agencies that perform a careful and systematic evaluation of the activities carried out by publishers.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e102809

Authors: Eleanor R. Terner

Abstract: Roads severely affect the health of ecosystems across the globe by fragmenting and diminishing habitats, reducing population connectivity, and increasing animal mortality. Wildlife underpasses allow for increased road permeability–the ability for animals to safely cross the road. Despite growing success in other regions, little is known about underpass usage in Central America. In this study, I monitored two dry circular culverts and two unfenced tunnels with barbed wire partially blocking their entrances on Route 606 in Guacimal, Costa Rica, from 14 November to 6 December 2021 using 15 camera traps to assess which species used them to cross. Twelve species used the culverts and tunnels for a total of 108 individual crossings. The tunnels were used, in descending order, by agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), dog (Canis familiaris), nine-banded armadillo (Dasyous novemcinctus), cat (Felis catus), Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides), northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana), and coati (Nasua narica). The circular tunnel, Tunnel 1, was used more frequently and by a greater diversity of species than observed in the square tunnel, Tunnel 2. The two smaller culverts were used by common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), cat (Felis catus), rat opossum (Micoureus alstoni), and Watson’s climbing rat (Tylomus watsoni). Culvert 2 was used more frequently; however, Culvert 1 was used by a greater diversity of species. This study highlights wildlife underpasses as a critical strategy for biological conservation in Costa Rica through improved road safety and habitat connectivity.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e101409

Authors: Hilton Entringer Jr, Ana Carolina Srbek-Araujo

Abstract: The land crab Johngarthia lagostoma is endemic to Trindade Island, Atol das Rocas, Fernando de Noronha and Ascension Islands. The natural history of the species in non-breeding periods is little known. Therefore, here we reported the formation of non-breeding groups and evaluated the chromatic populational pattern of J. lagostoma in Trindade Island. Records were obtained between April and June 2015. The groups were characterized according to their location, terrain elevation, environmental characteristics and specimens’ behavior. The chromatic pattern was defined by the classification of individuals between yellow and purple, and the proportion of each color was compared between populational units (previously defined based on genetic differences). Non-breeding groups were recorded in four locations in Trindade Island, at altitudes < 40 m, and all of them were in locations with food resources and sediment suitable for the construction of shelters. Isolated individuals or the absence of the species were observed in the most inhospitable places, indicating that the maintenance of the species depends on portions of suitable habitat amid the currently arid matrix. Yellow individuals (96.4%) were predominant on Trindade Island and the chromatic pattern differed from the other populations. Color patterns seem to follow genetic differences between populations, and the founder effect may account for current patterns. From the data obtained, we emphasize that the maintenance of the species may depend on food, sediment suitable for shelters construction, humidity and shade. Due to the significant population decline in other regions, the need to define guidelines for the conservation of the species on Trindade Island is highlighted. In this context, the regeneration of insular vegetation and prohibiting the known anthropic consumption of individuals may represent important strategies for the maintenance of the species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e97653

Authors: Autumn B. Phillips-Lewis, Thomas D. Lambert, Gregory H. Adler

Abstract: Small mammals, particularly rodents, are often important seed-dispersal agents in Neotropical forests. Directional seed dispersal into tree-fall gaps may enhance seedling survival of light-demanding species and thus influence forest regeneration. To examine this proposition, we tracked seeds of a light-demanding palm (Attalea butyracea), with a focus on spiny rats (Proechimys semispinosus), the most-likely seed-removal agents. We established seed-removal stations at three distances relative to 28 gaps (gap center, gap edge, and intact forest 10 m from a gap edge) in a lowland forest in Central Panama. We placed five fresh fruits (with their seed) in semi-permeable exclosures to exclude larger mammals at each station and tracked the directions in which seeds were moved and deposited intact. More seeds were moved toward or into gaps when removed from gap center or edge stations; however, seeds dispersed from intact forest stations showed no such directionality. Small mammals may have dispersed seeds into and within tree-fall gaps because they favored caching seeds in areas that offered increased cover, which is typical of gaps, and consequently protection from predation. The lack of directional dispersal from intact forest stations may have been because spiny rats were able to find sufficient cover in the young intact forest that was closer than the gaps. In older forest, the contrast between intact forest and gaps may be greater, resulting in directed dispersal into gaps.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e86548

Authors: Paulo Henrique Rosa Martins, Leon Rabinovitch, Juliana Capela de Orem, Waldeyr Mendes C. Silva, Felipe de Araujo Mesquita, Maria Ines Andre de Magalhães, Danilo de Andrade Cavalcante, Adriana Marcos Vivoni, Edmar Justo de Oliveira, Vera Cristina Pessoa de Lima, Josiane Teixeira Brito, Marlene Teixeira De-Souza

Abstract: The aerobic endospore-forming bacteria (AEFB) comprise species of Bacillus and related genera and have long been regarded as prominent constituents of the soil bacterial community. The wide diversity of AEFB renders appropriate categorisation and generalisations a challenging task. We previously isolated 312 AEFB strains from Brazilian soils that we designated SDF (Solo do Distrito Federal) strains. To better understand the SDF diversity and explore their biotechnological potential, we addressed the biochemical and physiological profiles of these 312 environmental strains by performing 30 tests in this work. Of these, the 16S rRNA gene sequences segregated 238 SDF strains into four genera in the family Bacillaceae and two in the Paenibacillaceae. Bacillus spp. were the most prevalent, followed by species of Paenibacillus. We summarised the phenotypic test relationships among selected SDF strains using a Pearson correlation-based clustering represented in heatmaps. In practice, biochemical and physiological profiles are often less discriminatory than molecular data and may be unstable because of the loss of traits. Although these test reactions are not universally positive or negative within species, they may define biotypes and be efficient strain markers, enhancing the accuracy of unknown sample identification. It can also help select the most representative phenotypes of samples. Along with the other phenotypic and genotypic data, the present results are of great importance for the robust classification of the SDF strains within the scope of the polyphasic approach.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e98437

Authors: Víctor H. Montalvo, Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños, Eduardo Carrillo, Todd K. Fuller

Abstract: Jaguars (Panthera onca) are a landscape species of conservation importance and our understanding of environmental and anthropogenic drivers of jaguar occurrence is necessary to improve conservation strategies. We reviewed available literature to simply describe environmental and anthropogenic variables used and found to be significant in occurrence modeling. We reviewed 95 documents published from 1980 to 2021 that focused on jaguar occurrence and that used 39 variable types (21 anthropogenic, 18 environmental) among different techniques, scales, and approaches. In general, these variables included both anthropogenic (roads, land use, human activities, and population) and environmental (climate, vegetation, ecological interactions, topographic, water, and others) factors. Twelve variables were identified as affecting jaguar occurrence overall, eleven at local scale and seven at broad scales (regional and continental). Focusing more specifically on the variables that correlate with occurrence should help researchers to make better predictions in areas without quantitative jaguar data.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e98374

Authors: María Florencia Aranguren, Melina Alicia Velasco, Clara Trofino-Falasco, María Gimena Pizzarello, David Gustavo Vera, Igor Berkunsky

Abstract: Neotropical temperate grasslands comprise the Pampas ecoregion in Argentina. This region is also the center of agricultural development in Argentina, which has led to a significant simplification and homogenization of the landscape. The Tandilia Mountains, located in the Southeast of the ecoregion, house one of the last remnants of the highland grassland that acts as a refuge for several native species, including both endemic and threatened species. This work aims to present an updated inventory of mammal species that inhabit the highland grassland remnants of the Tandilia Mountains. We used several sources of information to compile the list, including museum collections, citizen science projects (i.e., iNaturalist, EcoRegistros, and Argentinian Network for Monitoring Run Over Fauna), literature, and personal observations. We recorded 40 species of mammals, which include 32 native species and eight exotic species. The richest orders were Rodentia (42.5%), Chiroptera (17.5%), and Carnivora (12.2%). The native mammals found in the Tandilia Mountains represent 44% of the mammal diversity of the Pampas ecoregion, among which there are endemic species of the ecoregion, species whose populations are declining globally, and threatened species. Unfortunately, the presence of protected areas in the system is limited to a few small ones, which highlights the urgency of increasing the number and variety of protected areas. The information presented in this work contributes to the knowledge of biodiversity and the planning of conservation actions for the last remnants of highland grasslands.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.18.e95027

Authors: Patricio Macas-Pogo, Edison Mejía Valenzuela, Gabriela Arévalo-Serrano

Abstract: The ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, is one of the opportunistic predators of the tropical forests that includes birds, small and medium mammals, amphibians and reptiles in its diet. Aiming to observe its behaviour within its natural habitat, 10 cameras were installed in 10 mineral licks within the Yasuni National Park (Ecuador). Both images and videos of ocelot predation events were collected. Hence, the frequency of activity of this specie was determined with the register of captures obtained. Three events are described: the first one, an image of an ocelot stalking a Mazama deer was taken, while in the second scene, a video of stalking an anuran was obtained and in the third event, a video of the ocelot capturing a flying bat was recorded. The use of camera traps allowed us to collect valuable behavioural information about this feline and provide evidence of the importance of the mineral licks for this and other wild species.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e91332

Authors: Ricardo Villalba-Briones, Edwin R. Jiménez, Juan S. Monros

Abstract: We present the first records of the post-release follow-up and monitoring of a rehabilitated two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) as well as freezing behavior and an inferred antagonistic interaction for this species. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and arboreal mammals whose survival relies on their capability to remain undetected by predators. Nevertheless, in the Guayas province of Ecuador, they are among the most common mammal species in rehabilitation centers. The liberation of animals back to the forest is the main goal of rehabilitation, while the follow-up of post-release human support of animals facilitates their re-establishment in their natural habitat. Follow-up, direct observation, and Bluetooth-based monitoring of the two-toed sloths secured the survival of this species in this part of Ecuador. The range of detectability of the device used indicates its suitability for tracking low-mobility animals. After the first five days, the number of trees used per day increased, and 19 trees within 1152 m2 were visited. Daylight and movement time range showed a correlation towards detectability. The follow-up effort allowed for keeping the two-toed sloth safe for 10 days after release. Due to the difficulty monitoring nocturnal animals, economic constraints in conservation, accessibility, and safety of the animals, biodegradable Bluetooth-based backpacks are recommended to ease the location of the animal and support its survival in the wild.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e93846

Authors: Nathália Ribeiro Henriques, Cássio Cardoso Pereira

Abstract: In the Cerrado, the sequential chaining of phenological events during the dry season is a pattern observed in many plant species. In this season, many plants completely lose their leaves, and soon after deciduous, there is an expressive production of leaf buds. In this study, we investigated the effect of irrigation and early defoliation on the triggering of leaf budding of the deciduous species Peixotoa tomentosa A.Juss. in the dry season of a seasonal environment with water restrictions. Therefore, we set up an experiment with three groups of plants: control (n = 15), irrigation treatment (n = 15), and removal treatment (n = 15), and after the complete deciduousness of the plants, we carried out phenological monitoring of the development of leaf buds in these plants. From July to August 2022, the leaf budding phenology of the 45 individuals was evaluated twice a week. To test whether there is a difference in the number of leaf buds between treatments, we built generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Plants in the removal treatment had a statistically higher number of leaf buds produced than the plants in the irrigation and control groups (P < 0.05). However, the control group and the irrigation treatment did not differ from each other (P > 0.05). We showed that early defoliation influenced the triggering of leaf buds in P. tomentosa, increasing the production of young leaves in their individuals in a seasonal environment with water restrictions. Irrigation was not able to break the dormancy of leaf buds. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the triggering of vegetative phenophases in deciduous Cerrado plants, showing that leaf fall may play a more important role than rain in the production of leaf buds in the dry season.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e93828

Authors: Laura Martins Magalhães, Ana Carolina Srbek-Araujo

Abstract: The ocelot is an important Neotropical mesopredator and information on its spatial ecology remains scarce. Here we estimated the ocelot home range in a remnant of Lowland Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. The data were collected by camera traps installed at eight known ocelot latrines. We estimated the home range both based on the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and the 95% adaptive Kernel density estimator (95%K) to compare with other published studies. We identified 22 ocelots (adult males = 8; adult females = 12; cubs = 2). Six males were recorded at more than one latrine, while all females were recorded at only one sampling point. In addition to male ocelots being recorded at a large number of points, they showed greater intrasexual spatial overlap as they used the same latrines, suggesting larger home ranges than females. The mean home range size for males was 12.1 ± SE 4.4 km2 (range = 6.2 to 20.8 km2) using MCP, and 19.9 ± SE 9.5 km2 (range = 10.1 to 38.9 km2) applying 95%K. Despite our estimates representing an approximation of the total area used by males, both values are consistent with those reported from other locations. Our data complemented the gradient of vegetation type sampled for ocelots in Atlantic Forest and support the suggestion that this environmental variable and, consequently, its effect on prey availability, influence the home range size of ocelot. Information on population ecology and other spatial ecology data are also presented.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e86792

Authors: Nicola S. Flanagan, Andres Navia-Samboni, Eimer Norberto González-Pérez, Hernan Mendieta-Matallana

Abstract: Natural vanilla is a high-value crop with demand increasing globally. Crop wild relatives (CWR) represent valuable agrobiodiversity and are prioritized in the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Vanilla species are naturally rare with historically infrequent botanical collections. Despite their importance as CWR, fewer than 10% of Vanilla species have been evaluated for the IUCN Red List. Colombia is a diversity center for Vanilla species, yet many remote regions are lacking detailed floristic characterization. We show that the participation of rural communities in scientific endeavor enhances capacity to register biodiversity. We report two Vanilla species in the under-explored region of the Serranía de las Quinchas in the mid–Magdalena River valley in Colombia, including the first report for Colombia of Vanilla karen-christianae. For this, and the second species, Vanilla dressleri, we present descriptions with photographic botanical illustrations, updated distribution maps, and preliminary conservation status assessment. Both species are of elevated conservation concern, categorized as Endangered – EN: B2a,b(ii,iii,iv,v) following IUCN criteria. Within Colombia, all recorded occurrences for both species fall outside protected areas. Vanilla crop wild relatives in Colombia have urgent conservation needs. The Serranía de las Quinchas is a priority for further botanical exploration for Vanilla, as well as other protected areas with appropriate habitat. In situ conservation should be complemented with ex situ actions. Community participation in biodiversity research is recommended in this and other remote regions as an integral step towards enhancing biodiversity research and community-based conservation.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e82779

Authors: Constanza Vásquez-Doorman, Javiera Escobedo, Miguel L. Allende

Abstract: The unique geography of Chile encompasses a wide diversity of ecosystems and a rich biodiversity. However, the platyhelminth fauna has been poorly studied. The aim of this work is to compile the historical record of freshwater planarians described for this country. We accessed worldwide databases and published articles to provide a comprehensive review of their discovery history, morphological characteristics and their localities. Freshwater planarians have been collected mainly in central and southern Chile, while in the northern region a single species has been described. The discovery of new species of freshwater triclads has the potential to reveal novel animal models to study regeneration and/or biological adaptations, as some species are suitable for culture in the laboratory. We discuss the many reasons why further research is needed for this animal group, which should include genomic and molecular genetic studies.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e84893

Authors: Patricia Mai, María Zabaleta, Laura Cappuccio, Antonella Pollero, Eduardo Marchesi

Abstract: Punta Ballena is the coastal southern tip of the Sierra de la Ballena, a shear zone of two tectonic plates, located at the beginning of the oceanic coast of Uruguay. Coastal rocky points are especially relevant because of their high plant richness, moreover their vegetation is endangered mainly due to the high tourist – urbanistic development of the coast. This study aimed to determine the list of vascular plants occurring on Punta Ballena coastal rocky point and identify its vegetation communities. Also, to identify endemic species, threatened and of interest for conservation species; and to analyze the species historically documented for the site. Punta Ballena stands out for its remarkable species richness with 427 species, dominated by Asteraceae (82), Poaceae (82) and Fabaceae (26). Five vegetation types were found in the natural area, which allows the combination of species with different adaptations. The site supports five vulnerable species and one endangered species (IUCN), 33 priority species for conservation, two local endemisms and numerous national (13) and regional (45) endemisms. Regarding historical collections, to date Punta Ballena has suffered a loss of 14% of its species, this is likely a direct consequence of the recent urban development. From these historically documented species, we consider five of them to be locally extinct. Due to these overwhelming results, we consider the site a diversity hotspot on the Uruguayan coast. It becomes urgent to generate conservation plans that allow the maintenance of the flora and vegetation communities that are still preserved in the area.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e87274

Authors: Brayan Morera, Víctor Montalvo, Carolina Sáenz-Bolaños, Juan C. Cruz-Díaz, Todd K. Fuller, Eduardo Carrillo

Abstract: Herbivores obtain nutrients mostly from the vegetation they consume, but may obtain additional minerals during periods of nutritional stress by consuming bones (osteophagia), a behavioral strategy that has been reported for many wild ungulate species, including the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Here we document multiple records (n = 183 camera-trap records) of osteophagia by white-tailed deer chewing sea turtle remains (resulting from jaguar [Panthera onca] predation) near a nesting beach in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica during January-September 2017. Females with fawns, males with hard and velvet-covered antlers, and non-spotted fawns reached a peak of sea turtle bone consumption during June to August. We hypothesize that seasonality, sex, age, and individual growth stage influence the frequency of osteophagy as a strategy to cope with environmental changes and food resource scarcity. Finally, these observations highlight the role of an apex predator as indirectly influencing rare but important ecological processes.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e81324

Authors: Nelson Colihueque, Javier Cabello, Andrea Fuentes-Moliz

Abstract: Pudu deer (Pudu puda) is endemic to the temperate rainforests of Chile. Genetic studies at different geographic scales for this species are required to better determine the genetic divergence within and among populations and their demography across the distribution range. These data can provide unique insights into the species or population status for conservation plans and decision-makers. We analyzed the mtDNA control region (CR) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) sequences of pudu deer in five provinces of southern Chile located at different latitudinal locations (Cautín, Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue and Chiloé Island) and three geographic areas within the studied provinces, representative of different longitudinal sites (Andes range, Central Valley and Coastal Range), to understand their genetic divergence and demography. The haplotype (H) and nucleotide (Π) diversities of CR and Cyt b ranged from 0.64286 to 0.98333 and from 0.00575 to 0.01022, respectively. CR diversity was significantly different among provinces, with Valdivia showing higher values than Llanquihue and Chiloé Island (H = 0.98333 vs. 0.64286–0.92727, P < 0.05). Cyt b variation also showed significant differences among provinces, particularly, among Cautín and Llanquihue (H = 1.000 vs. 0.222, P < 0.05). Genetic structuring among provinces was relatively high, as indicated by the FST index (FST = 0.41905). Clustering analysis indicated the presence of a distinctive cluster for Chiloé Island individuals. Fu’s FS and Tajima’s D based on CR revealed significant, negative deviations from equilibrium for Chiloé Island (D = -1.65898), Valdivia (Fs = -7.75335) and Llanquihue (Fs = -3.93267), suggesting population expansion in these provinces. Analysis at the longitudinal range showed significant differences among areas based on Π (P < 0.05), with the Andes range and Central Valley showing higher diversity than the Coastal Range. Neither population structuring (FST = 0.01360, P > 0.05) nor distinctive clusters in the longitudinal range were observed. Fu’s Fs and Tajima’s D were negative and significant for the Coastal Range based on CR (Fs = -6.64752, P < 0.001) and Cyt b (D = -1.74110, P < 0.05), suggesting the existence of population expansion. Our results suggest that pudu deer in the analyzed provinces is a genetically structured species, which could be associated with reduced panmixia among populations. The genetic divergence pattern and the population expansion recorded are likely to be associated with past processes of recolonization after Pleistocene glaciation events.

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DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e81824

Authors: Diego Floriano da Rocha, Thaís Brauner do Rosario, Ana Carolina Pontes Maciel, Duana Suelem Alves, Cristina Vargas Cademartori

Abstract: The South American coati is a carnivore with a wide distribution in South America. Despite this, it is considered a threatened species in Rio Grande do Sul, as Vulnerable, primarily because of the loss of forest habitats. We recorded a Nasua nasua individual at the Canoas airbase, one of the last remaining green spaces in a densely urbanized area in southern Brazil. This confirms the capability of this species to use environments that have been changed by anthropic activity. It also highlights the relevance of green spaces in urban areas for wildlife conservation.

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