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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
