PREDATION ON SCARLET MACAW (ARA MACAO CYANOPTERA) CHICKS BY COLLARED FOREST FALCONS (MICRASTUR SEMITORQUATUS) IN THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, GUATEMALA

Abstract ∙ Through efforts of the Wildlife Conservation Society, poaching in an important Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) nesting area in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala had been reduced to zero by 2004. However, during long‐term monitoring of the nesting success of Scarlet Macaws in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, unexplained or unknown disappearance of chicks from nests was common despite the aforementioned reduction in poaching. To determine the cause of these disappearances, we installed five video camera surveillance systems in the nest cavities during the 2008 nesting season. Fatal attacks on chicks by Collared Forest Falcons (Micrastur semitorquatus) were recorded at three of these nests. This result highlights natural predation as a limiting factor for the recruitment of new individuals into the Scarlet Macaw population in the Maya Biosphere Reserve even when poaching is suppressed.Resumen ∙ Depredación de pichones de Guacamayas Rojas (Ara macao cyanoptera) por Halcones Selváticos de Collar (Micrastur semitorquatus) en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, Guatemala A través de los esfuerzos de la Wildlife Conservation Society, el robo de pichones de Guacamayas Rojas (Ara macao cyanoptera) en una importante zona de anidación de la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya en Guatemala ha sido reducido a cero desde el año 2004. Sin embargo, durante el monitoreo a largo plazo del éxito de anidación de las guacamayas rojas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, la desaparición por razones desconocidas de pichones de los nidos fue común a pesar de la reducción de robos anteriormente mencionada. Para determinar la causa de estas desapariciones, instalamos cinco sistemas de vigilancia de cámaras de video en los nidos durante la temporada de anidación de 2008. En tres de estos cinco nidos se registraron ataques fatales contra pichones por parte del Halcón Selvático de Collar (Micrastur semitorquatus). Este resultado destaca la depredación natural como un factor limitante para el reclutamiento de nuevos individuos en la población de Guacamayas Rojas en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya, incluso cuando se suprime el robo de pichones.

Domestic horses within the Maya biosphere reserve: A possible threat to the Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii)

The Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is the largest herbivore in the Neotropics classified as “endangered.” It has been proposed that Equine Infectious Anemia virus (EIA) is a disease of horses with potential to lead to further decline of T. bairdii populations. In this study, we used domestic horses as sentinels for EIA in the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala. In total, 40 % (13) horses tested were seropositive to EIA. This study may inform wildlife management strategies inside protected areas by considering the threat from incursions of domestic animals inside core areas of natural reserves.El tapir centroamericano (Tapirus bairdii) es el herbívoro más grande del Neotrópico clasificado “en peligro de extinción”. Ha sido propuesto que la Anemia Infecciosa Equina (AIE) es una enfermedad de caballos con potencial de provocar una declinación de las poblaciones de T. bairdii. En este estudio utilizamos caballos domésticos como centinelas para AIE en la Reserva de la Biosfera Maya en Guatemala. En total, el 40 % (13) caballos evaluados fueron seropositivos a AIE. Este estudio puede orientar las estrategias de manejo de áreas protegidas, considerando la amenaza de incursiones de animales domésticos en zonas núcleo de reservas naturales

IDENTIFICATION OF HAEMOPARASITES IN FREE-RANGING AND RESCUED PSITTACINE BIRDS IN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE

Efforts of WCS-Guatemala Program, Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic, Belize Bird Rescue, and One Earth Conservation, contributed significantly to protect parrots in Central America. During a veterinary survey of two free-ranging populations of Scarlet macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) in Guatemala (n=17) and Belize (n=13), and Yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix belizensis) kept in a rescue centre in Belize (n=11), blood samples (n=41) were collected and analyzed to investigate the presence of haemoparasites. On blood samples, a PCR, targeting mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of Haemoproteus spp., Plasmodium spp., and Leucocytozoon spp., was performed. Positive samples were sequenced with Sanger sequencing. Three of 41 birds (7.32%) were found positive for haemoparasites. The presence of Haemoproteus (haplotype H304) was identified in one Scarlet macaw from Guatemala and one from Belize. DNA sequencing revealed a lineage reported in common krestel (Falco tinnunculus) in Iran (GenBank MG428420) and lesser krestel (Falco naumanni) in Transcaucasia (GeneBank KJ488858). One Scarlet macaw was found positive to Plasmodium (haplotype H294) in Belize, with a lineage reported in black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) and sombre tit (Poeclie lugubris) in Transcaucasia (GeneBank KJ488848) and in a penguin in Japan (GeneBank LC230049). No Leucocytozoon spp. was identified in these populations and no haemoparasite was identified in Yellow-head amazons fom Belize. These are the first data on the presence of haemoparasites in healthy Psittacine birds in Guatemal and Belize. Joint efforts of biologist, veterinarians and volunteers will increase the chances of survival of these endangered species

II. Conflictos entre felinos y humanos en América Latina.

Este libro contó con el liderazgo del Instituto Humboldt y de las Fundaciones Herencia Ambiental Caribe y Panthera. En 32 capítulos se recoge el esfuerzo de 77 instituciones y 110 autores que representan 18 países y abordan el conflicto entre humanos y felinos en América Latina. Es la compilación más completa que se ha elaborado acerca del tema en Latinoamérica, involucrando el análisis, la planificación, el manejo y la resolución de los conflictos entre humanos y felinos.BogotáCiencias de la Biodiversida

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data