Diego A. Zárrate Charry

Roadkills are among the most important threats to wildlife worldwide. In Colombia, few studies have evaluated the impact or patterns of this threat and many aspects are yet to be evaluated. Bogotá and Cundinamarca are the most populated areas in the country, but no information is available regarding this threat in this area. Here we evaluated the incidence of roadkill in three main road corridors between August 2018 and November 2019, estimating its magnitude, patterns and influencing variables. All roadkill records were collected and characterized spatially, temporally, and taxonomically. We then modeled the effect of landscape variables on roadkill incidence. We surveyed 88 times, covering 12,120 km and obtaining 52 records of 15 species. Mammals were the most affected taxa (67.30 %), followed by reptiles (19.12 %). We identified 38 hotspots. Sinuosity was found to be the most influential variable in the probability of roadkill, with overall probabilities concentrated in the medium risk (60-70 %), and 20 % showing high probabilities (90-100 %). These findings lay the groundwork for long-term monitoring, promoting implementation of measures to reduce the effect of this threat to wildlife in the department.

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a charismatic species considered Vulnerable in Colombia but yet largely unknown in the country. The species is mostly threatened by the continuous decline in its habitats, mostly derived from deforestation and habitat loss, additional to hunting and conflicts with humans. Thus, the future of jaguars in Colombia depends on protecting and recovering existing habitats. The aims of this study were to 1) evaluate jaguar distribution and identify the remnant patches of habitat in Colombia, 2) define an ecological connectivity network within the country, and 3) propose a priority areas portfolio for the conservation and recovery of jaguars. We used a presence background model for estimating species potential distribution and subsequently identified remaining habitat patches across the country based on land cover and species-specific ecological attributes. We then created an ecological connectivity network based on circuit theory and following a multi-criteria approach identified jaguar priority areas for conservation (JPCA) and recovery (JPRA). Jaguar potential distribution comprises 1103122.43 km², from which 56.71% maintain suitable patches of potential habitat. We identified 960 corridors between remnant patches of natural or semi-natural vegetation. Based on the criteria, JPCAs with greater importance were identified in each of the five Colombian regions. JPRAs were located mainly towards the Andean and Caribbean regions. These JPCAs and JPRAs could serve as a guide for designing and implementing management strategies for the long-term conservation and recovery of the species in Colombia.

Understanding species distribution to target biodiversity conservation actions in countries with high biodiversity, scarce data availability and low study sites accessibility is very challenging. These issues limit management and conservation actions even on charismatic and potentially conflictive species like large carnivores. We developed a geographic assessment of the potential distribution, core patches and connectivity areas for Puma concolor in the Colombian Llanos (Orinoco region). To create this geographic representation, we used methodological approaches that work with scarce information and still provide a spatially-explicit distribution that could be used by stakeholders. Our results show the importance that the Llanos region has for the conservation of the species and the potential role that can have to ensure a resident long-term population. Based on our approach, more than 50,000 km² (near to 30% of the study area) can be still considered as core habitats for the species, and most of them are still connected, with spatial gaps lower than the estimated dispersal distance of the species and several remaining steppingstones. Further research is required to validate our analysis and we expect our results can target research and conservation priorities within the region.

Los mamíferos medianos y grandes se encuentran dentro de los grupos de especies de mayor uso por comunidades locales, a la vez que juegan un papel fundamental en los ecosistemas. En la región Caribe colombiana se han realizado algunos esfuerzos para documentar dichos usos, pero aún quedan importantes vacíos de información necesarios para su conservación. En este estudio se evaluaron los usos y la percepción local de las amenazas sobre los mamíferos medianos y grandes del Distrito de Cartagena de Indias. Entre los meses de abril y agosto del 2017 se realizaron 103 entrevistas semiestructuradas para obtener información relacionada con los diferentes usos de estas especies en ocho corregimientos y tres barrios ubicados en la periferia de la zona urbana de la ciudad. El 61 % de los entrevistados reportó usos asociados al consumo, el 11 % para venta y el 5 % como mascotas. Las dos especies más consumidas fueron el conejo (Sylvilagus sp., 55 %) y la guartinaja (Cuniculus paca, 26 %); los órdenes más utilizados como mascotas fueron Primates y Rodentia. Los entrevistados identificaron la cacería, los atropellos en las carreteras y la destrucción del hábitat como las mayores amenazas. Medium and large mammals are among the groups of species most frequently used by local communities, and at the same time, they play a fundamental role in ecosystems. In the Caribbean region of Colombia, some efforts have been made to document these uses, but there are still important gaps in the information necessary for their conservation. In this study, we evaluated the uses and local perception of threats to medium and large mammals in the District of Cartagena de Indias. A total of 103 semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain information related to the different uses of these species in eight townships and three neighborhoods located on the periphery of the city’s urban area. Most of the interviewees (61 %) reported uses associated with consumption, 11 % for sale, and 5 % as pets. The two most consumed species were the rabbit (Sylvilagus sp., 55 %) and the Agouti (Cuniculus paca, 26 %); the orders most used as pets were Primates and Rodentia. Those interviewed identified hunting, road accidents, and habitat destruction as the mammal’s greatest threats.

Research hypotheses have been a cornerstone of science since before Galileo. Many have argued that inclusion of multiple hypotheses (1) encourage discovery of mechanisms, and (2) reduce bias – both features that should increase transferability and reproducibility. However, we are entering a new era of big data and highly predictive models where some argue the hypothesis is outmoded. Indeed, using a detailed literature analysis, we found prevalence of hypotheses in eco-evo research is very low (6.7-26%) and static from 1990-2015, a pattern mirrored in an extensive literature search (N=302,558 articles). Our literature review also indicates that neither grant success or citation rates were related to the inclusion of hypotheses, which may provide disincentive for hypothesis formulation. Here we confront common justifications for avoiding hypotheses and present new arguments based on benefits to the individual. Although hypotheses are not always necessary, we expect their continued and increased use will help our fields move toward greater understanding, reproducibility, prediction, and effective conservation of nature.

Analysis of the distribution of the Grison (Galictis vittata) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) in the Colombian Caribbean