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We identify critical science needed to understand conflict between black vultures and humans to inform effective management of this species in North America.

The yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) plays ecological roles in the Amazonian aquatic ecosystem and has cultural and economic significance for indigenous peoples. Because spatial ecology and movement data are nonexistent for this species, we radio tracked 63 individuals in the Napo River between August 2015 and February 2017. Mean linear range size was 16.2 km (n = 31) and mean home range size was 5.2 km2 (n = 27). Our results are the first range size estimates for P. unifilis and suggest that the species could be treated as a short-distance facultative migrant with local seasonal movements.

Llanganates National Park (LNP) was created in the Andes of Ecuador with the goal of protecting the biodiverse biota of the Napo and Pastaza river watersheds. Data on richness and abundance of the mammal community in this park are scarce. From February to August 2016 we installed 58 camera-trap stations along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 2000 to 4000 m. With a sampling effort of 2320 trap-nights, we recorded 2034 pictures of 13 species of large native mammals, 10 of which are included in Ecuador’s Red List of Endangered Mammal Species. Relative abundance ranged from 0.17 to 3.58 photos/100 trap-nights. Our results are similar to those of other protected areas in the Ecuadorian Andes. During field work, we found evidence of uncontrolled and threating activities for conservation. There is an urgent need to strengthen patrol and law enforcement in the park to reduce human impacts on wildlife and habitat.

Despite being an iconic species and the national bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, the Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus ) is moving fast toward extinction. Its world population, which probably does not exceed 6700 individuals ([ 1 ][1], [ 2 ][2]), is worryingly declining throughout its range, particularly due to massive poisoning events ([ 1 ][1]) to which the species is especially prone because of its highly gregarious behavior at carcasses ([ 3 ][3]). In 2018, 34 individuals in western Argentina died after consuming a deliberately poisoned carcass placed to eliminate mammals perceived as livestock predators ([ 4 ][4]). On 6 February, another 34 condors died in southern Bolivia, in similar conditions ([ 5 ][5]). Because of events like these, the Andean condor was recently uplisted to a designation of globally Vulnerable ([ 1 ][1]). Poisoning is the most grievous threat to the Andean condor, with incidents reported across the Andes ([ 1 ][1], [ 6 ][6]), but the species faces other challenges as well. Condors have fallen victim to lead intoxication, illegal capture, and shooting ([ 6 ][6]). They compete with other scavenger birds ([ 7 ][7]) and with feral and free-roaming domestic dogs for carrion resources ([ 5 ][5]). Complicating conservation efforts, these hazards vary regionally in nature and intensity ([ 6 ][6]). To address the roots of the complex threats faced by Andean condors, the conservation response must leverage international and multi-sectoral collaboration. Those working toward protecting the species must base all actions on scientific evidence and assess each step taken to evaluate its effectiveness. Only with coordinated efforts at local, national, and international levels can we halt the Andean condor's decline ([ 2 ][2]). 1. [↵][8]The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, “Andean Condor: Vultur gryphus” (2020); [www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697641/181325230][9]. 2. [↵][10]1. R. Wallace et al ., Saving the Symbol of the Andes: A Range Wide Conservation Priority Setting Exercise for the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) (Wildlife Conservation Society, La Paz, Bolivia, 2020); . 3. [↵][11]1. D. Mendez, 2. P. P. Olea, 3. J. H. Sarasola, 4. F. H. Vargas , J. Raptor Res. 55, 10.3356/JRR-20-26 (2021). 4. [↵][12]1. P. A. E. Alarcon, 2. S. A. Lambertucci , Science 360, 612 (2018). [OpenUrl][13][FREE Full Text][14] 5. [↵][15]1. Y. Sierra Praeli , “Amenaza latente: 34 condores mueren envenenados en Bolivia” (2021); [in Spanish]. 6. [↵][16]1. P. I. Plaza, 2. S. A. Lambertucci , Biol. Conserv. 251, 108782 (2020). [OpenUrl][17] 7. [↵][18]1. F. Saenz-Jimenez, 2. O. Rojas-Soto, 3. J. Perez-Torres, 4. J. Shepard , Bird Conserv. Int. 10.1017/S0959270920000271 (2020). [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #ref-4 [5]: #ref-5 [6]: #ref-6 [7]: #ref-7 [8]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [9]: http://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697641/181325230 [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [11]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [12]: #xref-ref-4-1 "View reference 4 in text" [13]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DAlarcon%26rft.auinit1%253DP.%2BA.%2BE.%26rft.volume%253D360%26rft.issue%253D6389%26rft.spage%253D612%26rft.epage%253D612%26rft.atitle%253DPesticides%2Bthwart%2Bcondor%2Bconservation%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.aat6039%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F29748275%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [14]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjE0OiIzNjAvNjM4OS82MTItYSI7czo0OiJhdG9tIjtzOjI1OiIvc2NpLzM3MS82NTM2LzEzMTkuMS5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30= [15]: #xref-ref-5-1 "View reference 5 in text" [16]: #xref-ref-6-1 "View reference 6 in text" [17]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBiol.%2BConserv.%26rft.volume%253D251%26rft.spage%253D108782%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [18]: #xref-ref-7-1 "View reference 7 in text"

Knowledge of a species’ geographic distribution is crucial to assessing its vulnerability. It is also important to know if protected areas provide effective protection for raptor species. Here, we examine the species richness (S) patterns, factors predicting S and the effectiveness of protected areas (EPA) in the conservation of diurnal raptors in Venezuela. We modeled geographic distributions (SDM) of 64 raptor species using ecological niche models. Nine climatic and seven landscape metrics were used as environmental predictors. SDM were stacked to examine S and predictors of S were investigated using regression models. This study evaluated S patterns in the 13 bioregions defined for Venezuela. A gap analysis was performed to evaluate the EPA in the conservation of raptor diversity. Forty species showed a continuous distribution, whereas as disjunct distributions were observed in 24 species. Species richness differed among bioregions; six pairwise compared bioregions did not show differences. Guyana Massif and the mountains of northern Venezuela had the highest species richness. Landscape features, specifically canopy height, land cover and terrain slope explained most of the species richness. Environmental heterogeneity affected the distribution of S and is therefore important in conservation planning for Neotropical raptors. Responses from environmental variables used to predict S were scale dependent; it is necessary to standardize methods/experimental design to study the biogeography of raptors. Priority-setting for the conservation of raptors in Venezuela must consider restricted range species, even if they are not threatened. A new territorial ordering is urgent to improve the protection of this group of birds.

The Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) is discontinuously distributed in western South America from Ecuador to northern Chile. In Ecuador, it inhabits high elevations (>3,700 m) where it is classified as critically endangered because of its low population number caused by hunting and habitat loss. However, the population size of Andean Ibis in Ecuador is unknown, hindering the implementation of conservation actions. We performed a survey to estimate the abundance of Andean Ibis in the Ecuadorian Andes. In February 2016, and January 2017 and 2018, we conducted 11 point counts. Point counts were located in two provinces, each point count had nine 30-min visits. We recorded Andean Ibis in eight point counts, all in the Province of Napo. Detectability was explained by the amount of nontree vegetation cover and terrain slope, whereas abundance corresponded to gross primary productivity, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation. We estimated there were 85 (95% credible interval [CI]: 63–117), 94 (95% CI: 32–125), and 134 (95% CI = 77–210) individuals of Andean Ibis in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The fact that abundance increased in the past 3 years could be explained by an increase in gross primary productivity. We suggest continuing population monitoring and adopting the sampling protocol and data analysis methods presented here as a baseline to better understand the spatiotemporal variation in abundance.

Abstract ContextEstimating population abundance can be plagued by the violation of methodological assumptions, which can be overcome with standardised protocols. The black caiman (BC) is considered a conservation-dependent species, and previous abundance estimates are surrounded by uncertainty and flaws in the survey (e.g. different survey design and efforts) and analytical approach used (e.g. relative abundance index, which ignores imperfect detection). Its conservation status assessment demands the implementation of a standardised monitoring protocol. AimsThe protocol provides guidelines to collect and analyse data in a consistent manner to survey BC. Besides accounting for imperfect detection to produce reliable abundance estimates, the protocol aimed to be easily implemented by park rangers, and to fit field observations into a hierarchical modelling approach to assess how environmental variables affects detectability and abundance. MethodsThe protocol subdivides a 20-km transect into 10 2-km segments; each transect is surveyed four consecutive nights, starting at 1900 hours and finishing when the 20km are completed. For each caiman detected, the observers estimated head size to classify the individual by age. We tested the protocol in Ecuador during January and December 2017, and field data were analysed using N-mixture models. We compared abundance estimates derived with this protocol with commonly used relative abundance indexes. Key resultsWe surveyed 460km that resulted in 177 detections. Percentage of moonlight and distance from human settlement best explained detectability and abundance respectively. Mean detection probability was 0.14 (95% BCI: 0.1–0.18), whereas absolute abundance was 196 (95% BCI: 147–370). The overall adult to immature ratio was 1:1.3. ConclusionsThis is the first estimate of detectability and absolute abundance for BC by using a standardised survey with a clearly defined and repeatable survey and analysis methods. Relative abundance indexes did not reflect absolute abundance estimates. We recommend the use of this protocol in future surveys across the Amazon region to effectively evaluate BC conservation status. ImplicationsPopulation size cannot be estimated from relative abundance indexes; they lead to bias estimates for ignoring imperfect detection. We discourage the use of relative abundance indexes to evaluate the conservation status of this species.

I here evaluate the conservation status of 64 species of diurnal raptors in Venezuela based on extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) derived from geomatic-based geographic distribution modeling and gap analysis. I modeled the geographic distribution of raptor species to quantify distribution areas using the maximum entropy modeling techniques with nine environmental variables that were believed to influence the geographic distribution of raptors. The EOO and AOO were used to reevaluate the conservation status of diurnal raptors in Venezuela, applying Criteria B of the IUCN Red List. Furthermore, a gap analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of strictly protected areas (SPA) in the conservation of birds of prey. EOO ranged from 10,423 km2 to 907,223 km2 and AOO values ranged from 6566 km2 to 903,193 km2; four species met the B1 criterion and are qualified to be reclassified. The gap analysis revealed that, on average, 20% and 24% of species’ EOO and AOO, respectively,...

Effective conservation strategies need to be created based on accurate and updated data on the distribution and conser-vation status of the species of concern. Not surprisingly, the most diverse countries which are currently facing the greater threats, tend to be those with the greatest lack of information. This is the case for Ecuador, where deforestation rates have been extremely severe, especially in the coastal region, where less than 10% of its original forest cover remains. Given the fact that primates rely on habitat connectivity for their survival, it is crucial to understand the impact of threats to their populations. To obtain data on the current distribution of the four primates known to inhabit western Ecuador, several organizations worked together to conduct the first primate census in coastal Ecuador from October 2016 to March 2017. Teams of 2−5 people walked existing trails and recorded both visual and auditory detections. We also conducted semi-structured interviews to members of local communities to complement field data. We surveyed 83 locations, and recorded 260 independent detections, along more than 300 km of trails, The four species known to occur in the region were detected: the Ecuadorian mantled howler Alouatta palliata aequatorialis; the Brown-headed Spider Monkey Ateles fusciceps; the Ecuadorian White-fronted Capuchin Cebus aequatorialis, and the Colombian White-faced Capuchin Cebus capucinus capucinus. Two other species, Aotus sp. and Saimiri sp., were mentioned during the interviews. This project is a clear example of what can be achieved when different organizations unify their efforts towards a single goal that provides the basis for future research, and suggests specific conservation measures to improve the conservation status of the primates.

We report the predation of a glassfrog (Hyalinobatrachium pallidum) by a Crested Quetzal (Pharomachrus antisianus). The record was made in a locality in the Sierra de Perija, near to the northern part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela, and consisted in observinga male P. antisianus vocalizing with a glassfrog in its bill. The vocalizations were answered by a female, which approached the male, took the frog with its bill and carried it into a cavity built on a landslide. Subsequent to this, the male remained near to the cavity until the female left it and together they abandoned this place. Based on the behavior observed in the couple of quetzals, and what has previously been described that this group of birds gives their young a diet rich in animal protein comprised of arthropods and small vertebrates, we believe that the couple was raising a brood at the time when the observation was carried out.