Publications by authors named "Cindy Hurtado"
Article Synopsis
- Reliable maps of species distributions, like the IUCN range maps, are crucial for biodiversity research but often don't match actual occurrence data.
- A study found that camera traps detected only 39% of expected species based on IUCN and recent area of habitat (AOH) maps, with most mismatches occurring near range edges.
- The findings highlight that while range maps may not miss areas where species exist, they often include areas where species are absent, stressing the need to combine maps with ground-based data for better conservation planning.
Article Synopsis
- Expert knowledge is crucial for creating habitat suitability models (HSMs) used in wildlife management, but their consistency has been questioned.
- The study focused on four felid species, finding that models for specialist species (like ocelots) aligned better with camera-trap data compared to generalists (like pumas).
- Increased participant experience and model feedback improved model accuracy, especially for generalist species, highlighting the importance of including knowledgeable experts in the modeling process.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAccurately quantifying species' area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFXenarthrans-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.
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