Briefly 143 AMERICAS


New species of magnolia tree discovered in Honduras A new tree species Magnolia ciroorum has been discovered in 2023 by a research team in the Atlántida department in nor- thern Honduras, and named in honour of the leading local botanist and his deceased son Ciro Navarro. Clinging to a steep mountainside of tropical rain forest in the Pico Bonito National Park, just five individ- ual trees of this new species have been found—making it incredibly rare and quali- fying to be categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The rich diversity of forests in the region is se- verely threatened by deforestation, agricul- tural expansion, illegal timber extraction and uncontrolled use of wood for furniture, especially in the lower buffer zone of the Park, where the newly discovered magnolia is found. The new species was uncovered through a project to document and con- serve threatened tree species in the Park, led by the Honduran organizations FUPNAPIB and LARECOTURH, and sup- ported by Fauna & Flora with funding from the Franklinia Foundation. Source: Fauna & Flora (2024) fauna-flora. org/news/new-magnolia-tree-species- discovered-in-northern-honduras


New estimate of pumas in California The first comprehensive population esti- mate of mountain lions Puma concolor in California, USA, has been completed. The number is vital for shaping puma-friendly land-use decisions and ensuring that the predators have room to roam, hunt and breed. The total number of individuals is es- timated to be between 3,200 and 4,500— thousands fewer than previously thought. Researchers searched in mountain forests, canyons and desert badlands for tracks, and used camera traps, GPS collar data and genetic information from scat samples to model population densities across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Mojave Desert and Southern California’s patch- work of weedy fire-stripped wilderness. For decades the state’s mountain lion popu- lation was estimated to be c. 6,000, but there was little data to support this figure. The species is categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but in California it is affected by vehicle strikes, rat poison, wildfires, urban encroachment and road systems. Source: Phys.org (2024) phys.org/news/ 2024-01-california-mountain-lion- population-thousands.html


Sea otters helped prevent California kelp forest declines A study by Monterey Bay Aquarium re- searchers has found that sea otter popula- tion growth during the last century en- hanced kelp forest resilience in Califor- nia, USA. The finding reinforces the impor- tance of conservation and recovery of the threatened southern sea otter and high- lights a potential nature-based solution for restoring kelp forests along the California coast. The study revealed dramatic regional kelp canopy changes between 1910 and 2016. During this time there was a signifi- cant increase in kelp forest canopy along the central coast, the only region of California where southern sea otters survived after being hunted nearly to extinction for their fur in the 1800s. The species’ positive impact on kelp forests in this region nearly compensated for kelp losses along both nor- thern and southern California, resulting in only a slight overall decline of 6% statewide over the century. Healthy kelp forests serve as nursery grounds for fisheries, reduce coast- al erosion and contribute to carbon storage. Sources: PLOS Climate (2024) doi.org/ gtd4xr & Phys.org (2024) phys.org/news/ 2024-01-sea-otters-widespread- california-kelp.html


Study identifies priority areas for conservation of threatened crab Annually between December and April, hundreds of Johngarthia lagostoma land crabs descend steep rocky trails from the upland peaks on Trindade Island to the shore, where they mate and release their brood into the ocean. The Island forms the easternmost point of Brazil, located in the Atlantic c. 1,200 km from the coast. The planktonic larvae develop into juve- niles, which then undertake the journey back up in search of places in which to make their home burrows. Brazilian re- searchers have recently uncovered vital in- formation on the ecology of this threatened crab species, such as their preferred hilltops and breeding beaches. The team also cap- tured, sexed and measured individuals dur- ing the breeding season. They found more males in the population, a pattern that has also been found with other land crabs. Mortality is higher among females because of heat stress and high energy expenditure during migrations between the hillside and the shore. It is hoped that the new data will serve as a basis for an effective nationwide conservation plan for the species. Sources: Marine Ecology (2023) doi.org/ mfck & Phys.org (2023) phys.org/ news/2024-01-priority-areas-endangered- crustacean-brazil.html


Sound maps predict poaching locations The Iguazu Falls are bordered on one side by Iguazú National Park of Argentina and on the other by Iguaçu National Park of Brazil. The lush landscape is home to an array of wild animals, including the charis- matic jaguar. However, in the entire Atlantic Forest, there are only 300 jaguars, and up to one-third now live inside the nar- row corridor protected by the Parks. They are threatened by deforestation, agricul- tural expansion, prey depletion and road development, which also provides easy ac- cess for poachers. To help map poaching hotspots, researchers and park staff have turned to acoustic monitoring. The team placed 20 audio recorders inside and around the Iguazu area, covering 4,637 km2.After 7 months, they had captured gunshots at 43 sites out of 90.This infor- mation helped to generate a predictive map of poaching activity, which was validated with field trips to look for physical evidence and found to be 82%re- liable. Practical application of this system could further improve the park rangers’ efficiency. Sources: Biological Conservation (2022) doi. org/gqjqzt & BBC (2024) bbc.com/future/ article/20240105-the-maps-fighting-jaguar- poaching-in-south-americas-atlantic-forest


Outcry over deforestation and agriculture plans in Suriname Possible plans to develop large-scale agri- culture in Suriname have sparked backlash from Indigenous communities, conserva- tion groups and some members of parlia- ment, who are concerned about de- forestation of the Amazon and the fate of ancestral territories. Government docu- ments showed that large swathes of Suriname’s primary forest might be under consideration for agriculture. The area could be c. 467,000 ha, of which over 96% is primary forest. It would be a shocking amount of deforestation in a country that has had an annual deforestation rate of just 6,560 ha over the last 2 decades, among the lowest on the continent. Suriname is the only country in South America that has not formally recognized Indigenous land rights, with current legisla- tion stalled in parliament. Communities are worried that agricultural development will mean the end of those efforts. A petition, di- rected to the President of the Republic of Suriname, was launched in January 2024 to raise awareness and stop agricultural devel- opment from moving forward. Source: Mongabay (2024) news.mongabay. com/2024/01/outcry-over-deforestation-as- surinames-agriculture-plans-come-to-light


Oryx, 2024, 58(2), 139–144 © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605324000218


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