Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, and in recent years, they have participated in the rise of multiple infectious outbreaks around the world. Studies have proposed that temperature and precipitation are the main variables that limit the geographical distribution of ticks. The analysis of environmental constraints with ecological niche modeling (ENM) techniques can improve our ability to identify suitable areas for emergence events. Algorithms used in this study showed different distributional patterns for each tick genera; the environmental suitability for Amblyomma includes warm and humid localities below 1000 m above the sea level, while Ixodes is mainly associated with ecosystems with high vegetation cover. Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus genus presented wider distribution patterns; the first includes species that are well adapted to resist desiccation, whereas the latter includes generalist species that are mostly associated with domestic hosts in Mexico. Ecological niche models have proven to be useful in estimating the geographic distribution of many taxa of ticks. Despite our limited knowledge of tick’s diversity, ENM can improve our understanding of the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and can assist public health decision-making processes.

We present the first study that evaluates jaguar-puma interactions in the arid lands of northern Mexico, where jaguars have their northernmost breeding population and both predators are persecuted for livestock depredation. We tested whether jaguars are the dominant species in this unique ecosystem, where: (1) pumas outnumber jaguars, (2) pumas are better adapted to arid environments, and (3) jaguars and pumas are of similar size. We analyzed four years of data with two approaches; a two species conditional occupancy model and an activity patterns analysis. We used camera location and prey presence as covariates for jaguar and puma detection and presence probabilities. We also explored overlap in activities of predators and prey. Where both species were detected, peccary presence was positively correlated with both jaguar and puma presence, whereas in areas where jaguars were detected but pumas were not, deer presence explained the probability of jaguar presence. We found that both predators were more likely to co-occur together than to be found independently, and so we rejected the hypothesis that jaguars were the dominant species in our study area. Predators were mainly nocturnal and their activity patterns overlapped by 60%. Jaguar, as compared with puma, overlapped more with deer and calves; puma overlapped with calves more than with other prey, suggesting a preference. We believe exploring predator relationships at different scales may help elucidate mechanisms that regulate their coexistence.

We present the first study of density and apparent survival for a jaguar (Panthera onca) population in northern Mexico using 13 years of camera trap data from 2000 to 2012. We used the Barker robust design model which combines data from closed sampling periods and resight data between these periods to estimate apparent survival and abundance. We identified 467 jaguar pictures that corresponded to 48 jaguar individuals. We included camera type and field technician as covariates for detection probabilities. We used three covariates to evaluate the effect of reserve on jaguar apparent survival: i) private reserve creation ii) later reserve expansions, and iii) cattle ranches’ conservation activities. We found that the use of digital cameras in addition to film cameras increased detection probability by a factor of 6x compared with the use of only film cameras (p = 0.34 ± 0.05 and p = 0.05 ± 0.02 respectively) in the closed period and more than three times in the open period (R = 0.91 ± 0.08 and R = 0.30 ± 0.13 mixed and film cameras respectively). Our availability estimates showed no temporary emigration and a fidelity probability of 1. Despite an increase of apparent survival probability from 0.47 ± 0.15 to 0.56 ± 0.11 after 2007, no single covariate explained the change in these point estimates. Mean jaguar density was 1.87 ± 0.47 jaguars/100 km². We found that 13 years of jaguar population monitoring with our sampling size were not enough for detecting changes in survival or density. Our results provide a baseline for studies evaluating the effectiveness of protected areas and the inclusion of ranch owners in jaguar conservation programs and long-term population viability.

The Madrean sky islands of North America, in southern Arizona and adjacent Sonora, harbor a great diversity of vertebrates, but data about the distribution and abundance of mammal species in this region are needed to develop strategies for their management and conservation. We used camera traps to record medium and large mammals in 4 sky islands in the state of Sonora, Mexico. We compared species richness and diversity of the 25 species detected: 1) within and outside a natural protected area; 2) according to land use (natural protected area, private property, or conservation area); 3) according to the presence or absence of cattle; and 4) among 7 monitored sites. We found no differences in richness, diversity, and composition of species in our comparative analyses, suggesting homogeneity of the communities. This homogeneity could be the result of the direct or indirect influences of past human impacts in the region, given that federal protection, type of land use, and ranching did not influence the community of medium and large mammals. We discuss the importance of maintaining sites dedicated exclusively to conservation in the region, as well as promoting management at unprotected sites to make predators compatible with livestock and agricultural production. Las Islas Serranas de Norteamérica en el sureste de Arizona y noreste de Sonora albergan una gran diversidad de vertebrados, sin embargo, existe poca información acerca de la abundancia y distribución de mamíferos. La falta de estudios a nivel de comunidad ha limitado el desarrollo de bases para proponer estrategias de manejo y conservación para este grupo. Con el fin de evaluar la biodiversidad en esta región, nuestro objetivo fue comparar la riqueza y diversidad de mamíferos medianos y grandes en cuatro Islas Serranas en el estado de Sonora, México. Comparamos la riqueza y diversidad por medio de cuatro aproximaciones: 1) dentro y fuera de un área natural protegida, 2) acorde al tipo de uso de la tierra (área natural protegida, propiedad privada o propiedad dedicada a la conservación), 3) acorde a la presencia o ausencia de ganado, y 4) entre siete sitios de monitoreo. Para el registro de mamíferos utilizamos trampas cámara y detectamos 25 especies silvestres. No encontramos diferencias en la riqueza, diversidad y composición de especies en nuestros análisis comparativos, sugiriendo una homogeneidad a nivel de comunidad. Esta homogeneidad podría representar el resultado de la influencia directa y/o indirecta del impacto humano previo en la región, debido a que las actividades evaluadas como protección federal, el tipo y uso de la tierra y ganadería, no influyeron en la comunidad de mamíferos medianos y grandes. Discutimos la importancia de mantener en la región áreas dedicadas exclusivamente a la conservación, así como, promover un manejo compatible de depredadores con la ganadería y agricultura en las áreas sin protección.

Aim: To develop an updated distribution model and habitat suitability analysis for the Mexican wolf, to inform the recovery efforts in Mexico and the United States.Location: Mexico and the southwestern United States.Methods: We used an ensemble species distribution modelling (SDM) approach and a spatial analysis combining anthropogenic and ecological variables, including, for the first time, rangewide relative density estimates of wild ungulates, to determine the extent of suitable habitat for wolves within a region that includes the known historical range of the Mexican wolf and adjacent areas.Results: The results showed that the modelled distribution of the Mexican wolf extended from central Arizona and New Mexico, and western Texas in the United States, southwards along the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental, to the high sierras of Oaxaca, in Mexico. The habitat suitability models indicated that large tracts (>81,000 km²) of high‐quality habitat still exist for the Mexican wolf in the southwestern United States, and the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico, which could ensure recovery within its historical range.Main conclusions: The recovery of the Mexican wolf is a complex, multidimensional socio‐ecological challenge, which requires binational cooperation guided by reliable information and robust scientific procedures. The next step is to carry out specific socio‐ecological studies and actions for selected candidate sites to assess their viability for hastening its recovery.