Successful community-based wildlife monitoring necessitates a high degree of local participation during sampling design and data collection. Here, we describe a community-based monitoring framework to estimate density and habitat use of the threatened jaguar ( Panthera onca) in tropical montane forests in the Chinantla region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Community-based monitoring was completed involving integration with local communities, local governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions. In a camera-trap survey (37 stations, 2,553 trap-days), we recorded eight adult jaguars across 182.7 km² of montane forest. Spatially explicit capture–recapture models estimated a density of 1.15 jaguars per 100 km² (CI = 0.55–2.38) using a more traditional likelihood-based method and 1.16 jaguars per 100 km² (CI = 0.89–1.57) using Bayesian methods. The locations of jaguar captures and their habitat use appeared to be influenced by normalized vegetation index and capture rate of prey. Density estimates in the Chinantla region were lower than recorded for other lowland populations in Mexico but were consistent with elevation-based and latitudinal gradients across the range of the species. The community-based monitoring of jaguars increased the communication and interaction of local community groups, stakeholders, and academic institutions. It also provided participants with an increased knowledge of wildlife identification, transferable skills, wildlife appreciation, and an interest in reaching compromises to achieve habitat conservation. Our study provides a framework for the execution of community-based monitoring for large carnivores in Mexico and can be readily replicated and applied to other threatened species.

Background and Research Aims: Forest loss and fragmentation have a negative impact on large-sized predators and prey, whose populations are reduced or extirpated locally. We explored the spatiotemporal coexistence of the mesopredators (< 15 kg) coyote, ocelot, and white-nosed coati, with their potential prey (< 15 kg) Mexican agouti, lowland paca, and collared peccary in a defaunated rainforest. Methods: We used two-species occupancy-detection models between mesopredators and their potential prey, overlap index of circular models, and latency time measurements to evaluate temporal and spatial segregation and habitat use of species. Results: Presence of ocelot and coyote was influenced by an increase in the detectability and occupancy of the Mexican agouti. Among most mesopredator–prey species pairs, the correlation for both the capture rates at camera-trap stations and the 1-hr intervals were mainly moderate or low. Some mesopredator–prey species pairs showed low or inverse correlations suggesting species avoidance. The Mexican agouti exhibited a significant negative correlation with the presence of mesopredators. The coyote and ocelot showed a positive correlation with their use of low use trails by people. Conclusions: Spatiotemporal tolerance was observed among mesopredator omnivores and prey herbivores. High temporal overlap of ocelots and potential prey (lowland paca) was observed compared to other tropical forests holding large-sized predators, suggesting behavioral shifts for increasing mesopredator–prey encounters. Furthermore, mesopredator coexistence was mediated by a displacement in the temporal peaks of activity and spatial segregation among species. Implications for Conservation: Defaunated tropical forests need protection to ensure the conservation of remaining species and their ecological interactions.

The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is considered a predator and an obligate feeder on vertebrate blood of a diverse group of prey, but with preference to both native and exotic mammals. The present record is the first documented potential predation of a nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, by D. rotundus in the wild. The observation was recorded on a camera trap set in a secondary growth fragment of tropical evergreen forest in Oaxaca, México. In a 10 second recording, we observed an individual of D. rotundus stalking and chasing an individual D. novemcinctus that is searching for food in the leaf litter. The present observation along with another study carried out in Brazil, where a vampire bat chased a giant armadillo Priodontes maximus, suggest that armadillos might be prey of D. rotundus, but the interaction is difficult to document in the wild.

El grisón mayor, Galictis vittata, tiene una amplia distribución geográfica, desde el sur de México hasta el sur de Brasil. Sin embargo, hay vacíos geográficos de su presencia a lo largo de su distribución. En México se considera una especie Amenazada, por lo que los reportes de su presencia y la documentación de sus amenazas son relevantes para aplicar programas para su conservación. Se recopilaron registros incidentales del grisón mayor en carreteras de los estados de Oaxaca y Veracruz. Reportamos seis registros incidentales del grisón, uno para Oaxaca y cinco para Veracruz. El registro de Oaxaca corresponde a un individuo fotografiado en la orilla de una carretera, en tanto que los registros de Veracruz son grisones hallados muertos por colisión con automóviles. Los seis registros ocurrieron en áreas antropizadas.

Documentamos un registro histórico del águila cabeza blanca (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) en el estado de Oaxaca, al sur de México. En octubre de 2000, habitantes de San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec hallaron a un individuo joven de águila cabeza blanca en un tiradero a cielo abierto de la misma localidad. El águila estuvo en observación y revisión veterinaria y, con la aprobación de las auto- ridades ambientales, fue trasladada a un refugio de vida silvestre para su cuidado. El individuo fue evaluado como no apto para liberación, por lo que fue mantenido en cautiverio hasta su muerte, en 2009. Con base en los registros más cercanos, a 85 km NNO y 146 km N, en Veracruz, la edad del águila, comportamiento de forrajeo y las características del paisaje, consideramos que se trató de un individuo vagabundo que llegó al sitio siguiendo el curso de río Papaloapan. Este registro constituye el primero del águila cabeza blanca para el estado de Oaxaca, pero a más de 20 años no ha vuelto a ser observada.

Trichocentrum ascendens, commonly known as “cola de rata”, is an orchid traditionally used by Indigenous communities to remove warts and heal wounds and in cultural cleansing rituals (“limpia”). However, additional medicinal uses preserved by the Chinantec people of Oaxaca, Mexico, remain largely undocumented and are at risk of disappearing, as this knowledge is now held by only a few individuals. This study gathered information on the therapeutic applications of T. ascendens in the Chinantla region through semi-structured interviews with key collaborators. Information was collected regarding the socio-demographic profiles of the collaborators, as well as the conditions treated, plant parts used, preparation modes, and doses. The species is used to alleviate headaches, toothaches, stomach pains, menstrual pains, body aches, kidney diseases, and inflammation, as well as to treat cultural diseases known as “mal de orin” and “sangre sucia”. Infusions made from mature or developing leaves, along with topical application of crushed leaves, are the main forms of administration. The traditional knowledge documented here underscores the importance of further research to identify the bioactive compounds in T. ascendens and to evaluate their potential inflammatory and analgesic effect. Such studies could lead to the discovery of new pharmacologically active molecules while preserving valuable traditional knowledge.