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Stephanny Arroyo Arce

Stephanny Arroyo Arce
Coastal Jaguar Conservation

Master of Science
Independent Researcher Coastal Jaguar Conservation

About

38
Publications
9,706
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242
Citations
Introduction
I have focused my career in studying the predator-prey interaction between jaguars and the sea turtles that nest in Costa Rica. I'm also a detection dog handler. Along my four-legged friend "Tigre", has been working in Costa Rica (but also in Chile and Guatemala) locating scats from the six species of wildcats to support the efforts of PANTHERA's WildCat Genetic Program.

Publications

Publications (38)
Article
Full-text available
Physical and genetic isolation are recognized as significant threats to wildlife, especially in large carnivores inhabiting fragmented landscapes. We conducted an initial genetic assessment of pumas (Puma concolor) using 19 microsatellite loci for the emblematic puma population in the Torres del Paine UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in southernmost Chile,...
Article
Full-text available
Human-wildlife interactions are on the rise due to anthropogenic pressures. Understanding these interactions is crucial for preventing conflict and promoting coexistence, ultimately benefitting humans and wildlife. In this study, we analysed the interactions between humans and jaguars Panthera onca in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. We examin...
Article
Full-text available
While jaguars (Panthera onca) are known to inhabit Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, there are sectors within the conservation area where the species has not been confirmed. Therefore, herein we document the first jaguar records in Península Papagayo, Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica. Data was collected from February to August 2022...
Article
Full-text available
Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amo...
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a global threat to both human health and environmental well-being. Our study delved into Costa Rican wildlife reserves, uncovering a substantial human impact on these ecosystems and underscoring the imperative to pinpoint AMR hotspots. Embracing a One Health perspective, we advocated for a comprehensive landscap...
Article
Full-text available
We provide an update of jaguar predation trends on the four species of sea turtle that nest in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, previously reported by our team for the period 2005–2013. The latest data provided here (period 2014–2022) allowed us to analyse predation rates over a larger temporal scale, and provide further evidence determining w...
Article
Full-text available
Determining the abundance of cryptic carnivores is central to building successful conservation management to mitigate conflicts and support coexistence strategies. For these reasons, there is considerable investment in developing reliable, cost‐effective tools for estimating the abundance of wildlife. Nevertheless, field‐based comparisons of abunda...
Article
Full-text available
Despite gaining popularity worldwide for capturing high quality images of wildlife, the usage of custom designed camera traps has been poorly documented. Herein, we record video behavioural responses of wildlife to this equipment, and highlight the need to establish clear guidelines to minimise or prevent their potential negative impact on wildlife...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding species‐environment relationships at large spatial scales is required for the prioritization of conservation areas and the preservation of landscape connectivity for large carnivores. This endeavour is challenging for jaguars (Panthera onca), given their elusiveness, and the local nature of most jaguar studies, precluding extrapolatio...
Article
Full-text available
Two female jaguars Panthera onca were recorded scavenging on a common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus carcass on 24 May 2021 in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. This is the second record of jaguars scavenging on a marine dolphin in America. Our findings provide further insights into the opportunistic scavenging behaviours of jaguars.
Article
A male jaguar Panthera onca cub was found dead on 5 June 2020 in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The cause of death was considered to be infanticide, although the reason triggering the event remains unknown.
Article
Full-text available
Jaguar (Panthera onca) predation on sea turtles occurs across the Americas; however, records are scattered and not frequently presented in terms of their potential effects on sea turtle populations. In this study, we documented Jaguar predation events on nesting sea turtles at Nancite Beach, Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica, between the 2009–20...
Article
Large mammalian herbivores are experiencing population reductions and range declines. However, we lack regional knowledge of population status for many herbivores, particularly in developing countries. Addressing this knowledge gap is key to implementing tailored conservation strategies for species whose population declines are highly variable acro...
Article
Full-text available
Partial depigmentation (leucism) is rare in mammals. We report 17 camera trap records of a single female leucistic coyote (Canis latrans) in Costa Rica between 2014 and 2018.
Article
Information regarding the margay Leopardus wiedii is very scarce in Costa Rica, with most studies targeting the larger species of wild cats. Through a long-term monitoring camera trap programme, we confirmed the presence of the species in Tortuguero National Park. Thus, constituting the fourth species of felids documented in the park in addition to...
Book
Full-text available
This document provides basic guidelines of conduct that every person should follow in case of a jaguar sighting, or other wild felid, in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. This protocol can be applied to other areas of the country and to any species of wild cat. Recommendations are also given on what to do during sightings in urban areas.
Book
Full-text available
El presente documento brinda los lineamientos básicos de conducta que toda persona debe seguir en caso de tener un encuentro o avistamiento de un jaguar, u otro felino silvestre, en el Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Dicho protocolo puede ser aplicado para otras áreas del país, y aplica para cualquier especie de felino silvestre. También se...
Article
Although dietary studies are considered an important conservation tool, few studies have assessed jaguar (Panthera onca) diet in Costa Rica. Therefore, this study describes the diet composition of the jaguar in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, carried out by analyzing and comparing carcass (n = 1 374), scat (n = 75) and camera trap (n = 3) dat...
Technical Report
Full-text available
Este es un producto del Proyecto para la Promoción del Manejo Participativo para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad (MAPCOBIO) ejecutado por el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación y la Agencia de Cooperación Internacional del Japón (JICA), con la colaboración de investigadores de Jaguar en Costa Rica.
Article
This study describes records of scavenging behaviour of pumas Puma concolor at jaguar Panthera onca kills in Costa Rica. We set camera traps at fresh carcasses predated by jaguars on Nancite beach between March 2010 and July 2017. Pumas were recorded at four out of 70 monitored kills. Jaguars interacted with the carcasses mainly at night while puma...
Article
Full-text available
Located in Costa Rica, Pacuare Nature Reserve has a long established history of wildlife monitoring programs primarily focused on species of nesting marine turtles and the Agami herons (Agamia agami) found within the reserve. Our research represents the first assessment on the local terrestrial mammal populations. Data was collected by using seven...
Article
We report here new sites where jaguars Panthera onca prey upon sea turtles in Costa Rica. We conducted carcass counts (n = 228) along eight beaches located in Santa Rosa National Park NP, which makes part of Guanacaste Conservation Area, between June and August 2016. The olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea was the most common species pred...
Article
Full-text available
Knowledge on the ecological relationship between cougars Puma concolor and sea turtles may contribute to the conservation of cougars, whose bulk of terrestrial prey continues to decline throughout their range due to poaching. This work describes for the first time the consumption of olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea by a cougar. This ev...
Article
Full-text available
Relatively little information has been generated regarding the mammal diversity of Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. This study assessed relative abundance and activity patterns of some terrestrial mammalian species. We used ten camera traps distributed within the refuge, during 2014. After a total of 1 611 camera trap nights, we iden...
Article
Along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, jaguar Panthera onca predation on marine turtles had only been documented in Tortuguero National Park. It was not until 2014 that this predator-prey interaction was first recorded in Pacuare Nature Reserve. Using a camera trap, we recorded an adult jaguar female predating upon a green turtle Chelonia mydas....
Article
Full-text available
Little is known about the effects of jaguars on the population of marine turtles nesting in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. This study assessed jaguar predation impact on three species of marine turtles (Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea and Eretmochelys imbricata) that nest in Tortuguero beach. Jaguar predation data was obtained by using...
Article
Full-text available
Jaguar (Panthera onca) predation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas mydas) is now a common occurrence in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. The abundance of green turtles during nesting season ensures a constant provision of easy and predictable prey, however it is unknown to what extent jaguars consume turtle carcasses and how the jaguar populati...
Article
Full-text available
Habitat characteristics and human activities are known to play a major role in the occupancy of jaguars Panthera onca across their range, however the key variables influencing jaguar distribution in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, have yet to be identified. This study evaluated jaguar occupancy in Tortuguero National Park and the surrounding...
Article
A seven minute camera-trap video of two male jaguar cubs Panthera onca suckling from their mother was captured on 7 December 2013 in Tortuguero beach, Costa Rica. The video was obtained as part of the long-term monitoring program of this species conducted by Global Vision International in Tortuguero National Park since 2011.
Thesis
Full-text available
El Parque Nacional Tortuguero forma parte de las Unidades de Conservación del Jaguar, y por consiguiente, es un área prioritaria para encauzar los esfuerzos de conservación de la especie. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la situación actual del jaguar (Panthera onca) tanto en el Parque Nacional Tortuguero como en el área de amor...

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