Habitat loss is one of the primary causes of wildlife extinction in the world and may even cause unwelcomed changes, such as the introduction of invasive species. For instance, as their name implies, the North American coyote does not occur in South America, but due to massive deforestation in the region, these coyotes are slowly leaving their natural habitat in Central America.
WHAT CAUSES DIASPORA?
According to the researchers of this phenomenon, habitat loss due to deforestation is what triggered this coyote diaspora from Central America. It is important to note, however, that the continents of North and South America have a long history of animal and plant exchange that started around 3 to 4 million years ago when the continents were still connected by the Panamanian Isthmus. This phenomenon is known as the Great American Biotic Exchange and is still ongoing.
In new research published in the Journal of Mammalogy, scientists from North Carolina State University states that North American coyotes appear to be heading south toward Colombia and the crab-eating foxes are moving north to Panama. The scientists used camera traps to detect and observe two coyotes in the Darien region of Panama, a region that has 6,000 square kilometers-worth of forested area. This is recorded to be the southernmost reach of the North American coyotes.
By using the same method of installing camera traps, the scientists were able to chronicle the invasive crab-eating foxes in new territories. Fortunately, the North American coyotes have not fully reached South America yet due to the presence of a vast forest along Central America that is home to pumas and jaguars.
However, due to widespread deforestation in the region, these apex predators are driven to extinction. If there are fewer pumas and jaguars, the North American coyotes and crab-eating foxes can easily move in. To explain this phenomenon, the scientists wrote in the journal, "if deforestation continues in the region, these two invasive canids could represent the first of a new, Not-So-Great American Biotic Interchange, where generalist species adapted to human disturbance cross continents and threaten native biota."
The scientists used camera surveys in eastern Panama that were established from 2006 to 2015 and near the Darien region from 2016 to 2018. The first batch of data showed the coyote and fox populations were able to reach areas that they were not occurring naturally, and more recent survey data show that coyotes are already present in the westernmost boundary of the Darien region.
Coyotes and foxes are both nocturnal species, meaning they are active during the night and usually hunt for smaller prey. However, as species not common in South America, their presence can be catastrophic to native species. In an e-mail with Gizmodo, Roland Kays, one of the authors of the study, explained, "coyotes are the ultimate generalist in terms of diet and habitat type. They mostly hunt, taking prey ranging in size from deer to mouse, but will also nosh on insects or fruit if it's available." He also explained that coyotes could adapt to a huge variety of conditions, whether it's a dessert or a rainforest. It is also an advantage of the coyote that it is very agile and can run 100 miles to find a new territory.
According to scientists, the preservation of the Darien woodlands is the key to prevent the invasion of these dog species. It is also important to make large efforts to reduce deforestation.
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