Publications
Isolated in the highlands, found in the museum: A new species of Characidium (Crenuchidae) from a Bolivian National Park, with a CT scan revealing features
Researchers have uncovered a new species of Characidium fish within the isolated highland rivers of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia. This discovery, documented through computed tomography (CT) scans, reveals distinctive features such as a broad dark midlateral stripe and unique osteological traits in the Weberian apparatus, previously undocumented in the genus. The species' isolation on the Huanchaca Meseta is linked to geomorphological processes that shaped its habitat. This finding underscores the hidden biodiversity of poorly explored Neotropical protected areas.
Poteranthera inopinata (Melastomataceae), a new species from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia
Scientists have identified Poteranthera inopinata, a new species of flowering plant belonging to the Melastomataceae family, exclusively found in the humid or seasonally flooded savannas of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in eastern Bolivia. This discovery was made through detailed morphological analysis, distinguishing it by unique traits such as annual habit, glandular-tipped serrated leaves (3–10 mm long), and distinctive androecium structures with prolonged pedoconnectives. The species is compared to its closest relative, P. warmingii, and an updated key for the six recognized Poteranthera species is provided. The study also recommends a conservation assessment for this newly described plant, highlighting its potential ecological significance within the UNESCO-listed park's biodiversity.
A new species of Microlicia (Melastomataceae) from Bolivia and Brazil, a new synonym, and an identification key for the genus in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Researchers have identified Microlicia windischii as a new species of plant within the Melastomataceae family, discovered in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (Bolivia) and Serra Ricardo Franco State Park (Brazil). This species is distinguished by its linear-oblong leaf blades and subisomorphic stamens with concolorous, polysporangiate anthers. The study also provides a comparative analysis with related species (M. acuminata, M. arenariifolia, M. consimilis, M. juniperina, and M. multicaulis) and introduces an identification key for four Microlicia species in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Additionally, the research proposes to synonymize M. souzae-limae under M. helvola. The findings contribute to the taxonomic understanding of this genus while highlighting the biodiversity significance of these UNESCO-recognized protected areas.
The impacts of recent drought on fire, forest loss, and regional smoke emissions in lowland Bolivia
Recent drought conditions in lowland Bolivia have been identified as the dominant factor influencing interannual fire variability, with human activities potentially amplifying fire during these periods. A study focusing on Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (NK) found that while fires within NK were largely confined to the Cerrado and seasonally inundated wetland biomes, drought conditions significantly impacted fire activity, forest loss, and smoke emissions in the region. The research utilized multiple data sources, including MODIS active fire products, Global Fire Weather Database, land cover and forest loss data, and regional extinction coefficients (Bext) derived from visibility measurements. These findings suggest that Bext can serve as a longer-term proxy for regional fire emissions, highlighting the need to consider both human activities and drought in future projections of southern Amazonian fire dynamics, which have implications for carbon emissions and global climate.
New botanical discoveries of Myrtaceae from Bolivia and notes on Psidium hians
Researchers have identified Myrcia proencana, a new species of Myrtaceae, from the Serranía de Huanchaca within Bolivia's Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. This discovery highlights the region's rich botanical diversity and contributes to the understanding of Myrtaceae species in South America. The study also reclassifies Psidium hians as an accepted name while including P. nutans in its synonymy, resolving taxonomic ambiguities. Additionally, five other Myrtaceae species—Eugenia paranahybensis, E. pitanga, E. suberosa, Psidium misionum, and P. myrsinites—are reported for the first time in Bolivia's flora, expanding the known distribution of these plants.
The effects of past climate variability on fire and vegetation in the cerrãdo savanna ecosystem of the Huanchaca Mesetta, Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, NE Bolivia
A 14,500-year sedimentary record from Huanchaca Mesetta in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park reveals the resilience of cerrãdo savanna ecosystems to past climate variability. The study found that while fire activity increased during the Holocene due to warming conditions, fuel availability decreased under prolonged dry seasons, shaping modern vegetation patterns. Natural drivers—soil, climate, and fire—rather than human influence have primarily controlled vegetation and fire regimes in this ecosystem. Analyzing phytoliths, stable isotopes, and charcoal provided high-resolution insights into past environmental changes.
Three new species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae) from Bolivia
Researchers have identified three new species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce within Bolivia's UNESCO-listed Noel Kempff Mercado National Park and surrounding regions, expanding the taxonomic understanding of this plant genus. The discoveries include Euphorbia beckii, found in the Área Natural de Manejo Integrado of Apolobamba (La Paz), which belongs to sect. Alectoroctonum and exhibits similarities to E. viridis; Euphorbia fuentesii from Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park (Santa Cruz), part of sect. Anisophyllum and closely related to E. catamarcensis; and Euphorbia riinae, a member of sect. Crossadenia subsect. Ephedropeplus, closely allied with the Brazilian species E. gymnoclada. The study combines morphological analysis with taxonomic comparisons to distinguish these new entities, contributing to the biodiversity documentation of Bolivia's protected areas.
Morbidity and Mortality
A comprehensive analysis of morbidity and mortality patterns in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) within Noel Kempff Mercado National Park reveals critical insights into their health dynamics. The study, conducted by a multidisciplinary team including veterinarians and wildlife experts, identifies key causes of disease and death, such as infections, parasites, and trauma, while also assessing the impact of environmental factors on wolf health. By combining field observations, necropsy data, and pathological examinations from 1982 to 2007, researchers provide a detailed baseline for understanding wild canid health in one of Bolivia's most biodiverse protected areas. This work underscores the importance of long-term monitoring in conserving endangered species like the maned wolf, which faces threats from habitat fragmentation and disease.
The Maned Wolves of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park
Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) exhibit unique territorial behavior and seasonal activity patterns, with home ranges varying from 40–123 km² and strong seasonal variations in land use. GPS-collar data revealed that adult maned wolves travel an average of 14 km/night during dry months and 7 km/night in wet months, with activity being sharply nocturnal in the dry season but partly diurnal in the rainy season. The study also found that females hold territories into which males move to form pairs, while young males emigrate. Young females often stay on natal territories as presumed helpers, acquiring the territory upon the disappearance or death of adult females. Dental disease was identified as a major cause of morbidity, with extreme tooth wear observed by 8 years old. Habitat loss and drought-related resource loss are significant conservation threats to the species in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia.
Variation in Diet and Resources
Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park exhibit significant dietary flexibility, adapting their food choices based on resource availability. The study found that while small mammals and fruits constitute the core of their diet, these carnivores also opportunistically consume other plant materials when primary resources are scarce. Researchers analyzed scat samples and stomach contents to assess dietary composition across seasons, revealing a dynamic feeding strategy that allows the species to thrive in diverse habitats within the park.
Sensitivity Analysis of Baseline Carbon Estimates for a Bolivian REDD Initiative (The Noel Kempff Mercado National Park Climate Action Project)
A sensitivity analysis reveals that carbon baseline estimates for the Noel Kempff Mercado National Park REDD+ initiative are highly sensitive to temporal calibration periods and geographic scope, with deforestation rates and avoided carbon emissions most influenced by these factors. The study used a spatially explicit modeling approach, combining remote sensing data with the GEOMOD land-use change model, to simulate deforestation dynamics under a business-as-usual scenario. Findings underscore the critical role of methodological choices in reducing uncertainty and enhancing the robustness of carbon accounting in REDD+ projects. This research advances measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems by demonstrating how sensitivity analysis can improve transparency, credibility, and reproducibility in carbon baseline estimation.
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