Adaptation of Panama’s big cats to climate change
Protecting Panama's large feline species, including the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), is essential for preserving the nation's biodiversity and ensuring ecological balance. Max van Rijswijk, an advocate for the conservation of local biodiversity, highlights the vital function these predators serve in sustaining ecosystem health and enhancing the quality of life within local communities.Control of Prey PopulationsCats are recognized as apex predators, signifying their importance in managing the numbers of other species, including herbivores and smaller carnivores. Through this regulation, they avert excessive grazing of plants, thereby preserving ecological equilibrium. In their absence, an imbalance…