The natural history and ecology of ungulates throughout the tropical forests of Central America is understudied. Because little is known about the resources these ungulates depend on, what predators rely on them, or how their herbivory impacts forest ecology, our capacity to conserve tropical ecosystems is diminished. To begin answering the many basic questions regarding the natural history and ecology of ungulates and support conservation efforts, the WERC Lab is collaborating with Dr. Marcella Kelly’s Wildlife Habitat and Population Analysis (WHAPA) Lab and local NGOs to combine camera trap, GPS collar, remotely-sensed, and field data (e.g., vegetation, soils, non-invasive DNA sampling) to begin understanding predator-prey interactions and the role large herbivores play in structuring the tropical forests of Belize. Further, the WERC and WHAPA Labs are actively building collaborations with local community members to support and empower Belizeans as stewards of, and future conservation leaders in, Belizean natural resources management.
