Mapping knowledge to guide conservation action: Trends in broad-snouted caiman research

GAMA, GM ORCID: 0000-0003-0066-6251, Passos, LF ORCID: 0000-0003-4529-9950, PAGLIA, AP ORCID: 0000-0001-9957-5506 and COUTINHO, ME ORCID: 0009-0006-4293-3978 (2025) Mapping knowledge to guide conservation action: Trends in broad-snouted caiman research. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 97 (Supp 4). ISSN 0001-3765

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Abstract

The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a key species in South American wetlands with ecological, cultural, and economic importance. Despite its significance, no systematic effort has quantified research trends and gaps. This study integrated bibliometric mapping and systematic review to analyze 484 publications, focusing on geographic distribution, research topics, and collaborative networks. Research is geographically and thematically imbalanced, dominated by Argentina and Brazil, and focused on physiology, toxicology, and reproduction, often under captive settings. Ecological and conservation-oriented studies on habitat-specific dynamics and anthropogenic impacts remain underrepresented. Keyword analysis identifies population ecology, habitat-specific studies, and conservation actions as key gaps. The role of C. latirostris as a sentinel species underscores the need to expand field-based research and conservation strategies that go beyond preserving physical habitats to include pollution control policies. Collaborative networks remain geographically clustered, underscoring the importance of fostering international partnerships. This study provides actionable recommendations to align research with conservation priorities, including prioritizing underrepresented regions, increasing field-based studies, addressing anthropogenic impacts, promoting regional capacity-building, and integrating grey literature into accessible databases. Beyond addressing C. latirostris, the results establish a replicable framework for identifying priorities and research gaps in other taxa, advancing conservation biology by bridging science with practice.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	General Science & Technology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date of acceptance:	7 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	9 December 2025
Date Deposited:	09 Dec 2025 13:16
Last Modified:	09 Dec 2025 13:16
DOI or ID number:	10.1590/0001-3765202520241527
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27694

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