Paleo‑informed rewilding for Panama

Sediment cores from Lake La Yeguada show coprophilous fungal spores, pollen, and charcoal that together register megafauna abundance, plant composition, and fire frequency over the last ~17,000 years. The record links pulses of megafauna loss to persistent declines in large‑fruited plant species and higher wildfire incidence, implying the ecosystem has not returned to its pre‑human state. — Using paleoecological proxies as policy baselines could change which species are considered for reintroduction and how governments manage fire, seed dispersal, and restoration in tropical landscapes.