Do urban green areas work as biodiversity refuges? Assessing urban wildlife in a neotropical coastal city (Cartagena, Colombia)

The rapid urbanization of Neotropical coastal cities presents significant challenges for native wildlife, often leading to biotic homogenization where generalist, synanthropic species replace native specialists. However, urban green infrastructure can mitigate these impacts. This study assesses whether parks and other green areas in Cartagena, Colombia, act as refuges for local biodiversity or are dominated by a homogenized urban fauna. We surveyed the wildlife present across a network of 14 urban green areas with different sizes, uses, vegetation structure, and location within the city. Over a period of 5 weeks, we conducted direct visual observations in the morning and evening to record species presence in each park. Preliminary results indicate the presence of 57 species of birds, 4 species of mammals, 2 species of reptiles and free roaming dogs and cats. While some parks displayed a high prevalence of widely distributed, human-adapted species such as Quiscalus mexicanus and Columba livia, highlighting a degree of homogenization, other parks served as critical habitats for native fauna, including Iguana iguana, Tamandua mexicana and Forpus spengeli. This preliminary data suggests that parks with larger areas and those with proximity to coastal mangroves or wetlands supported a higher richness of species, including native and endemic ones. These findings emphasize that while biotic homogenization might be occurring in Cartagena's urban area, targeted management of specific green spaces can effectively support local biodiversity, especially native species. Our results provide essential baseline data that can be useful for urban planning and conservation strategies, promoting the creation and integration of green corridors in Neotropical cities with rapid growth.