Se realizó un estudio sobre la vegetación y flora de las islas Altamura, Garrapata, Saliaca y Tachichilte, un sistema insular perteneciente al APFF Islas del Golfo de California, sección Sinaloa, en la Bahía Santa María, municipio de Angostura, cuya cobertura vegetal está dominada por bosque espinoso y manglar en un 63,85 % y 21,62 %, respectivamente. La diversidad florística fue de 72 familias, 232 géneros y 294 especies, de las cuales las arvenses aportaron el 41,49 %. Destacaron por su aporte Fabaceae con 36 especies y Asteraceae con 23. Además, siete familias aportan el 47,1 % del total en el área explorada. La mayor riqueza se registró en la isla Tachichilte con 269 especies y el tipo de vegetación más diverso fue el bosque espinoso con 188 especies. Este grupo de islas es el de mayor diversidad florística entre todo el complejo insular de Sinaloa estudiado hasta la fecha.
We describe and illustrate three new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae) from the Colombian Andes: C. cogolloi from Department of Antioquia, collected at altitudes between 3000 and 3400 m in the high Andean forests and Páramos (Western Cordillera), C. ianthina, endemic to the Department of Risaralda, collected at altitudes between 1600 and 1850 m (Central Cordillera), and C. quindiorisaraldensis from the Departments of Quindío, Caldas, and Risaralda, distributed in mountain forests between 1500 and 2400 m (Cordillera Central). We also describe the variety C. quindiorisaraldensis var. porphyrocalycina. The novelties reported in this study expand our knowledge on the diversity of neotropical epiphytic species in Gesneriaceae.
En general, se conoce poco acerca del comportamiento y ecología reproductiva de Telmatobius atacamensis, especie categorizada en Peligro Crítico. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar distintos aspectos de la ecología reproductiva de T. atacamensis: puestas de huevos, sitio de ovoposición, amplexo, primeros estadios embrionarios y comportamiento parental. Los estudios se realizaron en el río Los Patos, San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina. Una vez detectada la actividad reproductiva, se documentó fotográficamente y se realizaron mediciones del tamaño y número de huevos, así como de parámetros fisicoquímicos en los sitios. Se observó amplexo axilar y que las puestas de huevos consistían en masas gelatinosas adheridas a rocas sumergidas. La primera puesta registrada fue observada en octubre del 2024 y constaba de 53 huevos en estadios 17-18 de desarrollo de Gosner, de la que se colectaron dos embriones. La segunda puesta registrada fue observada en noviembre del 2024. Esta constaba de 350 huevos recién fertilizados, los que fueron caracterizados y fotografiados en estadio de gastrulación. Junto a la segunda puesta se observó a un macho de T. atacamensis que reaccionó con movimientos rápidos, lo que sugeriría cuidado parental. Nuestros resultados amplían el conocimiento sobre aspectos reproductivos de T. atacamensis. Debido a las amenazas que enfrenta la especie y a su distribución restringida, la contribución al conocimiento de su historia natural, como los de la biología reproductiva de la especie, son clave en términos de conservación.
Las condiciones ambientales y los disturbios son factores que pueden influenciar a los procesos ecológicos; por esta razón, es esencial comprender la relación que puedan presentar. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la influencia de las condiciones ambientales y del disturbio en tres etapas de crecimiento (adultos, individuos germinados y semillas) de coníferas, encinos y otras especies de latifoliadas que componen los bosques templados de las zonas altas de la Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, México. Para ello, se establecieron parcelas de 0,1 ha a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal que abarcó desde los 1950 m hasta los 3250 m. En esas parcelas, se realizaron muestreos de la vegetación, se instalaron trampas para la lluvia de semillas y se cuantificó su germinación. En cada sitio, se registraron las condiciones climáticas, edáficas, topográficas, lumínicas y los disturbios. Para todas las etapas de crecimiento de las coníferas, se observó una influencia positiva de los disturbios antrópicos. En el caso de los encinos y otras especies de latifoliadas, se encontró que las variables climáticas, como la temperatura y la precipitación, tuvieron una influencia negativa en los adultos y las semillas, mientras que los disturbios no mostraron alguna influencia. Los resultados indican que las condiciones ambientales y los disturbios antrópicos afectan de manera diferencial a los distintos grupos biológicos que conforman estos bosques, dependiendo de su etapa de crecimiento.
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are essential as accurate bioindicators of water quality but their behavior may change according to regional characteristics. The Quilca–Chili basin is one of the most important basins in southern Arequipa, Peru, yet lacks inventories that allow for the adaptation of family-level scores in biotic indices. This study aimed to analyze the structure of macroinvertebrate communities and to adapt the scores of bioindicator families for their application in the ABI index. Sampling was conducted in June and October 2022 at 16 stations using Surber nets, D-nets, and screen samplers (500 μm). The community structure and its relationship with physicochemical and biological variables were characterized. To adapt the scores of bioindicator families, Bray–Curtis similarity dendrograms and mean comparisons among grouped families were used. A total of 70 genera were identified, with the most abundant being Aedokritus, Camelobaetidius, Cricotopus, Cryptonympha, Metrichia, Microcylloepus, Onconeura, Polypedilum, and Simulium. The highest and lowest true diversity values were recorded in the Quilca and Vítor rivers, respectively. A trend of increasing percentage of EPT values and decreasing the percentage of Chironomidae was observed toward upstream stations. Score adjustments were made for 24 families, and four additional families were incorporated into the ABI index. Thirteen stations within the sub-basin corresponded to the “good” and “very good” water quality categories. The aquatic macroinvertebrate communities of the lower Quilca–Chili River basin showed no major alterations in their structure and diversity. The variation of the individual ABI scores of bioindicator families may be applied to arid ecosystems across South America.
In general, there is a lack of knowledge about the reproductive behavior and ecology of Telmatobius atacamensis, a species classified as Critically Endangered. The aim of this study was to characterize different aspects of the reproductive ecology of T. atacamensis: egg laying, oviposition site, amplexus, early embryonic stages and parental behavior. The studies were conducted in Los Patos River, San An-tonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina. Once reproductive activity was detected, it was documented pho-tographically and measurements were taken of the size and number of eggs, as well as physicochemical parameters at the sites. Axillary amplexus was observed, and egg laying consisted of gelatinous masses attached to submerged rocks. The first recorded laying was observed in October 2024 and consisted of 53 eggs in Gosner stages 17-18 of development. From this laying, a sample of two embryos was taken and analyzed in the laboratory. The second recorded clutch was observed in November 2024. It consist-ed of 350 newly fertilized eggs, which were characterized and photographed at the gastrulation stage. Along with the second clutch, a male T. atacamensis was observed reacting with rapid movements, sug-gesting parental care. Our results expand our knowledge of the reproductive aspects of T. atacamensis. Due to the threats facing the species and its restricted distribution, the contributions to knowledge about its natural history, such as the reproductive biology of the species, are key to its conservation.
Despite their perilous status, cloud forests boast a remarkable flora, with vascular epiphytes playing a pivotal role, especially in the northern Andes. These forests are crucial for preserving biodiversity. Our study focused on the El Centello Nature Reserve, located in the western cordillera of the northern Andes, home to some of the region's last remnants of cloud forests. We explore the drivers of epiphytic species' local distribution patterns by analyzing the horizontal distribution of functional groups and the influence of host tree characteristics. Specifically, we evaluate how tree size and the spatial arrangement of host trees shape epiphyte richness, abundance, biomass, and community composition. We recorded 1i1 species, 25 families, and 2280 individuals over 0.25 ha using the SVERA methodology. Orchids, anthuriums, and bromeliads represent over 40 % of the abundance and are the most diverse taxa. Our findings reveal that larger and, thus, older trees harbor more diverse and abundant epiphytic and nomadic communities. Species composition was significantly related to structural variables and geographic distances of host trees. This research underscores the importance of host tree characteristics in shaping epiphyte communities and highlights the need for conservation strategies to preserve cloud forests' plant structural diversity. Understanding these distribution patterns is essential for directing conservation plans to protect this vital component of the Andean ecosystem.
Amphibians are a biological group highly sensitive to environmental changes and one of their ecosystem functions includes regulating populations of many invertebrates. However, there are amphibian species that can survive and reproduce in significantly transformed environments. In this type of species, evaluating how habitat transformation modifies their diet and what implications this has on their body traits contributes to understanding how some species overcome one of the greatest threats to biodiversity at the global level. In this study, we compared the diet, size, weight, and body condition of populations of Rheohyla miotympanum that live in cloud forests and frogs that live in cattle pastures in Veracruz, Mexico. We collected 58 frogs and analyzed the stomach contents of 25 individuals. In total, we identified 46 prey items from twelve taxonomic categories at Order level. The diet of frogs from the two environments studied tended to differ (59 % dissimilarity) in the type of prey consumed, although the most numerous prey were from the same taxonomic Orders in frogs from both environments. Contrary to our expectations, size, weight, and body condition did not differ significantly between forest frogs and cattle pasture frogs. Faced with the transformation of forest into cattle pasture, the frog species Rheohyla miotympanum seems to be able to partially modify its diet, without this resulting in a decrease in the size, weight and body condition of individuals in the transformed environment.
Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries and the second richest in amphibian species worldwide, requires comprehensive assessments to improve the understanding and conservation of its amphibian fauna. This need is especially urgent in potentially species-rich regions facing increasing anthropogenic threats. In this context, we evaluated the diversity and conservation status of amphibians in the high-Andean forest, and p & aacute;ramo. Over twelve weeks of active sampling (more than 35 days in the field), we recorded 591 individuals belonging to 33 species, fourteen genera, and seven families. Diversity estimates were based on Hill numbers and Bray-Curtis dissimilarities. Our results show a clear altitudinal pattern, with species richness decreasing at higher elevations (dry forest = 14 spp.; sub-Andean = 16 spp.; Andean = 10 spp.; high-Andean = 4 spp.; p & aacute;ramo = 5 spp.), along with significant species turnover between biomes. Among the recorded species, two are classified as Vulnerable and two as Endangered, and are primarily threatened by cattle ranching, agriculture, mining, forest loss, and feral or domestic animals. This study presents the first systematic assessment of amphibian diversity along the entire altitudinal gradient of the Pamplonita river basin, revealing previously undocumented ecological patterns. Taken together, our findings underscore the strategic importance of this basin for amphibian conservation in northeastern Colombia and the need to implement tailored conservation actions.
Most social wasps have a generalist and opportunistic feeding habit, which is why they perform different ecosystem services. However, for some species, there is still little information on their feeding behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to report about the predation of Diptera and aphid larvae by the social wasp Polybia bifasciata, on an urban kale crop in Southeastern Brazil. Future studies may indicate the viability of using P. bifasciata in biological pest control.
The Cuiaba lowlands include parts of the Cerrado and Pantanal phytogeographical domains, showing high plant diversity. In this study, we aimed to assemble a taxonomic study of the species of Apiaceae and Araliaceae from this region. We examined specimens from thirteen herbaria and online databases. We recorded two genera and six species of Apiaceae, namely Eryngium ebracteatum, E. eurycephalum, E. juncifolium, E. marginatum, E. pristis, and Klotzschia glaziovii, along with three genera and four species of Araliaceae: Dendropanax cuneatus, Didymopanax distractiflorus, D. malmei and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides. These records represent ca. 60 % of the Apiaceae and 27 % of the Araliaceae previously recorded in the state of Mato Grosso. The most speciose genus was Eryngium (Apiaceae), with five species. Eryngium eurycephalum, E. marginatum, Klotzschia glaziovii and Didymopanax malmei are endemic to Brazil. Here we also present a new record for the state, E. juncifolium, thus showing the importance of taxonomic studies in understudied regions. The municipalities with the highest richness of these families are Cuiab & aacute; (six species), Chapada dos Guimaraes (five species), Campo Verde, Nobres and Pocon & eacute; (three species each). We provide an identification key, brief morphological descriptions, distribution data and illustration of the species. The new information provided in this work contributes to a better understanding of the taxonomy of this group and can support future conservation and biogeography research.
Philodryas nattereri is a dipsadid snake widely distributed in South America. Although it is a wellknown species regarding its diet, only a small portion of the records are related to observations in the natural environment, resulting in a lack of information about its predatory behavior. The predation records were mainly obtained through the citizen science platform iNaturalist and investigated before inclusion. The results are consistent with other studies, corroborating that P. nattereri has a generalist diet. We have added three new prey-predator interactions for P. nattereri, as well as confirming for the second time its cannibalism. These records expand the knowledge on its ecology and predation behavior, with significant implications for understanding ecological processes in areas where P. nattereri occurs. Furthermore, the benefits of citizen science are emphasized as a valuable tool for gathering information about biodiversity, highlighting the role of citizens in contributing to the advance of biological scientific knowledge.
Obligate avian brood parasites lay their eggs in the nest of other bird species, or hosts, which negatively affects their reproductive success. Little information has been published about this strategy in the Neotropics, specifically in Colombia. In Bogot & aacute;, the Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) population has decreased while the Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) population has increased. Brood parasitism is proposed as one of the causes of these demographic changes. To evaluate and quan-tify the effect of the Cowbird parasitism on the Sparrow reproductive success, I searched and monitored nests for twelve months in the city. I found 28 host nests, 48 % of which were parasitized, with an av-erage of three Cowbird eggs per nest. I found evidence of negative effects on the reproductive success of the host, with parasite egg pecking and host nest desertion due to multiple parasitisms. Overall, my results showed that parasitized nests rarely succeed, and with nearly half of the nests being parasitized, a negative effect on the population is expected. Even though nest desertion does not produce parasitic chicks, intraspecific female competition and multiple parasitism may cause an oscillatory dynamic be-tween the populations of both species. More studies including other hosts and long-term monitoring are needed to robustly assess the scenario of brood parasitism in this region of Colombia.
The Central American boa has large populations, a wide distribution and inhabits natural, and anthropized environments alike. However, human activity can negatively affect some populations' viability, raising the need for conservation plans. Knowing the habitat requirements is essential in order to apply corrective measures, such as translocation programs, but also to establish control policies in the places where this species may be invasive. In this study, we monitored nine radio tagged Central American boas, five of them were translocated, in pasturelands of Costa Rica. The snakes behaved as a sit and wait predator, hiding in holes or shelters most of the time (76 % of locations) and passing up to 36 days in the same hole. Home ranges (MPCs: 4.85-54.39 ha) did not show differences between sexes or between translocated and resident individuals. Analyses on relation of available and used habitat pointed out that the Central American boa selected positively buildings, crops and riparian habitats while avoiding forests and pasturelands. Two snakes did not perform habitat selection while the remaining seven showed great variability, selecting each snake different habitat types. Hence, this study shows that the Central American boa behaves as a generalist species that benefits by inhabiting human transformed ecosystems. This, combined with the fact that it remains hidden most of the time, makes locating and removing strategies difficult, enhancing its invasive potential.
Reporting the characteristics of the advertisement call in anuran species is an essential aspect of their taxonomic characterization. The aim of the present study was to describe the advertisement call of Melanophryniscus paraguayensis in the Central department of Paraguay, an endemic and threatened species in the country. The advertisement call of M. paraguayensis is a complex call, featuring different note types, tonal and multi-pulsed, with a duration of 0.4-6.4 s, and a dominant frequency of 2239-2928 Hz. The data obtained were compared with available descriptions of advertisement calls from both the Melanophryniscus stelzneri group and other species within the genus Melanophryniscus.
Urban ecosystems, affected by changes in population density and soil composition, serve as direct indi-cators of anthropogenic impact on natural systems. Despite urbanization reducing habitat availability and avian species diversity in urban landscapes, areas with patches of vegetation acting as refuges for biotic diversity are identified in peripheral regions. This research aimed to understand the relationship between bird community structure and urban and peri-urban landscapes. Bi-monthly observation outings were conducted over eleven months. Significant differences were found between bird communities in both landscapes, although no significant seasonal differences were observed. The constant and abun-dant presence of insectivorous, frugivorous, and omnivorous guilds was emphasized. These findings provide an essential perspective on fauna response to human disturbances, thus guiding future conservation efforts in urbanized environments.
Hypericum radicans, an enigmatic species barely known from a severely fragmented specimen with uncertain provenance, was recently rediscovered in subp & aacute;ramos and p & aacute;ramos from the department of Boyac & aacute;. Here, we amend and complement the original description, adding critical traits onto the diagnosis of the species, and confirming its status as a distinct one. Additionally, we discuss its affinities with four species having similar life-form and vegetative and reproductive traits. Specifically, we compare it with p & aacute;ramo and subp & aacute;ramo chamaephytes with very short main shoots that radially branch forming cushion-like clumps. A key to identify the five species is provided along with photographic records. Notably, most H. radicans flowers and fruits exhibit four or five carpels, an uncommon trait on neotropical species of Hypericum, where three carpels usually prevail. Finally, we comment on the outstanding sympatry of Hypericum species in the high montane ecosystems of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, and argue against sympatric speciation as a major driver of the diversification of the genus in the northern Andes.
Ants have significant ecological importance due to their interactions with a wide variety of organisms, including plants, fungi, and other insects. Interactions between ants and membracids (Hemiptera, Membracidae) are very common in tropical mountains and vary from commensalism to close mutualism. This study describes the composition of ants associated with membracids and the variation in richness along an altitudinal gradient from 250 to 2450 m in the Tatam & aacute; Mountains in the Occidental Cordillera of Colombia. Ants previously collected in interactions with Membracidae, field notes, and photographic records of the interactions were reviewed. The ants were identified to the highest pos-sible taxonomic resolution, and high-resolution images were generated for each of the species found. The information from the photographs and field notes was tabulated, and in all cases, the membracid involved in the interaction was recorded. Sixty-nine morphospecies of ants grouped into 18 genera and six subfamilies were found. The richness of ants associated with membracids increased towards mid-elevations (1250-1750 m) and decreased towards higher elevations. Additionally, a turnover in ant species composition along the altitudinal gradient was found, as well as differences in interactions with membracids. The lower richness of ant species in lowlands could be explained by the presence of domi-nant arboreal ants that aggressively defend their territories, thereby possibly displacing other ants and accumulating most interactions with membracids.
Clathrotropis brunnea (sapán o blackheart sapan) es una leguminosa arbórea endémica del bosque húmedo tropical de Colombia, con atributos farmacológicos y maderables. Sin embargo, la propagación de la especie mediante semillas presenta desafíos debido a su comportamiento potencialmente recalcitrante. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la sensibilidad a la desecación de semillas de C. brunnea como método para prolongar su viabilidad. Se colectaron semillas de C. brunnea en un área de la cuenca del Magdalena Medio (Santander, Colombia) y, en condiciones de vivero (4 x 15 semillas por tratamiento), se realizaron tres experimentos para evaluar la emergencia y el vigor de plántulas según: 1) métodos de secado de semillas (rápido o natural), 2) masa de semilla x contenido de humedad (CH), y 3) semillas secadas (CH = 30,8 %) y almacenadas en ambiente refrigerado de 11 °C por 21 y 42 días. Independiente del método de secado, no hubo pérdida de viabilidad de las semillas cuando el CH se redujo de 44,5 hasta 23,4 % (promedio = 63 % de emergencia), pero la desecación resultó letal para el CH alrededor de 6 %. El CH de 15,7 % redujo la emergencia para semillas con masa menor a 7,6 g. La viabilidad de las semillas fue nula cuando se secaron y almacenaron durante 21 días. Debido a la rápida pérdida del CH y baja tolerancia a la desecación, se sugiere una selección previa de semillas frescas de C. brunnea por masa para incrementar la emergencia.
El bosque seco tropical es considerado como uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados a nivel mundial y en Colombia, sin embargo, continúa siendo uno de los menos estudiados. Con el objetivo de estudiar la estructura y diversidad florística del bosque seco de Tame, Arauca, se establecieron seis parcelas permanentes de 0,25 hectáreas en bosques de tierra firme (BTF) y dos en bosques de ribera (BR). Se registraron 1489 individuos, 164 especies, 115 géneros y 50 familias. Los valores de densidad estuvieron entre 103 y 240 individuos en 0,25 ha. Las familias Leguminosae y Moraceae, los géneros Miconia, Ficus y Protium y las especies Warszewiczia coccinea, Oenocarpus minor y Socratea exorrhiza fueron los taxones mejor representados. Cerca del 50 % de las especies encontradas en los bosques estudiados han sido reportadas como elementos asociados a ecosistemas de bosque seco en otras regiones de Colombia. La estructura florística estuvo influenciada por la edad sucesional y el tipo de disturbio. Se reportan especies con alto Índice de Valor de Importancia (IVI) para los bosques secos de Tame, diferentes a las ya reportadas para otros bosques de la Orinoquía. La diversidad florística para los bosques estudiados muestra valores altos de riqueza, con alta dominancia en bosques de ribera y mayor equidad en bosques de tierra firme. Se presenta la lista completa de especies y sus abundancias.
