Brazil, with its vast territory and climatic diversity, harbors a rich biodiversity of plants, including ferns and lycophytes. However, these groups remain understudied in northeastern Brazil, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Here we provide a comprehensive floristic survey of ferns and lycophytes in the state, docu-menting 334 records of 64 species in 23 families. Fourteen species are reported for the firsttime from Rio Grande do Norte. We identified collection gaps and sampling biases and revealed ecological and distributional patterns. The analysis shows a significant concentration of sampling effort in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, strongly influenced by seasonality and water availability. Our results underscore the need for conservation efforts targeting fern and lycophyte species and identify critical areas for future research.
Understanding the ecology and impact of organisms on ecosystems requires information on abundance and diet. We assessed both aspects for a population of Athene cunicularia pichinchae located at the Latacunga Airport in Cotopaxi in the Ecuadorian Andes. Between September and November 2023, we conducted weekly censuses in an area of 0.4 km2 and collected complete and disaggregated pellets at each visit to determine the composition, diversity and variation in the diet of the owls. We found a high density with an average of 19 individuals in 10 burrows (mean= 1.9 individuals by burrow) clustered in grassy areas within the airport. Owls consumed prey belonging to eight orders, among which rodents accounted for almost 30% of the biomass, although there was a higher frequency of invertebrates (96%), mainly Coleoptera, including the Andean dung beetle Dichotomius cotopaxi. Other prey included Arachnida, amphibians and bats, the latter representing the seventh reported in the diet of this owl. Trophic breadth was narrow (Bsta = 0.02) indicating greater specialization, mainly on beetles Scarabaeidae compared to other Ecuadorian populations in lower elevations.
In this study, we evaluated the structure of the medium-and large-sized mam-mal assemblage to examine potential signs of defaunation in Reserva Ecologica Manglares Churute, located in the lowlands of western Ecuador. This reserve is characterized by its high diversity of ecosystems and fauna, although it is subject to significant anthropogenic pressure. Between November 2022 and June 2023, surveys were conducted with camera trap at five stations located in different terrestrial ecosystems, accumulating a total of 800 camera-days of monitoring. We recorded 14 native species belonging to 12 families and seven orders, in addition to cattle and the domestic dog. The most frequent species were Dasyprocta punctata and Nasua nasua; both showed diurnal habits and high ecological plasticity. In contrast, Leopardus pardalis exhibited nocturnal activity, while Sylvilagus daulensis displayed a catemeral pattern. Tamandua mexicana and Odocoileus virginianus, categorized as Endangered on the national Red List, were also recorded, along with N. nasua, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, L. pardalis, and Dicotyles tajacu, classified as Vulnerable. Additionally, we recorded one H. yagouaroundi individual with skin abnormality and kinked tail. The predominance of generalist species and the absence of large carnivores suggest defaunation and biotic homogenization processes within the reserve. Our findings highlight the dual nature of this reserve: as a refuge for resilient mammal species on the Ecuadorian coast and as a system subjected to considerable and increasing anthropogenic pressure. This underscores the need to strengthen management and monitoring strategies to ensure the persistence of these populations in highly modified coastal landscapes.
We assessed non-volant medium-and large-sized mammals in a Mauritia flexuosa-dominated wetland within the Los Achales Reserve (southern Ecuadorian Amazon) between January and July 2023. We applied a multi-evidence approach that combi-ned direct observations, tracks and signs, camera trapping, and 37 semi-structured interviews with Shuar residents, yielding 242 field records and 77 hunting reports. Field surveys recorded nine species, while interviews added four additional taxa, for a total of 13 species documented in the study area. The most frequently detected species was Dicotyles tajacu (n = 72). Diversity was moderate (Shannon H ' = 1.812; Simpson 1-D = 0.800), with assemblage structure dominated by a few disturbance-tolerant taxa. Our results highlight the complementarity of local ecological knowled-ge and conventional field methods in improving species detection, particularly for elusive taxa. The observed assemblage is consistent with patterns of habitat loss and hunting pressure reported in human-modified Amazonian landscapes. Agricultural expansion, urban encroachment, and sustained hunting likely represent the main drivers of mammal population declines in Los Achales. These findings underscore the need for targeted research and conservation actions, including participatory monitoring approaches, to support the persistence of mammal communities in this underrepresented Amazonian wetland system.
Ferns and lycophytes represent the second largest epiphytic group of vascular plants. Here we examined herbaria collection and literature to provide an account of epiphytes for Peru's pteridoflora. We assessed compositional differences related to geography, altitudinal distribution, and vegetation type, along with observations on endemism and conservation. We report in total 521 species of epiphytes, of which 86 are new epiphyte records. These epiphytic ferns and lycophytes represent 35.4% of the total pteridoflora of Peru. We found 32 endemic species among these plants, most of them growing in humid montane forests. We also found regional differences in the composition of this flora, with compositional richness higher in the Eastern Andean slopes, followed bythe Lowlands of the Amazon basin. Populations of epiphytic ferns and lycophytes are mostly known from protected areas (82% of all epiphytes), and most of them were recorded from 10 National Parks, whereas 97 species of which 15 are endemics occur in non-protected areas. There are still many challenges for those interested in epiphytism. These challenges include the correct use of the term epiphyte and habit details, incorporating the gametophytic phase of the life cycle of these plants, the biology of interactions, genetics and population studies. All are challenges associated with the continued need to address geographical gaps in knowledge of the epiphytic flora outside of protected sites, and in regions threatened by land-use and landscape changes.
Viola lilliputana Iltis & H.E. Ballard, regarded as the smallest violet in the world, has been known for five decades solely from its type locality in Ayacucho, Peru. Here, we report three new localities in the departments of & Aacute;ncash, Huancavelica, and Junin, substantially expanding its known geographic and elevational range. Specimens from Huancavelica and Junin follow to the original description, whereas those from Ancash exhibit larger vegetative and reproductive organs and slight qualitative differences, interpreted as intraspecific variation within the species' morphological range. The species inhabits high-Andean Puna microhabitats associated with cryoturbated soils and cushions of Pycnophyllum. Species distribution modelling using MaxEnt showed high predictive performance (AUC = 0.97) and a markedly fragmented pattern of environmental suitability, primarily constrained by high-mountain thermal variables. Based on spatial parameters (extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and number of localities), we propose that V. lilliputana be classified as Endangered (EN). Its high vulnerability is discussed in relation to strong microhabitat specialization and low field detectability, underscoring the need for targeted surveys in high-Andean ecosystems to ensure accurate assessment and effective conservation.
In Peru, 62 species of Elmidae have been recorded, classified in 22 genera, including Gyrelmis, previously represented in the country by three species. In the present study, material deposited in the Aquatic Invertebrates Laboratory of the Biological Science Faculty of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and in the Entomological Collection of the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (MUSM) was examined, comprising 70 specimens of Gyrelmis from the department of Madre de Dios. Six species of Gyrelmis were determinated, the three previously recorded for Peru: G. brunnea, G. longipes, and G. maculata, and three additional species: G. glabra, G. pusio, and G. rufomarginata, which represent new country records. With these findings, the number of Elmidae species known from Peru increases to 65. In this work, we also provide updated distributional data and locality records for the treated species, along with illustrative photographs.
Abuta (Anomospermeae, Menispermaceae), comprising 32 species, is the second most diverse genus of Neotropical moonseeds. Several species are known as sources of the arrow poison curare and are used in traditional medicine; among them, Abuta grandifolia is the best known for the treatment of various ailments. This species exhibits marked morphological variation, which previous studies have arranged into four informally recognized morphological groups (Agstsl, Agvar, Agll, and Aggu). Despite its widespread use, the phylogenetic relationships of A. grandifolia within Abuta remain poorly understood. A recent family-wide molecular study recovered A. grandifolia as sister to the remaining species of the genus, although taxon sampling was limited. In this study, we expand taxon sampling within Abuta to investigate species-level phylogenetic relationships, with focus on the affinities of A. grandifolia. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined ITS and two plastid DNA regions support the monophyly of Abuta and provide new insights into interspecific relationships. Accessions representing indivi-dual species, including the widespread A. grandifolia, were recovered as monophyletic. Within A. grandifolia, accessions form fourwell-supported clades that are congruent with the previously recognized morphological groups. Pending resolution of taxonomic limits and associated nomen-clature, the species is treated here in a broad sense and referred to asA. grandifolia s.l. Notably, Abuta mycetandra, a poorly known taxon, was recovered as the sister lineage to A. grandifolia s.l.
Nototriche nawiyoc, a new species from the Andes of Huancavelica, Peru, is des-cribed and illustrated. This species is related to N. latorreae, N. sepaliloba, and N. staffordiae by its growth habit and form (subglobose rosettes) and trifid sepal apices; it is distinguished by having wider petals and a longer staminal tube. A description, illustration, and photographs from two of the three known populations of the new species are included, as well as a dichotomous key to the Nototriche species with trifid sepal apices.
En las comunidades campesinas e indígenas de la zona del Valle de los ríos Apurímac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM, Ayacucho, Perú) son conocidas tres especies de abejas sin aguijón, las que son utilizadas en la meliponicultura: Melipona eburnea Friese, 1900, Melipona grandis Guérin-Méneville, 1844 y Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811). En estas comunidades, la meliponicultura es una práctica relativamente común, realizada principalmente para consumo local. Se encontró que las comunidades tienen limitaciones para el desarrollo del cultivo de abejas sin aguijón, siendo las principales la reproducción de las colmenas y conseguir compradores de la miel producida por las abejas sin aguijón.
Las colecciones de mamíferos desempeñan un papel fundamental en la documentación de la diversidad de mamíferos de nuestro planeta y en el apoyo al crecimiento de diversas disciplinas. Sin embargo, a pesar de que Perú es reconocido como el tercer país más diverso en mamíferos del mundo, el número de instituciones que albergan colecciones de mamíferos en el país es limitado. Además, no se ha realizado una evaluación detallada del estado y rol científico de dichas colecciones. Para evaluar las colecciones de mamíferos en Perú, contactamos 16 colecciones reconocidas por SERFOR (Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre) y obtuvimos con éxito información de 13 de ellas (hasta abril de 2022). Estas colecciones albergan aproximadamente 84842 especímenes, con el 93% de estos concentrados en dos instituciones nacionales: MUSM (Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos) y MUSA (Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional de San Agustín), mientras que las otras son consideradas colecciones pequeñas. Es de gran preocupación que 16 de los 24 departamentos no tengan ninguna colección de mamíferos. Nuestros datos indican que la mayoría de los registros están representados por especímenes, y aunque todas las colecciones tienen bases de datos digitalizadas, los formatos utilizados no son estándar entre las instituciones. Además, la mayoría de las colecciones no tiene sus bases disponibles en línea. La cobertura geográfica de MUSM y MUSA es nacional, mientras que las demás son regionales. En cuanto al número de especímenes, los órdenes Rodentia y Chiroptera son los mejor representados, seguidos, ni siquiera de cerca, por los demás órdenes. En cuanto a la representación de especies, es preocupante que 49 especies actualmente no están representadas en ninguna colección peruana. Por otro lado, 45 holotipos están depositados en alguna colección peruana. Este estudio revela que Perú alberga un volumen importante de especímenes de mamíferos, pero pocas colecciones. Sin embargo, considerando la alta diversidad de mamíferos, estos números están lejos de ser una buena representación. Los resultados destacan la urgente necesidad de realizar más encuestas y colecciones de especímenes para abordar la subrepresentación de la diversidad de mamíferos de Perú.
This study documents the composition of the vascular flora in the Lomas of Queneto, a locality in the province of Viru (La Libertad Department, northern Peru) for which little floristic information is available. Based on recent botanical collections and the revision of herbarium specimens, a baseline inventory of vascular flora was established for the area. A total of 156 species were recorded across three landscape units (sandy areas; piedmont and seasonal streambeds; and desert mountains), of which 51 are endemic to Peru. The presence of Peperomia asperula Hutchison & Rauh (Piperaceae) is reported for the first time in a lomas ecosystem. In addition, new records are documented, and a new combination is proposed for the genus Echeandia (Asparagaceae). The diversity of the study area is analyzed and compared to other Peruvian localities. A possible biogeographical connection between the coastal desert and high-Andean ecosystems is discussed. Furthermore, the change in land use in sandy areas, caused by the expansion of agro-industrial crops, is highlighted, and this represents a threat to endemic species with restricted distribution. This study underscores the conservation significance of a fragile ecosystem that requires the implementation of short- and long-term management strategies.
The plant-hummingbird network structure is analyzed in the Private Conservation Area Lomas del Cerro Campana (Peru) using ecological network approaches. The network showed moderate connectivity (48% of possible interactions occurred) with low modularity but significant nestedness, where generalist species (Amazilia amazilia, Rhodopis vesper) served as structural hubs. The networkwas more vulne-rable to losing pollinators than plants (robustness HL = 0.41 vs LL = 0.85), revealing asymmetric dependence. We identified four modules with plant family groupings (Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae), suggesting emerging specialization. Despite predomi-nantly generalist interactions, some hummingbirds (Myrtis fanny, Myrmia micrura) showed specific floral preferences. These findings highlight how keystone pollina-tors maintain network stability and why conservation strategies should prioritize nodal species and their interactions. Our study demonstrates how network analysis uncovers hidden vulnerabilities in mutualistic systems, particularly important for fragile and understudied ecosystems like coastal lomas.
This study describes the conservation practices and phenotypic variability of Oxalis tuberosa Mol. (oca) within the traditional agroecosystems of the Narino department in Colombia. Two methodologies were employed: (1) a characterization of traditional production systems through participatory action research conducted in six municipalities inhabited by the indigenous Pasto and Quillasinga communities, and (2) a morphological characterization of local varieties using 17 discriminant qualitative descriptors. Findings indicate that oca is cultivated according to the indigenous worldview within an agroecosystem known as the "shagra," which relies on local production techniques. A total of 32 oca varieties were recorded, each identified by its local name. Of these, 54% were found in the Indigenous Territory of Cumbal and 22% in Guachavez. These areas are primarily located in paramo regions at altitudes above 3000 m, while the remaining 18% of varieties were found at elevations between 2779 and 2841 m of altitude. Cluster analysis identified five groups, primarily distinguished by descriptors related to tuber color. The cultivation of oca demonstrated broad ecological adaptability in the transitional zone between the upper limit of the Andean montane forest and the paramo. The integration of human, cultural, and agroecosystem components within the Pasto and Quillasinga communities proves to be a key factor in conserving the phenotypic variability of oca and in promoting food sovereignty.
La Faja Volcánica Transmexicana (FVT) en su sección occidental posee una alta biodiversidad, resultado de su heterogeneidad ambiental. Sin embargo, esta riqueza biológica se encuentra amenazada por diversas presiones antrópicas, como la deforestación y el cambio de uso del suelo. Con el objetivo de evaluar la diversidad taxonómica de aves en la FVT occidental, se llevó a cabo este estudio en dos localidades de Jalisco: el Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sierra de Quila y una zona de producción de aguacate sustentable en Zapotlán el Grande. Se realizaron muestreos en diferentes tipos de vegetación durante los años 2021 a 2024, utilizando redes de niebla y puntos de conteo. Para evaluar la diversidad taxonómica se empleó el análisis de distintividad taxonómica. Se registraron un total de 202 especies de aves donde se observó que la unidad taxonómica más importante fue el nivel de orden, siendo los Passeriformes el orden más diverso. Entre los diferentes tipos de vegetación, el bosque tropical caducifolio presentó la mayor riqueza de especies. Si bien la migración aumentó la riqueza de aves en general, la diversidad taxonómica disminuyo. Los resultados también mostraron que la vegetación secundaria y las zonas agrícolas tienen una alta diversidad taxonómica, lo que es consistente con la hipótesis de la perturbación intermedia, que sugiere que una perturbación moderada puede aumentar la heterogeneidad de hábitats y promover la coexistencia de múltiples especies.
Se reportan 10 especies de Ageratina Spach para el departamento de Áncash, agrupadas en dos subgéneros, Ageratina y Apoda R.M.King & H.Rob. Dos especies son nuevos reportes para el departamento, Ageratina bishopii R.M.King & H.Rob. y A. proba (N.E.Br.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Seis son endémicas para el territorio peruano. La mayor diversidad de especies se encuentra entre 3100 – 4300 m, en matorrales y laderas rocoso-pedregosas. Se proporcionan claves dicotómicas para la determinación de los subgéneros y para las especies. Para cada especie se presenta una breve descripción, datos de su ecología, distribución, material examinado, nombres comunes y usos.
The Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a felid with a restricted distribution in the high Andean regions of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, and is considered the most threatened member of its family in South America. Its conservation status is critical, being classified as Endangered (EN) under Peruvian legislation and on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, limited ecological information and significant knowledge gaps regarding its distribution hinder the implementation of effective conservation actions. This contribution presents the first confirmed photographic records of L. jacobita in Polylepis forests of Ayacucho Department, Peru. The results provide relevant evidence of the presence and habitat use of L. jacobita in these high Andean ecosystems, which appear to serve as vital refuges for the conservation. Furthermore, the findings highlight the need to strengthen conservation strategies in Polylepis forests, which are already affected by climate change and various anthropogenic pressures that impact L. jacobita populations both directly and indirectly. Finally, we propose the establishment of research priorities aimed at improving understanding of the species’ ecology and its role within this highly vulnerable ecosystem.
Este estudio analizó la estructura de la red planta-colibrí en el Área de Conservación Privada Lomas del Cerro Campana (Perú) mediante análisis de redes ecológicas. Los resultados mostraron una red moderadamente conectada (conectancia = 0.48) con baja modularidad (Q = 0.24) pero anidamiento significativo (NODF = 58.68), donde especies generalistas (Amazilia amazilia, Rhodopis vesper) actuaron como núcleos estructurales. La red presentó mayor vulnerabilidad a la pérdida de polinizadores (robustez HL = 0.41) que de plantas (LL = 0.85), revelando dependencia asimétrica. Se identificaron cuatro módulos con agrupamientos por familias vegetales (Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae), sugiriendo especialización incipiente. A pesar del predominio de interacciones generalistas (H2' = 0.22), ciertas especies (Myrtis fanny, Myrmia micrura) mostraron preferencias florales específicas. Estos patrones destacan la importancia de polinizadores clave para la estabilidad de la red y la necesidad de estrategias de conservación que prioricen especies nodales y sus interacciones. El estudio demostró cómo el análisis de redes permite identificar vulnerabilidades ocultas en sistemas mutualistas, particularmente relevantes para ecosistemas frágiles y poco estudiados como las lomas costeras.
La incorporación de datos morfométricos en análisis cladísticos plantea desafíos metodológicos, particularmente en el manejo de caracteres continuos y configuraciones de landmarks en matrices con múltiples individuos por taxón. Aunque el programa TNT (Tree analysis using New Technology) ha incorporado funcionalidades para analizar directamente caracteres continuos y morfogeométricos, persiste la necesidad de herramientas complementarias que faciliten la preparación y el procesamiento de estos datos. En este contexto, se presentan dos aplicaciones de código abierto desarrolladas en Python: py_tps2tnt y py_tm2tnt. La primera permite transformar archivos TPS con múltiples individuos por taxón, realizar alineamientos mediante Procrustes, calcular promedios de configuración, determinar rangos para tamaño centroide, seleccionar distancias interlandmarks y exportar distintos tipos de datos al formato TNT. La segunda herramienta, py_tm2tnt, está orientada al tratamiento de datos morfométricos tradicionales, permitiendo calcular intervalos, realizar análisis estadísticos univariados y exportar matrices continuas compatibles con análisis de parsimonia. Ambas aplicaciones ofrecen una interfaz gráfica intuitiva, flexibilidad en la gestión de datos y compatibilidad directa con TNT, lo que facilita su integración en flujos de trabajo filogenéticos. Este trabajo se describe el desarrollo, las funcionalidades principales y las perspectivas de mejora de ambas herramientas, además se informa de los materiales complementarios (videos tutoriales y conjuntos de datos reales e hipotéticos) que pueden ser utilizados para su evaluación y aplicación práctica.
