Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Insecticides from plants have been studied as an alternative in agricultural production and in vector control of human diseases. The use of botanical insecticides may cause mortality in different stages, slow growth, infertile adults and decrease in viability of insect eggs. This study aimed to analyze the insecticidal potential of ethanol extract of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC, on Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, 1797 (Noctuidae) and Aedes aegypti L., 1762 (Culicidae). The botanical material was collected and prepared on February 8th, 2011 on the Fazenda Escola Três Barras (20°33’37.44043" S - 54°32'10.3824" W), Campo Grande, MS. The ethanol extract was prepared from dried leaves obtained of adult plants in a vegetative state at the Chemistry Laboratory of Anhanguera University-Uniderp. The experiments of biological activities were conducted at the Entomology Laboratory of the Catholic University Don Bosco, in a controlled environment with an average temperature of 25 ºC and photoperiod 12 hr. Experiments with S. frugiperda were conducted from August to October 2014. The collection of A. aegypti eggs was made in January 2014 and the treatments were done from March 10th to 17th, 2014. In the development of S. frugiperda the extract caused effect on caterpillars subjected to treatment at one and 10 days. The larval stage proved to be longer at both ages and pupal weight reduced at 10 days, as well as increased mortality at one day, when incorporated concentration 0.2 % into diet. The variables studied were mortality, larval duration, pupal weight, number and viability of the eggs. The bioassay used A. aedes third instar, 25 larvae per concentration, at four replicates. Parameters analysed for sublethal doses were pupal and larval, mortality, length larval and young (larva + pupa) the ethanol extract at concentrations 0.5 mg.mL-1 and 0.25 mg.mL-1. The extract resulted in deleterious effect on the development of caterpillars undergoing treatment in larvae of one and 10 days of age, the larval stage stretching, lower pupal weight in caterpillars 10 days and higher mortality in the group with one day of life. It did not interfere with the viability of eggs. In the life cycle of A. aegypti, the extract of B. dracuncufolia at the studied concentrations caused delay in the development of larval and pupal stages, and inhibited the emergence of adults in 85 % and 70 %. In laboratory conditions it can be said that the ethanol extract of B. dracunculifolia has a potential insecticide effect for both species of insects.

Anthropogenic noise in urban environments is a major challenge for those species that depend on the transmission of acoustic signals to communicate. To avoid being masked by background noise, some bird species are able to make adjustments in their songs. Studies on vocal adjustment for tropical birds are still scarce and are of interest since both the urban structure and the vegetation associated with urban habitats differ significantly with respect to the cities of temperate climates. In this research we studied the changes in the song parameters of the pale-breasted thrush (Turdus leucomelas) in an urban environment of the metropolitan area of Belém (Brazil). To this end, bird songs were recorded and ambient noise was measured between September and November 2008, in three different acoustic environments (urban, suburban and rural) along an urban gradient. The songs of 12 individuals per area were selected (a total of 36). Possible differences between song parameters were analyzed by ANOVAs. To assess the noise impact on bird song, we only considered the spectrum of environmental noise within the range of vocalizations of the species. In general, birds of urban habitats presented songs with higher maximum frequencies and with a wider range of notes, than their counterparts in suburban and rural areas. The differences were more pronounced in relation to rural areas. No differences in the minimum frequencies, the concentration of energy, or the average duration of the notes were found. These results differ from other studies and could possibly indicate variations in the way birds try to succeed in habitats with high ambient noise. It is necessary further exploration on the role of these changes in the effective improvement of intra-specific communication for the species in such environments.

There is a growing need to strengthen the small-scale fishing sector with emerging governance methods that improve fishers’ threatened livelihoods. Therefore, this study’s aim was to develop management recommendations, based on easily interpreted conclusions that can be used to address the socio-ecological difficulties that the artisanal, bottom-longline fishery in Bejuco, Pacific coast of Costa Rica faces. The results of previously recorded fisher socio-ecological perceptions and an evaluation of the spotted rose snapper’s, Lutjanus guttatus, population dynamics were assigned a measurable set of indicators in reference to the fishery’s natural, human and management sub-systems. This was done via the traffic light method with easily interpreted colors based on a review of similar published fisheries studies. According to these results, a stock assessment for the fishery’s target species and research to determine the composition and magnitude of the fishery’s discarded species were recommended. Fisher economic dependence on bottom-longline activities led to the recommendation to develop alternative livelihood strategies. Also, the promotion of alternative markets and sustainability certification strategies for the snapper fishery are advised. Enlargement of the multi-use marine protected areas within the fishery’s grounds and improvement of their management strategies is also recommended. In order for this to occur, improved resource user coordination in the form of a fisher association that has the capability to lobby for increased enforcement of the protected areas from destructive fisheries must be realized. Doing so would aid the development of a local management plan and participatory governance system. Such an initiative would justify the development of community lead marine protected area management regimes.

The species Spondias mombin, is native to the Amazonian region. Since these trees’ cultivation is incipient, their exploitation is done through extraction techniques. The aim of the present study was to assess the genetic divergences between S. mombin genotypes and to quantify the relative contribution from 12 morphological traits of the species’ fruits and seeds, as well as to collect data able to subsidize future research on the species conservation and domestication. 60 genotypes were assessed in total, and ten fruits of each genotype were analyzed. Eight descriptors were used for fruit characterization, namely: fruit mass, pulp weight, volume, length, width, thickness, total soluble solids content and hydrogenionic potential. The seed descriptors were mass, length, width and thickness. The data were assessed through the principal components and groupings by applying the UPGMA and Tocher methods. They were analyzed in the GENES software, based on the dissimilarity matrix (Euclidean distance average). The analysis applied to the principal components showed that the first three components explained 83 % accumulated variation. The main traits contributing to the genotype discrimination were fruit width, fruit pulp weight, pH, seed length and thickness, and the most responsive traits to S. mombin genotype selection. The features fruit mass, seed width, fruit thickness, fruit volume, fruit length, seed mass and total soluble solid content presented the smallest contribution to diversity. The grouping methods UPGMA and Tocher evidenced genetic divergence between the analyzed genotypes. Genotypes 37 and 41 were more divergent than the others, what makes them promising for crossings in future genetic enhancement programs focused on the species’ domestication.

Studies based on molecular genetics offer the possibility to understand the structure of populations and provide data to implement measures designed to protect them. Caranx hippos, is a fish with a wide distribution in the Western Atlantic, becoming one of the most economically important species in the artisanal fishing industry in Colombia. However, little is known about its biology. The present study aimed to evaluate the variation and genetic structure of C. hippos in the Colombian Caribbean by analyzing the mitochondrial DNA region control and cytochrome oxidase subunit (COI). We sequenced the DNA of 153 muscle samples collected from specimens obtained from six fishing ports. The results showed 21 haplotypes for COI and 116 haplotypes for the control region, divided into two lineages that do not exhibit a pattern of geographical distribution. For mitochondrial control region, the estimated haplotype diversity (Hd) presented relatively high values (Hd = 0.99 and = 0.1), while for COI results were Hd = 0.68 and = 0.01; the relationship between haplotype and nucleotide diversity and the neutrality test revealed that C. hippos experienced bottlenecking and a subsequent rapid population expansion. Estimates of genetic structure were low and insignificant, indicating no differentiation between samples collected from geographical isolation. This suggests that for the Colombian Caribbean there is a panmictic population of C. hippos. However, variations were found at population levels, especially in La Guajira, Turbo and San Antero, which, when compared to those included for Brazil and México, demonstrated that unique haplotypes in La Guajira are more aligned to the Brazilian populations, by means of the influence of the Caribbean Current, whilst those from Turbo and San Antero are more frequent in haplotypes originating from Mexico. Future studies should focus the understanding of these processes.