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

Introduction: Morphological parameters of flowering are fundamental in the reproductive process of plants, but this subject is poorly explored in the cashew tree Anacardium occidentale. Objective: To determine the influence of the flowering and harvest period on floral parameters, and to identify association with hermaphrodite flowers in the dwarf cashew. Methods: For the 2018 and 2019 harvests in 120 samples we measured number of male/hermaphrodite/abnormal flowers; panicle biomass, length, maximum width, and ramifications at 30, 45 and 60 days for 360 samples in total, for each season (2018 and 2019). Results: The harvest effect was not significant. Panicle length and width (at 30 days), had the greatest contributions to the production of hermaphrodite flowers. The presence of male flowers (at 45 days), and the panicle length and number of primary branches (at 60 days) were the main factors at their respective periods. Conclusions: The emission of hermaphrodite flowers responds negatively to male flowers. Variations in flowering compromise the production of hermaphrodite flowers and the flowering structure.

Introduction: Frugivory is a pivotal ecological process for the structure and regeneration of forests. Particularly in the tropics, where the diversity of frugivorous animals and plants is high, interspecific relationships are complex generating interaction networks where species play differential functional roles. Objective: To identify which are the most ecologically important plant species in two interaction networks in a Colombian dry forest and to determine which functional traits of the fruits explain this importance. Methods: The plant importance index (PII) was calculated based on the frugivore species (birds and mammals) relevance, in networks structure, with which each plant species interacts. This relevance is directly related to the animal’s potential to be an effective seed disperser. Then, using generalized linear models (GLM), it was evaluated which fruits functional traits (size, color, stratum, type of pulp) explain the PII. Results: Species of the genera Miconia, Ficus, Cecropia, Bursera, Casearia and Trichilia are in the among most important plants. These genera have been previously identified as important resources for frugivores in the tropics. Particularly in this work, we identified that plants with small-size, red and fleshy fruits benefit the best potential seed dispersers. Conclusions: The high PII values variation ​​suggests that the set of frugivore species benefited by each plant species has a differential contribution to the ecological processes derived from seed dispersal. This information is relevant for the species selection with traits that favor the functional forests recovery through ecological restoration programs of threatened ecosystems such as the tropical dry forest (bs-T).

Introduction: Macroinvertebrate communities are affected by water quality and physical characteristics of the aquatic habitat, simultaneously, complicating their use as bioindicators. Objective: To determine which habitat variables regulate the macroinvertebrate community in mountain streams in Eastern of Antioquia (Colombia). Methods: Sampling was carried out in February 2021 (dry-rain transition period), to evaluate physical and chemical variables in three types of mesohabitat: ripples, pools, and rapids in streams with contrasting vegetation covers. The macroinvertebrates were collected from ten sampling sites with a net, screen and manual type net preserved with 70 % ethanol. Results: 4 484 macroinvertebrates were collected (16 orders, 46 families and 75 genera). The ripples mesohabitat presented higher values of diversity and abundance, while the pools presented the lowest. There were differences for oxygen concentration, depth, speed, and macroinvertebrate abundance between mesohabitats. Pools differed from the other mesohabitats in depth, speed, as well as in composition, abundance, and richness in macroinvertebrates, and was the least preferred mesohabitat. Conclusion: Speed, depth, dissolved oxygen concentration played a very important role in the establishment of macroinvertebrates community in different mesohabitats. For the same type of mesohabitat, the quality of the plant cover determined both diversity and abundance of this community.    

Introduction: Ants fulfill important ecological functions in many ecosystems and are highly sensitive to changes in land use. However, the response to these changes is poorly documented, at large spatial scales and in different land uses, in poorly studied ecosystems such as the Serranía del Perijá. Objective: To analyze the richness, diversity, and composition of ant communities in four land uses of two agroforestry landscapes of the Serranía del Perijá, Cesar, Colombia. Methods: Two sampling windows of 4 × 4 km were delimited in two agroforestry landscapes (compensation and non-compensation). In each window and landscape four land uses were chosen: forests, coffee agroforestry systems, natural regeneration and pastures, in which two trapping methods were applied: Pitfall traps and Winkler bags. Six environmental variables were measured: canopy cover, leaf litter height, bulk density, temperature, humidity and soil hardness. The sampling effort was 384 Pitfall traps and 192 m2 of leaf litter extraction. The fieldwork was conducted between February and March 2021. Results: Ants showed high sensitivity to changes in land use. Species diversity and richness decreased in land uses with less natural vegetation cover, such as pastures; while forests, in both landscapes, retained the highest species richness. Canopy cover and leaf litter availability were the environmental parameters that favored the diversity and richness of ant communities in all land uses. No differences were found between the ant richness and diversity of the two landscapes studied. Conclusions: Ants respond to changes in land use, particularly to vegetation cover. Our hypothesis was confirmed since land uses with high vegetation cover were the habitats with the greatest richness and diversity of ants. Environmental heterogeneity, a product of the dynamics of landscape transformation, is an element that should be considered in future research.

Introduction: Medium and large-sized mammals are threatened globally due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In Costa Rica, forest fragments that remain outside protected areas may serve as a refuge or corridor for these animals. Mammal presence in fragmented landscapes may be influenced by resource availability, which varies greatly in seasonal regions. Objective: To determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (Alajuela, Costa Rica), a 26.4 ha forest fragment that provides water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of mammals. The most frequently detected species were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.254 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.163 detections/camera trap day). We also registered four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity, but it influenced dominant species and detectability, which was greater during the wet season. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting small forest fragments, can help conserve endangered medium and large-sized mammals in human-dominated landscapes. Objective: We aimed to determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment protected for water production, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (MFA), a 26-ha forest fragment that provides drinking water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of medium and large-sized mammals. The species with the highest frequency of detections were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.504 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.377 detections/camera trap day). We also detected four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity but influenced the detectability of dominant species. Discussion: The relatively high richness of mammals observed in the MFA is likely related to the surrounding land use, which is dominated by agroforestry systems (e. g., coffee plantations) and forest patches, that may contribute to animal mobility and serve as refuge in fragmented landscapes. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting ecosystem services, such as water, may also help conserving endangered medium and large-sized mammals in fragmented landscapes.

Introduction: Development of trout aquacultural activity has gradually increased in Costa Rican highlands. Residual waters from this activity are discarded directly on the rivers without any previous treatment process. Consequently, this activity could severely contaminate the river with bacteria that can affect the human health. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the bacteria contamination caused by the residual water from the trout aquacultural activity discarded directly on the upper drainage basin of the Río Savegre. Methods: We counted the number of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from samples obtained monthly (2015-2018) at 3 sections of the largest aquacultural development in the upper drainage of the river. We collected samples at the entrance of the fish ponds, at the exit, and 200 m downwards. We compared the bacteria counts among locations and sampling years. Results: We found fewer total coliforms and E. coli in the water collected just at the exit of the fish ponds. We counted more total coliforms in 2016 and 2017, and more E. coli in 2016. Conclusions: The number of total coliforms and E. coli is very high in the river, but unexpectedly their number decreased in the water discarded from the fish tanks. The contamination of the river is likely caused by the water produced by other human activities and other aquaculture developments that discard the residual water directly on the river. We speculate the mucus produced by the trouts or substances released by the moss that cover the wall of fish tanks could regulate the growth of bacteria populations as has been suggested in other studies. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the bacteria contamination caused by the residual water from the trout aquacultural activity discarded directly on the upper drainage basin of the Río Savegre. Methods: We counted the number of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from samples obtained monthly (2015-2018) at 3 sections of the largest aquacultural development in the upper drainage of the river. We collected samples at the entrance of the fish ponds, at the exit, and 200 m downwards. We compared the bacteria counts among locations and sampling years. Results: We found fewer total coliforms and E. coli in the water collected just at the exit of the fish ponds. We counted more total coliforms in 2016 and 2017, and more E. coli in 2016. Conclusions: The number of total coliforms and E. coli is very high in the river, but unexpectedly their number decreased in the water discarded from the fish tanks. The contamination of the river is likely caused by the water produced by other human activities and other aquaculture developments that discard the residual water directly on the river. We speculate the mucus produced by the trouts or substances released by the moss that cover the wall of fish tanks could regulate the growth of bacteria populations as has been suggested in other studies.

Introduction: Reintroduction is a procedure used to reestablish wild animal populations. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the success of reintroducing Amazona aestiva and investigate whether abiotic factors (temperature, humidily, and luminosity) interfere with the search for food supplementation in feeders installed in the release area. Methods: Pre-release evaluations were initiated with 59 Amazonas spp. Tests were run to stool parasitological tests, leukocytes, flight capacity, and level of animal-human interaction. In all, 33 animals were selected and sent to the release area, which is an ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga biomes. After release, visits to the feeders and survival in the area were monitored for a year. Abiotic factors were also recorded in these periods. Results: The stool parasitological tests revealed the presence of Heterakis spp. and Eimeira spp. The leukocyte parameters were within the reference values for the species. At least 50% of the released animals survived after one year, with recordings of reproductive events. Abiotic factors did not interfere with the animal visits to the feeder. However, the variable humidity best explained visits in the morning, while the variables temperature and luminosity most influenced visits in the afternoon. Conclusion: The reintroduction observed and presented here is on the threshold of the classification as successful. The installed feeders and artificial nests caused the animals to stay in the area for monitoring. Abiotic factors may influence daily behavioral decision-making related to the use of supplementary feeding in reintroduced parrots.

Introduction: Until today, the fishing effort by foreign fleets in the Costa Rican Pacific has not been analyzed. Objective: To determine the spatial distribution of their fishing effort, variables that shape that distribution, and if those fleets interact with management figures and highly fragile ecosystems. Methods: Using fishing effort data from 2012 to 2020, obtained from Global Fishing Watch, an Index of Fishing Effort (IEP) was calculated to apply geospatial and multivariate statistics, as well as multiple regression models. A grid with 55 905 cells of 0.10 degrees was used to apply Hot Spot Analysis, and another grid with 24 176 cell-year-month analysis units of 0.25 degrees was used to apply a Linear Regression Model. Results: The data reveals the fishing activity of international fleets associated with four types of fishing gear, and a wide coverage of a high IEP by two fleets throughout the nine years analyzed. The IEP is primarily associated with location and varies by month and year. There is also relative evidence that its influenced by the concentration of oxygen and nitrates. Conclusions: International fleets come into direct conflict with officially defined zones for national fleets and disrespect protected oceanic areas and a declared non-fishing zone to protect marine resources in the Costa Rican Pacific. Their activities in the Dome may affect a national yellowfin tuna fishery.

 Introduccion: The macroalgae communities of the Guanahacabibes National Park have been little studied from the quantitative point of view, despite the influence that underwater vegetation has on the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems, a component that until now has been underestimated in the region Cuba. Objective: To evaluate the temporal and spatial variation of the macroalgae genera in two stations of María la Gorda, south of the Guanahacabibes National Park, and - to evaluate the health of the reef according to the coverage of the different predominant macroalgae morphotypes. Methods: The study was conducted between February 2014 and March 2017 in Laberinto and Yemayá by means of autonomous diving at a depth of 10 m. The algal coverage was estimated following the AGRRA methodology. The coverage (%) that each gender and morpho-functional group contributed to the total coverage found in the study area was calculated. Results: The dominant genera during the study period were Dictyota, Lobophora and Halimeda. The highest values ​​of richness were found in the month of June 2015 and the lowest in October 2014. The fleshy and calcareous algae showed greater coverage in Laberinto than in Yemayá, not being so with crustaceans. The index of fleshy was higher in Laberinto. Conclusion: These results constitute a baseline for future monitoring studies in Guanahacabibes and suggest that rapid ecological evaluations of macroalgae in the field at the genus level are a reliable indicator that can be used to monitor changes over time.

Introduction: The maintenance of the coral communities depends directly on the capacity of the individuals to grow as a whole colony.  Since growth shapes the basis of the physical structure of the reef, determining the growth rate of builder coral-species and their response to environmental variations will allow us to identify their particular potential to implement more effective restoration strategies. Objective: To determine the growth rate of the reef-building coral Pocillopora throughout the Mexican Central Pacific (PCM) and its relationship with fluctuations in environmental conditions. Methods: From August 2019 - October 2020, a total of 153 branched coral fragments of the genus Pocillopora were monitored and transplanted as part of the restoration program in different PCM locations: Islas Marietas National Park and in the Caleta de Cuastecomates. Coral growth (cm·year-1) and survival rate (%), was calculated and correlated with temperature, PAR and Kd490 for each locality. Results: The results show similar patterns in the parameters examined among the coral fragments were found for all sites, with a survival range of 61.6 – 68 %, whose mortality was mainly related to hurricanes and storms that affected the region. However, growth rate range from 2.0 – 8.0 cm·year-1, with no significant differences between locations. Also, no differences in environmental conditions between locations were recorded. Conclusions: The branching corals of the genus Pocillopora present a similar growth rate in insular and coastal sites of the PCM, so it could be expected that the implementation of a restoration program throughout this region of the Mexican Pacific would be potentially successful, since local environmental conditions are not limiting factors.