Aquatic community response to volcanic eruptions on the Ecuadorian Andean flank: evidence from the palaeoecological record

Aquatic ecosystems in the tropical Andes are under increasing pressure from human modification of the landscape (deforestation and dams) and climatic change (increase of extreme events and 1.5 °C on average temperatures are projected for AD 2100). However, the resilience of these ecosystems to perturbations is poorly understood. Here we use a multi-proxy palaeoecological approach to assess the response of aquatic ecosystems to a major mechanism for natural disturbance, volcanic ash deposition. Specifically, we present data from two Neotropical lakes located on the eastern Andean flank of Ecuador. Laguna Pindo (1°27.132′S–78°04.847′W) is a tectonically formed closed basin surrounded by a dense mid-elevation forest, whereas Laguna Baños (0°19.328′S–78°09.175′W) is a glacially formed lake with an inflow and outflow in high Andean Páramo grasslands. In each lake we examined the dynamics of chironomids and other aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms to explore the effect of thick (> 5 cm) volcanic deposits on the aquatic communities in these two systems with different catchment features. In both lakes past volcanic ash deposition was evident from four large tephras dated to c.850 cal year BP (Pindo), and 4600, 3600 and 1500 cal year BP (Baños). Examination of the chironomid and aquatic assemblages before and after the ash depositions revealed no shift in composition at Pindo, but a major change at Baños occurred after the last event around 1500 cal year BP. Chironomids at Baños changed from an assemblage dominated by Pseudochironomus and Polypedilum nubifer-type to Cricotopus/Paratrichocladius type-II, and such a dominance lasted for approximately 380 years. We suggest that, despite potential changes in the water chemistry, the major effect on the chironomid community resulted from the thickness of the tephra being deposited, which acted to shallow the water body beyond a depth threshold. Changes in the aquatic flora and fauna at the base of the trophic chain can promote cascade effects that may deteriorate the ecosystem, especially when already influenced by human activities, such as deforestation and dams, which is frequent in the high Andes

Atoll research bulletin.

no.494 (2001

Alteraciones de coloración en el plumaje de aves silvestres del Ecuador

This paper analyze 61 cases of plumage chromatic aberrations (total or partial absence of pigments in some or all feathers) in 43 species of wild birds, grouped into 21 families, including 51 new records and being the first report for these aberrations in Ecuador for 14 families. Records were compiled from our own data, skilled birdwatchers’s personal communications and visits to ornithological collections in Quito, Ecuador. The most common aberration was leucism and the species with the highest number of reports were the Greater Thrush Turdus fuscater and the Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis. Most records came from rural areas in the high Andean region where Pichincha was the province with more records. The documentation of the distribution and frequency of these aberrations has important implications for conservation and monitoring as to evidence the possible causes that induce these alterations within bird populations; to this end, we also present the definition of the most important types of chromatic aberrations in order to familiarize birdwatchers with and to promote their report.Este artículo analiza 61 casos de aberraciones cromáticas del plumaje (ausencia total o parcial de pigmentos en algunas o en todas las plumas) en 43 especies de aves silvestres ecuatorianas, agrupadas en 21 familias, incluyendo 51 nuevos registros y siendo este el primer reporte de aberraciones en Ecuador para 14 familias. Esta compilación incluye datos colectados por los autores, comunicaciones personales de expertos observadores de aves y visitas a colecciones ornitológicas de museos en Quito, Ecuador. La alteración más común fue el leucismo y las especies con mayor número de reportes fueron el Mirlo Grande Turdus fuscater y el Gorrió Ruficollarejo Zonotrichia capensis. La mayoría de registros proviene de áreas rurales en la zona altoandina, siendo Pichincha la provincia con más registros. La documentación de la distribución y frecuencia de estas aberraciones de coloración de plumaje tiene importantes implicaciones de conservación y monitoreo, permitiendo evidenciar las posibles causas que inducen estas alteraciones en las poblaciones de aves; por ello también presentamos definiciones de los principales tipos de aberraciones cromáticas con el fin de familiarizar a los observadores de aves y estimular la difusión de sus registros

Nuevos registros de aves con alteraciones de color de Ecuador

We report six new cases of wild birds with chromatic aberration from four provinces of Ecuador. The photographic records come from opportunistic observations. This is the first record of aberrant plumage for Anas bahamensis, Florisuga mellivora, Opisthocomus hoazín, Dendrocincla fuliginosa y Asemospiza obscura; while cases of aberrant individuals are added in Turdus fuscater. The case of F. mellivora is the most relevant due to its rarity and evidence of coloration patterns in the species. We highlight the importance of documenting and publishing the encounter of these events.Reportamos seis nuevos casos de aves silvestres con aberración cromática provenientes de cuatro provincias de Ecuador. Los registros fotográficos provienen de observaciones oportunistas. El presente es el primer registro de plumaje aberrante para Anas bahamensis, Florisuga mellivora, Opisthocomus hoazín, Dendrocincla fuliginosa y Asemospiza obscura; mientras que se suman casos de individuos aberrantes en Turdus fuscater. El caso de F. mellivora es el más relevante por su rareza y evidencia patrones de coloración en la especie. Resaltamos la importancia de documentar y publicar el encuentro de estos eventos

Herbivory by Lizards

The extent of herbivory in lizards is influenced by several factors. Plant tissues are more difficult to digest than invertebrates due to the presence of cellulose. Thus, so many lizards exhibit carnivorous diet. Nevertheless, some species consume vegetables. Essentially herbivorous diet occurs in about 3% of lizards, while most omnivores add plants in their diets. Omnivorous species tend to eat more fruits, flower, and nectar, because they are easier to digest and provide more nutrients than leaves, which are rich in cellulose. The main factors influencing the consumption of plant material are related to the habitat of the species. Insular and arid environments favor the consumption of plants because such locations have low amount of arthropods available and present water scarcity. It is also possible to observe ontogenetic changes in the lizard\u27s diet, in such a way that young individuals consume only invertebrates, whereas the adults supplement their diet with plant material. When consuming fruits and nectar, lizards become potential dispersers and pollinators. In this sense, some studies have already corroborated seed dispersal and pollination events by lizards. In islands where other species are absent, these interactions are essential for the maintenance of communities

Climatic forcing of evolution in Amazonia during the Cenozoic: On the refuge theory of biotic differentiation

Climatic-vegetational fluctuations due to astronomical Milankovitch cycles caused global changes in the distribution of tropical forests and nonforest vegetation during the Cenozoic (Tertiary-Quaternary) and before. Forest and nonforest biomes on the continents changed continuously in distribution during the geological past, breaking up into isolated blocks and again expanding and coalescing under the varying dry to humid climatic conditions. However, plant and animal communities disrupted and species changed their distributions individualistically during the various climatic phases. Field data indicating vegetational changes in Amazonia exist for the Quaternary; The refuge theory postulates that extensive patches of humid rainforests persisted during dry periods of the Tertiary and Quaternary, especially near areas of surface relief in peripheral portions of Amazonia, where many extant species and subspecies of plants and animals probably originated. The humid 'refugia' may have been separated by various types of savanna and dry forests as well as other intermediate vegetation types of seasonally dry climates. The number and size of refugia during different dry periods remain unknown. Biogeographic evidence for the former existence of forest refugia include areas of endemism and sharply defined contact zones between species and subspecies of Amazonian forest birds and other animals which represent zones of conspicuous biogeographic discontinuity in a continuous forest environment. Alternative models of barrier formation in Amazonia leading to allopatric speciation include the river hypothesis, river-refuge hypothesis; canopy-density hypothesis, disturbance-vicariance hypothesis, museum hypothesis and various paleogeography hypotheses, some aspects of which may be applicable to certain periods in the evolution of the biota

Evaluation of animal and plant diversity suggests Greenland’s thaw hastens the biodiversity crisis

Rising temperatures can lead to the occurrence of a large-scale climatic event, such as the melting of Greenland ice sheet, weakening the AMOC and further increasing dissimilarities between current and future climate. The impacts of such an event are still poorly assessed. Here, we evaluate those impacts across megadiverse countries on 21,146 species of tetrapods and vascular plants using the pessimistic climate change scenario (RCP 8.5) and four different scenarios of Greenland’s ice sheet melting. We show that RCP 8.5 emission scenario would lead to a widespread reduction in species’ geographic ranges (28–48%), which is projected to be magnified (58–99%) with any added contribution from the melting of Greenland. Also, declines in the potential geographical extent of species hotspots (12–89%) and alterations of species composition (19–91%) will be intensified. These results imply that the influence of a strong and rapid Greenland ice sheet melting, resulting in a large AMOC weakening, can lead to a faster collapse of biodiversity across the globe

Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage: the Amazonian Kichwa people

Indigenous communities express their concern about the weakening and low appreciation of their millenary and ancestral manifestations and knowledge, due to society’s accelerated globalization. This fact has caused intergenerational transmission to be minimal, resulting in a gradual cultural erosion and loss of collective memory of human groups. The purpose of this study is to safeguard of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the Amazonian Kichwa nationality through identification and records of cultural manifestations. The analysis corresponds to a descriptive process of all the information collected, which was built from the development of multiple processes of cultural revitalization that correspond to in-depth interviews with community leaders and participatory workshops with all members of the community. During the process, an increase in the exchange of knowledge was observed, in addition to constant cultural insurgency in which the peoples maintain themselves in order to safeguard their cultures

The Cracid Newsletter 1(1)-5 (1991-1997)

Volume1, Number 1 (Autumn 1991) Editors: Angela Schmitz and Richard Buchholz Status of the highly endangered white-winged guan Penelope albipennis, Victor Raul Diaz Montes Formation of the WPA-ICBP-SSC-IUCN Cracidae Specialist Group Cracidae Specialist Group Policy Statement CSG Action Plan, 1990-1995 Cracid news from around the world: Central America, South America, Europe, and USA Volumen 2, Numero 2 (Junio 1993) Editores: Angela Schmitz and Richard Buchholz Primer intento de introducción de un crácido en peligro, Geer Scheres El pavon Oreoplasis derbianus protegido y desprotegido, Fernando González García Técnicas demográficas de posible uso en crácidos, David B. McDonald Noticias desde el sitio de los acontecimientos: Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Belgica, Europa. Eastados Unidos de Norteamerica Cooperacion para el mantenimiento en cautiverio, Chelle Plasse Un rodeo de crácidos, Sue Dubois Parámetros para la determinación de poblaciones viables de crácidos en la región amazónica del Ecuador, Arlyne Johnson Sistemática y genética molecular de crácidos, Patricia Escalante-Pliego Guacharaca ¿Otra mas para la olla? Brinley J. Best Novedades sobre el estudio y conservación del pavon (Oreophasis derbianus) en México, Fernando González García La pava negra como dispersora de semillas en Costa Rica, Dan Wenny Comunicación entre crácidos ... y cracidologos, Angela Schmitz Volumen 3, Number 1 (Summer 1994) Editors: Angela Schmitz and Richard Buchholz The bearded guan Penelope barbata in the Podocarpus National Park, Loja, Ecuador, Galo Medina, Luis Suarez, and Patricio Mena Cracids as seed dispersers: What we need to know and why it is important, Douglas Levey Diets of the marail guan (Penelope marail) and the black curassow (Crax alector), Marc Thery, Christian Erard, and Daniel Sabatier Seeking unpublished theses on cracids, Angela Scmitz Delta of the Paraná River: The southernmost limit of the distribution for the family and the dusky guan (Penelope obscura), Jorge Merler Distribution of the dusky guan (Penelope oscura) and seed consumption in the Serrano Forest, Salta Province, Argentina: A proposed study, Sandra Caziani, Gladys Gonzo, Mario Mosqueira, and Enrique Derlindati A trip filled with cracids, Daniel M. Brooks Volume 4 (1997) Editors: Daniel M. Brooks (English), Alfredo J. Begazo (Spanish), Fabio Olmos (Portuguese) Resugiendo despues de un periodo de ausencia Estamos de Volta Nova resulamentaçâo para as estaçôes ecológicas de São Paulo, Fábio Olmos New regulations for São Paulo State\u27s ecological stations, Fábio Olmos Biología y conservación de la familia Crácidae, Daniel M. Brooks Biologia e conservaçâo da família Cracidae, Daniel M. Brooks Biology and conservation of the family Cracidae, Daniel M. Brooks Taller en Aves cinegéticas terrestres de la amazonia, Daniel M. Brooks y Alfredo J. Begazo Workshop sobre aves cinegéticas terrestres na Amazônia, Daniel M. Brooks e Alfredo J. Begazo Workshop on terrestrial Amazonian gamebirds, Daniel M. Brooks and Alfredo J. Begazo En memoria de Angel Ocmin-Petit (1961-1996), Daniel M. Brooks In memorian: Angel Ocmin-Petit (1961-1996), Daniel M. Brooks In memoriam: Angel Ocmin-Petit (1961-1996), Daniel M. Brooks Datos reuierdos, Precisa-se de informações, Request for data Oportunidades para de investigacion, Oportunidades de pesquisa, Research opportunities Publicaiones recients, Publicaçôes recentes, Recent publications Congresos, Meetings ¿Esta interesado en apuntarse? Interessado em assinar o boletim? Interested in signing up? Volume 5 (September 1997) Noticias de alrededor del mudo, Notícias de todo o mundo, News from around the world Con respecto a unicornios y el CITES, Unicórnios e a CITES, On unicorns and CITES La Cracidae: Biología y conservación, Cracídeos: Sua biologia e conservação, The Cracidae: Their biology and conservation Articulos, Artigos, Articles Noticias sobre el pirui (Crax globulosa) en el Peru, Alfredo J. Begazo Notas sobre Crax globulosa no Peru, Alfredo J. Begazo Notes on the wattled curassow (Crax globulosa) in Peru, Alfredo J. Begazo Observaciones en una bandada grande de mas gran curassow (Crax rubra) en Belice, Barry Zimmer Observações sobre um grande grupo de mutuns Crax rubra em Belize, Barry Zimmer Observations on a large flock of greater curassow (Crax rubra) in Belize, Barry Zimmer Obervaciones de la pava Andina (Penelope montagnii) en el Sector de Purshi, Sangay Parque Nacional, Ecuador: Una region Amenzanda con la construccion de una carretera, Craig Downer Observações sobre jacus Andinos (Penelope montagnii) no Sector Purshi, Parque Nacional Sangay, Ecuador: Uma região ameaçada pela construção de uma estrada, Craig Downer Observations on Andean guans (Penelope montagnii) in Purshi Sector, Sangay National Park, Ecuador: A region threatened with road development, Craig Downer Publicaiones recients, Publicaçôes recentes, Recent publications Oportunidades para de investigacion, Oportunidades de pesquisa, Research opportunities Congressos, Meetings ¿Esta interesado en apuntarse? Interessado em assinar o boletim? Interested in signing up? Instrucciones para los autores, (Portuguese translation needed for Instructions for contributors), Instructions for contributor