Lepidoptera from the Pantepui. Part VII. A distinctive Lamprospilusspecies from the Guiana Highlands (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae)

Lamprospilus ayawi sp. nov. (Lycaenidae, Theclinae), whose male possesses distinctive transparent wing patches, is described from the Guiana Highlands of South America, on the basis of six males and five females from Venezuela (Auyán and Sororopán Tepuis) and one male from Guyana (Acarai Mts.)

Lepidoptera from the Pantepui. Part V. New Lycaenidae (Theclinae: Eumaeini)

Two new species of butterfly (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea, Lycaenidae) from the Pantepui (Venezuela) are described; Ocaria faurei Bálint, Attal & Costa, sp. nov. and Strymon auyana Bálint, Benmesbah & Viloria, sp. nov. (Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini). Notes and data are provided on the representatives of the genera Ocaria Clench, 1970 and Strymon Hübner, 1818 found in the Pantepui and in its adjacent areas in southern Venezuela with a particular focus on endemism. Se describen dos nuevas especies de mariposas (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea, Lycaenidae) de diversas localidades del Pantepui (Venezuela): Ocaria faurei Bálint, Attal & Costa, sp. nov. y Strymon auyana Bálint, Benmesbah & Viloria, sp. nov. (Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini). Se proveen datos y anotaciones sobre los representantes de los géneros Ocaria Clench, 1970 y Strymon Hübner, 1818 encontrados en el Pantepui y áreas adyacentes en el sur de Venezuela con particular enfoque en el endemismo

Congruence and diversity of butterfly-host plant associations at higher taxonomic levels

We aggregated data on butterfly-host plant associations from existing sources in order to address the following questions: (1) is there a general correlation between host diversity and butterfly species richness?, (2) has the evolution of host plant use followed consistent patterns across butterfly lineages?, (3) what is the common ancestral host plant for all butterfly lineages? The compilation included 44,148 records from 5,152 butterfly species (28.6% of worldwide species of Papilionoidea) and 1,193 genera (66.3%). The overwhelming majority of butterflies use angiosperms as host plants. Fabales is used by most species (1,007 spp.) from all seven butterfly families and most subfamilies, Poales is the second most frequently used order, but is mostly restricted to two species-rich subfamilies: Hesperiinae (56.5% of all Hesperiidae), and Satyrinae (42.6% of all Nymphalidae). We found a significant and strong correlation between host plant diversity and butterfly species richness. A global test for congruence (Parafit test) was sensitive to uncertainty in the butterfly cladogram, and suggests a mixed system with congruent associations between Papilionidae and magnoliids, Hesperiidae and monocots, and the remaining subfamilies with the eudicots (fabids and malvids), but also numerous random associations. The congruent associations are also recovered as the most probable ancestral states in each node using maximum likelihood methods. The shift from basal groups to eudicots appears to be more likely than the other way around, with the only exception being a Satyrine-clade within the Nymphalidae that feed on monocots. Our analysis contributes to the visualization of the complex pattern of interactions at superfamily level and provides a context to discuss the timing of changes in host plant utilization that might have promoted diversification in some butterfly lineages

Mariposas altiandinas (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE, SATYRINAE) y la conservación de los páramos en Venezuela

<p>Cartel presentado en el Congreso Mundial de Páramos en Paipa, Boyacá (Colombia) del 13 al 18 de mayo de 2002. Asociado a un artículo publicado en el primer tomo de memorias del congreso (ver enlaces).</p> <p>Abstract</p> <p>High Andean butterfly genera Redonda and Diaphanos (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae) occur exclusively in the paramos of the Venezuelan Andes east of the Táchira Depression. These genera belong to two lineages of different origin, one Neotropical and the other Holarctic, and currently show allelopatric distributions. However, the species and/or subspecies embraced by each one are all allopatric in relation to its congeners. As a product of this distribution pattern, these butterflies exhibit three biogeographical features considered relevant for conservation biology: endemism, insularity, and relative narrowness of its distribution area. Recent geo-historical events could be linked to the origin of this fauna and its confinement. Nevertheless, biological attributes like the strongly sedentary behavior of the adult females, the absolute dependence of their larvae on certain poaceous host-plants of the páramos, or the phenology of some species (that stay on the wing only during the dry season), not only increase the vulnerability given by their singular distribution, but also add precarious maintenance of the populations in areas where human presence, sporadic or perennial, is continuously disturbing the landscape. Men alters and/or eliminate the original vegetation, mainly by means of introducing exotic cattle that grazes and steps heavily on the host-plants of these insects; or less frequently by setting fires that go out of control, with devastating effects on those plants.</p

Lepidoptera del Pantepui. Parte I: Endemismo y caracterización biogeográfica

Se presenta la primera parte de una serie de contribuciones al conocimiento de las mariposas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea y Hesperioidea) del Pantepui. Se describe la morfolog&iacute;a y la localizaci&oacute;n de los tepuyes, unas mesetas de origen prec&aacute;mbrico situadas en el Escudo de Guayana, en Suram&eacute;rica. Se recapitula sobre la noci&oacute;n y el concepto de Pantepui, una entidad biogeogr&aacute;fica que corresponde s&oacute;lo a los niveles montano, altimontano y altotepuyano de los tepuyes de Venezuela, Guyana y Brasil. Se comenta brevemente acerca de las hip&oacute;tesis biogeogr&aacute;ficas que intentan dilucidar el origen de la biota pantepuyana. Se revisa la historia de su descubrimiento y del estudio de sus mariposas. Se presenta por primera vez una lista comentada de varios taxones end&eacute;micos de la regi&oacute;n

Lepidoptera del Pantepui. Parte I: Endemismo y caracterización biogeográfica

Se presenta la primera parte de una serie de contribuciones al conocimiento de las mariposas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea y Hesperioidea) del Pantepui. Se describe la morfolog&iacute;a y la localizaci&oacute;n de los tepuyes, unas mesetas de origen prec&aacute;mbrico situadas en el Escudo de Guayana, en Suram&eacute;rica. Se recapitula sobre la noci&oacute;n y el concepto de Pantepui, una entidad biogeogr&aacute;fica que corresponde s&oacute;lo a los niveles montano, altimontano y altotepuyano de los tepuyes de Venezuela, Guyana y Brasil. Se comenta brevemente acerca de las hip&oacute;tesis biogeogr&aacute;ficas que intentan dilucidar el origen de la biota pantepuyana. Se revisa la historia de su descubrimiento y del estudio de sus mariposas. Se presenta por primera vez una lista comentada de varios taxones end&eacute;micos de la regi&oacute;n

Species diversity and structure of a butterfly assemblage (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a peri-urban cloud forest landscape in the Cordillera de la Costa Venezuela

Para caracterizar la diversidad, estructura y composición del ensamblaje de especies de mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), se realizaron capturas estandarizadas durante doce meses (junio 2012-mayo 2013) en dos sitios de un paisaje de bosque nublado en la Cordillera de la Costa, norte de Venezuela (Altos de Pipe, 1.450 y 1.650 m s.n.m., Municipio Los Salias, estado Miranda). Los resultados arrojaron 4.859 individuos distribuidos en 230 especies, 173 géneros, 18 tribus, 21 subfamilias, y seis familias. Sumando a ello los registros históricos de este sector geogáfico, el inventario taxonómico ascendió a 267 especies. Aunque la diversidad alfa evaluada resultó similar en los dos sitios, la estructura y la composición del ensamblaje de mariposas reflejaron diferencias entre ellos en cuanto a taxones abudantes y raros. La residencia de especies indicadoras del buen estado de salud de este tipo de bosque, es una señal de que los fragmentos boscosos estudiados son importantes como refugios locales de mariposas. El registro de los patrones de diversidad en Altos de Pipe, con componentes notables de especies raras y endémicas de la Cordillera de la Costa o del territorio venezolano, es un primer paso para entender y predecir el comportamiento y la funcionalidad de las comunidades de mariposas en fragmentos de bosque nublado periurbanos en la región Neotropical.To characterize the diversity, structure and composition of the assemblage of diurnal butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), standardized captures were made for twelve months ( June 2012-May 2013) in two sites of a cloud forest landscape in the Cordillera de la Costa, northern Venezuela (Altos de Pipe, 1,450 and 1,650 m asl, Los Salias Municipality, Miranda state). The results yielded 4,859 individuals distributed in 230 species, 173 genera, 18 tribes, 21 subfamilies, and six families. Adding to this the historical records for this geographic sector, the taxonomic inventory amounted to 267 species. Although the alpha diversity evaluated was similar in the two sites, the structure and composition of the butterfly assemblage reflected differences between them in terms of abundant and rare taxa. The residence of species that indicate the good health of this type of forest is a sign that the forest fragments studied are important as local refuge for butterflies. The recording of diversity patterns in Altos de Pipe, with notable components of rare and endemic species of the Cordillera de la Costa or of the Venezuelan territory, is a first step to understand and predict the behavior and functionality of the butterfly communities in peri-urban cloud forest fragments in the Neotropical region

Estimating large carnivore populations at global scale based on spatial predictions of density and distribution - Application to the jaguar (Panthera onca).

Broad scale population estimates of declining species are desired for conservation efforts. However, for many secretive species including large carnivores, such estimates are often difficult. Based on published density estimates obtained through camera trapping, presence/absence data, and globally available predictive variables derived from satellite imagery, we modelled density and occurrence of a large carnivore, the jaguar, across the species' entire range. We then combined these models in a hierarchical framework to estimate the total population. Our models indicate that potential jaguar density is best predicted by measures of primary productivity, with the highest densities in the most productive tropical habitats and a clear declining gradient with distance from the equator. Jaguar distribution, in contrast, is determined by the combined effects of human impacts and environmental factors: probability of jaguar occurrence increased with forest cover, mean temperature, and annual precipitation and declined with increases in human foot print index and human density. Probability of occurrence was also significantly higher for protected areas than outside of them. We estimated the world's jaguar population at 173,000 (95% CI: 138,000-208,000) individuals, mostly concentrated in the Amazon Basin; elsewhere, populations tend to be small and fragmented. The high number of jaguars results from the large total area still occupied (almost 9 million km2) and low human densities (< 1 person/km2) coinciding with high primary productivity in the core area of jaguar range. Our results show the importance of protected areas for jaguar persistence. We conclude that combining modelling of density and distribution can reveal ecological patterns and processes at global scales, can provide robust estimates for use in species assessments, and can guide broad-scale conservation actions

Posterior distribution of range-wide jaguar population estimates.

<p>Results obtained from 100,000 iterations of a hierarchical model of jaguar occurrence and density; dashed vertical lines represent a 95% credible interval.</p

Comparison of the four best-fitting logistic regression models of jaguar presence-absence at 3,155 sites in North and South America, between 2006–2015.

<p>Models were fitted with 17 spatial variables (three anthropogenic variables, 13 environmental variables, and North America–South America code); definitions of the predictive variables are in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194719#pone.0194719.s002" target="_blank">S2 Table</a>. Selection of the best model based on the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC); additionally Nagelkerke R² and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC) are provided. Bold indicates the best model used for spatial prediction of jaguar occurrence.</p