Retrieving Peromyscus bullatus from P. difficilis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) through cranial morphometry in a mammal collection

Peromyscus bullatus and Peromyscus difficilis are sympatric and phenotypically similar rodents. Because of this, misidentification of both species is frequent in the field and in mammal collections. In this study, P. bullatus specimens were retrieved from the P. difficilis specimens, in the mammal collection of the Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas of the Universidad Veracruzana, through the analysis of morphometric measurements of the tympanic bulla, proposed by González-Ruíz et al. (2005) as discrimination key variables between both species.La identificación errónea de ejemplares de Peromyscus bullatus como Peromyscus difficilis es frecuente, tanto en el campo como en las colecciones mastozoológicas, debido a que ambas especies son simpátricas y similares fenotípicamente. En este estudio se recuperaron ejemplares de P. bullatus incorrectamente catalogados como P. difficilis en la colección mastozoológica del Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas de la Universidad Veracruzana, mediante el análisis de medidas morfométricas de la bula timpánica, propuestas por González-Ruíz et al. (2005) como claves para la discriminación entre ambas especies

Too hot to handle? On the cooling capacity of urban green spaces in a Neotropical Mexican city

Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which can be mitigated by urban vegetation through shading and evapotranspiration. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of spatially explicit information on the cooling capacity of green infrastructure for most Latin American cities. In this study, we employed Land Surface Temperature (LST) of the Neotropical Mexican city of Xalapa to (1) analyze its Surface UHI (SUHI) compared to its peri and extra-urban areas, (2) to assess the cooling capacity of urban green spaces larger than 1ha, and (3) to evaluate the role of green spaces’ size, shape and their surrounding tree cover percentage (Tc) on green spaces cooling range. We evaluated the cooling range of green spaces and their relationships with green spaces metrics and Tc via a linear mixed-effect model and identify threshold values for the variables at 25, 50, 100, and 200m from the borders of green spaces through Classification and Regression Trees. Xalapa exhibits a SUHI of 1.70 °C compared to its peri-urban area and 4.95 °C to the extra-urban area. Green spaces > 2ha mitigated heat at ~2 °C and the cooling range was influenced by the size of green spaces ≥ 2.8ha and Tc > 21% at 50m and only by Tc surrounding the green spaces at 100m and 200m. This shows that the size threshold of urban green spaces should be complemented with the presence of Tc starting at least 50m to maximize the cooling capacity provided by the green infrastructure. Planning agendas should account for the interaction between the size of green spaces and the cumulative cooling effect of scattered vegetation inside urban areas towards compact green cities to cope with urban warming.Peer reviewe

Height, Weight and Body Mass Index by Age and Sex in Children Aged 4 to 6 Years in Merida, Mexico, as Compared to International References After Normalization with LMS

A cross-sectional study was done in 2006–2007 of 458 children (218 boys and 240 girls) aged 4 to 6 years (range 4.00 to 6.99 years) in Merida, Mexico. Height (cm) and body weight (kg) were measured to estimate growth; body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was calculated to evaluate nutritional status. Results showed signifi cant sex difference with respect to height, weight, and BMI. Increment of height and weight with age was observed. However, age difference in BMI was not consistent. Nutritional status was evaluated using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) classifi cation and BMI cut-off values showed notable rates of overweight (boys 14.41% and girls 17.75%) and obesity (boys 12.43% and girls 7.21%). Anthropometric data of height, weight, and BMI were normalized using LMS methodology and were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference data. Again, increment of height and weight with age was observed although those were lower in the present study for boys and girls than the corresponding WHO growth reference data. In contrast, mean BMI by age in the present results exceeded WHO reference data, especially above the 85th percentile. Assessment of nutritional status with reference to IOTF and WHO revealed similar trends

A Novel Approach for the Assessment of Cities through Ecosystem Integrity

To tackle urban heterogeneity and complexity, several indices have been proposed, commonly aiming to provide information for decision-makers. In this study, we propose a novel and customizable procedure for quantifying urban ecosystem integrity. Based on a citywide approach, we developed an easy-to-use index that contrasts physical and biological variables of urban ecosystems with a given reference system. The Urban Ecosystem Integrity Index (UEII) is the sum of the averages from the variables that make up its intensity of urbanization and biological components. We applied the UEII in a Mexican tropical city using land surface temperature, built cover, and the richness of native plants and birds. The overall ecosystem integrity of the city, having montane cloud, tropical dry, and temperate forests as reference systems, was low (−0.34 ± SD 0.32), showing that, beyond its biodiverse greenspace network, the built-up structure highly differs from the ecosystems of reference. The UEII showed to be a flexible and easy-to-calculate tool to evaluate ecosystem integrity for cities, allowing for comparisons between or among cities, as well as the sectors/regions within cities. If used properly, the index could become a useful tool for decision making and resource allocation at a city level

A Novel Approach for the Assessment of Cities through Ecosystem Integrity

To tackle urban heterogeneity and complexity, several indices have been proposed, commonly aiming to provide information for decision-makers. In this study, we propose a novel and customizable procedure for quantifying urban ecosystem integrity. Based on a citywide approach, we developed an easy-to-use index that contrasts physical and biological variables of urban ecosystems with a given reference system. The Urban Ecosystem Integrity Index (UEII) is the sum of the averages from the variables that make up its intensity of urbanization and biological components. We applied the UEII in a Mexican tropical city using land surface temperature, built cover, and the richness of native plants and birds. The overall ecosystem integrity of the city, having montane cloud, tropical dry, and temperate forests as reference systems, was low (−0.34 ± SD 0.32), showing that, beyond its biodiverse greenspace network, the built-up structure highly differs from the ecosystems of reference. The UEII showed to be a flexible and easy-to-calculate tool to evaluate ecosystem integrity for cities, allowing for comparisons between or among cities, as well as the sectors/regions within cities. If used properly, the index could become a useful tool for decision making and resource allocation at a city level

Shopping for Ecological Indices? On the Use of Incidence-Based Species Compositional Similarity Measures

β-diversity has been under continuous debate, with a current need to better understand the way in which a new wave of measures work. We assessed the results of 12 incidence-based β-diversity indices. Our results of gradual species composition overlap between paired assemblages considering progressive differences in species richness show the following: (i) four indices (β-2, β-3, β-3.s, and βr) should be used cautiously given that results with no shared species retrieve results that could be misinterpreted; (ii) all measures conceived specifically as partitioned components of species compositional dissimilarities ought to be used as such and not as independent measures per se; (iii) the non-linear response of some indices to gradual species composition overlap should be interpreted carefully, and further analysis using their results as dependent variables should be performed cautiously; and (iv) two metrics (βsim and βsor) behave predictably and linearly to gradual species composition overlap. We encourage ecologists using measures of β-diversity to fully understand their mathematical nature and type of results under the scenario to be used in order to avoid inappropriate and misleading inferences

Shopping for Ecological Indices? On the Use of Incidence-Based Species Compositional Similarity Measures

β-diversity has been under continuous debate, with a current need to better understand the way in which a new wave of measures work. We assessed the results of 12 incidence-based β-diversity indices. Our results of gradual species composition overlap between paired assemblages considering progressive differences in species richness show the following: (i) four indices (β-2, β-3, β-3.s, and βr) should be used cautiously given that results with no shared species retrieve results that could be misinterpreted; (ii) all measures conceived specifically as partitioned components of species compositional dissimilarities ought to be used as such and not as independent measures per se; (iii) the non-linear response of some indices to gradual species composition overlap should be interpreted carefully, and further analysis using their results as dependent variables should be performed cautiously; and (iv) two metrics (βsim and βsor) behave predictably and linearly to gradual species composition overlap. We encourage ecologists using measures of β-diversity to fully understand their mathematical nature and type of results under the scenario to be used in order to avoid inappropriate and misleading inferences

Lacustrine Urban Blue Spaces: Low Availability and Inequitable Distribution in the Most Populated Cities in Mexico

Lacustrine blue spaces provide benefits to the urbanites and wildlife habitat. Their availability varies depending on the city in which they are established and intra-urban social interactions. We analyzed the presence, distribution, and size of lentic water bodies in Mexico’s 145 most populated cities. We searched for patterns in their distribution concerning demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic data, aiming to understand their socio-ecological interactions in cities. We digitized lacustrine spaces to obtain their number per city, total surface, area of blue space per inhabitant, and surface as a percentage of the city’s total area. We tested for relationships between their number and surface and city population, hydrological regions, and urban marginalization index through linear and generalized linear models. We delimited 1834 lacustrine blue spaces, finding almost two-thirds of them artificial. Their presence and surface in Mexican cities were generally low, except for hydrological regions close to the Gulf of Mexico. Their number and surface decreased as the urban marginalization index increased. The lack of equitable provision of lacustrine space at the national level has implications for urban planning and land management. Blue spaces should maximize their ecosystem services’ provision for the whole society to promote cities’ sustainability and resilience

Woody neotropical streetscapes: a case study of tree and shrub species richness and composition in Xalapa

Abstract: The urbanization process goes far beyond the replacement of preexisting non-urban systems, transforming the land in such way that represents worrisome ecological threats. In the novel urban systems, original vegetation is removed and/or replaced with a combination of native and exotic species. In this study, our aim was to generate an updated species list of the trees and shrubs that thrive in the streetscape of Xalapa (Veracruz, Mexico), describing their native/exotic ratio. For this, we followed a city-wide approach comprised by a grid of 106 sampling sites. We recorded a total of 140 tree and shrub species, of which 32 had not been previously reported for the city. Exotics represented more than half of the recorded species, which together with native ones were distributed unevenly throughout the city. Most frequent species include: Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina), Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), Paperflower (Bougainvillea glabra), Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.), Mexican Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica), and Little-leaf Boxwood (Buxus microphylla). It is noticeable that sites at which we recorded no trees or shrubs were located near downtown and peripheral areas of the city. Our findings should be considered carefully, as the unequal distribution of plant diversity in urban areas can compromise the benefits that vegetation provides to citizens, as well as their ecological functions.Resumen: El proceso de urbanización va más allá del remplazo de sistemas preexistentes, transformando el terreno de tal forma que representa amenazas ecológicas preocupantes. En estos nuevos sistemas, la vegetación original es removida o remplazada con una combinación de especies nativas y exóticas. Este trabajo se enfocó en generar una lista de especies actualizada de los árboles y arbustos del paisaje urbano de Xalapa (Veracruz, México), describiendo la proporción de especies nativas y exóticas. Para ello, se utilizó un enfoque de ciudad completa comprendida por una retícula de 106 sitios de muestreo. Se registró un total de 140 especies de árboles y arbustos, de los cuales 32 no habían sido registrados anteriormente para la ciudad. Las especies exóticas representaron más de la mitad de las especies registradas, las cuales en conjunto con las especies nativas estuvieron distribuidas de forma desigual a lo largo y ancho de la ciudad. Las especies más frecuentes fueron: laurel de la India (Ficus benjamina), tulipán chino (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), buganvilia (Bougainvillea glabra), azalea (Rhododendron sp.), cedro blanco (Cupressus lusitanica) y boj de hoja pequeña (Buxus microphylla). Es notable que los sitios en los que no se registró ninguna especie de árbol o arbusto estuvieron localizados cerca del centro histórico de la ciudad, así como en sus periferias. Los resultados de este trabajo deben ser considerados cuidadosamente, ya que la distribución desigual de la diversidad de plantas en áreas urbanas puede comprometer los beneficios que provee la vegetación a los habitantes, así como sus funciones ecológicas

Áreas verdes y arbolado en Mérida, Yucatán. Hacia una sostenibilidad urbana

Las áreas verdes y el arbolado son parte esencial de las dimensiones ecológica, social y económica de la sostenibilidad urbana. La presente investigación es un análisis de las áreas de vegetación en Mérida y de las condiciones que determinan su presencia y distribución. La metodología se basó en el procesamiento de imagen de satélite para captar la cobertura arbórea, se uso Google Earth como herramienta para medición y cálculo de superficies y recorridos de campo. Los resultados arrojan que las áreas verdes y cobertura arbórea se vinculan al merca - do de vivienda y sus tipologías, a los procesos de gestión y gobernanza, y a la participación social