EFFECT OF NECTAR-FORAGING ANTS AND WASPS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE FITNESS OF TURNERA ULMIFOLIA (TURNERACEAE) IN A COASTAL SAND DUNE IN MEXICO

We evaluated over two years the effect of different ant species on the reproductive fitness (estimated as end-of-season fruit set per treatment) of Turnera ulmifolia. Research was done on a sand dune matorral located on the coast of Veracruz, México. The results show that (i) plants associated with the larger ant species (Camponotus abdominalis) produced more fruits than plants associated with the smaller ant species, and (ii) plants associated with ants were subject to lower levels of herbivory, than plants without ants. Consequently, ant presence is not synonymous of plant protection, and the level of protection by ants will depend on the size of the worker ants in a guild of ant visitors. Moreover, when ants were excluded, wasps and bees increased their visits, exerting a higher level of protection than that offered by the smaller ant species. However, the differential effect of wasps needs further attention.Evaluamos durante dos años el efecto de diferentes especies de hormigas sobre el éxito reproductivo (estimado como número total de frutos por temporada) de Turnera ulmifolia. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el matorral de duna costera en la costa central del estado de Veracruz, México. Los resultados muestran que (i) plantas asociadas con la especie de hormiga más grande (Camponotus abdominalis) produjeron más frutos que plantas asociadas con las especies de hormiga más pequeñas, y (ii) plantas asociadas con las hormigas sufrieron niveles de herbivoría menores, que plantas sin hormigas. Consequentemente, la presencia de hormigas no es sinónimo de protección para una planta, y el nivel de protección por hormigas dependerá del tamaño de las hormigas obreras en un gremio de hormigas visitantes. Más aún, cuando se excluyeron a las hormigas, aumentaron las visitas de avispas y abejas, las que efectuaron un nivel de protección mayor que aquel ofrecido por las especies pequeñas de hormigas. Sin embargo, el efecto diferencial de las avispas requiere atención futura

Adaptive Strategies of Small-scale Fishers in Yucatan Mexico: Dealing with Risk and Uncertainty

Worldwide there is a recognition that fishing communities face challenges in changing environments, changing markets, and under different types of stressors. In this context, it is important to identify the causal factors of vulnerability and to understand how people deal with them, in order to find ways to reduce the impact of future threats and to develop adaptive capacities for the impacted communities. We present two case studies in Yucatan Mexico, to illustrate how changes in resource abundance, market demand, and policy interventions, can influence fisher's strategies and their capacity to adapt to such changes. Information from interviews and log- books allowed to identify cooperation processes in a fishing community, however, competition came into place in that community when a new commercial sea cucumber fishery created a ‘gold rush' situation, bringing conflict in what seemed a cohesive coastal community. We also evaluated risk on the health and safety of the fishers that target sea cucumber and lobster based on diving, they tend to disregard potential risk when resource abundance decreases or when market demand increases. The analyzed cases show the complexity of marine resource governance in Yucatan, like in other regions, which demand to understand and identify the factors underlying people's behavior and the decisions they make, especially under conditions of risk and uncertainty. We point out that, in order to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity of coastal communities, it is necessary to promote cooperation, which in turn can facilitate fisheries governance.Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade, held July 11-15, 2016 at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Center (AECC), Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Effect of agricultural land-use change on ant dominance hierarchy and food preferences in a temperate oak forest

Background The discovery-dominance trade-off is the inverse relationship between the ability of a species to discover resources and the species’ dominance of those resources; a paradigm used to explain species coexistence in ant communities dependent on similar resources. However, factors such as stress (e.g., temperature) or disturbance (e.g., removal of biomass) associated with the change in land use, can modify this trade-off. Here, we aimed to determine the potential effects of land use change on dominance hierarchy, food preferences and on the discovery-dominance trade-off. Methods An experiment with baits was used to investigate the dominance hierarchies of ant communities in a temperate mountain habitat in central Mexico. We evaluated the dominance index (DI), food preferences and discovery-dominance trade-offs of ants inhabiting two types of vegetation: a native oak forest and agricultural land resulting from agricultural land use and grazing. Results The ant communities in both environments were comprised of three species of ants (Monomorium minimum, Myrmica mexicana, and Camponotus picipes pilosulus), four morphospecies (Pheidole sp.1 and Pheidole sp.2, Temnothorax sp. and Lasius sp.) and one genus (Formica spp.). All Formicidae showed values of intermediate to low DI, and this factor did not seem to be influenced by the change in land use. Ants in the modified vegetation (i.e., agricultural land) were found to be numerically greater. Overall, a higher number of visits were registered to the tuna bait, although the duration of foraging events to the honey baits was longer. However, foraging times were dependent on the species considered: the generalized Myrmicinae, M. minimum, the ant species with highest DI, foraged for longer periods of time in the agricultural land and on the tuna bait. Meanwhile, the cold-climate specialist Formica spp., with a lower DI, foraged for longer periods of time in the oak (although not significant) and on the honey bait. We found little evidence of the discovery-dominance trade-off; instead, we found considerable diversity in the strategies used by the different species to access resources. This range of strategies is well represented by the generalized Myrmicinae M. minimum, the cold-climate specialists Formica spp. and Temnothorax sp., and the rare species, as the cold climate specialist Lasius sp. (insinuators). Conclusions Our evaluation shows that transformation of the original habitat does not appear to affect the hierarchical dominance of the ant communities, but it does affect their food preferences. Species with higher DI values such as the generalized Myrmicinae are more skilled at resource acquisition in modified habitats. Our results suggest that change in land use promotes an increase in the diversity of foraging strategies used by different ant species. This diversity may contribute to resource partitioning which favors coexistence

Víctor Rico-Gray (1951-2021): un recorrido por la vida de un gran visionario en la ecología

As a tribute and permanent memory of those of us who were his students, continuing his legacy, in commemoration of his death anniversary, on April 4.Como homenaje y permanente recuerdo de quienes fuimos sus estudiantes, continuando su legado, en conmemoración de su aniversario luctuoso, el día 4 de abril.   &nbsp

Enriquecimiento ambiental y su efecto en la exhibición de comportamientos estereotipados en jaguares (Panthera onca) del Parque Zoológico Yaguar Xoo, Oaxaca

The development of environmental enrichment programs to captive animals, promotes the animal welfare by increasing their physical activity as well as diminishing the stress, and preventing or reducing abnormal or stereotypic behaviors. In the Yaguar Xoo Zoological Park we designed and applied an environmental enrichment program to four captive jaguars (Panthera onca). Were two males (four and ten years old) and two females (four and ten years respectively). Enrichment items (teething and bag with stones) were applied, food (chicken, beef, fish, food shopping Whiskas®) and sensory (recordings of vocalizations of jaguar Panthera onca, puma Puma concolor and howler monkey Alouatta palliata, and as bags with different essences of mint, orange, anise, lynx Lynx rufus and ocelot Felis pardis urine). Our goal was to evaluate the program’s efficiency on the reduction or elimination of stereotypic behaviors (swinging, pacing, and vocalization). The exhibit behaviors were evaluated through three different phases: (1) the pre-enrichment phase (26 days), (2) the environmental enrichment application phase (34 days), and (3) the post-enrichment phase (22 days). As a result of the application program found a significant decrease in the performance of stereotypies and an increase in behavior normal individuals studied. For these four jaguars, the number of displayed normal behavior (whether they were individual or social) was significantly different among the three stage of the study (F2,306 = 4.215, p = 0.0156). In the post-enrichment frequency of normal behavior was similar to the pre-enrichment (p = 0.4680). The swinging (9.57%) decreased dramatically once applied environmental enrichement (0.96%) and, this trend continued even though the enrichment was removed (3.88%) (X2 = 102.9, p < 0.001). The pacing (1.96%) also fell dramatically once applied environmental enrichment (0.36%) and, once the enrichment was removed, the percentage increased to levels similar to the previous stage (1.26%) (X2 = 12.6, p < 0.001). The vocalization (3.06%) decreased dramatically once applied environmentalenrichment (0.48%), however was similar in the stages before and after the enrichment (3.49%)(X2 = 21.14, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the application of the environmental enrichment enhance captivejaguars’ well-being by stimulating active behaviors and reducing stereotypical behaviors.El desarrollo de programas de enriquecimiento ambiental para animales en cautiverio promueve el bienestar animal aumentando la actividad física, reduciendo el estrés y, previniendo o reduciendotrastornos como las estereotipias o comportamientos anormales. En el Parque Zoológico Yaguar Xoo se diseñó y aplicó un programa a cuatro jaguares (Panthera onca). Fueron dos machos (de cuatroy diez años de edad) y dos hembras (de cuatro y diez años, respectivamente). Se aplicaron estímulos ocupativos (mordedera y garrafón con piedras), alimenticios (pollo, carne de res, pescado, alimento comercial Whiskas®) y sensoriales (grabaciones de vocalizaciones de jaguar Panthera onca, puma Puma concolor y mono aullador Alouatta palliata, así como sacos con diferentes esencias de menta, naranja, anís, orina de lince Lynx rufus y de ocelote Felis pardis). Con el objetivo de evaluar la eficiencia del programa, mediante la reducción o eliminación de las estereotipias (balanceo, paseo y vocalización), se midieron los patrones de comportamiento presentados en los sujetos de estudio durante tres diferentes etapas: (1) previa al enriquecimiento (26 días), (2) aplicación del enriquecimiento ambiental (34 días) y, (3) posterior al enriquecimiento (22 días). Como resultado de la aplicación del programa encontramos una disminución significativa en la ejecución de estereotipias y un incremento en los comportamientos normales en los individuos de estudio. Para los cuatro jaguares el número de comportamiento normales exhibidos (independientemente de que fueran individuales o sociales) fue significativamente distinto entre las tres etapas del estudio (F2,306 = 4.215, p = 0.0156). En la etapa posterior al enriquecimiento la frecuencia de comportamientos normales fue similar a la etapa previa al enriquecimiento (p = 0.4680). El balanceo (9.57%) disminuyó drásticamente una vez que se aplicó el enriquecimiento ambiental (0.96%) y, esta tendencia se mantuvo aun cuando el enriquecimiento fue retirado (3.88%) (X2 = 102.9, p < 0.001). El paseo (1.96%) también disminuyó drásticamente una vez que se aplicó el enriquecimiento ambiental (0.36%) y, una vez que el enriquecimiento fue retirado, el porcentaje se incrementó a niveles similares con la etapa previa (1.26%) (X2 = 12.6, p < 0.001). La vocalización (3.06%) disminuyó drásticamente una vez que se aplicó el enriquecimiento ambiental (0.48%), sin embargo fue similar en las etapas previa y posterior al enriquecimiento (3.49%) (X2 = 21.14, p < 0.001). Esto demuestra que la aplicación del programa tuvo un efecto positivo al tiempo de evaluación en el comportamiento de los felinos, al disminuir la frecuencia de estereotipias.

¿Por qué los médicos no utilizan en forma temprana la insulinización en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2?: Un estudio cualitativo en una ciudad mexicana

Early insulinization therapy is regarded as an efficient aid to improve long term control and quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Nevertheless, both patients and medical staff confront barriers in using this therapeutic tool. This study employs a qualitative approach to explore the barriers to early insulinization among medical staff from the public sector in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Between 2015 and 2016, in-depth interviews were conducted with general and specialist physicians offering primary health care to patients with DM2. The transcribed interviews were analyzed to extract and organize categories and subcategories of barriers among medical staff. These barriers were then grouped into three categories and exemplified with interview excerpts: barriers coming from the medical staff itself, barriers emerging from the doctor-patient interaction, and institutional barriers. Uses for the classification obtained are discussed, as are some of the solutions proposed by study participants.La terapia de insulinización temprana ha demostrado ser un auxilio eficaz para mejorar el control a largo plazo y la calidad de vida de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Sin embargo, tanto los pacientes como los médicos presentan barreras al uso de esta alternativa terapéutica. El presente estudio utiliza un abordaje cualitativo para explorar las barreras a la insulinización temprana que tiene el personal médico del sector público en la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Entre los años 2015 y 2016, se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a médicos generales y especialistas que brindaban atención primaria a pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Las entrevistas transcritas fueron analizadas para extraer y esquematizar las categorías y subcategorías de las barreras del personal de salud, las cuales se agruparon en tres categorías que fueron ejemplificadas con extractos del discurso de los participantes: barreras propias del personal médico, barreras que surgen en la relación médico-paciente, y obstáculos institucionales. Se discuten los posibles usos del esquema obtenido, así como algunas propuestas de solución generadas por los participantes del estudio

¿Por qué los médicos no utilizan en forma temprana la insulinización en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2?: un estudio cualitativo en una ciudad mexicana

La terapia de insulinización temprana ha demostrado ser un auxilio eficaz para mejorar el control a largo plazo y la calidad de vida de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Sin embargo, tanto los pacientes como los médicos presentan barreras al uso de esta alternativa terapéutica. El presente estudio utiliza un abordaje cualitativo para explorar las barreras a la insulinización temprana que tiene el personal médico del sector público en la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Entre los años 2015 y 2016, se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a médicos generales y especialistas que brindaban atención primaria a pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Las entrevistas transcritas fueron analizadas para extraer y esquematizar las categorías y subcategorías de las barreras del personal de salud, las cuales se agruparon en tres categorías que fueron ejemplificadas con extractos del discurso de los participantes: barreras propias del personal médico, barreras que surgen en la relación médico-paciente, y obstáculos institucionales. Se discuten los posibles usos del esquema obtenido, así como algunas propuestas de solución generadas por los participantes del estudio.Early insulinization therapy is regarded as an efficient aid to improve long term control and quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Nevertheless, both patients and medical staff confront barriers in using this therapeutic tool. This study employs a qualitative approach to explore the barriers to early insulinization among medical staff from the public sector in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Between 2015 and 2016, in-depth interviews were conducted with general and specialist physicians offering primary health care to patients with DM2. The transcribed interviews were analyzed to extract and organize categories and subcategories of barriers among medical staff. These barriers were then grouped into three categories and exemplified with interview excerpts: barriers coming from the medical staff itself, barriers emerging from the doctor-patient interaction, and institutional barriers. Uses for the classification obtained are discussed, as are some of the solutions proposed by study participants

Micofagia por roedores en un bosque templado del centro de México Mycophagy by rodents in a temperate forest of Central Mexico

La micofagia por roedores en hongos hipogeos ha sido documentada en diversos ecosistemas del mundo; sin embargo, el estudio del consumo de hongos epigeos por este grupo ha sido insuficiente. En el presente trabajo se evaluó de manera experimental la micofagia de 2 especies de ratones silvestres (Neotomodon alstoni y Peromyscus maniculatus) en el hongo epigeo ectomicorrizógeno Russula aff. cuprea y la posible preferencia de estos ratones por consumir alguna estructura específica del hongo (píleo, himenio o estípite). Asimismo, se analizó si el paso del hongo a través del tracto digestivo afectaba la actividad metabólica esporal. Los resultados indican que aunque el esporoma entero puede ser consumido, el himenio (parte fértil) es la primera estructura seleccionada por ambas especies. Además, se encontró que el paso por el tracto digestivo de las 2 especies de ratones no tiene efecto significativo (p= 0.067) en la actividad metabólica esporal de R. aff. cuprea, sugiriendo que estos ratones silvestres podrían ser dispersores efectivos de las esporas del hongo epigeo en el Parque Nacional La Malinche.<br>The mycophagy by rodents in hypogeous fungal species has been widely documented in different ecosystems around the world. However, the consumption of epigeos fungi by this group has been poorly studied. In this study we evaluated the mycophagy by 2 mice species (Neotomodon alstoni and Peromyscus maniculatus) in the epigeous ectomycorrhizal fungi Russula aff. cuprea. Experimentally tests were carried out to see if these mice species have a preference to consume a specific structure of the fungus (pileus, hymenium or stipe). Also, we analyzed if the passage of this fungus through the digestive tract has an effect on the sporal metabolic activity. Our results indicate that although the whole sporocarp can be consumed, the hymenium (fertile part of the sporocarp) was the first structure selected by both mice species. Furthermore, we found that the passage of the fungus by the digestive tract of the 2 mice species does not have a significant effect on the sporal metabolic acivity (p= 0.06) of Russula aff. cuprea, suggesting that these mice species could be effective sporal dispersers of this epigeous fungi in the National Park La Malinche

Variación en la coloración y los patrones del pelaje en los felinos

The Felidae family, represented by 37 species, exhibits a variety of patterns on their fur: smooth coat, rosettes, streaks or spots. In this work, different aspects of the evolution, function and variations in pigmentation coat patterns of the felines are discussed. The most accepted theory of the coloration of their fur assumes that the ancestral pattern is a spotted coat. Currently, these are distributed in 22 species with blotchy, two with horizontal stripes, two vertical stripes and six have a uniform color. Also present atypical colorations as the melanism (melanin excess) characterized by a dark fur–beneficial character–, and the albinism and leucism (melanin deficiency) which present a white coat color–harmful character–. These variations that exist in color and coat patterns are stimulated by the diversity of habitat and behavior, having an important role in communication, camouflage and physiological functions of felines.La familia Felidae, representada por 37 especies, presenta alta diversidad de patrones en su pelaje: liso, rosetas, rayas o manchas. En este trabajo se abordan diferentes aspectos de la evolución, función y variaciones en los patrones del pelaje de los felinos. La teoría más aceptada de la coloración de su pelaje asume que el patrón ancestral es un pelaje manchado. Actualmente, estos patrones se distribuyen en 22 especies con manchas, dos con rayas horizontales, dos con rayas verticales y seis presentan coloración uniforme. También presentan tonalidades atípicas como el melanismo (exceso de melanina) caracterizado por un pelaje obscuro –carácter benéfico– y el albinismo y leucismo (deficiencia de melanina) donde presentan una coloración blanca –carácter perjudicial–. Estas variaciones en el color y en los patrones del pelaje están estimuladas por la diversidad del hábitat y comportamiento, que tienen un papel importante en la comunicación, camuflaje y funciones fisiológicas de los felinos

Innate and learnt color preferences in the common green-eyed white butterfly (Leptophobia aripa): experimental evidence

Background Learning abilities help animals modify their behaviors based on experience and innate sensory biases to confront environmental unpredictability. In a food acquisition context, the ability to detect, learn, and switch is fundamental in a wide range of insect species facing the ever-changing availability of their floral rewards. Here, we used an experimental approach to address the innate color preferences and learning abilities of the common green-eyed white butterfly (Leptophobia aripa). Methods In Experiment 1, we conducted innate preference choice-tests to determine whether butterflies had a strong innate color preference and to evaluate whether color preferences differed depending on the array of colors offered. We faced naïve butterflies to artificial flowers of four colors (quadruple choice-test): yellow, pink, white, and red; their choices were assessed. In Experiment 2, we examined the ability of this butterfly species to associate colors with rewards while exploring if the spectral reflectance value of a flower color can slow or accelerate this behavioral response. Butterflies were first trained to be fed from artificial yellow flowers inserted in a feeder. These were later replaced by artificial flowers with a similar (blue) or very different (white) spectral reflectance range. Each preference test comprised a dual-choice test (yellow vs blue, yellow vs white). Results Butterflies showed an innate strong preference for red flowers. Both the number of visits and the time spent probing these flowers were much greater than the pink, white, and yellow color flowers. Butterflies learn to associate colors with sugar rewards. They then learned the newly rewarded colors as quickly and proficiently as if the previously rewarded color was similar in spectral reflectance value; the opposite occurs if the newly rewarded color is very different than the previously rewarded color. Conclusions Our findings suggest that common green-eyed white butterflies have good learning abilities. These capabilities may allow them to respond rapidly to different color stimulus