Intraspecific variation in morphology and sexual dimorphism in Liolaemus tenuis (Tropiduridae).

Ramirez, C.C. Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Silvoagrícola, Instituto de Biología Vegetal y Biotecnología, Universidad de Talca, Casilla 747, Talca, ChileLiolaemus tenuis is a widely distributed arboreal lizard species in central-southern Chile. Although two subspecies, L. t. tenuis and L. t. punctatissimus, have been described based on sexual dimorphism, their characteristic have not been accurately demarcated. Therefore, both traditional and geometric morphometrics were used to study the morphological variation of L. tenuis. Four specific questions were addressed: (1) Does population morphological variation occur along a latitudinal gradient, given its wide geographic distribution in a climactic gradient? (2) Does L. tenuis present sexual dimorphism? (3) In the case of dimorphism, what is the variation along a latitudinal gradient? (4) Are these subspecies morphologically distinguishable? The study was performed in a variety of locations, including the following six bioclimatic regions of Chile: arid mediterranean, semi-arid mediterranean, sub-humid mediterranean, humid mediterranean, per-humid mediterranean, and oceanic with mediterranean influence. Male and female individuals were measured and photographed. Our results suggest sexual dimorphism for all morphological variables analyzed. Geometric data indicate that the eye orbits of the males are more extended than those of the females; this is probably related to territorial defense and/or polygynic mating system. The traditional morphometric approach revealed a difference in individuals from the arid region, whereas the geometric approach revealed a difference in individuals from the oceanic region. Differences in the limits of their distribution ranges seem be related to local factors, such as topography and climatic conditions. Finally, is not possible to recognize distinct subspecies within L. tenuis, and our research concludes that the species consists of one homogenous identit

Lepidópteros asociados al cultivo de la quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willdenow) en la zona central de Chile

En revisiones periódicas de follaje de Chenopodium quinoa Willdenow realizadas en la Región Metropolitana de Chile durante las temporadas 1996-97 y 1997-98, se detectó la presencia de los lepidápteros Eurysacca media Povolny (Gelechiidae), Capitarsia turbata (Herrich y Schäffer) (Noctuidae), Rachiplusia nu Guenée (Noctuidae), Coleophora versurella Zeller (Coleophoridae) y Achryra similalis (Guenée) (Pyralidae). La especie más importante, por su abundancia en ambas temporadas, fue E. media. La larva se alimenta de hojas, tallos e inflorescencias, y puede destruir una gran cantidad de semillas. Copitarsia turbata y A. similalis pueden también constituirse en plagas significativas de la quinoa. En los meses de invierno, Chenopodium album es un reservorio importante de E. media y sus parasitoides

Observaciones biológicas de Achryra similalis (Guenèe) (Pyralidae) y otros lepidópteros en amaranto, Amaranthus cruentus L. (Amaranthaceae), en la Región Metropolitana de Chile

Se colectaron en forma periódica muestras de larvas infestando plantas de amaranto cultivadas en las temporadas 1996-97 y 1997-98 en el Campus Antumapu de la Universidad de Chile, en Santiago. Este material se crió sobre follaje fresco de plantas de amaranto, obteniéndose adultos, los que se determinaron como Achryra similalis (Guenèe). El daño en amaranto es intenso, ya que las larvas se alimentan, pegan y ensucian las hojas e inflorescencias. El consumo de las estructuras florales disminuye fuertemente los rendimientos de semillas. A. similalis es además una plaga ocasional en cultivos de acelga, melón y papas. Además se colectaron algunas larvas de otros lepidópteros, cuyos adultos se identificaron como Coleophora versurella Zeller (Coleophoridae) y Eurysacca media Povolny (Gelechiidae). También se obtuvieron unos pocos ejemplares de los nóctuidos Rachiplusia nu Guenèe, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) y Copitarsia turbata (Herrich & Schäffer), y del licænido Strymon eurytulus Hübner. ABSTRACT

1,4-benzoxazin-3-one, 2-benzoxazolinone and gallic acid from Calceolaria thyrsilora Graham and their antibacterial activity

Secondary metabolites, DIBOA, HBOA, 7-OH-HBOA, BOA and gallic acid, were isolated and quantified from Calceolaria thyrsiflora Graham, a native medicinal plant of Chile belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family. The highest DIBOA contents were determined in leaves (145 mmol kg(-1) dry wt) and flowers (161 mmol kg(-1) dry wt). Antibacterial activities of DIBOA, HBOA, BOA, gallic acid and infusions of flowers and leaves were determined. The phytomedicinal properties attributed to C. thyrsiflora Graham could be understood on the basis of its antibacterial activit

Autosomal rearrangement in Gryllus assimilis Fabricius, 1775 (Orthoptera, Gryllidae)

Gryllus assimilis L. has a karyotype of 2n = 29 (X0, male) and 30 (XX, female). The above karyotype was encountered along with another in which 2n = 28 (X0, male) and 2n = 29 (XX, female) in a population from the outskirts of Rio Claro city (São Paulo State, Brazil). Of eight specimens studied, five had the heterozygous karyotype involving a translocation and three had the basic karyotype. There were no individuals homozygous for the rearrangement. The heterozygous karyotype was the result of a chromosomal rearrangement between chromosome pairs 6 and 10, both of which were initially submetacentric. The members of the sixth pair normally have two constrictions in the small arm, with a satellite at the chromosome tip. The chromosome of the tenth pair involved in the translocation was generally submetacentric and probably underwent a pericentric inversion which transported the centromere to a subterminal position before being translocated. In this case, the long arm of the inverted chromosome of the tenth pair was translocated with the satellite of a member of the sixth pair.<br>A espécie Gryllus assimilis L. apresenta 2n = 29, X0 (macho) e 2n = 30, XX (fêmea), porém em alguns indivíduos coletados na cidade de Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brasil, foram encontrados dois cariótipos distintos: o cariótipo básico e outro rearranjado, com 2n = 28, X0 e 2n = 29, XX. O rearranjo foi interpretado como sendo autossômico e heterozigoto, caracterizado pela translocação envolvendo dois pares de homólogos submetacêntricos: o par 10, que possivelmente tem um dos elementos com uma inversão pericêntrica, e o par 6, que possui em seu braço curto duas constrições secundárias, diferenciando satélites em suas extremidades