Marsupials (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) from Iquitos and surrounding areas (Loreto, Peru)

Se presenta el resultado de un estudio realizado en la localidad de Iquitos y sus alrededores, un área ubicada en la Amazonía del noreste de Perú. Se ofrece una lista de especies de marsupiales registrados mediante colectas realizadas personalmente, información obtenida de la literatura, y registros confiables. Para cada especie se mencionan las localidades de colecta y presentan comentarios sobre su sistemática e historia natural. Se citan 19 especies para Iquitos, 14 fueron colectadas en este estudio, de las cuales una se confirma para el país (Marmosops neblina). Los resultados muestran que esta zona es una de la más diversa en marsupiales en Sudamérica.Introduction: Amazonia has a high diversity of marsupials, and while Emmons and Feer (1990) have cited 14 species for the area, 18 years later this number was increased to 28 by Gardner (2008a), a difference related to descriptions and revalidation of several species in recent years. Northeastern Peru is one of the areas with high biodiversity, a "hotspot". The high diversity of small mammals can be explained by several factors: latitudinal gradient, size of the area, and lack of seasonal precipitations, among others. In this contribution 19 species are cited for the region of Iquitos, 14 collected through field trips and five recorded from the literature. These results confirm the presence of a species that was not known for the country (Marmosops neblina), and two species (Marmosa regina and Marmosops bishopi) with new records for the area. The results show that the study area is one of the most diverse in South America with respect to marsupials. Material and methods: The specimens were collected between December 2002 and December 2005, at 41 collecting sites along the Iquitos-Nauta Highway. The study was carried out in undisturbed primary and secondary forests, and other rural areas. In total, 18,081 Sherman trap-nights, 19,271 Tomahawk trap-nights, and 591 pitfall trap-nights were recorded. External and cranial morphometric data, body mass, sex, and reproductive condition were recorded for all specimens. A key to species is provided including the confirmed and probable species of the area. Species accumulation curves were calculated and plotted using Estimates 8.2.0. Results: Three hundred and seventy three records were obtained belonging to 14 out of 27 species cited for the area; eight species were collected outside the Iquitos area. Most specimens were collected in primary and secondary forests (123 and 199 specimens respectively), only 49 were captured in other areas. Pitfall traps were the most successful (1.69% capture success), followed by Tomahawk traps (1.29%), and Sherman traps (0.55%). Arboreal traps were more successful than the ground traps, with 4.18% and 0.89% capture success respectively. The species accumulation curve did not reach stability and the estimates calculated are greater than the recorded species. Discussion: During three years of sampling, 14 species were collected, a number that rises to 19 when literature citations for the specific area of Iquitos are considered (and increases to 27 if the area is extended to a 200 km radius around Iquitos). Some species were very abundant (P. opossum, M. nudicaudatus, D. marsupialis, and M. regina), while others were documented by only 1 or 2 records (G. venusta, M. adusta, and P. olrogi). It is evident that the Peruvian Amazon is one of the areas with the highest diversity of marsupials, but further surveys and studies are necessary in order to determine with greater precision the distribution of many species, and to acquire a better understanding of their natural history. More extensive studies of the fauna of the region are required to obtain informational bases that will provide a strong management policy, in order to preserve the species in such a highly fragmented region.Fil: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; Argentin

Assemblage-level responses of Neotropical bats to forest loss and fragmentation

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the most important causes of biological diversity loss, changing the properties of the remaining environment. The Neotropical Region is one of the most affected areas due to the conversion of natural habitats into agricultural activities and deforestation. In this region, bats represent almost 50% of all mammal species, reaching the highest taxonomic and functional diversity. Bats are valuable indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health, but their response to habitat loss and fragmentation was poorly studied in Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyze the response of bat assemblages to habitat alteration in Northwestern Argentina. The specimens were collected in eight different localities, four well-preserved and four disturbed sites of the Yungas Forests. To describe the structure of bat assemblages, rank-abundance curves, species richness and Shannon (H’) and Simpson (D’) diversity indexes were calculated. To test the assemblage variations among sites, PCA and NPMANOVA analysis were performed. After 96 sampling nights, a total of 565 bats from 23 species were captured. A great variation in the assemblage structure was registered, regardless the disturbance level of the sites. These variations were not significantly different according to statistical analysis. The results support the hypothesis that areas with moderate fragmentation can sustain a high diversity of bat species. Moreover, these results showed that consistent responses to landscape composition at the assemblage level are harder to identify in fragmented Neotropical Forests. The responses of bats to habitat alteration tend to be highly species-specific.Fil: Gamboa Alurralde, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina; Argentin

First record of Eptesicus brasiliensis argentinus Thomas, 1920 (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in Entre Ríos province, Argentina

Here, we present the first record of Eptesicus brasiliensis argentinus Thomas, 1920 for the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. This subspecies was originally described as a full species (Eptesicus argentinus) based on its morphological features that clearly separates it from all other species of the genus. However, it was later treated as a subspecies of Eptesicus brasiliensis by Cabrera (1957), a treatment that was followed by all authors until today. Our record raises to 21 the number of bat species for the province of Entre Ríos. This locality represents the fourth record for this subspecies in Argentina, after 35 years since the last known record was obtained. Its geographic range is extended for approximately 130 km to the south, which represents the southernmost known record for this subspecies, and a new eco-region, the Espinal, is added to its distribution.Fil: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Rocío Tatiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Oviedo, Mirna Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Barquez, Ruben Marcos. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Murciélagos de la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina: riqueza y distribución

Los objetivos del trabajo fueron identificar vacios en la información distribucional existente referida a los quirópteros de la provincia de Córdoba, para determinar el patrón de riqueza de especies e individualizar las variables que afectan la distribución de cada especie en particular. Se realizaron búsquedas bibliográficas de registros publicados, revisiones de ejemplares depositados en colecciones sistemáticas y relevamientos de localidades puntuales. Con base en los datos distribucionales obtenidos se realizaron modelos predictivos utilizando el programa Maxent. El mapa de riqueza se obtuvo mediante la superposición de 10 mapas individuales de presencia-ausencia, más las celdas de presencia de las cinco especies que no pudieron ser modeladas por presentar menos de cinco registros. Se obtuvieron 204 registros de 15 especies en 191 localidades. La mayor parte de las localidades se concentran en la zona serrana. Las 15 especies registradas fueron citadas para el bosque serrano. Desmodus rotundus, Tadarida brasiliensis y Myotis dinellii presentaron el mayor número de registros. En tres de los 26 departamentos de la provincia de Córdoba (General Roca, Roque Sáenz Peña y Totoral) no se hallaron registros. El rango anual de la temperatura fue la variable más importante para el conjunto de especies, seguida por dos variables topográficas, la pendiente y la elevación. El área serrana de la provincia constituyó la zona de mayor riqueza, con celdas con hasta diez especies.Fil: Castilla, María Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Museo de Zoologia; Argentina;Fil: Torres, Ricardo Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicas y Naturales; Argentina;Fil: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Prog.de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Diversidad de murciélagos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) en la ciudad de Lules, Tucumán

Se identificaron las especies de murciélagos y sus refugios en el área urbana de Lules, Tucumán. Es el primer estudio sistemático en Argentina en un área urbana. Se colectaron siete especies refugiadas principalmente en techos, entre las cuales es importante mencionar la captura de ejemplares de Eumops glaucinus, que representan el segundo registro para la provincia. Eumops glaucinus, que representan el segundo registro para la provincia.Fil: Lopez Berrizbeitia, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Prog.de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina;Fil: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Prog.de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Modelling of the kinetics of sulphation of CaO particles under CaL reactor conditions

CO2 capture in a calcium looping (CaL) system is one of the most promising technologies for climate change mitigation. The main reactors in these systems (carbonator and calciner) operate in conditions where the reaction of CaO with the SO2 resulting from the combustion of coal is inevitable. This work reports on the sulphation of CaO under a range of variables that are typical of reactors in CaL systems. Furthermore it is demonstrated that the number of calcination carbonation cycles changes the sulphation patterns of the CaO from heterogeneous to homogeneous in all the limestones tested. For 50 carbonation calcination cycles and for particle sizes below 200 μm, the sulphation pattern is in all cases homogeneous. The sulphation rates were found to be first order with respect to SO2, and zero with respect to CO2. Steam was observed to have a positive effect only in the diffusion through the product layer controlled regime, as it leads to an improvement in the sulphation rates and effectiveness of the sorbent. Most of the experimental results of sulphation of highly cycled sorbents under all conditions can be fitted by means of the Random Pore Model (RPM) assuming that the kinetics and diffusion through the product layer of the CaSO4 are the controlling regimes.The research presented in this work has received partial funding from the European Community Research Fund for Coal and Steel (CaO2 Project: RFC-PR-13006). Authors also acknowledge to Prof. J.C. Abanades for his contribution to this article. J.M.C. also acknowledges a Ph.D. fellowship Grant awarded by FICYT.Peer reviewe

First record of Promops centralis Thomas, 1915 (Chiroptera, Molossidae) in Santa Fe province, Argentina

We present the first record of Promops centralis Thomas, 1915 for Santa Fe province, Argentina. This species was previously known in Argentina only from Formosa province. This new record adds a second province to the distribution of this species in Argentina and a new ecoregion, the Espinal. Furthermore, this record extends the distribution area of P. centralis by almost 610 km to the south and increase to 24 the number of bats species in Santa Fe province.Fil: Montani, María Eugenia. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Innovación y Cultura. Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales "Dr. Ángel Gallardo"; ArgentinaFil: Pautasso, Andrés Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura. Museo "Florentino y Carlos Ameghino"; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentin

The forelimbs of Octodontidae (Rodentia: Mammalia): substrate use, morphology, and phylogenetic signal

Rodents of the family Octodontidae, endemic to South America, represent a group with low taxonomic richness group (six genera and 14 species) but have great ecomorphological diversity with epigean, semi-fossorial, fossorial, and subterranean forms. We analyzed morphometric variation in humerus and ulna, the possible relationship with substrate preference use, and the presence of a phylogenetic signal in the forelimbs traits (five biomechanical indices). Our results show that, in octodontids, the forelimb variation was not primarily associated with their phylogeny and some attributes are highly explanatory in terms of function, with a clear differentiation between the substrate use gradient extremes (i.e. epigean and subterranean forms). The two forelimb traits, the development of humeral epicondyles and the olecranon process of the ulna, indicative of adaptive trends found in Octodontidae are consistent with most of those described for other mammals and corroborate the relevance of forelimb characters to differentiate modes of locomotion or substrate preferences.Fil: Pérez, María Julieta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Cassini, Guillermo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de Luján; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Mónica. División Mastozoología, Museo Argentino de Cs Nat; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Commented checklist of small rodents from Iquitos and its surroundings (Loreto, Peru)

Se presentan los resultados de relevamientos de pequeños roedores en 39 sitios a lo largo de la carretera Iquitos-Nauta (Perú) entre 2002 y 2005. El esfuerzo total de captura fue de 18.081 trampas-noches con trampas Sherman, 19.271 con Tomahawk, 591 con trampas de caída y 287 con Sherman y Tomahawk colocadas en altura. Los muestreos se realizaron en tres tipos de ambientes: bosque primario y secundario y área rural. Los resultados se presentan por especies; indicando su distribución, localidades de registro e historia natural. El mayor éxito de captura se obtuvo en las trampas colocadas en altura (3,83%), seguido por las trampas de caída (2,71%) y en el suelo (1,74%), lo que refleja el grado de actividad de las especies en el dosel en la Amazonía. Se colectaron 685 ejemplares pertenecientes a 25 especies, 13 géneros y tres familias; además se incluye el tratamiento de 14 especies como registros adicionales. Los resultados indican que el área se puede considerar como una zona de alta diversidad de especies, haciéndose fundamental la preservación del ambiente por ser una zona altamente presionada por la agricultura y extracción de madera, afectando en consecuencia la riqueza de especies y la dinámica de sus poblaciones.The results from surveys of small rodent carried out in 39 collecting sites along the Iquitos-Nauta Highway (Perú), between 2002 and 2005, are presented. Total capture effort was of 18,081 night traps using Sherman traps, 19,271 with Tomahawk, 591 with pitfall traps, and 287 with arboreal traps (Sherman and Tomahawk). The surveys were carried out in three types of environments: primary and secondary forest, and rural area. The results are presented by species indicating distribution, collecting localities, and information about natural history. The greatest capture success was obtained in the arboreal traps (3.83%), followed by the pitfall traps (2.71%), and the traps placed on the ground (1.74%), reflecting the degree of activity of the species in the Amazon canopy. Six hundred and eighty-five rodents, belonging to 25 species, 13 genera, and three families were collected; additionally, information from other 14 species are added in additional records. These results indicate that the studied area can be considered as an area with great diversity of species, being important its conservation, because it is very affected by the increase of the population, agriculture, and the use of wood, which has a negative effect on the species richness and the population dynamics.Fil: Díaz, María Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentin

Siphonaptera associated with small mammals (Didelphimorphia, Chiroptera, and Rodentia) from northwestern Argentina

Northwestern Argentina (NOA) is one of the least studied areas in Argentina with respect to ectoparasites of the order Siphonaptera; previous investigations, until this study, were scarce and specific. The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of siphonaptera that parasitize small mammals from the NOA, emphasizing in their systematics and distribution. Specimens of fleas collected in several localities of NOA, and stored in the ?Annexes? of the Colección Mamíferos Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, Argentina, were studied. Fleas were manually removed from the host pelage, fixed in alcohol 70 % and prepared following conventional techniques for later observation under microscope. For specimen identification, the original descriptions of species and subspecies were reviewed and compared with specimens stored in systematic collections. Nine families, 22 genera, 53 species, and eight subspecies were recorded. A new family, a new genus, and three new species are recorded for the first time in Argentina; five species are new for NOA and nine are new to science. The distribution of 11 species and two subspecies are extended in the NOA, new records are added to different provinces and new flea-hosts associations are reported. The greatest diversity of fleas in the Yungas is the reflection of one of the areas with the highest biodiversity in the Neotropical region, such as the Yungas forests, which also includes mammals, as sigmodontine rodents and bats among them. The similarity analysis among eco-regions showed a major faunistic congruence between the Yungas and the Dry Chaco. The greatest differentiation was given by the High Andes and Puna compared with the other eco-regions, probably because these areas are the least surveyed and with the lowest richness and abundance of small mammal species. From the total of 82 new flea-host associations, 81 belong to sigmodontine rodent hosts and one to a marsupial.Fil: Lopez Berrizbeitia, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentin