Beyond the Colours: Discovering Hidden Diversity in the Nymphalidae of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico through DNA Barcoding

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of DNA barcoding in the discovery of overlooked species and in the connection of immature and adult stages. In this study, we use DNA barcoding to examine diversity patterns in 121 species of Nymphalidae from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Our results suggest the presence of cryptic species in 8 of these 121 taxa. As well, the reference database derived from the analysis of adult specimens allowed the identification of nymphalid caterpillars providing new details on host plant use. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We gathered DNA barcode sequences from 857 adult Nymphalidae representing 121 different species. This total includes four species (Adelpha iphiclus, Adelpha malea, Hamadryas iphtime and Taygetis laches) that were initially overlooked because of their close morphological similarity to other species. The barcode results showed that each of the 121 species possessed a diagnostic array of barcode sequences. In addition, there was evidence of cryptic taxa; seven species included two barcode clusters showing more than 2% sequence divergence while one species included three clusters. All 71 nymphalid caterpillars were identified to a species level by their sequence congruence to adult sequences. These caterpillars represented 16 species, and included Hamadryas julitta, an endemic species from the Yucatan Peninsula whose larval stages and host plant (Dalechampia schottii, also endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula) were previously unknown. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This investigation has revealed overlooked species in a well-studied museum collection of nymphalid butterflies and suggests that there is a substantial incidence of cryptic species that await full characterization. The utility of barcoding in the rapid identification of caterpillars also promises to accelerate the assembly of information on life histories, a particularly important advance for hyperdiverse tropical insect assemblages

Vegetation Changes Ten Years after Catclaw Mimosa ( \u3cem\u3e Mimosa laxiflora \u3c/em\u3e ) Control with Tebuthiuron in a Short Grass Prairie at Northern Sonora, Mexico

Catclaw mimosa (Mimosa laxiflora) is a native, perennial half-size brush, which invades short grass prairie and competes with desirable species for water, nutrients and light interferes with cattle grazing and reduces range productivity. Tebuthiuron [1-(5-tert-Butyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1,3-dimethylurea; chemical formula C9H16N4OS] is a granular herbicide used to control invasive shrubby species on rangelands with sustainable forage responses (McGinty et al., 2009). Research trials conducted in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts show that tebuthiuron at rates of 0.5 to 1.5 kg a.i./ha effectively controlled most shrubby species and significant increase forage in the Matorral area in Mexico and USA. Local information regarding catclaw mimosa control and forage production increases sustain after bush control in the short grass prairies does not exist. This study was conducted to evaluate vegetation changes after the application of tebuthiuron at rates of 0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha to control high infestations of catclaw mimosa in the short grass prairies

\u3cem\u3eAcacia cochliacantha\u3c/em\u3e Control in Buffel Grass Pastures at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico

Chirahui (Acacia cochliacantha) is an aggressive tall-shrub which invades buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) in the short jungle area of Southern Sonora, Mexico. As brush invasion takes over the pastures buffelgrass forage production declines and spiny brush species interferes with cattle grazing (Martin et al., 1995). Manual brush control practices are common in the area but are normally ineffective because plants re-sprout back and reinvade pastures. Tordon 101 herbicide (64.0 g a.i./l Picloram + 240.0 g a.i/l 2,4-D) has been widely used for brush control in northern Mexico but it is expensive and is planned to go out of the market soon. Prado herbicide (621.3 g a.i./kg. Amynopyralid + 94.5 g a.i./kg. Metsulfuron metil) is a new and economic product released from Dow Agrosciences in Mexico but no local data is available for its use. This study was conducted in summer of 2011 to evaluate the efficiency of Prado herbicide and manual control by machete to reduce chirahui populations

Leaf Blast \u3cem\u3e Pyricularia grisea \u3c/em\u3e Effects on Buffelgrass Forage and Seed Production in Northwestern Mexico

Common buffelgrass Cenchrus ciliaris (T-4464) is an introduced species intensively planted in Mexico to increase productivity on rangelands. Studies have shown that the species produces 5 to 10 times more forage as compared to native species on rangelands (Martin et al., 1995). Previous studies in the Gulf of Mexico have shown that the fungus Pyricularia grisea causes a disease in buffelgrass known as leaf blight and induce serious damage to the plant affecting forage production and nutritive quality (Ocumpaugh and Rodríguez, 1998; González, 2002). Injuries begin in the inferior leafs as small dark stains that later are converted in injuries bronze color of round and elliptic form, necrotic, with dark red margins and with a chlorotic yellow halo (Rodriguez et al., 1999). A high humidity and temperature condition in the Pacific Northwest during the last years is believed to be creating ideal conditions for Pyricularia which is suspected to affect buffelgrass. Currently, no data are available in this region to confirm fungus presence and its impact on forage and seed productivity on buffelgrass pastures. The study was conducted at north central Sonora, Mexico to: a) evaluate the incidence and damage intensity of Pyricularia grisea in buffelgrass pastures and b) to determine its impact on forage and seed production

Improvement of cardiometabolic markers after fish oil intervention in young Mexican adults and the role of PPARα L162V and PPARγ2 P12A

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contained in fish oil (FO) are ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) that may induce changes in cardiometabolic markers. Variation in PPAR genes may influence the beneficial responses linked to FO supplementation in young adults. The study aimed to analyze the effect of FO supplementation on glucose metabolism, circulating lipids and inflammation according to PPARα L162V and PPARγ2 P12A genotypes in young Mexican adults. 191 young, non-smoking subjects between 18 and 40 years were included in a one-arm study. Participants were supplemented with 2.7 g/day of EPA+DHA, during six weeks. Dietary analysis, body composition measurements and indicators for glucose metabolism, circulating lipids, and markers for inflammation were analyzed before and after intervention. An overall decrease in triglycerides (TG) and an increase in HS-ω3 index were observed in all subjects [-4.1 mg/dL, (SD:±51.7), P=.02 and 2.6%, (SD:±1.2), P\u3c.001 respectively]. Mean fasting insulin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c%) were significantly decreased in all subjects [-0.547mlU/L, (SD:±10.29), P=.034 and-0.07%, (SD:±0.3), P\u3c.001 respectively], whereas there was no change in body composition, fasting glucose, adiponectin and inflammatory markers. Subjects carrying the minor alleles of PPARα L162V and PPARγ2 P12A had higher responses in reduction of TG and fasting insulin respectively. Interestingly, doses below 2.7 g/day (1.8 g/day) were sufficient to induce a significant reduction in fasting insulin and HbA1c% from baseline (P=.019 and P\u3c.001). The observed responses in triglycerides and fasting insulin in the Mexican population give further evidence of the importance of FO supplementation in young people as an early step towards the prevention of cardiometabolic disease. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02296385

Residuos Orgánicos e Inorgánicos en la Colonia Estrella de Oro Zacatecas, ZAC y en la UAZ

Hasta hace sólo 30 años la producción de desechos sólidos por habitante en América Latinaera de 200 gramos diarios por habitante, hoy se calcula que cada personaproduce una media de 1 kg. de basura al día. La mayoría de los residuos sólidos urbanos que producimos está constituida por materiales que pueden ser clasificados con facilidad como: papel, cartón, vidrio, plásticos, telas, aluminio, materia orgánica, etc. Clasificación de los residuos: Basura orgánica. Es todo desecho de origen biológico, alguna vez estuvo vivo o fue parte de un ser vivo. Basura inorgánica. Es todo desecho de origen no biológico, es decir, de origen industrial o algún otro proceso no natural. Desechos peligrosos. Es todo desecho, ya sea de origen biológico o no, que constituye un peligro potencial y por lo cual debe ser tratado como tal.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Residuos Orgánicos e Inorgánicos en la Colonia Estrella de Oro Zacatecas, ZAC y en la UAZ

Hasta hace sólo 30 años la producción de desechos sólidos por habitante en América Latinaera de 200 gramos diarios por habitante, hoy se calcula que cada personaproduce una media de 1 kg. de basura al día. La mayoría de los residuos sólidos urbanos que producimos está constituida por materiales que pueden ser clasificados con facilidad como: papel, cartón, vidrio, plásticos, telas, aluminio, materia orgánica, etc. Clasificación de los residuos: Basura orgánica. Es todo desecho de origen biológico, alguna vez estuvo vivo o fue parte de un ser vivo. Basura inorgánica. Es todo desecho de origen no biológico, es decir, de origen industrial o algún otro proceso no natural. Desechos peligrosos. Es todo desecho, ya sea de origen biológico o no, que constituye un peligro potencial y por lo cual debe ser tratado como tal.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Residuos Orgánicos e Inorgánicos en la Colonia Estrella de Oro Zacatecas, ZAC y en la UAZ

Hasta hace sólo 30 años la producción de desechos sólidos por habitante en América Latinaera de 200 gramos diarios por habitante, hoy se calcula que cada personaproduce una media de 1 kg. de basura al día. La mayoría de los residuos sólidos urbanos que producimos está constituida por materiales que pueden ser clasificados con facilidad como: papel, cartón, vidrio, plásticos, telas, aluminio, materia orgánica, etc. Clasificación de los residuos: Basura orgánica. Es todo desecho de origen biológico, alguna vez estuvo vivo o fue parte de un ser vivo. Basura inorgánica. Es todo desecho de origen no biológico, es decir, de origen industrial o algún otro proceso no natural. Desechos peligrosos. Es todo desecho, ya sea de origen biológico o no, que constituye un peligro potencial y por lo cual debe ser tratado como tal.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Monitoring an Alien Invasion: DNA Barcoding and the Identification of Lionfish and Their Prey on Coral Reefs of the Mexican Caribbean

BACKGROUND: In the Mexican Caribbean, the exotic lionfish Pterois volitans has become a species of great concern because of their predatory habits and rapid expansion onto the Mesoamerican coral reef, the second largest continuous reef system in the world. This is the first report of DNA identification of stomach contents of lionfish using the barcode of life reference database (BOLD). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We confirm with barcoding that only Pterois volitans is apparently present in the Mexican Caribbean. We analyzed the stomach contents of 157 specimens of P. volitans from various locations in the region. Based on DNA matches in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) and GenBank, we identified fishes from five orders, 14 families, 22 genera and 34 species in the stomach contents. The families with the most species represented were Gobiidae and Apogonidae. Some prey taxa are commercially important species. Seven species were new records for the Mexican Caribbean: Apogon mosavi, Coryphopterus venezuelae, C. thrix, C. tortugae, Lythrypnus minimus, Starksia langi and S. ocellata. DNA matches, as well as the presence of intact lionfish in the stomach contents, indicate some degree of cannibalism, a behavior confirmed in this species by the first time. We obtained 45 distinct crustacean prey sequences, from which only 20 taxa could be identified from the BOLD and GenBank databases. The matches were primarily to Decapoda but only a single taxon could be identified to the species level, Euphausia americana. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This technique proved to be an efficient and useful method, especially since prey species could be identified from partially-digested remains. The primary limitation is the lack of comprehensive coverage of potential prey species in the region in the BOLD and GenBank databases, especially among invertebrates