scholarly journals Coexistence of three mephitids in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, México

Therya ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-536
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Ecological Integrity ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Activity Peak ◽  
Unimodal Pattern

Three species of mephitids coexist in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve (TCBR) and belong to a guild of mammalian carnivores that feed mainly on invertebrates.  To infer the interspecific interactions that allow coexistence, we aimed to compare activity patterns and abundance of hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus), hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura), and southern spotted skunk (Spilogale angustifrons) in a tropical dry forest with ecological integrity.  We analyzed activity patterns and overlap, and compared the relative abundance index (IAR) of mephitids, between rainy and dry seasons and among species, and used 235 records for C. leuconotus, 39 for M. macroura, and 42 for S. angustifrons from 15 camera-trap stations in Mount Tepetroja, Puebla, from May 1st, 2013 to April 30th, 2020.  The three mephitids were active mainly during the nocturnal period, although C. leuconotus showed a unimodal pattern with activity peak around midnight, M. macroura had a bimodal pattern with activity peaks during the crepuscular hours at sunset and sunrise, and S. angustifrons had a unimodal pattern with activity peak around 2:00 a.m.  Mean activity of C. leuconotus (µ±SE = 00:42 ± 00:12 h) and M. macroura (01:02 ± 00:33 h) were similar (P = 0.32), and differed from the mean activity of S. angustifrons (01:49 ± 00:23 h, P = 0.02).  C. leuconotus had the highest IAR (2.53 to 7.90) and differed from M. macroura (0.44 to 1.21) and S. angustifrons (0.83 to 0.96) in both seasons (P < 0.01).  C. leuconotus and M. macroura showed higher IAR during the rainy season, in contrast with S. angustifrons that had no differences in IAR between seasons.  The mephitids presented temporal segregation and variability in seasonal abundance as coexistence mechanisms.  S. angustifrons showed the most restricted circadian activity and avoided the other two mephitids’ activity peaks.  C. leuconotus was the most abundant species; thus, we inferred that the hog-nosed skunk determined the dynamics of intraguild interactions among mephitids in the tropical dry forest in the TCBR.

scholarly journals Early successional dynamics of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the tropical dry forest ecosystem in Colombia

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1044 ◽  
pp. 877-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Maria Ariza ◽  
Jorge Jácome ◽  
Héctor Eduardo Esquivel ◽  
D. Johan Kotze
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Carabid Beetle ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Early Succession

Little is known about the successional dynamics of insects in the highly threatened tropical dry forest (TDF) ecosystem. For the first time, we studied the response of carabid beetles to vegetal succession and seasonality in this ecosystem in Colombia. Carabid beetles were collected from three TDF habitat types in two regions in Colombia: initial successional state (pasture), early succession, and intermediate succession (forest). The surveys were performed monthly for 13 months in one of the regions (Armero) and during two months, one in the dry and one in the wet season, in the other region (Cambao). A set of environmental variables were recorded per month at each site. Twenty-four carabid beetle species were collected during the study. Calosoma alternans and Megacephala affinis were the most abundant species, while most species were of low abundance. Forest and pasture beetle assemblages were distinct, while the early succession assemblage overlapped with these assemblages. Canopy cover, litter depth, and soil and air temperatures were important in structuring the assemblages. Even though seasonality did not affect the carabid beetle assemblage, individual species responded positively to the wet season. It is shown that early successional areas in TDF could potentially act as habitat corridors for species to recolonize forest areas, since these successional areas host a number of species that inhabit forests and pastures. Climatic variation, like the El Niño episode during this study, appears to affect the carabid beetle assemblage negatively, exasperating concerns of this already threatened tropical ecosystem.

scholarly journals Seasonal diversity of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) is more complex than thought: evidence from a tropical dry forest of Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7866 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Guadalupe Martínez-Hernández ◽  
Angélica María Corona-López ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
Matthias Rös ◽  
Víctor Hugo Toledo-Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Insect Communities ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Lack Of Information

Global climate change is expected to affect temperature and precipitation patterns worldwide, which in turn is likely to affect insect phenology, distribution and diversity. To improve our understanding of such processes, it is important to understand how insects may respond to changes in seasonality, and how these affect their activity, patterns of distribution and species richness. The tropical dry forest (TDF) is a highly seasonal ecosystem, for which two seasons are commonly described (rainy and dry) and there is a lack of information on the combined effect of both precipitation and temperature on the insect communities. In order to evaluate the seasonal patterns in the community of Cerambycidae in a TDF, historical climatic variables were obtained, and an annual sampling of the family was carried out, using three collection techniques. We found that the Cerambycidae family showed a more complex response to climate, than simply the rainy and dry season of the year. The relationship between diversity and composition of cerambycids with changes in temperature and precipitation showed four seasonal communities which were synchronized with phenological processes of the TDF. Climate change could reduce biodiversity, causing seasonal patterns to lose complexity, either because the climatic characteristics of a season disappear and/or because the duration of a season expands, these changes will modify the ecological processes of the TDF, since they would generate changes in the flora and fauna associated with the different seasons.

scholarly journals Natural history of the white-nosed coati, Nasua narica , in a tropical dry forest of western mexico.

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Valenzuela
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Mortality Factors ◽  
Diet Diversity ◽  
Nasua Narica

Abstract. From November 1994 to March 1997, I studied the ecology of the White-nosed coati (Nasua narica; Procyonidae) in the central portion of its geographical range, in the tropical dry forests of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve (CCBR), Jalisco, Mexico. I present here information about density, group size, diet diversity and feeding habits, ectoparasite load, mortality factors and reproduction. Average density estimates was 42.94 ± 16.88 ind. / km² (mean ± 95 % confidence interval) and average group size was 6.1 ± 0.49 (n = 142). Fecal analysis, demonstrated a trophic niche breadth of 2.674 with 85.11 % of the diet consisting of fruit and arthropods: two resources whose spatio-temporal availability is strongly affected by seasonality. The results are compared with available data and discussed in the context of seasonality effects on the ecology of this species.Resumen. De noviembre de 1994 a marzo de 1997, estudié aspectos de la ecología del coatí (Nasua narica; Procyonidae) en la porción media de su distribución geográfica, en la selva baja caducifolia de la Reserva de la Biosfera de Chamela Cuixmala, Jalisco, México. Presento aquí información sobre su densidad, el tamaño de sus grupos, la diversidad de su dieta y sus hábitos alimentarios, la carga de ectoparásitos, algunos factores de mortalidad y algunos aspectos reproductivos. El promedio de estimaciones de densidad fue 42.94 ± 16.88 ind. / km² (media ± intervalo de confianza al 95%), y el tamaño promedio de grupo fue de 6.1 ± 0.49 (n= 142). El análisis de heces fecales demostró una diversidad trófica de 2.674, y que el 85.11 % de la dieta consiste de frutas y artrópodos: dos recursos cuya disponibilidad espacio-temporal es fuertemente afectada por la estacionalidad climática. Los resultados se discuten en el contexto del los efectos de un ambiente estacional en la ecología de esta especie.Key words: tropical dry forest; climatic seasonality; Jalisco, México; Carnivore; Nasua narica

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal distribution and microhabitat use of aquatic breeding amphibians (Anura) in a seasonally dry tropical forest in Chamela, Mexico

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha I. Luna-Gómez ◽  
Andrés García ◽  
Georgina Santos-Barrera
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Distribution ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Temporary Streams ◽  
Seasonally Dry

The distribution of amphibians is affected by abiotic and biotic factors, availability of resources and the characteristics of reproductive sites. In particular, reproductive activity of aquatic-breeding anurans that inhabit tropical dry areas is affected by rainfall, which determines the availability and quality of reproductive sites. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of anurans with indirect development in a tropical dry forest in Western Mexico, during two rainy seasons (July 10-October 4, 2013, and June 26-September 26, 2014). We collected data on the occupancy and reproductive activity of 15 species in four temporary streams, and evaluated their relationship with precipitation, humidity and temperature. We determined richness, abundance and diversity of species in each stream; we also identified differences in the reproductive strategies and microhabitats used by the species. The most abundant species were: Tlalocohyla smithii and Exerodonta smaragdina, whereas the least abundant were Leptodactylus melanonotus and Incilius mazatlanensis. Species richness, abundance and reproductive activity peaked alongside the stream with the greatest number of breeding sites (e.g. pools). We found temporal segregation in the occupancy and reproductive activity of species in all streams which were mainly associated with precipitation. However, occupancy and reproductive activity of some species overlapped up to four weeks during part of the breeding season. Most species used specific substrates for particular reproductive activities (e.g. oviposition), but used a range of microhabitats (leaf-litter, water, rocks, branches, leaves, logs, etc.) for others (e.g. calling). We discuss these behavioral differences as factors that facilitate coexistence of species in this environment in the rainy season.

scholarly journals Diversidad y patrones de actividad de mamíferos medianos y grandes en la Reserva de la Biosfera La Encrucijada, Chiapas, México

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 634
Author(s):  
Julio C. Hernández Hernández ◽  
Cuauhtémoc Chávez ◽  
Rurik List
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Dasypus Novemcinctus ◽  
Nasua Narica ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Dry Seasons

Diversity and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico. In Mexico, wetlands occupy an important portion of the country, among them, mangroves are particularly diverse. La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve (ENBIRE) is a coastal ecosystem of mangrove located along the Pacific Coastal Plain in the Southwestern portion of Chiapas state. The ENBIRE mangroves are among the most important of the American Pacific Coast, highlighting the role they play in the maintenance of the community of mammals on the coast of the state. There are few studies in Mexico related to the mammals associated with these ecosystems, our aim was to estimate the diversity and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in the ENBIRE. Sampling was conducted from August 2015 to August 2016 using camera traps. We obteined 1 851 independent photographs records, with a total sampling effort of 5 400 trap-days. Nineteen species of mammals were registered belonging to 15 families and seven orders, and five species were new records to the area. Six species present are listed, two as endangered and four as threatened. Interpolation and extrapolation analyzes showed an asymptotic trend in the curves for the rainy and dry seasons. The coverage of the sample for both seasons was 99.9 % and 99.8 %, respectively, indicating that both cases were a representative sample. According to the relative abundance index obtained, the most abundant species were Procyon lotor (IAR = 4.35), Nasua narica (IAR = 3.91), Philander opossum (IAR = 2.04), Cuniculus paca (IAR = 1.89), Didelphis marsupialis (IAR = 1.67) and Dasypus novemcinctus (IAR = 1.02). In terms of patterns of activity C. paca, P. opossum, D. marsupialis and D. novemcinctus were primarily nocturnal; P. lotor showed a tendency towards nocturnal habits but was also recorded during the day; N. narica was mainly diurnal. This information can be useful to the creation of management programs and the conservation of medium and large mammals in the ENBIRE, especially for species at risk. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 634-646. Epub 2018 June 01. 

scholarly journals Edaphic and Seasonal Heterogeneity of Seed Banks in Agricultural Fields of a Tropical Dry Forest Region in Southern Mexico

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge A. Meave ◽  
Claudia Flores-Rodríguez ◽  
Eduardo A. Pérez-García ◽  
Marco Antonio Romero-Romero
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Black Soil ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Southern Mexico

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The slash-and-burn agriculture practiced across tropical dry regions results in the elimination of native vegetation. Upon field abandonment, the seed bank becomes a potentially important mechanism of natural regeneration at early successional stages. Soil properties and climate seasonality may affect seed bank characteristics, thus we analyzed the effects of these two factors on seed bank density and composition in agricultural fields of a seasonally dry tropical region of southern Mexico. Soil cores were collected for the rainy and the dry seasons in order to assess changes occurring in the seed bank from the time of harvest to the moment when succession could potentially start (the next rainy season). The 12 studied fields comprised three different soil types recognized by local inhabitants: sandy and stony, silty, and clayey soils, locally known as cascajo, black soil, and red soil, respectively. At each fi eld 20 soil cores (8 cm diameter, 4.5 cm depth) were collected and mixed to form four pooled samples, which were placed in a greenhouse to induce germination. A total of 4,422 seedlings (2,291 seeds m<sup>-2</sup>) representing 40 species were recorded. The most abundant species were, in decreasing order, <em>Melanthera nivea</em>, <em>Rhynchelytrum repens</em>, <em>Waltheria indica</em>, <em>Amaranthus scariosus</em>, <em>Digitaria bicornis</em>, and <em>Cenchrus pilosus</em>. Herbs were the prevailing growth form (&gt; 80% of total richness). No clear pattern was observed in the seed bank related to soil type; however, seed bank characteristics tended to be associated with the time of use of the agricultural fields, a variable that was not controlled in the study. Seed bank species richness was significantly larger in the dry season, and although seed density showed a similar trend, it was not significant. The studied seed banks contain no elements of the regional primary tropical dry forest, which suggests that seed banks in deforested areas cannot guarantee their maintenance beyond forested areas.</span></p>

Arthropods Associated with Mammals. Their Importance as Part of the Richness in a Biosphere Reserve in Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 780-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo ◽  
Angel Herrera-Mares ◽  
Ana Ugalde-Medina ◽  
Andrés M López-Pérez ◽  
Laura Del Castillo-Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Diversity ◽  
New Records ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Didelphis Virginiana ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Nasua Narica ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Associated Species

Abstract The Chamela Biological Station (ChBS) is located in the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the State of Jalisco. This represents one of the core areas of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, characterized by one of the most threatened ecosystems, the tropical dry forest. Although accumulated knowledge of biological diversity, only few studies have been focused on ectoparasites or ectodytes associated with mammals, only 23 arthropod taxa had been recorded. In order to increase knowledge about arthropods associated with Mexican mammals, the objective of this work was to record the richness of arthropods (mites, ticks, lice, and fleas) associated with small and medium-sized mammals in the ChBS. A total of 81 hosts belonging to four orders, six families and nine species were captured. From these hosts, 4,946 arthropods were recovered: 4,007 mites, 673 ticks, 230 lice, and 36 fleas. Among medium-sized mammals, Nasua narica (L.) and Didelphis virginiana Kerr showed the highest levels of richness, with six arthropod taxa; among rodents, Heteromys pictus (Thomas) had the highest number of associated species (five). Within the 22 arthropod taxa registered in the present work, 12 represent new records for the reserve, and 3 represent new records for Mexico. With this study, the arthropod fauna associated with mammals in the ChBS has been raised to 38 taxa. In terms of biological conservation, knowledge of the species that inhabit natural reserves must be a priority, since this represents the baseline for species protected, not only in Mexico but around the world.

Diversity of Butterflies (Lepidoptera) in Sierra de Huautla, Morelos, México: A Conservation Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-417
Author(s):  
Ma Ventura Rosas-Echeverría ◽  
Carlos Alfredo Coyote-Ávila ◽  
Karla Maria Aguilar-Dorantes ◽  
Concepcion Martínez-Peralta
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽  
Analysis Of Similarity ◽  
Species Similarity ◽  
First Time

AbstractIn this study, we carried out an inventory of butterfly diversity and an analysis of alpha and beta diversity considering the effects of phenology and degree of disturbance in tropical dry forest. The study included three localities: Cañadas de Ajuchitlán and El Limón, situated within the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH) natural protected area, and San Miguel de los Elotes, which is outside of the REBIOSH. We systematically sampled each of the localities using two collection methods once per month for a full year (April 2013 to March 2014). A total of 4,017 specimens belonging to 119 species and 83 genera were collected. We recorded for the first time the presence of Perichares aurina Evans (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae), in Mexico, 14 additional Hesperiidae species were new records for Morelos, Mexico, and 16% of the species recorded in this study are endemic to Mexico. Species richness was highest in August for the two localities (Cañadas de Ajuchitlán and El Limón), located within the REBIOSH. Species richness was highest in November for San Miguel de los Elotes, which is outside of the REBIOSH. In terms of the alpha diversity values (0D, observed diversity), Cañadas de Ajuchitlán had the highest species richness. In the analysis of similarity (Beta diversity), the two localities within the REBIOSH had the highest species similarity, despite being the most geographically distant.

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