Biogeographical variation on craniomandibular morphology in pallas’s squirrel \(\textit{Callosciurus erythraeus}\) (Pallas, 1779) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in Vietnam

Different forest vegetations provide herbivorous small mammals with different resources, forcing adaptation since food habits depend on available resources. We expect differences in vegetation to be reflected in the size and shape of the skull and mandible as a result of potentially different feeding resources. Therefore, we analyzed the craniomandibular characteristics of Pallas’s squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus) in Vietnam. This species commonly occurs in different vegetations in Vietnam, making it a good model for examining morphological adaptation to vegetation type. We analyzed morphologically the skulls and mandibles of 156 specimens collected from 31 localities in Vietnam from 1960 to the present. Principal component analysis showed that females occurring in the tropical lowland evergreen rain forest were clearly separated from those in other vegetations.

Comparative leaf anatomy of ten Nepenthes L. species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia

The genus Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia includes fourteen species that can be found from the sea-level to over 1000 m in the mountains. Our observation indicated that Nepenthes can be found in five major habitat types: specifically in tropical lowland evergreen rain forest, heath forest, peat swamp forest, montane forest, and limestone forest. Their leaves have several anatomical characters that remain underexplored. There were specific differences between species that could be potential identification characters. The following anatomical characteristics were explored for their diagnostic value and comprised of ten distinct anatomical characteristics in Nepenthes, viz., density and stomatal index (SI), hypodermis cell – cell layers, occurrence of fiber groups mixed with the hypodermis cells, adaxial cuticle thickness, vascular bundle arrangement, midrib outline shape, venation plasticity, druses appearance and appendage/trichome type.

Reassessing the role of climate change in the Tupi expansion (South America, 5000–500 BP)

The expansion of forest farmers across tropical lowland South America during the Late Holocene has long been connected to climate change. The more humid conditions established during the Late Holocene are assumed to have driven the expansion of forests, which would have facilitated the dispersal of cultures that practised agroforestry. The Tupi, a language family of widespread distribution in South America, occupies a central place in the debate. Not only are they one of the largest families in the continent, but their expansion from an Amazonian homeland has long been hypothesized to have followed forested environments wherever they settled. Here, we assess that hypothesis using a simulation approach. We employ equation-based and cellular automaton models, simulating demic-diffusion processes under two different scenarios: a null model in which all land cells can be equally settled, and an alternative model in which non-forested cells cannot be settled or delay the expansion. We show that including land cover as a constraint to movement results in a better approximation of the Tupi expansion as reconstructed by archaeology and linguistics.

Tarenna harleyae (Rubiaceae), a new forest species from West Africa

Tarenna nitidula, from West Africa is here divided into two separate species, T. nitidula s.s. and the new species T. harleyae, which is described and illustrated here. Tarenna harleyae differs from T. nitidula s.s. by its corolla tubes 6–8 mm long, glabrous inside (vs. 3–5 mm, puberulous), and calyx lobes 1–1.5 mm long (vs. < 1 mm long). Tarenna harleyae is found in the tropical lowland forest in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Ivory Coast, while T. nitidula occurs from Guinea-Bissau to Ivory Coast.

Local adaptation of invasive plant, Synedrella nodiflora, in urban tropical lowland landscape Universitas Indonesia

Synedrella nodiflora is an invasive species originated from tropical America and now has spread throughout Indonesia. We analysed the ability of Synedrella nodiflora from the level of HSP70 gene expression at different heat stress in urban tropical lowland landscape Universitas Indonesia. We used the qPCR to quantify the level of HSP70 gene expression and analysed using Pfaffl model. We found the level of HSP70 gene expression got higher related to elevated temperature from 29oC to 39oC with a range of fold from 123.1 to 1676.9. This ability reflects the adaptive plasticity of Synedrella nodiflora in the course of the invasion process.

Two new species of Kalcerrytus Galiano, 2000 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Tambopata River, Madre de Dios, Peru

Jumping spiders of the genus Kalcerrytus inhabit the moist tropical forests of the Neotropical region. This genus includes 18 species, only both sexes are known for half of these and of K. leucodon only the female is known; the vast majority of species are registered for Brazil and there are records from Bolivia, Ecuador and French Guiana. Males are characterized by having a robust palp and more sclerotized than in other genera of the Freyina subtribe; females are distinguished by their broad epigynum with large funnel-shaped copulation openings and oblique edges. Two new species are herein described, and they represent the first record of the genus in Peru. Kalcerrytus mapinguari sp. nov. and Kalcerrytus yacuruna sp. nov. were collected in the Tambopata River region, which is characterized by its highly biodiverse tropical lowland evergreen forests. Illustrations of both male and female genitalia are provided as well as maps recording their distribution.