Constant-Effort Mist Net Bird Monitoring During the Breeding Season in a Lowland Deciduous Forest in Western Hokkaido, Japan

Breeding ecology of the Short-tailed Bush Warbler Cettia squarneiceps was investigated in western Hokkaido during five seasons (1990-1994). The first arrival and first egg-laying dates were similar among years. Clutch sizes varied between 4-6 eggs, but they decreased as the breeding season progressed. The mean incubation and nestling period was 12.9±0.5 days (SD, n=18) and 10.0±0.4 days (SD, n=17), respectively. Only females incubated eggs and brooded nestlings for a long period of time. Most of the feeding of the young was conducted by males. Different (beta or gamma) males from the resident (alpha) male appeared and sometimes fed the young in 48.1% of twenty five nests observed. Some males were captured at locations far from their own nests, while there were only few cases in which a female was captured at a place distant from her mate's song area. As it was often observed that a beta male was the neighboring territory holder and his own nest was in the incubation period, it is hypothesized that some males who are emancipated from the incubation, might visit other territories to seek extra-pair copulations (EPC). We have, however, not observed mating between a female and a beta male except in the case of a widow. Within the breeding season, the females usually selected the same partner for the second brood. Main reason why the divorce rate within the season is low for the warbler in our study area is probably the high success rate for the first brood.

Las unidades de manejo tradicional (UMT) se analizaron participativamente en el Área Natural Protegida Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin, Morelos, integrando las formas de apropiación en variables etnobotánicas de conservación, para generar un índice de valor de importancia cultural (IVIC) y así elaborar propuestas ciudadanas. Se encontraron dos formas de organización; la tradicional que incentiva la independencia frente a los intereses sociopolíticos externos y la comunal que corresponde a la autoridad legal burocrática que regula los intercambios con el exterior. Las UMT analizadas fueron: agricultura, ganadería, bosque, selva baja caducifolia (SBC) y huertos frutícolas tradicionales (HFT). Acorde con el IVIC, en el bosque destaca el ocote Pinus montezumae con 120 %; en la SBC, el zompantle Erythrina americana con 105 %; y en los HF, el durazno Prunus persica con 67 %. Desde la percepción de los informantes, 75, 63 y 55 % de las especies presentan disponibilidad alta en el bosque, SBC y HFT, respectivamente. El diagnóstico permitió vincular las variables etnobotánicas del estado de conservación y las limitantes de apropiación con propuestas participativas; por ejemplo, el establecimiento de parcelas para validar la milpa, estabular la ganadería y promover programas de capacitación para recuperar la transmisión y retroalimentación del conocimiento local de las UMT.

A pollen record from Puyehue area (40°S; 72°W) in the southern Lake District, Chile, indicates that prior to 13,410 14C yr BP (ca. 16,500–15,200 cal yr BP), cold resistant and hygrophilous vegetation, particularly Nothofagus forest and myricaceous vegetation, covered the area. From ca. 15,000 cal yr BP onward, the forest became increasingly dense. Between 10,010 and 7450 14C yr BP (ca. 11,000–8000 cal yr BP), the expansion of Nothofagus obliqua and the spread of grasses suggests the climate became warmer and semi-arid. Lowland deciduous forest (Nothofagus obliqua, Aextoxicon punctatum, Laurelia sempervirens) and Valdivian rainforest (Nothofagus dombeyi, Eucryphia cordifolia, Caldcluvia paniculata, Aextoxicon punctatum, Laureliopsis philippiana) were abundant. During the next two thousand years, stable warm climatic conditions prevailed, and the diversity of the vegetation increased. From 5760 to 1040 14C yr BP (ca. 6500–900 cal yr BP), the North Patagonian rainforest expanded. The presence of Pilgerodendron/Fitzroya, together with Nothofagus forest, suggests that humid conditions prevailed. During the last millennium, human impact intensified and regional vegetation was disturbed, particularly the lowland deciduous forest and Valdivian rainforest. North-Patagonian and subantartic taxa, such as Podocarpus nubigena, Pilgerodendron/Fitzroya, Nothofagus dombeyi type, Austrocedrus chilensis and Drimys winteri, occupied the low and high-altitude parts of the Cordillera. Five hundred years ago, shrub and grasses expanded in the Nothofagus forest, suggesting that forest became more open under cool–cold, and humid climatic conditions. These conditions prevail to the present day.

Abundance and life cycle of the sandy beach mysid Archaeomysis articulata Hanamura were investigated based on seasonal collections over 2 years in the surf-swept intertidal zone of an open sandy beach in Ishikari Bay, western Hokkaido, Japan. The number of mysids in the intertidal zone increased from winter to spring, reaching its maximum in summer to autumn (average >2500 ind. m-2), and decreased considerably towards the end of the year. The abundance was maintained at a minimal level (<200 ind. m-2) throughout the winter. The breeding season was March to November, during which the liberation of young was most intensive from late April to mid-October. Three alternate generations, including overwintering, spring and summer generations, were suggested from field observations. Archaeomysis articulata is primarily iteroparous; only a restricted number of breeding females could produce more than two broods. The life span was estimated to be 7–9 months for the overwintering generation and 2.5–3.5 months for the spring–summer generations. The sex ratio fluctuated at samplings, with a tendency toward female dominance (overall mean=54%). The number of embryos carried by a single female ranged from 16 to 94, tending to increase with increasing size of females. The size of egg-like embryos varied seasonally from 0.45 to 0.54mm, being largest in spring and smallest in summer, with no correlation to the length of females; water temperature is considered an important factor in regulating the size of eggs. The embryonic development time was estimated to be 1.5 months for the spring generation (water temperature 5–10°C), and much shorter than this for the summer and overwintering generations. The mortality rate during embryonic development was estimated to be 7–18%.

The incidence of return to their breeding grounds by the Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus was investigated in western Hokkaido during six seasons (1997-2002). During this survey period, a total of 1, 568 individuals (508 adults, 411 juveniles and 639 nestlings) were given leg bands in the breeding season (Apr. 1-Sept. 10). A total of 150 birds were recaptured after one year, indicating the estimated minimum return rate in the next year as being 9.57%. The return rate dropped exponentially over subsequent years, falling to 1% or less 4-5 years later. The rate of return after one year in adult birds, juveniles and nestlings was 14.37%, 10.22% and 5.48%, respectively. There was no difference in the rate of return between adult males and females. It is conceivable that the true return rate may be higher than our estimates, because not all the returned individuals were necessarily captured by the end of this survey period.

The feeding habits and hoarding behaviour of the Eurasian red squirrelSciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 were examined during autumn in Nopporo Forest Park (43°20’N, 141°30’E), in western Hokkaido, Japan. The diet consisted of 32 plant species. Twelve species were both eaten and hoarded (the two most common of which wereAbies sachalinensis andPinus koraiensis), and 20 species were eaten but not hoarded. The distance from where a food item was found to the hoarding spot averaged 50 m and differed significantly according to food type. WalnutsJuglans regia were transported farthest, and chestnutsCastanea crenata to the second farthest from the site of origin. Most food was hoarded beneath the ground surface (95%), but some were hoarded in forks of trees and in small tree holes. Squirrels selected food items of high energy content for hoarding, in preparation for winter and the breeding season.

By attracting male euglossine bees with cineole, eugenol, methyl salicylate, methyl cinnamate, and benzyl acetate in Costa Rican lowland deciduous forest and rain forest, we found no indication of change in the composition and numbers of rain forest attractable bee species during different seasons, but within the deciduous forest both abundance and species richness declined in the dry season. Within each major forest type there were substantial differences in the abundance and species composition of attractable bees among habitats: baits in estuarine swamp forest and open pasture in the rain forest attracted very few bees as compared with nearby forest understory sites. In the deciduous forest, at least 15 species of male euglossine bees were attracted that apparently do not have breeding populations in this forest and that do not visit orchids in this forest; we hypothesized that they normally find females and chemical resources elsewhere in distant habitats or forest types.

Forest seasonality is an important element to ecosystem functions. Eco-hydro models describing the Indochina bioregion under the seasonal tropical climate need regional phenological information about leaf dynamics. We examined the utility of remote sensing technology to leaf phenological research in Cambodian lowland forests. For this purpose, we aimed to detect any difference in leaf-shedding phenology between evergreen forests and deciduous forests. We analyzed the NOAA/AVHRR normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) obtained from May 2001 to April 2002. The local maximum fitting (LMF) processing combines the time series filtering and the functional fitting was used for creating cloud/noise-free 10- day composites 1.1 km pixel data. Firstly, we estimated seasonal changes in the NDVI dominated by lowland evergreen forests and by lowland deciduous forests. Secondary, we identified local minimum points and the antecedent local maximum points of the fitting trigonometric function curve to each pixel as indicators of leaf-shedding events. The heterogeneous seasonal changes in the NDVI were well detected. Deciduous forests demonstrated drastic and uniform leaf phenology; while evergreen forests did spatially and temporally heterogeneous one during the dry season. It indicated the difficulty in getting information of regional forest seasonality; thus it displayed the utility of remote sensing for phenological investigation. Leaf-flushing was detected during the dry season both in evergreen forests and in deciduous forests. It suggested that leaf phenology was not completely governed by drought stress. Leaf-shedding and leaf flushing in twice within a single evergreen pixel was the most striking findings in this study. In summary, remote sensing technology was of great service to getting phenological information that was considerably different between evergreen forests and deciduous forests distributed in the seasonal tropical zones.

Recently, greater attention has been given to the potential keystone interaction between cavity excavators and the community of animals that use cavities. However, most research has focused on avian use of cavities in the breeding season, with little attention given to other cavity using guilds or cavity use during the non-breeding season. Furthermore, most breeding season studies were in unburned forests containing a mix of conifer and deciduous trees with much less attention given to cavity rich post-burn habitats. The objective of this study was to examine cavity use during the breeding and non-breeding seasons in old-burned ponderosa pine forests in the Black Hills, South Dakota. One hundred seventy nine active cavity nests of nine cavity nesting species were monitored between 2002–2005. We examined the contents of each cavity during the breeding season and twice during each non-breeding season (fall, winter, spring) each year. Additionally, we conducted vegetative surveys to determine the mi...

Ecological Distribution of Chlorophyllous Developing Embryos among Perennial Plants in a Tropical Deciduous Forest

The distribution of lichens in lowland deciduous and evergreen forests in Thailand is used to interpret recent changes in the distribution of these forests. The role of fire in changing the forest structure, microclimate and species content is discussed. Characteristic corticolous lichen communities of dry deciduous and moist evergreen forests are described, as well as changes in the composition of the flora following fire events. Where frequent fires have altered the forest rates of change in forest type are suggested using lichen data from randomly selected trees in forest plots, and growth rates of sampled species in quadrats. The disjunct nature of the lichen floras in lowland deciduous and evergreen forests is discussed, their origin and use in interpreting changes in forest types in monsoon climates over long periods of time.

-We studied the location and site selection of burrows of black iguana, Ctenosaura similis, at Palo Verde, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, in 1989 and 1990. Our study site included the environs of buildings as well as dry lowland deciduous forest. Iguana had burrows on earth banks, and in trees, logs and rocks with a higher frequency than occurred at randomly-selected points. Burrows differed from random points in having less cover over the entrance and within 1 m (both rock and vegetation) than did the random points. Temperatures at the burrow entrance were cooler than at the random points, although air temperatures did not differ significantly. We suggest that the use of burrows and selection of burrow sites by black iguanas may relate to predation pressures, thermal constraints and daily activity patterns. Descriptions of general habitat use are numerous for reptiles (e.g., Heatwole, 1977), although there are fewer descriptions of nest sites (see Van Devender and Howard, 1973; Burger and Zappalorti, 1986, for review) or of nonnesting burrows. Studies of site selection, whereby the authors have shown that the reptiles chose particular sites over all available sites, are even less common. Studies of selection require the location of a sufficient sample of nests or burrows for statistical analyses, and it is often difficult to find reptile nests or burrows. Nonetheless, nest site selection has been studied in alligators (Alligator mississippensis; Garrick and Lang, 1977), green iguanas (Iguana iguana; Rand, 1968), turtles (Burger and Montevecchi, 1975; 430 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.153 on Mon, 19 Sep 2016 04:52:46 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms BURROW SELECTION BY IGUANAS Ewert, 1976; Stoneburner and Richardson, 1981), and pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus; Burger and Zappalorti, 1986). Most reptiles do not regularly dig burrows for daily occupation (see Wright and Wright, 1957), although many reptiles use subterranean burrows dug by mammals. However some lizards (Rand and Dugan, 1983) and a snake (Carpenter, 1982; Burger et al., 1988) dig burrows for nests or for use throughout the year. Presumably the location of these burrows reflects evolutionary constraints such as predation pressures, conspecific competition, and thermoregulation. In this paper we examine burrow site selection in black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) at Palo Verde, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. We were interested in whether the same burrows were used from year to year, whether burrow site characteristics varied between years, and whether burrow sites differed from the available habitat. Black iguanas are large iguanid lizards ranging from southern Mexico to Panama. The flesh is edible, and they are often hunted for food (Fitch and Hackforth-Jones, 1983). They range in size from 20-50 cm snout-vent length (SVL), with overlap between the sexes, although males are generally larger (Fitch and Hackforth-Jones, 1983). METHODS AND STUDY AREA We studied black iguanas at the Palo Verde National Park in Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, in March of 1989 and 1990. Palo Verde contains mainly tropical lowland deciduous forest that borders the extensive marshes of the Tempisque River. Further description of the study area can be found in Gill (1989) and Burger and Gochfeld (1991). In 1989 we surveyed the area immediately around the OTS biological station, the deciduous forest within 25 m of the road between the OTS station and the park headquarters (hereafter called the hacienda), and around the hacienda (1 km from the station). We searched by walking transects through each area in a manner that allowed us to see nearly all of the habitat. Burrows included all holes where iguanas lived, but did not include nests or spaces under buildings. We included only burrows actively being used by black iguanas. We used photographs and sketches from 1989 to locate the sites of all burrows for comparison with 1990. To compare overall habitat choice (bank, ground, flat rock, rock or trees, see Table 2) with available habitat, we used a table of random numbers to generate coordinates for a grid used to select points for the entire study site. General habitat types included bank (slope over 15?), ground (flat area), flat rock, rocks or boulders, and trees, logs or roots. We recorded specific site characteristics (see Table 3) from all burrows and from an equal number of random points in each of the three plac s (OTS station, deciduous forest, hacienda). Specific site characteristics recorded included: slope; substrate (ground, rock, bank); percent cover over the opening; percent vegetation cover within 1 m of the point (or burrow entrance estimated); percent rock within 1 m; percent overall cover (vegetation, trees, rock) within 1 m; distance to the closest burrow and closest tree; and temperature of the air and at the mouth of the burrow entrance or spot. We so recorded the height and width of the burrow entrance for all burrows whether they were dug or were in rock crevices. Random points were selected by using a table of random numbers to generate a compass direction and a distance (1 to 4 m) from each burrow. Thus, each random point was matched to a burrow site. We estimated iguana length by noting where an iguana started and ended on the habitat and then measuring this distance, and checked our estimates against iguanas of known length (N = 20 from marked individuals, r = 0.9, P < 0.001). We were usually only 1-3 m from the iguana, so the estimates were possible. In 1989 both general habitat type (bank, ground, flat rock, rock, logs) and specific site characteristics were recorded for random points and for burrow sites. In 1990 we recorded the general habitat types for burrows at the OTS station, hacienda, and forest in between, but we tripled the size of the areas searched in equal proportion to the three types. We also recorded some site characteristics, including location, height and width of burrow entrance, percent cover at the entrance, overall slope of area with burrow, slope at the burrow entrance, nearestneighbor distance, and the length of the burrow. Burrow lengths are minima because we had difficulty measuring beyond the bend if a burrow made a major turn. Indeed it was impossible to determine if the stick was at the end. We used Wilcox X2 tests to determine differences in the distribution of site characteristics between the burrows and random sites, and Contingency x2 tests to determine differences between the general habitat types of random sites and burrows in 1989 and 1990, and between the 1989 and 1990 burrow sites.

Phenology and seasonal variations in water stress, as reflected in variations in stem circumference, were monitored throughout 1978 in numerous Tabebuia neochrysantha growing at several dry and wet sites in a lowland deciduous forest in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The rate of leaf fall during the early dry season was strongly correlated with the decline in soil moisture and increasing water stress of the trees. Without exception, recovery from water stress was required for flowering and shoot emergence. At dry sites rehydration ocurred only after isolated rain showers or irrigation; at wet sites it took place during continued drought, probably as a consequence of the decrease in transpiration during leaf fall. Flowering has been observed to occur at any time between the beginning (December) and end (May) of the dry season. Differences in the timing and intensity of flowering as well as in the timing of leaf fall and shoot emergence can be accounted for by site—dependent differences in the rates of desiccation and rehydration of trees in conjunction with year—to—year variation in the timing and intensity of rainfall. No evidence for the control of seasonal development by other environmental factors, such as variations in temperature of photoperiod, was obtained.

Peromyscus melanophrys is a Mexican endemic distributed in seasonal tropical forests and semiarid lands. Molecular work based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers proposed the existence of four haplogroups within P. melanophrys. Peromyscus mekisturus (Puebla deer mouse) was included in one of these haplogroups. We tested the consistency between this hypothesis and external morphology, quantitative and qualitative cranial attributes, and ecological data for a sample of 1,155 specimens spanning the species distribution. We found ecological and morphological consistency with the phylogenetic pattern for P. melanophrys but not for P. mekisturus. We reassessed the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of the populations and type specimens formerly included in P. melanophrys. We concluded that these populations constitute four species: P. zamorae (Zamora deer mouse), distributed in the Mexican Plateau at elevations &gt; 1,500 m; P. micropus (small-footed deer mouse), from lowland tropical deciduous forests of the San Pedro-Mezquital and Lerma-Santiago basins in western Mexico; P. melanophrys (black-eyed deer mouse) from lowland tropical deciduous forests of southeastern Mexico as far as eastern Oaxaca; and P. leucurus (Tehuantepec deer mouse), partially sympatric with P. melanophrys but reaching as far as Chiapas. Data on P. mekisturus were contradictory, and thus was kept as a valid species.Peromyscus melanophrys es un roedor endémico de México, distribuido en bosques tropicales caducifolios y regiones semiáridas. Datos moleculares usando marcadores mitocondriales y nucleares indicaron la existencia de cuatro haplogrupos dentro de P. melanophrys. Peromyscus mekisturus (ratón de Puebla) se incluyó dentro de uno de éstos. Con base en una muestra de 1,155 ejemplares de toda la distribución de la especie, se examinó si esta hipótesis era consistente con datos de morfología externa y craneal, morfometría e información ecológica. Se encontró coincidencia para P. melanophrys pero no para P. mekisturus. Estos resultados hicieron necesaria la reevaluación del estado taxonómico y nomenclatural de las poblaciones incluidas en P. melanophrys. Se concluye que existen cuatro especies dentro de lo que se conocía como P. melanophrys: P. zamorae (ratón de Zamora) distribuido en el Altiplano Mexicano a elevaciones ≥ 1,500 m; P. micropus (ratón de pata pequeña) distribuido en los bosques tropicales caducifolios de las cuencas San Pedro-Mezquital y Lerma-Santiago en el occidente de México; P. melanophrys (ratón de ojo oscuro) de los bosques y matorrales tropicales caducifolios del sureste de México, al menos hasta el este de Oaxaca, y P. leucurus (ratón de Tehuantepec) parcialmente simpátrico con P. melanophrys pero llegando hasta el estado de Chiapas. La información disponible no permitió asignar a P. mekisturus a ninguno de los grupos y por tanto se sigue considerando como especie válida.

Bursera bipinnata is known as “copal chino, is a small tree that grows in steep areas and is part of the transitional populations of pine and oak forests and lowland deciduous forests. It is the taxon with the widest geographic distribution in México and considered a source of high-grade copal resin used in ceremonies and offerings. Also, B. bipinnata is considered to have great value in traditional medicine to treat ailments related to in-flammation. In this work, the anti-inflammatory effects of the volatile fraction and resin of B. bipinnata in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were demonstrated. The resin extract was the best inhibitor with a 65.83 ± 8.53 % of inhibition of NO production with IC50 = 30 ± 3.3 µg/mL. In contrast, its volatile fraction showed a 37.43± 7.13 % of inhibition at 40 µg/mL. GC/MS and LC analysis of the total resin allowed the chemical characterization of eleven pentacyclic triterpenes with ursane, oleanane, and lupane skeletons, and eight monoterpenes. The structures of compounds (15, 17, 29-35) are reported for the first time from the resin of Bursera bipinnata. The anti-inflammatory activity of the most abundant constituents of the resin of B. bipinnata (α-amyrin (15), 3-epilupeol (17) and α-phellandrene (1) has been previously demonstrated which con-firms the activity showed by the resin as well as the traditional use of this important copal resin. The chemical profile of B. bippinata differs from that of other copal resins (e.g. B. copallifera) in the presence of a greater variety of triterpenes in the resin.