Amazon Piedmont Research Articles

Silvopastoral systems with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray reduce N2O–N and CH4 emissions from cattle manure deposited on grasslands in the Amazon piedmont

Silvopastoral systems with Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray reduce N2O–N and CH4 emissions from cattle manure deposited on grasslands in the Amazon piedmont

Effect of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray intake on in vivo methane (CH4) emission and milk production in dual-purpose cows in the Colombian Amazonian piedmont.

The inclusion of Tithonia diversifolia in pasture-based diets is a promising alternative to increase bovine productivity, due to its chemical composition and wide adaptation, but there are few in vivo studies to determine its effect on methane yield and animal production in grazing systems. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the T. diversifolia inclusion in a basal diet of Brachiaria humidicola on methane (CH4) emissions by enteric fermentation, and on milk yield and quality in dual-purpose cows. The polytunnel technique was used for the determination of methane yield and two diets were evaluated (Diet 1: Brachiaria humidicola 100%; Diet 2: T. diversifolia 15% + B. humidicola 85% dry matter basis) in the moderate rainy and rainy seasons using a cross-over experimental design; milk production was measured by daily milk weighing, and milk quality was determined using a LACTOSCAN analyzer. The inclusion of T. diversifolia did not increase the dry matter intake (P = 0.369), but increased the intake of crude protein and minerals, and reduced fiber intake, resulting in the increased yield of milk and its components in the moderate rainy season (P = 0.012). The inclusion of T. diversifolia reduced the absolute CH4 emissions (P = 0.016), Ym and emission intensity (per unit of fat, protein and kilogram fat and protein corrected milk yields) both in the moderate rainy and rainy seasons (P < 0.05). We conclude that the inclusion of T. diversifolia in the forage feed base in the humid tropics such as the Amazon piedmont can be used as a tool to both mitigate enteric CH4 emissions and to increase animal productivity and hence reduce emissions intensity, and thus reduce pressure on the agricultural frontier in critical areas such as the Amazon.

Osteophagia by Nasutitermes guayanae (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) on human bone remains in the Andean Amazon, Caquetá, Colombia

ABSTRACT We present the first report of Nasutitermes guayanae feeding on human bone remains found in an urban area of the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia, in the Colombian Amazon piedmont. The record indicates an expansion in the diet of these termites. The observation suggests that the association of N. guayanae with decomposing bodies may be a possible tool for the estimation of postmortem intervals.

Diet and trophic structure of frugivorous bats (Phyllostomidae) in forests and chagras of the Andean–Amazon piedmont, Ecuador

Diet and trophic structure of frugivorous bats (Phyllostomidae) in forests and chagras of the Andean–Amazon piedmont, Ecuador

Comparison of big cat food habits in the Amazon piedmont forest in two Bolivian protected areas

The feeding habits of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) were studied in the lower Tuichi, Hondo (PNANMI Madidi) and Quiquibey (RB Pilón Lajas) river valleys. A total of 122 large felid scats were collected and identified by an experienced local guide, with identifications later confirmed by morphometry. Of this total, 54 were also identified using associated tracks. For jaguar, prey species richness was 25 species considering all scats and 20 species only considering those scats associated with tracks. For puma, 28 and 22 prey species were obtained, respectively. The results indicate that there is low trophic niche overlap between both cats (0.46 and 0.44 respectively). The breadth of the trophic niche indicates that the jaguar is more specialized in its diet (0.28 and 0.42 respectively), mainly due to the high consumption of the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), which contributes significantly to jaguar prey biomass. The puma has a more generalist tendency (0.56 and 0.58 respectively), with the spotted paca (Cuniculus paca) the most frequently consumed prey and also contributing the most biomass. Despite the fact that both felines share most of their prey, jaguar and puma differ in the frequency of prey consumption.

The Spiritual Dimension of Yage Shamanism in Colombia

This article offers an intercultural interpretation of the sense of the sacred in the practice of yage shamanism in Colombia. This practice is based on the ritual use of a plant medicine which for centuries has been the basis of the medical, spiritual and cultural systems of indigenous peoples of the Amazon piedmont in Colombia, Ecuador and Perú. Since the 1990s, this practice has expanded to urban areas of Colombia and other countries. After a short introduction, I develop my interpretation of yage shamanism in three stages: first, I explore some narratives of the origin of yage, showing how it is lived and understood as a source of knowledge and the foundational element of indigenous cultures. Second, I attempt a phenomenological analysis of yage shamanic experience, presenting it as a form of spiritual experience. Finally, I briefly address the issue of whether or not this form of experience is valid.

Differences in physical habitat simulation system modelling results using benthic or pelagic fish species as indicators in Peruvian Andes–Amazon rivers

AbstractAquatic organisms with different adaptations are used as indicators in physical habitat simulation system models. Those adaptations are critical for determining the shape of the weighted usable area/width curve and for recommending values of environmental flows. The main objective of this study is to compare the use of benthic native species (Astroblepus taczanowskii and Astroblepus vanceae) versus the introduced Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) as target indicators for PHABSIM modelling in the Andean–Amazon piedmont rivers. We used adjusted probability distribution functions with L‐moments analyses for developing curves of use and preference to evaluate the efficiency of each indicator. Two hydraulic modelling sections were established in the Ulcumayo River with 21 and 27 cross sections, respectively. Native benthic species are usually dominant but scarcely used as focus organisms for environmental flows modelling. These species are associated with fast running and shallow waters, which makes them potentially more sensitive to the effects of flow reduction. Our results indicated that the native species were more restricted to velocity and depth than O. mykiss. Using selection curves in PHABSIM modelling, it is required between 10% to 94% of the mean monthly flow to preserve 90% of the available habitat for Astroblepus during the dry season (May to November). In contrast, rainbow trout requires 5% to 88% of the mean monthly flow. We conclude that a multispecies approach is useful for determining the required environmental instream flows contributing to a better sustainable condition for the Neotropical mountain rivers.

Bio-currencies: an alternative to Payments for Environmental Services (PES)

In Colombia’s Amazon piedmont, the cattle industry is one of the most important productive activities (IGAC 2016) due to a high demand and to the sturdy infrastructure built upon it that satisfies ...

Reproductive phenology variation of the multiple inflorescence-palm tree Wettinia maynensis in relation to climate, in a Piedmont forest in western Amazonia

Wettinia maynensis’ phenology is influenced by temperature and the relative humidity, suggesting that the reproductive phenology can change in extreme climate event contexts, even in very humid unseasonal forests. Wettinia maynensis is a piedmont palm tree whose ecology, phenology and responses to climate are yet unknown. In order to examine the reproductive biology of this species, we observed the flowering and fruiting performance of 101 adult palms in the Colonso Chalupas Biological Reserve in the Ecuadorian Piedmont, located between the Andean mountains and the Amazon. All individuals were monitored every 1 or 2 months during 2.3 years (2015–2018). The inflorescences are infrafoliar with usually one central, large, pistillate and several lateral, centrifugally smaller, staminate inflorescences. Flowering took place throughout the year although staminate and pistillate inflorescences showed low synchrony towards the end of the year, 40% and 32%, respectively. Staminate inflorescences showed a negative strong relationship with relative humidity and a positive one with temperature. The infructescences exhibited high synchrony (80%) for almost 6 months. Compared to other species of the genus, W. maynensis presented the lowest ratio of male/female inflorescences, the higher production of infructescences but lower number of fruits per year. Infructescences production per palm was between cero and 7, and the time elapsed between the fruit formation and its dehiscence was about 5–8 months. Some palms were observed with simultaneously active pistillate and staminate inflorescences (21–22 palms), therefore geitonogamy is not discarded. Wettinia maynensis inflorescences production and its correlation with relative humidity, hence with temperature, highlights that crucial changes could occur in the reproductive phenology of this species under future climate change scenarios affecting the population dynamics and then the community of Andean–Amazon piedmont forests.

Caquetá: De Territorio de Guerra a Territorio de Paz

El devenir histórico del Caquetá ha estado determinado por tres tipos básicos de poblamiento: ocupación indígena; proceso de colonización agraria, que inició con la reforma agraria (1936) de López Pumarejo, dinamizada desde 1950; y el proceso de urbanización de las últimas décadas, especialmente del piedemonte amazónico. En estas etapas de poblamiento espacial se han vinculado diversas manifestaciones violentas por el control territorial, debido a su ubicación geográfica nacional e internacional, favorable a intereses geopolíticos, económicos y espaciales para las Fuerzas Armadas estatales y los grupos armados insurgentes (FARC, M-19), por sus condiciones topográficas. Igualmente, como territorio de ocupación para la producción coquera.&#x0D; Colonización, narcotráfico y guerrilla son factores de su identidad política y económica, con diversas vicisitudes en el desarrollo histórico de apropiación y control de libertades de la población caqueteña, por las acciones beligerantes del Estado en sus políticas diversas de colonización, conflicto armado, narcotráfico, deterioro ambiental y la explotación minera a expensas de las políticas económicas del gobierno de turno. Por su ubicación geográfica en la Amazonia, Caquetá es un territorio propicio y estratégico para lograr un territorio de paz.

Length-Weight relationships of 23 fish species from floodplain ecosystems of the Andean Amazon piedmont, Peru

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) for 23 freshwater fish species from the Andean Amazon piedmont in Peru are presented in this study. Fishes were captured between 2009 and 2010 on lagoons from three basins; Amazonas (Ampiyacu and Apayacu) and Ucayali (Pachitea) using gillnets. In this study, new LWRs are reported for 20 species of 23 species analyzed. The study provides new information on less-studied species and can serve as a basis for management of fisheries and conservation of this area.

Incidencia de sistemas agroforestales con Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A.Juss.) Müll.Arg. sobre propiedades físicas de suelos de lomerío en el departamento de Caquetá, Colombia

En los municipios Belén de los Andaquies, Florencia y El Doncello (departamento de Caquetá, Colombia), se colectaron muestras de suelo en lomerío bajo cinco tipos de cobertura (Bosque secundario, Arreglo Agroforestal &lt;em&gt;H. brasiliensis&lt;/em&gt; Muell asociado con frutales y/o frutales, Arreglo Agroforestal con H. brasiliensis Muell y rastrojo, H. brasiliensis Muell en monocultivo y Pastura nativa), con el fin de determinar la incidencia que tienen los sistemas agroforestales con Hevea brasiliensis sobre las propiedades físicas de los suelos. Se encontró que el comportamiento de las variables profundidad del horizonte A, compactación, densidad real y humedad gravimétrica es similar en suelos bajo monocultivo de H. brasiliensis y bajo pastura nativa. El efecto positivo de la especie H. brasiliensis en sistemas agroforestales con frutales y con rastrojos se evidenció en las variables profundidad del horizonte A, densidad aparente, compactación y porosidad total, las cuales se comportaron en forma similar a las de suelos bajo bosque secundario. En general se observa la incidencia de los arreglos agroforestales sobre la modificación de variables físicas del suelo en el piedemonte amazónico.

Dos décadas de estudio de la diversidad de hormigas en Colombia

The Research Group on the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Ants at the Universidad del Valle has published 60 studies in the last two decades on different Colombian ecosystems, including rural zones, protected areas, crops, and urban areas. Seventy percent of the contributions concentrated in the Andean region, followed by the Pacific, Insular, Amazon and Orinoco regions, each with 7%, and 2% in the Caribbean region. In terms of number of species, the ant diversity recorded reflects areas with greater sampling effort, such as the Pacific lowlands (227 species), the Andean valley of the Cauca river (215 species), the Amazon piedmont in the department of Caqueta (132 species), the Gorgona Natural National Park (129 species), and the Caribbean region (122 species). Studies include some key species of ants due to their rarity, endemism, wide distribution, or invasive behaviour, as well as those classified as indicators of habitats and land uses, diversity, and ecosystem disturbance. Ecosystem services to which various species contribute are also mentioned.

Bioquímica sanguínea y concentración plasmática de corticosterona en pollo de engorde bajo estrés calórico

Las altas temperaturas ambientales propician susceptibilidad al estrés calórico en los pollos de engorde, lo que genera cambios metabólicos. Se buscó determinar los cambios en la bioquímica sanguínea y la concentración plasmática de corticosterona del pollo de engorde sometido a estrés calórico crónico y a las condiciones de temperatura ambiental del piedemonte amazónico colombiano, sobre las concentraciones plasmáticas de corticosterona, glucosa, proteínas totales, albumina, globulina, sodio, cloro, potasio, magnesio, fósforo y calcio. Se utilizaron pollos machos de 2 estirpes de 21 días de edad, distribuidos en un diseño experimental irrestrictamente al azar, en un esquema bifactorial, con 4 tratamientos. Se hicieron 5 repeticiones por tratamiento y 25 animales por unidad experimental. Las aves fueron alimentadas con una dieta básica de maíz y torta de soya con 3,100 Kcal de EM y 19,5 % de proteína hasta los 42 días de edad. El factor estirpe no tuvo efecto en las variables evaluadas (p ≥ 0,05). No obstante, existió diferencia estadística significativa (p ≤ 0,05) en todas las variables evaluadas al ser comparadas las concentraciones de los metabolitos de las aves en condiciones de estrés calórico crónico con las de las aves expuestas a las condiciones de temperatura del piedemonte amazónico colombiano. Se concluyó que la bioquímica sanguínea sufrió modificaciones significativas bajo las 2 temperaturas experimentales, con mayor detrimento fisiológico de las aves con estrés calórico crónico. La concentración de corticosterona se constituyó en el indicador más sensible y constante de la condición fisiológica de estrés crónico por calor.

Amenazas fluviales en el piedemonte amazónico colombiano

Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación sobre las amenazas ambientales de origen fluvio-volcánico y fluvio-torrencial que podrían afectar a la población del piedemonte amazónico colombiano. Esta región comprende una amplia zona sur-central del país sobre la cual se posee una cartografía deficiente y escasa información secundaria sobre geología, geomorfología, hidrología y climatología. Por lo tanto se llevó a cabo un análisis geomorfológico regional de imágenes satelitales (Landsat) y de aerofotografías locales que permitieron identificar las geoformas principales y los procesos morfo-dinámicos asociados a eventos ambientales extremos. Finalmente, se identificaron tres factores ambientales capaces de generar graves impactos en la región: las erupciones volcánicas, los terremotos fuertes y las lluvias torrenciales.