Cloud Forest Habitats Research Articles

Recent Changes in the Upland Watershed Forest of Monasavu, a Cloud Forest Site along the PABITRA Gateway Transect on Viti Levu, Fiji

The Monasavu catchment was selected as an additional study site for biodiversity assessment at the top of the PABITRA wet-zone landscape transect on Viti Levu. The site consists of upland rain forest with cloud forest and a freshwater lake. The lake was constructed to supply hydroelectric power. The biota of the area has been little studied, but initial surveys indicate that many endemic species are present. Construction of the hydroelectric dam has led to some conflicts between the Fiji Electric Company and local landowners around Monasavu. Nevertheless, the unique cloud-forest habitat and the desire of the landowners to sustainably utilize their resources and protect wildlife makes Monasavu an important addition to the PABITRA Gateway Transect.

Spatial Distribution, Population Structure, and Fecundity of Ceratozamia matudai Lundell (Zamiaceae) in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico

I. Abstract We describe the spatial distribution, population structure, and fecundity of Ceratozamia matudai in two populations in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, in Chiapas, Mexico. Three random plots of 20 × 20 m were laid out in a cypress forest habitat of the cycad and six plots in a cloud forest habitat on Mount Ovando. The aggregated spatial pattern of C. matudai showed a clumped local distribution on shallow soils on steep slopes. Individuals between the sites showed differences in leaf production, trunk diameter, height, and growth pattern. A population structure with an inverse “J” curve was obtained in both sites. Emergence of male and female cones appears to be synchronous in both populations, with a predominance of male cones recorded.

Distributional change and conservation on the Andean flank: a palaeoecological perspective

ABSTRACTAim To review the insights that palaeoecology can offer on the threat posed to Andean communities by global climate change.Location The geographical focus is the eastern flank of the tropical Andes, with particular reference to Peru.Method The article presents a synthetic review of the problem.Results Species‐rich communities of the eastern Andean flank are threatened both by development and climate change. If, as predicted, the cloudbase and frost line lifts 600 m elevation this century, there will be a substantial loss of cloud forest habitat. Palaeoecology provides insights on the location and nature of past ecotones, the continuity of niche availability, and estimates for rates and modes of migration. With further warming and drying of lower montane regions, upslope migration of species will be individualistic: a new equilibrium with the altered climate is unlikely to be attained. The zone of agriculture will move upslope faster than the migrating trees and so landscape conversion will negate the ability of some species to respond to the new conditions. Conservation of the lower reaches of modern cloud forest is advocated as a means to limit this foreseeable extinction event.Main Conclusions Climate change will induce changes in plant and animal communities. Human disturbance will invade climatically marginal agricultural lands at the pace of climate change. Rapid migratory response such as that witnessed at the onset of the Holocene may not be evident as climates warm, because Holocene climatic stability has reduced outlying upslope populations that may have served as expansion nuclei. Conservation must aim to maintain plant and animal niches, rather than particular communities of species.

Systematics of Hypanartia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae), with a test for geographical speciation mechanisms in the Andes

SummaryA taxonomic review of the Neotropical nymphaline butterfly genusHypanartiaHübner is presented, including notes on the taxonomy, biology and distribution of its component species, illustrations of all taxa and the male genitalia of all species, and the description of four new species and two new subspecies:Hypanartia celestiasp.n.,H. cinderellasp.n.,H. dione disjunctassp.n.,H. fasslisp.n.,H. trimaculatasp.n. andH. trimaculata autumnassp.n.Hypanartia arcaei(Salvin) is placed as a subspecies ofH. dione(Latreille) (stat.n.) and lectotypes are designated for eight nominal taxa. Fourteen species are recognized, with the centre of diversity being in high Andean cloud forest habitats. A cladistic analysis was conducted, based on fifty‐three illustrated characters of male genitalic and abdominal morphology, and external facies, to investigate phylogenetic relationships. The resulting phylogenetic hypothesis was used to test four different geographical mechanisms of speciation in the Andes: colonization from temperate latitudes, speciation across elevational gradients, radiation within the Andes and allopatric speciation between the Andes and other montane regions. There is evidence that speciation across an elevational gradient occurred twice, both times into elevations largely unoccupied by the genus, and in both cases followed by subsequent, elevationally sympatric,in situradiation. Differentiation in allopatry between montane regions has apparently been of recent influence only, causing infraspecific variation in two species. These results parallel several recent studies of Andean bird speciation.

Structure and Function of Tracheary Elements inAmborella trichopoda

Recent phylogenetic analyses have placed the root of flowering plants near Amborella trichopoda, a woody plant restricted to cloud forest habitats in New Caledonia. A distinctive feature of A. trichopoda is its reported lack of xylem vessels. Here we present observations of pit membrane structure and end wall morphology for primary and secondary tracheary cells of A. trichopoda as well as field measurements of stem hydraulic properties of A. trichopoda compared with five cloud fforest species from New Caledonia. Observations of stem radial sections revealed that the primary wall material in the protoxylem and metaxylem elements was intact. No large porosities (such as those that have been observed in the pit membranes of Nymphaeales) were observed. However, a few elliptical pits of tracheary cells in the secondary xylem appeared to lack pit membranes. These observations are consistent with our measurements of functional conduit length, which indicate that the longest open conduits are equal to the length of two secondary xylem elements joined end to end. Thus, the xylem of A. trichopoda appears to be functionally vesselless, with the caveat that connections between individual vascular elements may occasionally be open (i.e., lacking in at least one pit membrane). Sapwood area and leaf area–specific hydraulic conductivities of A. trichopoda are similar to those of conifers and angiosperms, with and without xylem vessels, growing in understory cloud forest environments. These findings bear on discussions of the morphology and ecology of the first flowering plants as well as on the possible causes of their diversification.

Two New and Highly Apomorphic Species of the Lasioglossum Subgenus Evylaeus (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) from Central America

Two new and apomorphic members of the Lasioglossum subgenus Evylaeus from Panama and Costa Rica are described. These species inhabit cloud forest habitats in Central America, an area and habitat not normally associated with high species diversity for bees in the genus Lasioglossum.

New and Little Known Species of Loxandrus LeConte 1852 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from North and South America

Three new species of beetles in the genus Loxandrus are described: L. straneoi from the southern United States, L. icarus from the Eastern United States, and L. quinarius from central Bolivia. Loxandrus icarus, inhabitant of wet lowland habitat, is unique among eastern North American species in having reduced flight wings. The only other North American species with reduced flight wings, L. omiltemi Allen & Ball, is known from temperate cloud forest habitat in Mexico. Loxandrus quinarius shares a striking phenetic similarity to some members of the African caelostomine genus Strigomerus Chaudoir, and with L. strigomeroides Straneo. Illustrations of the male genitalia of L. strigomeroides and L. mirei Straneo are presented here to assist in identification of these species. The distributional range of L. strigomeroides is newly noted to extend across the Amazon basin. Loxandrus inferus Allen is placed into synonymy under L. velocipes Casey.

Reproductive Ecology of Magnolia schiedeana (Magnoliaceae), a Threatened Cloud Forest Tree Species in Veracruz, Mexico

DIERINGER, G. AND J. E. ESPINOSA S. (Instituto de Ecologia, A.C., Apartado Postal No. 63, KM. 2.5 Antigua Carretera a Coatepec, 9 1000 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico). Reproductive ecology of Magnolia schiedeana (Magnoliaceae): a threatened cloud forest tree species in Veracruz, Mexico. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 121: 154-159. 1994.-Flowering among three study populations of Magnolia schiedeana Schlecht. (Magnoliaceae) varied considerably, beginning in January or February and continuing for 2 to 4 months. The variability in time of flowering led to very low fruit production in some populations when not coincident with pollinator emergence. Flowers produced a strong fruity fragrance, were functional for one day, protogynous (opening in the morning and becoming male the same afternoon), and self-compatible. Pollinators were beetles, Stenagria sp. (Staphylinidae) and Cyclocephala jalapensis (Scarabaeidae), that entered flowers at night and remained throughout the next day engaged in a variety of behaviors (copulation and feeding on pollen and petal tissue). Cyclocephala jalapensis, a regional endemic, is closely associated with cloud forest habitat and appears dependent on M. schiedeana for adult nutrition. Magnolia schiedeana therefore seems to possess a more specialized pollination system than temperate Magnolia species. All three populations experienced some degree of previous disturbance (cutting) and exhibited very low fertility. The average tree produced 1 flower per day, 2-4 flowers during the season, and 1 fruit. Regeneration of populations was primarily by resprouting of roots and trunk bases and not seedling recruitment. Future existence of M. schiedeana within Veracruz is jeopardized by deforestation brought about by a large human population struggling for basic necessities.

Perissomyrmex Snyderi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is Native toCentral America and Exhibits Worker Polymorphism

The rediscovery of Perissomyrmex snyderi, previously known from the two worker types, is reported. New collections were observed from two different cloud forest sites in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Based on the collection localities and cloud forest habitats, the species is clearly native to Central America. A sample of 205 workers revealed diphasic allometry, with distinct minor and major worker castes, and the queen was observed for the first time.

Alkaloids from a panamanian poison frog, Dendrobates speciosus: identification of pumiliotoxin-A and allopumiliotoxin class alkaloids, 3,5-disubstituted indolizidines, 5-substituted 8-methylindolizidines, and a 2-methyl-6-nonyl-4-hydroxypiperidine.

Dendrobates speciosus is a small red or orange frog that occupies a small geographic range in the highlands of western Panama, where it occurs abundantly in some cloud forest habitats. Gc-ms analysis indicated the presence of at least 30 alkaloids in MeOH skin extracts from population samples at the extreme eastern end of the known geographic range. Eleven alkaloids were isolated by cc in quantities sufficient for 2D-nmr spectral analysis, which in some cases confirmed their identity with alkaloids known from other species and in other cases led to assignment of structures. Pumiliotoxin 251D, pumiliotoxin A [307A], pumiliotoxin B [323A], and allopumiliotoxin 267A were identified as major constituents. N-Oxides of 323A and 267A were also isolated. Indolizidines 195B and 223AB with 3-butyl-5-methyl and 3-butyl-5-propyl substituents, respectively, were identified. The 5-substituents of the 8-methyl-indolizidines 207A and 235B' were assigned as -(CH2)3CH = CH2 and -(CH2)5CH = CH2, respectively; indolizidine 235B' from D. speciosus is, thus, a positional double-bond isomer of indolizidine 235B previously isolated from a closely related poison frog, Dendrobates pumilio. A piperidine 241D was isolated and assigned the structure cis-cis-2-methyl-6-nonyl-4-hydroxypiperidine.

Wood Anatomy of Placothira (Loasaceae)

Wood anatomy of the single species of Plakothira, a recently discovered genus from the Marquesas Islands, is described qualitatively and quantitatively. Features new for the family include presence of vasicentric scanty axial parenchyma and presence of perforated ray cells. Plakothira has several wood features specialized for Loasaceae: vasicentric axial parenchyma, extremely reduced borders on fibertracheids, and storying in fiber-tracheids. Wood of Plakothira is clearly loasaceous. Storying in fibertracheids is reported here for the loasaceous genera Fuertesia and Mentzelia. Wood anatomy of Plakothira represents paedomorphosis in great length of vessel elements, erectness of ray cells, lack of change in large primary rays, and in presence of occasional scalariform perforation plates. Plakothira has wood features maximally mesomorphic for the family, correlating with its cloud-forest habitat and semisucculent wood and cortex structure.

Reproductive Biology of Palicourea fendleri and P. petiolaris (Rubiaceae), Heterostylous Shrubs of a Tropical Cloud Forest in Venezuela

Palicourea fendleri and P. petiolaris (Rubiaceae) are sympatric, distylous tropical shrubs of cloud forest habitats in Venezuela; the former is strongly self-incompatible and the two floral morphs occur in a 1:1 ratio in natural populations. Palicourea petiolaris exhibits different levels of self-compatibility in the different populations studied and deviations toward more pin morphs occur in some populations. In general, where the level of incompatibility is stronger, the population structure is closer to equilibrium. A population at the margin of the geographical range of P. petiolaris is composed of fully self-compatible pin plants. Self-compatibility may have arisen in that population from a mutation resulting in thrum like behavior of pollen in long styled plants. Fruit set and seed set of the two species are highly variable among the different populations. For P. petiolaris, the population

Cytotaxonomy of the Genus <i>Smilacina</i> (Liliaceae) II

1. The chromosome number and karyotype of Smilacina racemosa vars. racemosa and amplexicaulis, S. stellata vars. stellata and sessilifolia, and S. paniculata are reported.2. S. racemosa var. racemosa in eastern North America contains tetraploid (2n=36), octoploid (2n=72), and 16-ploid (2n=ca. 144) chromosomal races, with the octoploid the most common. No obvious gross morphological variations seem to be correlated with the different polyploid types.3. Previous reports for the tetraploid (2n=36) nature of the western North American S. racemosa var. amplexicaulis and S. stellata var. sessilisfolia, as well as the eastern var. stellata, were verified.4. Costa Rican material of the widespread Central American S. paniculata proved to be likewise tetraploid (2n=36). The same basic karyotype formula (K(n)=3V+7J+8v) was found for all the North and Central American taxa studied and coincides with that reported by other authors for several Asiatic species of Smilacina.5. The distribution of Smilacina in the three widely separated main survival areas of the ancient Arcto-Tertiary Geoflora generally, and the close ecological relationships to temperate montane subtropical forests with prominent Arcto-Tertiary influence especially, suggests that this genus has had a common evolutionary history not only with this Geoflora, but in particular with such cloud forest habitats. Though the great similarity of some species suggests recent long-range dispersal, the great variety of species in Central America would point to a Tertiary, and not a Pleistocene origin of the disjunct Arcto-Tertiary elements there. Since the basic karyotype of all Smilacina species (with a slight exception in the highly specialized S. trifolia) is apparently remarkably uniform throughout the genus, its particular configurations must therefore date back to at least the middle Tertiary, when interchange between Old World and New World Arcto-Tertiary floristic areas was still possible. Thus, despite tremendous migrations, gross morphological changes and speciation, this basic Smilacina karyotype has remained unchanged for extremely long periods (perhaps 50 million years?).