Neotropical Research Articles

Classification and distribution of functional groups of birds and mammals in Mexico.

There has been a recent exponential growth in the study of functional trait ecology. Nonetheless, the study of functional traits and functional groups has been limited for terrestrial vertebrates. We conducted a classification update of functional groups (FG) of birds and mammals in Mexico, and determined the distribution patterns of FG species richness in different ecosystems nationwide. We selected six functional traits (feeding habit, locomotion, feeding substrate and technique, activity period, seasonality, and body size) obtained for 987 and 496 species of birds and mammals, respectively. A cophenetic correlation analyses resulted in values of 0.82 for the bird species dendrogram, and 0.79 for the mammal species dendrogram showing that the structures adequately reflected the similarity between observations. We obtained 52 FG for birds, assembled into 9 broader groups based on their feeding habits (16 invertivores, 6 carnivores: 5 herbivores, 9 aquatic vertivore/invertivore, 5 granivores, 1 scavenger, 3 nectarivores, 4 frugivores, and 3 omnivores). We obtained 35 FG for mammals, assembled into 9 broader groups based on their feeding habits (4 granivores, 10 herbivores, 1 nectarivore, 4 frugivores, 8 invertivores, 3 omnivores, 2 aquatic vertivore/invertivore, 1 hematophagous, and 2 carnivores). Overall, the distribution of FG species richness for birds and mammals gradually increased from the Nearctic to the Neotropical region, following a typical latitudinal species richness pattern. Few FG of migratory birds, and FG of granivore and herbivore mammals showed more species in the Nearctic and in the transitional regions. Our study provides a baseline for identifying ecological functions of species of birds and mammals in different ecosystems in Mexico, and contributes to understand the relationship between species diversity, community structure and ecosystem functioning. Identifying spatial patterns of functional trait diversity is important as biodiversity loss has a negative impact on ecosystem functioning and provision of environmental services.

Diversity of Leptoceroidea (Insecta: Trichoptera) in Par State, Brazil: A new species of Oecetis McLachlan 1877 and new records.

The order Trichoptera contains approximately 17,250 described species and their individuals are important freshwater environment components, frequently used as bioindicators of environmental quality. Despite recent advances in the knowledge of caddisflies in the Neotropical region, there are gaps to be filled, especially in critically endangered biomes, such as the Amazon rainforest, which has its largest area in the North Region of Brazil. In this region of Brazil, the state of Par presents a promising scenario for biodiversity studies, since a great portion of its area is covered by the Amazon rainforest and distinct environments (e.g., mangroves and rainforest). Knowledge about Trichoptera in the state includes 97 species records, 12 of them belonging to Leptoceroidea. To improve knowledge regarding the Amazon fauna, we record nine species of Leptoceroidea for the first time in Par State: Marilia alata, Nectopsyche muhni, Nectopsyche multilineata, Oecetis bidigitata, Oecetis cassicoleata, Oecetis doesburgi, Oecetis iguazu, Phylloicus auratus, and Triplectides maranhensis; we also describe and illustrate one new species: Oecetis ancorospina n. sp. which belongs to the Oecetis testacea Species Group.

Long-term female bias in sex ratios across life stages of Harpy Eagle, a large raptor exhibiting reverse sexual size dimorphism.

The primary (PSR), secondary (SSR) and adult (ASR) sex ratios of sexually reproducing organisms influence their life histories. Species exhibiting reversed sexual size dimorphism (RSD) may imply a higher cost of female production or lower female survival, thus generating biases in PSR, SSR and/or ASR towards males. The Harpy Eagle is the world's largest eagle exhibiting RSD. This species is found in the Neotropical region and is currently threatened with extinction. We used molecular markers to determine the sex of 309 Harpy Eagles spanning different life stages-eaglets, subadults and adults-from 1904 to 2021 within the Amazon Rainforest and Atlantic Forest. Sex ratios for all life stages revealed a female-biased deviation across all periods and regions. Our results suggest that the population bias towards females is an evolutionary ecological pattern of this species, and SSR and ASR likely emerged from the PSR. This natural bias towards females may be compensated by an earlier sexual maturation age of males, implying a longer reproductive lifespan and a higher proportion of sexually active males. A better understanding of the Harpy Eagle's life history can contribute to understanding sex-role evolution and enable more appropriate conservation strategies for the species.

Description of the Family Argidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps Argidae sawflies Argidae occur in all tropical, temperate, and subarctic regions of the world. Even though worldwide in distribution, the fauna of the Neotropical Region is the most diverse. Representatives of all subfamilies, except the Australian Zenarginae, occur in the neotropics. In the number of genera (32) and numbers of species (over 350), the Neotropical fauna includes more than twice the number of genera and nearly half the species as the rest of the world’s regions. Adults of Argidae some species can be found on various types of flowers, especially the larger species belonging to the Arginae subfamily. In this case, the eggs are laid in groups on the surface of a leaf, and the female takes care of the eggs and young larvae. The larvae feed in groups, presenting defined feeding patterns, and, when they complete their development, weave cocoons in groups protected by a common cover. The purpose of the manuscript is to describe the Biology, Ecology, behavior, damage, and taxonomy of the family Argidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Symphita). The articles were published from 1979 to 2023 in indexed scientific research, book scientific chapters, theses banks, university dissertations, national and international scientific articles, scientific journals, documents, and even in general journals when considered of interest and digital platforms: Universidade de São Paulo, Scielo Universidade de Brasilia, WaspWeb, Biological Abstract, and ResearchGate. The main terms used were: Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Woodwasps, Horntails, Sawflies, and Tenthredinoidea. In summary, basically, the following steps of analysis were covered: · Exhaustive reading of each article aiming at a global understanding and discovery of the approach used by its authors; · Identification of the central ideas of each article; · Classification of ideas around nuclei of meaning; · Comparison between the different nuclei of meaning present in the studied articles; · Classification of the nuclei of meaning in broader axes (themes) around which the authors' discussions revolved and Writing of the interpretative syntheses of the theme.

River drainage rearrangements and the phylogeographic pattern of the annual fish Austrolebias arachan (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae)

AbstractPalaeogeographical and climatic processes are among the main factors affecting biological diversity and distribution patterns. In freshwater systems, major dispersal processes are caused by river drainage rearrangements where the direction of flow of a stream changes, allowing range expansions and connection of previously isolated communities. In the Neotropical region, this process has been known to connect part of the southwestern Amazon basin with La Plata basin during the formation of the Bolivian Orocline, and La Plata basin with Atlantic coastal basins since the split from Africa. Several species of annual fishes of the genus Austrolebias are known to inhabit seasonal ponds both in the Rio Negro basin (southern tip of Brazilian shield, Lower Uruguay ecoregion), and the headwaters of rivers draining into the Merín lagoon (coastal drainages, Laguna dos Patos ecoregion). The aim of this article was to analyse the phylogeographic pattern of Austrolebias arachan in the context of putative river rearrangements. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) the spatial configuration of river basins determines the genetic structure and distribution of this species, and (b) coastal drainages captured sections of upland shield river drainages. We analysed a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and a fragment of a nuclear intron locus. Results support the prediction of the first hypothesis: geographic variation within A. arachan is structured according to geography. The second hypothesis was in part confirmed: the migration analyses showed that Rio Negro basin populations could have acted as a source for Laguna Merin basin. However, migration estimates also support gene flow in the opposite direction. The cytochrome b haplotype network configuration and its phylogenetic pattern suggests at least two independent events of capture, with divergence time estimated at the onset of Pleistocene glacial cycles.

Corrigendum: The relationships between dung beetles and monkeys in the Neotropical region

Corrigendum: The relationships between dung beetles and monkeys in the Neotropical region

Three new species of Oppiidae (Acari, Oribatida) from Mexico.

Three new species of Oppiidae (Oribatida)Graptoppia (Apograptoppia) rooensis sp. nov., Neoamerioppia (Neoamerioppia) mexicoensis sp. nov., and Ramusella (Insculptoppia) quintanaensis sp. nov.are described based on adults collected from leaf litter in a large karst pit in the secondary semi-evergreen tropical forest in Mexico. The subgenus Graptoppia (Apograptoppia) is recorded for the first time in the Neotropical region.

Spatial and temporal abilities of proxies used to detect pre-Columbian Indigenous human activity in Amazonian ecosystems

Humans have been modifying ecosystems since before the Holocene began ca. 12,000 years ago, even in Neotropical regions. The Amazon was once thought to be ‘pristine’ and only lightly impacted by Indigenous people before European colonization in the Americas (e.g., pre-Columbian); however, multiple lines of evidence have shown that Indigenous human activities over the past millennia have left ecological legacies on modern ecosystems. We review the various lines of evidence used to reconstruct pre-Columbian Indigenous human activity in Amazonia, and assess the spatial and temporal resolution and limits of each one of them. We suggest that a multi-proxy approach is always preferred, and that lines of evidence that cover overlapping yet discrete spatial and temporal scales can provide a robust and comprehensive assessment of the nuances of pre-Columbian Indigenous human activities in Amazonia, and how they affect modern ecosystems.

Celtis flumeniana (Cannabaceae): a new species from Brazil and reestablishment of Celtis alnifolia

During taxonomic studies of the Neotropical region, we recognized morphological differences that allowed us to reestablish Celtis alnifolia and describe a new species of Celtis from Brazil. For this new species, we provide its taxonomic description, a distribution map, and a preliminary analysis of its conservation status.

The pollination ecology of a rare case of bee-pollinated Psittacanthus mistletoe.

The genus Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, where it is known for its large, colourful, scentless flowers. Until very recently, all Psittacanthus species were regarded as exclusively hummingbird-pollinated and the large species radiation in the genus attributed to the interactions with bird dispersers and pollinators. P. eucalyptifolius (Kunth) G.Don. is the only species reported as bee-pollinated. Here we describe the floral biology, floral visitors, and the reproductive system of P.eucalyptifolius in an Amazonian savanna, Brazil. We also compare the pollination success (reproductive performance) among different Psittacanthus species reported in previous studies. Psittacanthus eucalyptifolius produces sweet-scented flowers, and a small quantity of concentrated nectar. At least five species of scopate bees were recorded visiting and carrying pollen of P. eucalyptifolius. Xylocopa frontalis carried most pollen, visited more flowers, remained longer, and touched reproductive parts of flowers in >95% of the observed visits. Experiments indicate that P. eucalyptifolius is partially autocompatible (39% autonomous pollination) but depends on pollinators to achieve higher performance (~78% in control), indicating that bees can be as effective as birds in pollinating this group of mistletoes.

Divergent effects of leaf‐cutting ant herbivory and soil engineering on the reproductive success of plants in a Caatinga dry forest

Abstract Plant reproduction is influenced by resource availability, environment and interactions with pollinators, pathogens and herbivores. In the Neotropical region, the leaf‐cutting ants are voracious herbivores and soil engineers, potentially affecting plant performance. This study investigated the effects of herbivory and soil changes via nest construction and maintenance linked to Atta opaciceps (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Bormeier, 1939) on the reproductive success of two Leguminosae species (Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) E. Gagnon & G.P. Lewis and Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. Mill.) widely distributed in the Caatinga dry forest. We selected eight nests from A. opaciceps colonies, with both plant species nearby. For each colony, we selected similar‐sized adult plants from foraging trail ends, where ants concentrate foraging efforts and herbivory is pronounced. We also selected plants located 20 m away from the foraging trail ends, representing herbivory‐protected scenarios, secured by tanglefoot barriers. Additionally, to assess ant‐related soil effects, we selected individuals from different nest‐associated soils (i.e., nest mounds and external refuse dumps) and from locations 20 m away from the aforementioned locations. All these individuals were shielded with tanglefoot barriers. Herbivory and soil changes from A. opaciceps did not affect any metric evaluated of C. pyramidale. Yet, for I. suffruticosa, ant herbivory boosted fruit set, and nest‐related soil changes, notably from refuse dumps, increased the number of flowers and fruits. Our findings indicate that leaf‐cutting ant effects on plant performance are species‐specific and may eventually benefit plant reproduction. Given the proliferation of leaf‐cutting ants in human‐modified landscapes of the Caatinga dry forest, positive interactions with plants might be vital to improving plant recruitment and forest regeneration dynamics.

Global systematic map of research on bats in agricultural systems

IntroductionThe conversion of natural habitats to agricultural systems is one of the main global threats to bats. Here, we aimed to develop a systematic mapping to identify publication trends and research gaps in studying bats and agricultural systems.MethodsWe reviewed 309 studies published between 1990 and 2021 that sampled bats in agricultural systems or evaluated the effect of these systems on these animals.ResultsWe found that most studies were conducted in the Palearctic and Neotropical regions (55.3%) and forest biomes (66.0%). Grassland-cropland systems (50.2%) and forest plantations that do not require cutting during the extraction of their products (47.9%) were more studied than forest plantations that require cutting (19.7%). Additionally, acoustic recordings (41.1%) and mist nets (34.3%) were the primary sampling methods used, with few studies combining these methods (7.1%). Also, most studies were conducted on a local scale (77.7%). The number of landscape-scale studies was smaller (34.3%) and concentrated in the Palearctic region (39.6%). Most studies assessed how agricultural systems affect biodiversity (62.1%). However, the phylogenetic and functional dimensions and b-diversity were little explored, with 2.5% and 23.3% of the biodiversity studies, respectively. Of the proposed mitigation measures, the most cited was including natural/semi-natural/potential bat habitats in cultivated landscapes (59.5%).DiscussionIn summary, our findings highlight the need for attention to the Afrotropic and Indo-Malaysia regions; predominantly non-forested biomes; plantations that require cutting during the extraction of their products; combined use of different sampling methods, as well as other methods as telemetry; use of multiple biodiversity descriptors and others biological descriptors, such as ecological services; landscape-scale studies and the role of conservation policies in promoting their conservation and raising awareness of their importance among producers and local communities. Filling these knowledge gaps is necessary to understand the factors influencing bat survival in cultivated landscapes. This is the only way to develop management and conservation strategies in these landscapes.

Record of an Ectoparasitic Fungus on Eggs of the Neotropical Termite Nasutitermes corniger (Blattaria, Isoptera, Termitidae)

Insects and fungi are abundant in many environments and often interact. However, little information exists on the fungal infestation of insect eggs. Here, we report an entomogenous fungus similar to Hormiscioideus filamentosus (Blackweel & Kimbrough, 1978) infesting eggs of the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855). The fungus arises from egg chorion and has long and simple filaments. The small haustorial cells infiltrate the egg chorion and the fungal thalli number varies from two to ten. Future studies will elucidate the infestation levels of termite eggs by this entomogenous fungus in the Neotropical region and its effects on termite colonies.

Genetic Variability of Tabebuia rosea (Bignoniaceae) from Plantations and Remnant Populations in the Mayan Forest

In Neotropical regions, plantations and remnant forest populations of native trees coexist in a highly fragmented matrix and may be affected by isolation and reduction in population size, leading to genetic structure, inbreeding, and genetic bottlenecks that reduce the population’s genetic diversity. Tabebuia rosea variability in the Mayan Forest was studied by genotyping 30 trees from three plantations and three remnant natural populations using simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs). Ho-SSR estimates were lower than He; the mean inbreeding coefficient was 0.07 and did not differ among populations, but was eight times higher in plantations than in remnant populations. Using ISSR data, the individuals were assigned to k = 5 and k = 4 clusters under admixture without and with geographic information used as priors in Bayesian analysis assignments. Genetic differentiation estimated with the Bayesian estimator II (0.0275 ± 0.0052) was significantly different from 0, but FST was not (0.0985 ± 0.1826), while paired FST among populations ranged from 0.05 up to 0.16. Only one remnant population displayed evidence of a genetic bottleneck. T. rosea displays a genetic structure in which the isolated remnant forest populations show moderate inbreeding levels.

The landscape ecological view of vertebrate species richness in urban areas across biogeographic realms

Understanding how the spatial arrangement of remnant green spaces in cities complements biodiversity provides an opportunity for synergy between urban development and biological conservation. However, the geography of urbanization is shifting from Europe and North America to Asia and Africa, and more research is needed for fast-growing regions. To understand how shifting urbanization shapes biodiversity patterns, we analyzed the contribution of landscape factors in explaining vertebrate species richness in urban areas across biogeographic realms. We used variation partitioning to quantify and compare the relative importance of landscape factors (composition and configuration) and environmental factors (climate, elevation, and latitude) in explaining vertebrate species richness in landscapes with at least a million inhabitants across biogeographic realms. Our results pointed out that in the Indo-Malayan, the Afrotropical, and the Neotropical realm (on average of 16.46%) and China and India (11.88%), the influence of landscape factors on vertebrate species richness are significantly higher than that of the Palearctic and Nearctic realms (6.48%). Our findings outline the importance of landscape composition and configuration in shaping biodiversity patterns in regions with fast urban growth during the next two decades, such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeastern Asia. We suggest improving land governance and urban planning to construct eco-friendly landscape structures to mitigate biodiversity loss due to urbanization.

Parasite-host relations and new reports of helminths for Rhinella dorbignyi (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) (Anura: Bufonidae) from Neotropical region

This study aimed to analyze helminth assemblage in Rhinella dorbignyi regarding host gender, size and mass in two sampling sites in southern Brazil, and to report new parasite associations. Anurans (n = 100) were collected in two localities from Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, from 2017 to 2020. Nineteen taxa (adults and larval forms) belonging to Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Digenea, and Cestoda were found in different infection sites. Cosmocercidae gen. Spp., Physaloptera liophis, Catadiscus sp., and Cylindrotaenia americana were the dominant taxa in helminth assemblage. Female anurans showed higher helminth species richness than males considering the total sample (two localities) or one of the two localities. However, prevalence and mean intensity of infection did not show any significant difference between genders. Mean intensity of infection was significantly higher (19.52) in Laranjal locality. Host body size does not influence helminth abundance, as infections did not show significant correlation snout-vent length (SVL) nor body mass (BM) of anurans. The findings reveal anurans of R. dorbignyi may be intermediate, paratenic and definitive host for these parasites. Plagiorchioidea helminths (Digenea), Physaloptera liophis, larvae of Acuariidae and Spiroxys sp. (Nematoda), and cystacanth of Lueheia sp. (Acanthocephala) constitute new records for R. dorbignyi. Additionally, this is the first record of Cylindrotaenia americana larvae in this host species. Resulting information increases the knowledge on biodiversity and parasite-host relations and may help future conservation programs developed in ecosystems in the extreme south of Brazil.

DNA barcodes provide insights into the diversity and biogeography of the non-biting midge Polypedilum (Diptera, Chironomidae) in South America.

South America, particularly within its tropical belt, is renowned for its unparalleled high levels of species richness, surpassing other major biomes. Certain neotropical areas harbor fragmented knowledge of insect diversity and face imminent threats from biodiversity loss and climate change. Hence, there is an urgent need for rapid estimation methods to complement slower traditional taxonomic approaches. A variety of algorithms for delimiting species through single-locus DNA barcodes have been developed and applied for rapid species diversity estimates across diverse taxa. However, tree-based and distance-based methods may yield different group assignments, leading to potential overestimation or underestimation of putative species. Here, we investigate the performance of different DNA-based species delimitation approaches to rapidly estimate the diversity of Polypedilum (Chironomidae, Diptera) in South America. Additionally, we test the hypothesis that significant differences exist in the community structure of Polypedilum fauna between South America and its neighboring regions, particularly the Nearctic. Our analysis encompasses a dataset of 1492 specimens from 598 locations worldwide, with a specific focus on South America. Within this region, we analyzed a subset of 247 specimens reported from 37 locations. Using various methods including the Barcode Index Number (BIN), Bayesian Poisson tree processes (bPTP), multi-rate Poisson tree processes (mPTP), single-rate Poisson tree processes (sPTP), and generalized mixed Yule coalescent (sGMYC), we identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) ranging from 267 to 520. Our results indicate that the sGMYC method is the most suitable for estimating putative species in our dataset, resulting in the identification of 75 species in the Neotropical region, particularly in South America. Notably, this region exhibited higher species richness in comparison to the Palearctic and Oriental realms. Additionally, our findings suggest potential differences in species composition of Polypedilum fauna between the Neotropical and the adjacent Nearctic realms, highlighting high levels of endemism and species richness in the first. These results support our hypothesis that there are substantial differences exist in species composition between the Polypedilum fauna in South America and the neighboring regions.

Productivity and impact of the Unisinos’ Postgraduate Program in Biology and the consequences of its interruption for Brazilian science

On 22 July 2022, the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), a private institution and community university in southern Brazil, announced the interruption of 12 of its postgraduate programmes, including the Postgraduate Program of Biology (PPG Biologia), whose professors founded the journal, Neotropical Biology and Conservation. We conducted a bibliometric analysis of papers published by PPG Biologia in the past 20 years to assess its impact on biological research at a national level. The number of publications and citations increased constantly over the years, with publications growing exponentially. Although most collaborations with other research programmes occurred inside Brazil, a significant number of studies were co-authored by researchers from other countries from at least four continents. The main research lines focused on biological sciences, ecology, sociology, education, environmental sciences and genetics. Despite being affected by the decrease in research funding and the reduction of personnel, PPG Biologia kept its high impact score according to the national evaluation, above that of most programmes in private universities and similar to public ones. With a team of renowned researchers working on different and sometimes unique research lines, the interruption of PPG Biologia will harm the progress of biological research and conservation across the Neotropical realm.

Global flows of insect transport and establishment: The role of biogeography, trade and regulations

AbstractAimNon‐native species are part of almost every biological community worldwide, yet numbers of species establishments have an uneven global distribution. Asymmetrical exchanges of species between regions are likely influenced by a range of mechanisms, including propagule pressure, native species pools, environmental conditions and biosecurity. While the importance of different mechanisms is likely to vary among invasion stages, those occurring prior to establishment (transport and introduction) are difficult to account for. We used records of unintentional insect introductions to test (1) whether insects from some biogeographic regions are more likely to be successful invaders, (2) whether the intensity of trade flows between regions determines how many species are intercepted and how many successfully establish, and (3) whether the variables driving successful transport and successful establishment differ.LocationCanada, mainland USA, Hawaii, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Korea, South Africa.MethodsTo disentangle processes occurring during the transport and establishment stages, we analysed border interceptions of 8199 insect species as a proxy for transported species flows, and lists of 2076 established non‐native insect species in eight areas. We investigated the influence of biogeographic variables, socio‐economic variables and biosecurity regulations on the size of species flows between regions.ResultsDuring transport, the largest species flows generally originated from the Nearctic, Panamanian and Neotropical regions. Insects native to 8 of 12 biogeographic regions were able to establish, with the largest flows of established species on average coming from the Western Palearctic, Neotropical and Australasian/Oceanian regions. Both the biogeographic region of origin and trade intensity significantly influenced the size of species flows between regions during transport and establishment. The transported species richness increased with Gross National Income in the source country, and decreased with geographic distance. More species were able to establish when introduced within their native biogeographic region.Main ConclusionsOur results suggest that accounting for processes occurring prior to establishment is crucial for understanding invasion asymmetry in insects, and for quantifying regional biosecurity risks.

New species of Centris (Xanthemisia) Moure from the Mesoamerican Dominion and the Mexican Transition Zone (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Three new species of oil-collecting bees of the genus Centris (Xanthemisia) Moure are described and illustrated: C. jakalteka sp. nov., C. maya sp. nov. and C. purhepecha sp. nov. The new proposed taxa are distributed in the north of the Neotropical Region, specifically in the Mesoamerican Dominion and the Mexican Transition Zone, between the Neotropics and Nearctic. In addition, a distribution map and an identification key for the species of the subgenus occurring in the aforementioned regions are also presented.