South America Research Articles

A multi-locus phylogeny for the Diamesinae (Chironomidae: Diptera) provides new insights into evolution of an amphitropical clade

Abstract Diamesinae is a subfamily of Chironomidae, whose species live in cold lotic or oligotrophic lentic habitats with global distribution excepting Antarctica. The cool stenothermic ecology of nearly all diamesines produces a typical amphitropical pattern of absence at tropical latitudes, except at high elevation. Recent attention has focused on the species discovery, while evolutionary relationships at the generic and tribal level have remained inadequately understood. Current classification implies analogous evolutionary diversification in each hemisphere (boreal and austral). To test this concept, we used six genetic markers (18S, 28S, CAD1, COI-5p, COI-3p and COII) and fossil calibrations to produce a well-supported and resolved time-calibrated phylogeny of the subfamily. Austral and boreal diamesines indeed are reciprocally monophyletic lineages, with estimated Jurassic divergence (130-196, 164 Ma). The boreal Protanypodini, previously understood to be a tribe within Diamesinae, is excluded and elevated here to subfamily rank as Protanypodinae stat. nov. Ancestral austral diamesines probably originated in South America and successively reached New Zealand, Australia and South Africa during the Cretaceous-Paleogene. The Holarctic tribes Diamesini and Boreoheptagyiini probably originated in the Eastern Palaearctic with further dispersal/vicariance into the Western Palaearctic, Nearctic, East, and very likely dispersed southwards to montane East Africa and Borneo.

Phytoparasitic Nematodes of Musa spp. with Emphasis on Sources of Genetic Resistance: A Systematic Review

Bananas are a staple food that considerably contributes to both food security and income generation, especially in countries of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. The banana plant (Musa spp.) is affected by various pathogens, of main concern being the plant-parasitic nematodes associated with the rhizosphere, the most important of which are Radopholus similis (burrowing nematode), Helicotylenchus sp. (spiral nematode), Pratylenchus sp. (root lesion nematode), and Meloidogyne sp. (gall nematode). Infected plants reduce their ability to absorb water and nutrients, which can lead to delayed flowering, fewer bunches, and lower fruit mass. Obtaining nematode-resistant banana cultivars through genetic improvement is an effective and sustainable option compared with chemical control with nematicides. Here, we provide the first systematic review of existing banana sources of resistance to nematodes to aid the management and control of nematodes in banana and plantain crops. Articles selected from different databases were evaluated, and searches were conducted using pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. We found 69 studies dealing with genetic improvement for nematode resistance in banana cultivation. Our findings revealed that sources of resistance are currently under investigation to combat the diseases caused by different nematode species in banana plants.

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from two priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the Brazilian Amazon and range extension for Carollia benkeithi (Phyllostomidae)

Abstract Amazonian tropical forests host the highest bat diversity in South America. The central area Brazilian Amazon encompasses one of the largest pristine areas within this biome, where Amanã and Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserves (SDRs) are located. These two reserves hold the status of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation due to their high biological relevance. The aim of this study was to identify the bat species richness within these SDRs to minimize the Wallacean shortfall of the chiropterofauna in the Amazon. A total of 274 specimens, collected 20 years ago and housed in the mammal collection at the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, were sorted and identified. They are distributed across four families, 18 genera, and 26 species: Artibeus planirostris and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant vouchers. We identified a range extension for Carollia benkeithi and a possible new taxon for the genus Micronycteris.

Efectos de una intervención basada en normas sociales para reducir las conductas de consumo de alcohol en adolescentes argentinos

Alcohol-related social norms are internalized beliefs regarding the extension and approval of alcohol consumption by social reference groups. Prevention programs based on social norms and behavioral insights are empirical evidence-based approaches that challenge cognitive biases and promote healthy choices by providing actual information of targeted behaviors. These programs, to our knowledge, have not been applied to reduce alcohol use in Latin-America. Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of a school-based social norms intervention to reduce alcohol use behaviors in high-school adolescents from Cordoba city (Argentina). Ninety-two students (Mean age = 14.18±0.82 years) participated. A 2 (type of school administration: public, private) x 2 (treatment: experimental, control) factorial design was employed. Data collections provided information on actual alcohol consumption, perceived alcohol consumption of classmates and discrepancies (i.e., biases) between both measures. Results: A brief feedback session, which was complemented with the placement of posters inside the classroom, reduced the prevalence and frequency of several alcohol drinking behaviors. These effects were more noticeable in the public than in the private schools. Conclusions: This is, to our knowledge, the first report of a program that applied a social norms strategy to reduce alcohol consumption in high schoolers from South America.

Characterizing owners of fast-growing forest plantations in South America’s afforestation systems

Characterizing owners of fast-growing forest plantations in South America’s afforestation systems

Salvage technoscience: Conserving and extracting the value of the Amazon Rainforest

Very few forests take up as much space in contemporary Western imagination as the Amazon. It is the archetypical mythological forest that many people want to save and even more people want to exploit. Over the years, it has been the object of multiple campaigns to ‘save the rainforest’ from resource extraction both within South America and beyond, within scientific communities as well as broader publics. This article addresses a concern with how to extract the resources of the Amazon Forest in ways that are more sustainable than past and contemporary logging, mining and farming. This concern is promoted by Brazilian scientists who have allied themselves with well-intended tech industry initiatives and small-scale entrepreneurs. We refer to this combination of conservation with extraction as salvage technoscience, an approach currently dominating the struggle for the resources of the Amazon by attempting to reconcile the opposing views of the forest as an economic asset and as an object to be preserved. Our contribution thus demonstrates the interwoven nature of capitalist extraction and environmental conservation under the auspices of technoscientific progress.

Genomic analysis of inbreeding level, kinship and breed relationships in Creole cattle from South America.

The conservation of animal genetic resources refers to measures taken to prevent the loss of genetic diversity in livestock populations, including the protection of breeds from extinction. Creole cattle populations have suffered a drastic reduction in recent decades owing to absorbent crosses or replacement with commercial breeds of European or Indian origin. Genetic characterization can serve as a source of information for conservation strategies to maintain genetic variation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the levels of inbreeding and kinship through the use of genomic information. A total of 903 DNAs from 13 cattle populations from Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay were genotyped using an SNP panel of 48 K. Also, a dataset of 76 K SNPs from Peruvian Creole was included. Two inbreeding indices (FROH and Fhat2) and kinship relationships were calculated. In addition, effective population size (Ne), linkage disequilibrium, population composition and phylogenetic relationships were estimated. In Creole cattle, FROH ranged from 0.14 to 0.03, and Fhat2 was close to zero. The inferred Ne trends exhibited a decline toward the present for all populations, whereas Creole cattle presented a lower magnitude of Ne than foreign breeds. Cluster analysis clearly differentiated the taurine and Zebu components (K2) and showed that Bolivian Creole cattle presented Zebu gene introgression. Despite the population reduction, Creole populations did not present extreme values of consanguinity and kinship and maintain high levels of genetic diversity. The information obtained in this work may be useful for planning conservation programmes for these valuable local animal genetic resources.

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Emotions About Owls in Southern Ecuador

Owls hold significant utilitarian and aesthetic values for humans, ranging from pest control to ecotourism. However, cultural beliefs rooted in negative perceptions and emotions have led to conflicts and threats to many owl species. In South America, research on the relationship between owls and people is limited. This study aims to identify the variables involved in the construction of social knowledge, perceptions, and emotions toward owls. Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to residents in southern Ecuador. The data were analyzed using decision trees, a novel approach in ethnobiology. The results indicate that participants exhibited accurate knowledge of owl diet and habitat, with a majority having previous owl sightings and familiarity with their vocalizations. These factors, along with the sources informing their knowledge (such as school and family), contribute to the development of neutral perceptions and emotions toward these birds. The majority of participants recognize the importance of owls for the environment and support their conservation, with these two variables playing a crucial role in shaping positive emotions. Additionally, perceptions and emotions are primarily influenced by the region of residence. The presented data provide valuable insights into the significance of social perceptions and emotions in designing strategies to mitigate intentional owl mortality and persecution resulting from misconceptions and misperceptions.

The workshops on computational applications in secondary metabolite discovery (CAiSMD)

Abstract We report the outcomes of the second session of the free online open-access workshop “Computational Applications in Secondary Metabolite Discovery (CAiSMD) 2022” that took place from 09 to 11 March 2022. The first session was held from 08 to 10 March 2021 and drew the attention of many early career scientists from academia and industry. The 23 invited speakers of this year’s workshop also came from academia and industry and 222 registered participants from five continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, South, and North America) took part in the workshop. The workshop highlighted the potential applications of computational methodologies in the search for secondary metabolites or natural products as drug candidates and drug leads. For three days, the participants of this online workshop discussed modern computer-based approaches for exploring NP discovery in the “omics” age. The invited experts gave keynote lectures, trained participants in hands-on sessions, and held round table discussions. These were followed by oral presentations during which much interaction between the speakers and the audience was observed. Selected applicants (early-career scientists) were offered the opportunity to give oral presentations (15 min) upon submission of an abstract. The final program available on the workshop website (https://indiayouth.info/index.php/caismd) comprised three keynote lectures, 14 oral presentations, two round table discussions, and four hands-on sessions. This meeting report also references internet resources for computational biology around secondary metabolites that are of use outside of the workshop areas and will constitute a long-term valuable source for the community.

Diet, sexual dimorphism, and fertility aspects of Melanophryniscus fulvoguttatus (Mertens, 1937) from Central-East Brazil

Melanophryniscus fulvoguttatus is a small toad that inhabits the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and humid Chaco of South America. Due to its aposematic coloration and behavior, it is a species that may present chemical defenses such as alkaloids and a restricted diet similar to other species of the genus. Although it was described in the early 20th century, there is still little information on its natural history and ecology. Here, we described the diet, tested the sexual dimorphism, and calculated the fertility index of M. fulvoguttatus based on a sample of eight males and 21 females from a population within the Cerrado. Sexual dimorphism was assessed using 15 morphometric measures; diet was calculated as an index of relative importance by prey item and tested for sex differences; fertility was tested for relations between body size and the number of eggs; and we also estimated the reproductive investment. Our results demonstrate that this population’s diet consisted mostly of ant species, with Pheidole radoszkowskii being the most important, followed by Crematogaster sp. and Cyphomyrmex transversus. Regarding sexual dimorphism, we observed that females were significantly larger than males, with a positive relationship between female size and the number of eggs. We did not find significant differences in the diets of males and females. Although the diet and reproductive aspects of M. fulvoguttatus are similar to those of its congeneric species, further studies are needed in order to address the relationship between the species diet and its chemical defenses.

Trypanosoma cruzi in Bats (Chiroptera; Mammalia) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, São Paulo State

The causative agent of Chagas disease is Trypanosoma cruzi, which is widely distributed throughout the South American continent and extends into North America. Its occurrence in bats is poorly described and may impact the disease’s maintenance and epidemiology. The aim of this study was to detect the agent by PCR assays targeting kDNA and nuclear DNA in the organs of 203 urban bats and rural vampire bats from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, São Paulo state, during the pandemic period from 2020 to 2022. In total, 6 of the 203 bats (2.97%) were positive for T. cruzi. Infection was detected in 2% (2/101) of Desmodus rotundus, 33% (1/3) of Nyctinomops laticaudatus, 25% (1/4) of Artibeus lituratus, 4% (1/24) of Eumops glaucinus and in 2% (1/41) of Molossus molossus. The gene sequences obtained were assessed for quality and deposited in a public repository. Fruit bats were statistically associated with positivity for T. cruzi. To our knowledge, this study detected T. cruzi for the first time in bats from São Paulo state and in N. laticaudatus and E. glaucinus species.

It's time for Africa - hidden diversity of the Aphidius colemani species group (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) south of the Sahara.

Aphidius colemani is an important biological control agent, used in greenhouses and open fields against aphid pests. Despite this economical importance, A. colemani, along with A. transcaspicus and A. platensis, has gone through a complex taxonomical history. The three species have only recently gained status as separate species again, comprising the morphologically defined Aphidius colemani species group. Other than sporadic records probably as a consequence of escape from greenhouses, the A. colemani species group members prefer warmer regions and there are numerous records from South America, Southern Europe and Asia. Based on slide-mounted material collected in the period 1964-2001 in Africa, we describe five new species belonging to this group, and report A. colemani, A. transcaspicus and A. platensis from several African countries. This data opens questions about the origin of the group and presents potential for the diversification of biological control agents against aphid pests.

First molecular detection of Borrelia sp. in tapirs (Tapirus terrestris).

Borrelia theileri is a tick-borne spirochete causative agent of fever, apathy and reduced food consumption in cattle. Molecular diagnosis has expanded the understanding of Borrelia theileri with new hosts and geographical locations being described. The present study aimed to describe the first molecular detection of B. theileri in wild tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from South America. Blood DNA samples obtained from 99 tapirs sampled in Pantanal (n = 61) and Cerrado (n = 38) biomes were screened using a qPCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene of Borrelia sp. Positive samples in the qPCR assay were subjected to PCR assays to allow characterization of fragments from 16S rRNA and flaB genes. Two (2/99; 2.0%) animals from Pantanal biome were positive in the qPCR and one sample presented bands of expected size for the flaB protocol. Amplicons from this sample were successfully cloned and sequenced. In the phylogenetic analysis, Borrelia sp. from T. terrestris grouped together with B. theileri sequences previously detected in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and cattle from Minas Gerais State in Brazil, Rhipicephalus geigyi from Mali, and R. microplus and Haemaphysalis sulcata from Pakistan. This finding contributes to our knowledge regarding susceptible hosts species for B. theileri. More studies are necessary to understand the potential effects of B. theileri on tapir's health.

Ancient mitogenomes reveal evidence for the Late Miocene dispersal of mergansers to the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract Mergansers are riverine and coastal piscivorous ducks that are widespread throughout North America and Eurasia but uncommon in the Southern Hemisphere. One species occurs in South America and at least two extinct species are known from New Zealand. It has been proposed that these Southern Hemisphere merganser lineages were founded by at least two independent dispersal events from the Northern Hemisphere. However, some morphological and behavioural evidence suggests that Southern Hemisphere mergansers may form a monophyletic clade that descended from only a single dispersal event from the Northern Hemisphere. For example, Southern Hemisphere mergansers share several characteristics that differ from Northern Hemisphere mergansers (e.g. non-migratory vs. migratory, sexual monochromatism vs. sexual dichromatism, long vs. short pair bonds). We sequenced complete mitogenomes from the Brazilian merganser and an extinct merganser from New Zealand—the Auckland Island merganser. Our results show that the Brazilian and Auckland Island mergansers are not sister-taxa, and probably descend from two separate colonization events from the Northern Hemisphere at least 7 Mya. Nuclear (palaeo)genomic data may help to further resolve the relationship between living and extinct mergansers, including merganser fossils from New Zealand that have not been subjected to palaeogenetic analysis.

Six in one: cryptic species and a new host record for Olixon Cameron (Rhopalosomatidae, Hymenoptera) revealed by DNA barcoding

Olixon testaceum is a widely distributed species of brachypterous parasitoid wasp (Vespoidea: Rhopalosomatidae) occurring in Meso- and South America, but little is known of its biology. Here, the first known host of O. ? testaceum is identified as the cricket Anaxipha sp. (Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae) through DNA barcoding of six Olixon larvae and their hosts. Barcoding results also indicated substantial genetic diversity within nominal O. testaceum specimens. The number of species and statistical significance of these groups were tested using Maximum Likelihood phylogenies, distance-based cluster analyses, and coalescence models. All analyses revealed at least six distinct lineages, which suggests six or more cryptic species within O. ? testaceum. Combined with what is currently known about Rhopalosoma host use, these results indicate that rhopalosomatids may be generalist rather than specialist parasitoids, and further confirm the benefits of open global collaboration and DNA barcoding in advancing taxonomic knowledge.

Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Pancreato-Biliary Diseases Requiring Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Viral infections are known to impact the pancreato-biliary system; however, there are limited data showing that the same is true of COVID-19. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can safely be performed in patients with COVID-19 infection, but outcomes of patients with COVID-19 infections and concomitant pancreatic and biliary disease requiring endoscopic intervention are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the severity of pancreaticobiliary diseases and post-ERCP outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Patients with pancreato-biliary disease that required inpatient ERCP from five centers in the United States and South America between January 1, 2020, and October 31, 2020 were included. A representative cohort of patients from each month were randomly selected from each site. Disease severity and post-ERCP outcomes were compared between COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients. A total of 175 patients were included: 95 COVID positive and 80 COVID negative. Mean CTSI score for the patients who had pancreatitis was higher in COVID-positive cohort by 3.2 points (p < .00001). The COVID-positive group had more cases with severe disease (n = 41) versus the COVID-negative group (n = 2) (p < .00001). Mortality was higher in the COVID-19 positive group (19%) compared to COVID-negative group (7.5%) even though the COVID-19-negative group had higher incidence of malignancy (n = 17, 21% vs n = 7, 7.3%) (p = 0.0455). This study shows that patients with COVID infection have more severe pancreato-biliary disease and worse post-ERCP outcomes, including longer length of stay and higher mortality rate. These are important considerations when planning for endoscopic intervention. gov: (NCT05051358).

Large uncertainty in global estimates of manure phosphorus runoff

The estimation of manure phosphorus loss (MPL) in runoff is crucial for addressing environmental problems linked to nonpoint source pollution. Using a data-driven model, we assessed MPL in 520 major global river basins for the year 2000. Global mean MPL was 1.6 kgP/ha with a median of 0.9 kgP/ha. Hotspots were identified in the basins of South and Southeast Asia, Northwestern Europe, and South America. Importantly, 26% of basin areas showed high uncertainty due to input data, while approximately 43% exhibited low uncertainty. Continental analysis highlighted large uncertainties in Asia and South America, particularly in the Amazon, Ganges, Yangtze, and Nile basins, compared to Europe and the eastern United States. Our findings uncovered substantial uncertainties, even with a simple model, suggesting that more complex models can exacerbate uncertainties and lead to misinterpretations. Thus, there is a need for enhanced data quality and recognition of the conditional nature of model-based estimates.

Review of the distribution and biology of the snake mite Ophionyssus natricis (Acari: Macronyssidae)

The mite Ophionyssus natricis (Gervais, 1844) (Macronyssidae) is a widespread ectoparasite of reptiles and a vector of some important veterinary diseases. This paper reviews the geographic distribution and host range of O. natricis and the available information about its clinical significance. Some incorrect identifications and host records are also identified. The snake mite has been collected from 144 species of reptiles, mostly snakes, as well as one amphibian and three species of mammals. It has been recorded in 36 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia. Its geographic range has undoubtedly been extended by human activities. Our records of O. natricis on the lizards Darevskia brauneri (Méhely, 1909) and Ophisops elegans Ménétries 1832, and on the snake Telescopus fallax Fleischmann, 1831, are new host records.

Anthropogenic particle abundance and characteristics in seawater and intertidal sediments of the Tonkin Bay Coast (North Vietnam).

Microplastics (MPs, plastic items from 1µm to 5mm in size) are present in all environmental compartments. The evaluation of their concentration, fate, and spatial distribution is still a challenge for the scientific community. This concern is just debuting in developing countries, (i.e., Asia, South America, and Africa). This study deals with the MP contamination in the abiotic marine compartments of Northern Vietnam: seawater and intertidal sediments. Four sites located in the intertidal zone or near the coastline in Tonkin Bay, Vietnam were studied. A total of 16 samples (eight for each compartment) were collected in July 2020 (rainy season) and January 2021 (dry season). Anthropogenic particles (total observed fibers and fragments) were found at levels ranging from 3 to 303 particles/m3 in seawater and from 63 to 955 particles/kg dry weight in sediments. Most of these were fibers less than 300-µm long. Higher levels of seawater at the Nam Dinh site were found in the rainy season compared to the dry one. As the river flow was estimated six times higher during the rainy season than during the dry season, these results suggest the river discharge is a potential source of contamination for the coastal zone. The temporal variability was lower for the sediments than for the seawater, suggesting the long-term integration of the anthropogenic particles in this compartment. A small portion of sorted particles were analyzed by µFTIR (8.35%), and this sub-sample was only composed of fragments. Still, fragments were mostly composed of polypropylene (PP, 82%), polyethylene (PE, 9%), and polystyrene (PS, 9%). The fragment size was similar in the two studied compartments, but it was dependent on polymer types since PS fragments (140 ± 17µm) were smaller than those made of PE (622 ± 123µm) and PP (869 ± 905µm). Future works should investigate the smallest fraction of MP (even nanoplastics) as well as find solutions in order to mitigate MP contamination in the marine environment.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.: An Updated Review.

Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. is a perennial herbaceous plant found mainly in tropical areas, particularly in Southeast Asia, South America, and India. Various parts of V. cinerea have traditionally been used in folk medicine to treat several diseases, such as malaria, fever, and liver diseases. V. cinerea has so far yielded about 92 secondary metabolites. The majority of these are sesquiterpene lactones, but triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, phenolics, and other compounds are present as well. V. cinerea crude extracts reportedly exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and renoprotective activities. This study aims to provide the latest up-to-date information on the botanical characterization, distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activity of V. cinerea. Information on V. cinerea was thoroughly reviewed. The literature published between 1950 and 2024 was compiled through online bibliographic databases, including SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Wiley, and the MDPI online library. The keywords used for the literature search included Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. and the synonyms Cyanthillium cinereum (L.) H.Rob., Conyza cinerea L., and various others.