Landscape changes influence the reproductive behaviour of a key ‘capital breeder’ snake (Boa constrictor occidentalis) in the Gran Chaco region, Argentina

Many wild reptile species are threatened by habitat loss. However, the way in which changes in landscape patterns influence intraspecific ecological processes is not completely understood. Boa constrictor occidentalis is an endangered species and has a special conservation value since it is endemic of dry forests in the Gran Chaco region. Because the Gran Chaco is largely threatened due to habitat loss it is necessary to know how landscape changes influence this species. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of forest loss and landscape composition on the reproductive life-history parameters. Landscape changes were assessed by analyzing satellite imagery and reproductive parameters were determined by ultrasound images of the reproductive structures. The obtained results indicate that habitat loss may affect body condition, clutch size and testicular volume of the Argentine boa constrictor. We also found that the spatial pattern of vegetation influences the distribution of females and males in the landscape. Matting aggregations are scarce in shrublands. Therefore, our study shows that forest loss could enhance vulnerability to extirpation through constraints placed on reproduction. We encourage resource managers to evaluate sensitive reproductive life-history parameters as well as habitat deterioration to asses the conservation status of the populations of the Argentine boa constrictor. Since the Gran Chaco forest, a key habitat to the species’ reproduction, is largely threatened, strong conservation action is needed to halt and reverse forest loss in this region.     

Community-based forestry and community forestry enterprises in quintana roo,mexico and petén,guatemala: how have policies,history, and culture shaped their trajectories?

ABSTRACT

The Mayan Biosphere Reserve in the region of Petén, Guatemala and the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico have well-established experiences of community-based forestry and community forestry enterprises within the area known as the Mayan forest. Context has been a key factor shaping the trajectories of these two cases. Several scholars have highlighted the usefulness of understanding the role of context in the emergence and functioning of common property regimes. However, scholarship has been dominated by the mainstream school of common property, which sees these regimes as arising out of voluntary, rational action with the main intent of conserving a common-pool natural resource. This paper seeks to answer the call for more research on context for common property regimes. The article discusses how policies, history, and culture have shaped the trajectory of community forestry in both countries. Policies present choices, opportunities, and constraints, while history and culture can facilitate or hinder taking advantage of such opportunities. Communities have agency not only to react, but also to adapt. These two cases present overriding themes that strengthen the alternative literature on common property regimes and also offer lessons to policy makers, practitioners, nongovernmental organizations, and communities practicing forestry.     

Posterotestes unelen gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Apocreadiidae) from Percichthys trucha (Osteichthyes: Percichthyidae) in Patagonia, Argentina

Posterotestes gen. n. (Digenea: Apocreadiidae, Apocrcadiinae) is proposed for specimens with the following features: spiny body, posterior position of gonads, extension of vitelline follicles up to level of intestinal bifurcation and absent at post-testicular space, long oesophagus and extension of caeca up to anterior testis. Posterotestes unelen sp. n. is described from the intestine of the native fish, Percichthys trucha (Cuvier et Valenciennes) (Osteichthyes: Percichthyidae) from Patagonian Andean lakes.     

Detection of Feline leukemia virus in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

Feline retroviruses are rarely reported in lynx species. Twenty-one Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) blood and tissue samples collected from Do?ana National Park and Los Villares (Sierra Morena) in southern Spain during 1993-2003 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to amplify nucleic acids from feline retroviruses. Six samples were positive for Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), but no samples tested positive for Feline immunodeficiency virus. The BLAST analysis indicated that 5 of the 6 sequences were closely related to FeLV strain Rickard subgroup A, whereas 1 sequence was identical to FeLV. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of FeLV in the endangered Iberian lynx.     

Pharmacokinetics of albendazole sulfoxide enantiomers administered in racemic form and separately in rats

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) enantiomers was studied in rats after the oral administration of 10 mg/kg of rac-ABZSO, 5 mg/kg of (-)-ABZSO or 5 mg/kg of (+)-ABZSO. The disposition profiles of ABZSO enantiomers were similar in all treatments, but the calculated area under the curve for the (-)-ABZSO was higher in all cases compared with (+)-ABZSO. The results suggest that there is no chiral inversion of ABZSO enantiomers. After the administration of rac-ABZSO, 17.2% of the total dose was recovered in urine as albendazole ABZ (0.1%), albendazole sulfone ABZSO(2) (0.3%), albendazole 2-aminosulfone (ABZ-SO(2)NH(2)) (3.1%) and ABZSO (13.7%). The ratio (+) to (-) was similar in urine (1.6) and blood (1.7).     

Bacterial diversity and occurrence of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the Atacama Desert soil during a “desert bloom” event

The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, is one of the driest deserts on the Earth. However, in some years, short and sporadic rainfall in the southern end of this desert has increased the soil moisture that produces ephemeral “desert bloom”. Our goal was to assess the composition of the bacterial community and determine variations in the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria guild diversity from soils collected during the course of the “desert bloom” event. The bacterial composition from this arid soil was determined by cloning and sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. A relatively high diversity of clones belonging to 14 bacterial groups was detected. The ammonia-oxidizers showed a significantly higher diversity of amoA gene clones after the “desert bloom” than during or at the beginning of this event. All sequences obtained were related to Nitrosospira genera and environmental clones. These results suggest that the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in this arid soil can be affected by the occurrence of “desert bloom”.     

Red List assessment of nine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops</Emphasis> species in Armenia

The aims of this study are to determine the geographical and ecological distribution of nine Aegilops species in Republic of Armenia and to make an assessment of their IUCN Red List status, using the IUCN Red list categories and criteria, in order to develop an in situ conservation strategy for wild relatives of wheat in Armenia. Ecogeographic surveys of nine Aegilops species were undertaken over 2 years in Armenia. They included a herbarium survey followed by extensive ground-truthing field surveys where targeted Aegilops species occur. The study showed that of the nine Aegilops species studied, four are threatened and of these, Ae. mutica and Ae. crassa are critically endangered. The latter species may even be extinct in Armenia. Ae. neglecta and A. biuncialis are endangered. Additional studies are required to assess the threat status of Ae. umbellulata. Ae. columnaris was assessed as near threatened, while the remaining species (Ae. triuncialis, Ae. cylindrica and Ae. tauschii) are of least concern. There has been a dramatic decline in the genetic resources of Aegilops species during recent years in Armenia as a result of adverse human impacts such as expansion of agriculture, urbanization and uncontrolled grazing. Several species, especially Ae. mutica and Ae. crassa, should be prioritized in conservation activities in Armenia. Efforts should be made to conserve genetic diversity of crop wild relative species both in situ and ex situ, bearing in mind that their germplasm carries potentially valuable information (traits) that can improve adaptability and productivity of cultivated wheat varieties.     

Fe uptake from meso and D,L-racemic Fe(o,o-EDDHA) isomers by strategy I and II plants

One of the most efficient fertilizers to correct Fe deficiency in calcareous soils and waters with high bicarbonate content is based on ferric ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid [Fe(o,o-EDDHA)]. Fe(o,o-EDDHA) forms two groups of geometric isomers known as meso and D,L-racemic. To determine the Fe uptake from meso and D,L-racemic Fe(o,o-EDDHA), four iron-efficient plants, two plants representative of strategy I (tomato and pepper) and two plants representative of strategy II (wheat and oats), were grown in hydroponic culture. Results indicated that strategy II plants took up iron from both Fe(o,o-EDDHA) isomers equally. However, strategy I plants took mainly the iron associated with the meso form (the lowest stability isomer).