Natural Enemies of the Frankliniella Complex Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Ataulfo Mango Agroecosystems

A field survey was conducted in Ataulfo mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards in Chiapas, Mexico, with the objective of determining the natural enemies of the Frankliniella complex species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Seven species of this genus feed and reproduce in large numbers during the mango flowering. Two representative orchards were selected: the orchard “Tres A” characterized by an intensive use of agrochemicals directed against thrips, and the orchard “La Escondida” that did not spray insecticides. During mango flowering, five inflorescences were randomly collected every 5 d in both orchards, for a total of 18 sampling dates. Results revealed the presence of 18 species of arthropods that were found predating on Frankliniella. There were 11 species in the families Aeolothripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Formicidae, Anthocoridae and Chrysopidae; and seven species of spiders in the families Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, and Uloboridae. Over 88% of predators were anthocorids, including, Paratriphleps sp. (Champion), Orius insidiosus (Say), Orius tristicolor (White), and O. perpunctatus (Reuter). The orchard that did not spray insecticides had a significantly higher number of predators suggesting a negative effect of the insecticides on the abundance of these organisms.     

Effects of habitat degradation on the abundance, richness and diversity of raptors across Neotropical biomes

Population growth and human development result in biodiversity loss and biological homogenization not only in developed countries, but increasingly in the less developed countries as well. In those countries, where urbanization and agricultural intensification occur at a faster rate than in developed countries, habitat degradation appears to be the leading cause of wildlife loss. During the breeding seasons of 2002–2005 we conducted road surveys across five biomes of Argentina to detect variations in raptor community attributes as potential indicators of broad scale habitat degradation. Abundance of individuals, richness and diversity of species were calculated to assess the effects of habitat transformation and patch size on these community attributes. Raptor communities strongly varied in relation to habitat transformations, with lower abundance of individuals, richness and diversity of species in more transformed landscapes. Small patches of natural vegetation and locations in which natural and cultivated lands where interspersed showed lower richness and diversity of raptors than large patches. Fragmentation was the main cause of reductions in abundance of individuals. Although the relative contribution of our two estimates of habitat degradation to abundance, richness and diversity of raptors varied among biomes, these community attributes proved useful as predictors of habitat degradation. This was especially true in habitats where raptor communities are more complex although overall patterns remained constant across biomes, from forests to deserts. Taking into account current trends of habitat transformation (drastic increments in monocultures, urban areas, and habitat patchiness), the conservation of raptor communities in these biomes could be seriously compromised. In terms of species-specific responses of raptors to habitat degradation, a rapid process of homogenization can be expected, resulting in only a few winner species within a general scenario of losers.     

Modeling Bare Ground With Classification Trees in Northern Spain

Bare ground abundance is an important rangeland health indicator and its detection is a fundamental part of range management. Remote sensing of bare ground might offer solutions for land managers but also presents challenges as modeling in semiarid environments usually involves a high frequency of spectral mixing within pixels. Classification tree analysis (CTA) and maximum likelihood classifiers were used to model bare ground in the semiarid steppes of the middle Ebro valley, Aragon, Spain using Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre 4 (SPOT 4) imagery and topographic data such as elevation, slope, aspect, and a morphometric characterization model. A total of 374 sample points of bare-ground fraction from sixteen 500-m transects were used in the classification and validation process. Overall accuracies were 85% (Kappa statistic = 0.70) and 57% (Kappa statistic = 0.13) from the CTA and maximum likelihood classifiers, respectively. Although spectral attributes were essential in bare-ground classification, the topographic and morphometric properties of the landscape were equally critical in this modeling effort. Although the specific layers best suited for each specific model will vary from region to region, this study provided an important insight on both bare-ground modeling and the potential advantages of CTA.     

Alternative silvicultural practices with variable retention improve bird conservation in managed South Patagonian forests

Alternative silvicultural approaches to timber management, such as regeneration treatments with different degrees of stand retention, may mitigate negative effects of clear-cutting or shelterwood cuts in forested ecosystems, including changes in old-growth forest bird communities. The aims of this work were: (a) to compare bird species richness and densities among different silvicultural designs with variable retention (dispersed and/or aggregated) and unmanaged primary forests, and (b) to assess temporal changes at community and species levels before and after treatments. A baseline avian survey was conducted prior to harvesting to evaluate canopy gap presence and forest stand site quality influences. Subsequent to harvesting, data on bird species richness and density were collected by point-count sampling during the summer season for 5 consecutive years (4 treatments × 5 years × 6 sampling points × 5 counts). Bird species richness and density (15 species and 9.2 individuals ha⁻¹) did not change significantly with forest site quality of the stands and canopy gap presence in unmanaged forests. However, both variables were significantly modified in managed forests, increasing over time to 18 species and reaching to 39 individuals ha⁻¹. Inside the aggregated retention, bird communities were more similar to unmanaged primary forests than those observed within the dispersed retention or in clear-cuts. Opting for a regeneration method with dispersed and aggregated retention has great potential for managing birds in Nothofagus pumilio forests. This method retained enough vegetation structure in a stand to permit the establishment of early successional birds (at least in dispersed retention), and to maintain the bird species of old-growth forests which could persisted in the retention aggregates.     

Seed germination and seedling establishment of Neotropical dry forest species in response to temperature and light conditions

A study was conducted to examine the germination requirements of Cedrela odorata, Guaiacum sanctum and Calycophyllum candidissimum seeds, and the effect of light intensity on survival and growth of C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seedlings planted on open, partially-open and beneath the canopy of a dry forest in Nicaragua. The results show that germination of C. Candidissimum seeds was significantly higher in light than darkness at constant temperatures ranging from 20–35oC. Both C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seeds germinated in light and darkness to a varying extent, and the optimal germination temperature was around 20-25oC. Alternating temperature regimes did not improve germination. Survival of G. Sanctum seedlings was 70% beneath the canopy and 80% in the open, and its relative growth rate in collar diameter was 1.88 mm/month in the open and 1.42 mm/month in the understory. Survival was generally poor for C. Odorata, particularly in the understory. We concluded that light is an absolute requirement for the germination of C. Candidissimum seeds while germination of C. Odorata and G. Sanctum seeds are more sensitive to temperature. Owing to its high survival rate on open site, G. Sanctum could serve as a candidate species for reforestation of degraded sites.     

尼加拉瓜废弃农田次生演替后的土壤种子库

定量分析了被废弃4年、9年和14年的农田地上派生的次生林土壤中种子组成和密度,从而检测在次生林演替形成过程中,土壤种子库是否能随着植物种群的集成而集成。分别在废弃了4年、9年和14年的农田地里（15cm×15cm样方、9cm土层深）,掘取了18,37和48份土壤样品。在废弃了4,9和14年的农田地上,分别发现了3,5和9个物种。在这些不同的生命形态中,在9年和14年的迹地上,土壤种子树木占主要成分,分别为60%和33%,而4年废弃迹地主要被非木本植物所占领。三块废弃地里,4年废弃迹地植物种子的总数为327粒,相应可发育的种子密度为141粒/m2,14年废弃迹地种子的总数为46粒,相应的可发育种子的密度为26粒/m^2,指明种子数、种子密度随废弃地龄成下降趋势。在9年和14年龄废弃地上,土壤种子植物种类与立地木本植物种类的相似度较低,而4年龄地上两者比较则完全不同。我们认为：土壤种子库的物种构成是在次生演替过程中逐渐形成的,但是,所获得的总体种子密度太低,仅仅依赖于这些种子来实现树木自然再生是不可靠的。为了加快这些废弃地次生林的恢复,既要依靠自然集成的土壤种子库,还需要通过直播、所需物种的强化种植和设定人工生长环境以利于种子传播。     

Growth and survival of the juvenile yellowleg shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis cohabiting with the green feather alga Caulerpa sertularioides at different temperatures

This study was performed to determine the growth and survival patterns of the juvenile yellowleg shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis cohabiting with the green feather alga Caulerpa sertularioides over a range of temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28 and 32°C) found throughout the year in the Gulf of California. From an initial weight of 46 ± 10 mg, shrimp cohabiting with green feather algae increased in weight by an average of 0.57 (±0.07), 5.44 (±0.45), 6.36 (±0.37), 7.66 (±0.26) and 5.96 (±0.59) g at 18, 22, 25, 28 and 32°C, respectively, whereas shrimp grown without seaweed increased in weight by an average of 0.28 (±0.026), 2.66 (±0.24), 3.15 (±0.49), 4.00 (±0.67), and 3.54 (±0.09) g respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed for the growth rates of juvenile yellowleg shrimp in the presence of C. sertularioides and peak growth was observed at 28°C in experiments with macroalgae. No significant differences were observed for shrimp survival except at 32°C without macroalgae, where survival was lower. These results suggest a beneficial and growth‐promoting effect of cohabitation with live C. sertularioides on F. californiensis.     

Structural development of Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru from hatching to the onset of first feeding

Successful rearing of larval fish requires culture conditions and feeding strategies matching the ontogenetic status of larvae. This study describes the external morphology and development of organs and structures involved in the feeding process (i.e. sensorial organs, mouthparts and digestive system) from hatching until first feeding in Pacific red snapper. Hatching occurred 26 h after fertilization at 26°C and total length (TL) was 2.45 ± 0.08 mm. The larvae showed an undifferentiated eye and digestive tract. At 48 hah, TL was 3.31 ± 0.12 mm. Yolk and oil globule were still present. The mouth was still closed, but the Meckel's, quadrate, hyoid and hyomandibular cartilages were present. The retina was formed by 5 layers, and a thin layer of pigment epithelium was observed in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). At 70 hah, TL was 3.44 ± 0.22 mm. A remnant of oil globule was still present. The mouth and anus were open. At 93 hah, the number of cones in the ONL of the retina have increased and there was more pigment in the pigment epithelial layer. A joint between Meckel's and the quadrate cartilage and also a joint between the hyomandibular cartilage and the skull were present. The presence of live feed was detected in the digestive tract of these larvae. Based on these observations, the Pacific red snapper larvae is functional to start ingesting live feed between the 3rd and 4th day after hatching.     

Acclimation of cuttings from different willow genotypes to flooding depth level

Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme rain events, causing more flooding episodes. Willows are usually planted in marginal lands like flood prone areas. For willow plantations developed from rootless cuttings, the establishment phase is crucial, because the cuttings are still developing a shoot and root system and have a higher vulnerability to stress. A flooding episode during this early period may have a negative effect upon plants. We analyzed the responses to flooding of eight willow genotypes, representing important species from the economic and ecological point of view (Salix alba, S. matsudana, S. amygdaloides and S. matsudana × S. nigra hybrids). The treatments started when the plants were 2 months old and lasted for 3 weeks. They were identified as: Control (watered to field capacity); F10 (plants submerged 10 cm above soil surface) and F50 (plants submerged 50 cm above soil surface). The F50 treatment showed a greater growth reduction than the F10 treatment in most clones, either measured in height, diameter or total biomass. Both flooding treatments reduced significantly the root-to-shoot ratio compared to control plants. The F50 treatment increased the leaf nitrogen content and specific leaf area in all genotypes. Both treatments changed plant and leaf traits in different ways according to the depth of the floodwater. These changes may have lasting effects on growth recovery in the post-flooding period. Willow clones with a fast initial growth will be the best option to minimize growth reduction in areas prone to experience flooding episodes.