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Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction and destruction of lung tissue, primarily attributed to tobacco smoking. However, other factors like biomass-burning smoke (BS) exposure are also implicated. COPD has been described as an accelerated aging disease, and telomere length is a biomarker of aging. Methods This study examined telomere length in 189 Mexican individuals, from which 93 developed COPD secondary to BS exposure (BE-COPD); the rest of the participants were exposed to BS but did not develop the disease. Lung function parameters were measured by spirometry, and relative telomere length (rTL) from peripheral blood DNA was determined using multiplex qPCR. Results Results showed rTL to inversely correlate with age (R2=-0.207, p = 0.006) and with the hours-a-day of BS exposure (R2=-0.297, p

Flies belonging to the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are highly specialized arthropods that feed on the blood of bats. Their morphology varies and has adapted throughout their coevolutionary history with hosts. Bat flies are often associated with specific bat species and can establish distinct infracommunities. Interaction networks have been used to better understand these associations, revealing interaction modules between bats and their parasites. The Magdalena River basin is the largest in Colombia, encompassing a wide variety of climatic and ecological conditions, with up to 98 bat species reported. We conducted field trips to capture bats and bat flies in different locations along the basin and reviewed literature records and biological collections to gather additional data on interactions between bats and bat flies in this region. We found a high diversity of bats and bat flies in the Magdalena River basin, revealing a medium specialization and modularity in these interactions. We identified bat fly infracommunities and negative associations between certain bat fly species, suggesting competition for resources within hosts. The specialization is similar to that reported in degraded and fragmented habitats where the availability of shelters decreases, favoring the overcrowding of bats, forming multi-species colonies. In conclusion, our study provides important information on the interactions between bats and bat flies in the Magdalena River basin, expanding knowledge about the diversity and structure of these communities in inter-Andean landscapes.

Information gaps about the distribution of species hamper the evaluation of conservation status and decisions on biodiversity conservation, affecting areas with high species richness and endemism to a greater extent. In this context, carrying out biological inventories in protected and unprotected areas is an important tool to fill these gaps by providing data on the composition, richness, and abundance of species in each locality. The southeastern region of Coahuila (northeast Mexico) is a region where biodiversity research is required, as anthropogenic activities pose a serious threat to the avian diversity of this region. The present study aimed to compare the capacity of protected and unprotected areas to support the richness, abundance, and composition of bird species, as well as providing a list of bird species from eight areas located in this region. The point count method was conducted at the sites, and one-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of area type on species richness and abundance. Based on our field observations, literature review, and digital databases, the avifauna of these eight areas includes 388 species in 63 families. Of these, 5 species are endemic to Mexico, 6 species are of global conservation concern, and 35 species are of regional conservation concern. The species richness found in this study supports the importance of protected and unprotected areas in southeastern Coahuila. The results of our study highlight the need for further assessment to conserve the avian community, especially considering the increasing threats of anthropogenic disturbance, as well as additional studies that will allow for better characterization of the avifauna of the region. This will help to ensure the conservation of the birds currently threatened by strong anthropic pressure due to the conversion of semiarid ecosystems to agricultural and livestock areas as well as increasing urbanization.

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression of nuclear orphan receptors in the development of Uterine Cervical Cancer (UCC). The principal cause of dysplastic changes in cervical epithelium is the presence of the human papilloma virus leading to the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I), high-grade lesions (CIN II and CIN III) and, finally, invasive cancer. Despite the existence of various treatments and vaccines, there is still a high mortality rate. There is evidence of the participation of a group of nuclear receptors called orphans in the development of various diseases, including cancer. Study design: The expression levels of the orphan receptors NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in samples obtained through colposcopy from forty-five patients who attended the Medical Oncology Specialties Unit (UNEME) in Mexicali, B.C. Results: Forty-five cervical biopsy results were obtained, indicating cervicitis, CIN I, or CIN III, none of them CIN II. Our results showed that orphan receptors expressed in a specific manner depending on the degree of premalignant lesions. NR4A1 overexpressed in cervicitis (p 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest, for the first time, that nuclear receptors might be involved in the various stages that precede the development of invasive UCC.

Técnicas moleculares basadas en ADN e inmunológicas han sido usadas para la detección de microorganismos debido a su sensibilidad, especificidad y rapidez. Sin embargo, cuando se trata de identificar bacterias con cero tolerancia en los niveles de presencia (eg. Pantoea stewartii ), los métodos de análisis moleculares e inmunológicos no ofrecen el 100 por ciento de certeza de su detección. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue combinar las técnicas ELISA y PCR, con el fin de complementar las ventajas de cada una de ellas para detectar eficientemente la bacteria directamente de la semilla. Se utilizó una muestra de semilla de maíz importada de los Estados Unidos de América con altas probabilidades de estar infectada con Pantoea stewartii, lo cual se verificó por medio de ELISA. Una vez confirmada la presencia de la bacteria se procedió a su aislamiento e identificación por pruebas microscó-picas, bioquímicas, fisiológicas, hipersensibilidad en tabaco, pruebas de patogenicidad y amplificación de rDNA 16S. Posteriormente, se optimizó la técnica de inmuno-PCR (temperatura de alineamiento de iniciadores, concentración de anticuerpos, temperatura de incubación y marca de tubos). El estudio demostró que es posible amplificar el ADN de P. stewartii directamente de la semilla de maíz, con una temperatura de alineamiento de 62 y 65 oC, tiempos de incubación de 1-3 horas, concentraciones de anticuerpos de 5:200 y 10:200 y con tubos marca Fisher y Axigen.

Bat flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) have been used to study co-evolutionary patterns between ectoparasites and bats. In the world, Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are represented by approximately 276 and 237 species, respectively. In regions such as the Orinoquia located in the north of South America (Colombia and Venezuela), the richness of bats is high (more than 100 documented species), but studies on Nycteribiidae and Streblidae are scarce and discontinuous. To contribute to the knowledge of ectoparasitic flies in the Orinoquia, records of flies and their interactions with bats were reviewed, including new records and associations using interaction networks. We documented 124 species of Streblidae and only 12 of Nycteribiidae for the Orinoquia in approximately 102 bat species reported in Colombia and Venezuela. New records for six species of bat flies in Colombia were found (Mastoptera guimaraesi, Noctiliostrebla maai, Paradyschiria parvuloides, Trichobius jubatus, Trichobius parasiticus, and Basilia ferrisi) associated with six species of bats (Cynomops planirostris, Desmodus rotundus, Myotis handleyi, Molossus rufus, Noctilio albiventris, and Phyllostomus hastatus). The bat-ectoparasite interaction networks in the Orinoquia revealed a pattern of antagonistic relationships, with high specialization, modularity, and low connectivity and nesting. The identified networks are between bat fly species belonging to different ecomorphological groups with unique host species. This supports the idea of ecological niche partitioning among ectoparasitic bat flies and hosts. Our study expanded the knowledge of the distribution of some fly species and the associations with bat hosts in Colombia, by presenting morphological descriptions and new observations, which are key to understanding the ecology, diversity, and distribution of these species.

The western or desert red bat, Lasiurus frantzii, is a cryptic insectivore species distributed in the Neotropics from Mexico south through Central America to Panama. L. frantzii was long considered a subspecies of the red bat, Lasiurus blossevillii, but recently it was elevated to full-species status based on genetic information. Here we present evidence of the presence of L. frantzii in the Andean Region of Colombia, confirming the species’ presence in South America; the new record, from 3836 m a.s.l., is also the highest elevation known for the species. We suggest that L. frantzii might be widely distributed in trans-Andean areas of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and perhaps Peru and Bolivia. However, a review and exploration of additional morphological traits to identify the species are necessary because of the uncertainty of the distribution of L. frantzii.

The genus Molossops includes two monotypic species of insectivore bats distributed in South America: Molossops neglectus and Molossops temminckii. Both can be differentiated, based on sizes, M. temminckii being smaller (forearm less than 33 mm). Despite being monotypic, at least two additional subspecies have been described for M. temminckii, of which M. temminckii griseiventer from the inter-Andean Valley of the Magdalena River in Colombia might represent a valid taxon. To test the taxonomic status of M. t. griseiventer, we reviewed specimens of M. temminckii from cis- and trans-Andean localities in Colombia. We used Cytochrome-b and Cytochrome Oxidase I comparisons to test the phylogenetic position of cis- and trans-Andean samples and compared qualitative morphology, morphometric and bioacoustics. Our results show that M. t. griseiventer is differentiated from cis-Andean specimens, providing further evidence of its validity at the species level. Furthermore, M. temminckii (sensu stricto) is also distributed in Colombia, but both M. griseiventer and M. temminckii are allopatric, with the Andes acting as a barrier. The specific identity of the specimens from the Caribbean Region of Colombia needs a new evaluation, but our results clearly show that the diversity of Molossops is underestimated.

We review the taxonomic identities of museum specimens of three bat species previously reported from Bolivia. We comment on some erroneously reported taxa, or taxa either not represented by voucher materials or based on insufficient data (including acoustic detections) to verify their taxonomic affinities. As result of this review, the list of bat species known to occur in Bolivia is updated to eight families and 133 species, unlike the nine families and 146 species of previous lists. Some recommendations for future research and a brief historical revision of bat inventories in the country are included.

We present the first records of the Truandó Toad, Rhaebo haematiticus (Cope, 1862), in the inter-Andean valley of the Middle Cauca River, Colombia, the second largest inter-Andean basin of the country. In Colombia, this species has been extensively documented in the Chocó biogeographic region, on the western slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, in the valley of Magdalena River, and the foothills of the western slope of the northern Cordillera Oriental. Our records help fill an expansive hiatus in the known distribution of this species and increases the number of amphibians known to occur in the basin of the Cauca River.

Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823 is currently distributed in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, with controversial records in Bolivia. Recent records using trail cameras have expanded its distribution in the Chaco region of Paraguay, but its distribution remains unclear because of its morphological similarity to species in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. We present an updated map of distribution of D. azarae based on the review of specimens in biological collections and literature. Our results show that D. azarae is distributed in four biomes, across 11 ecoregions, and has an extent of occurrence of 2,512,985 km2.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious, worldwide disease that affects the skin of mammals, including humans. It is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, however, the information available in wild mammal populations in the world, and particularly in Colombia is limited. Here, we document a new case of sarcoptic mange in an Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) from the Andean region of Colombia. We morphologically and molecularly confirmed the mite as S. scabiei and documented the histopathology associated with scabies, and show the different stages of the life cycle of S. scabiei from the Andean porcupine skin samples. Our review of reports of additional cases of scabies in wild mammal species in South America showed 15 species, mostly carnivores, artiodactyls, and rodents. Considering the limited information in Colombia, it is urgent to evaluate the risk of this condition on mammals which would contribute to the epidemiological knowledge and the potential implications of sarcoptic mange in the ecology and conservation of wild mammals in the country.

Combining well-established non-equilibrium thermodynamic principles and a system dynamics approach, we define, for the first time, the concept of planetary antifragility as changes of Fisher information of Earth's entropy production. As a first approximation for entropy production, we propose using shortwave global albedo anomalies and provide a first quantitative example with data for the July months in the Northern Hemisphere from 1982 to 2010. These preliminary results show a net reduction of 47.63 % in albedo's Fisher information. This loss of antifragility implies a compounding problem because human perturbations such as climate or land-use changes are increasing, but at the same time, the planet is losing its capacity to respond to them. We discuss the concept of antifragility in the context of safe operating space for humanity and planetary boundaries. We conclude that not only does interaction among state variables of the boundaries matter, but more importantly the perturbation response capacity dimension is also missing. In conclusion we speculate on improving the operational definition for ecosystems.

Objetivos. Evaluar la prevalencia de base de los trastornos de salud mental y exposiciones conexas en una cohorte de trabajadores de salud de Guatemala. Métodos Se analizó la información de base del estudio HÉROES (por COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkeRs Study, sobre los trabajadores de salud durante la pandemia) en Guatemala, realizado en línea en el 2020. Las variables de resultado fueron malestar psicológico y síntomas depresivos. Las exposiciones incluyeron experiencias con la COVID-19, características sociodemográficas y características del trabajo. En los análisis se utilizaron modelos de regresión de Poisson brutos y ajustados. Resultados. De los 1801 trabajadores de salud que aceptaron participar, 1522 (84,5%) completaron el cuestionario; 1014 (66,8%) eran mujeres. De los participantes, 59,1% (intervalo de confianza de 95% [IC 95%] = 56,6-61,5) tuvo un tamizaje positivo para malestar psicológico y 23% (IC 95% = 20,9-25,2) para síntomas depresivos de moderados a graves. Las experiencias con la pandemia de COVID-19, las características sociodemográficas y las características del trabajo se correlacionaron con las variables de resultado del estudio. Los participantes que estaban preocupados por el contagio de la COVID-19 tuvieron un mayor riesgo de malestar psicológico (riesgo relativo [RR] = 1,47; IC 95% = 1,30-1,66) y síntomas depresivos (RR = 1,51; IC 95% = 1,17-1,96). Asimismo, los participantes más jóvenes presentaban un riesgo alto de malestar psicológico (RR = 1,80; IC 95% = 1,24-2,63) y síntomas depresivos (razón de posibilidades [OR] = 4,58; IC 95% = 1,51-13,87). Conclusiones. Las afecciones de salud mental tienen una prevalencia sumamente alta en los trabajadores de salud de Guatemala.

Abstract Many parasites of seasonally available hosts must persist through times of the year when hosts are unavailable. In tropical environments, host availability is often linked to rainfall, and adaptations of parasites to dry periods remain understudied. The bird-parasitic fly Philornis downsi has invaded the Galapagos Islands and is causing high mortality of Darwin’s finches and other bird species, and the mechanisms by which it was able to invade the islands are of great interest to conservationists. In the dry lowlands, this fly persists over a seven-month cool season when availability of hosts is very limited. We tested the hypothesis that adult flies could survive from one bird-breeding season until the next by using a pterin-based age-grading method to estimate the age of P. downsi captured during and between bird-breeding seasons. This study showed that significantly older flies were present towards the end of the cool season, with ~ 5% of captured females exhibiting estimated ages greater than seven months. However, younger flies also occurred during the cool season suggesting that some fly reproduction occurs when host availability is low. We discuss the possible ecological mechanisms that could allow for such a mixed strategy.

Introduction Burn wound infection (BWI) is the second most important cause of death in burn patients. There is currently limited data about the incidence and clinical presentation of BWI using quantitative techniques as quantitative biopsy culture (QBC) to prevent progress to burn wound sepsis (BWS). Methods This is a prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with BWI, confirmed by QBC, from February 2018 to July 2019 at University Hospital of Santander (HUS). The primary outcome was to determine clinical, microbiological, and histopathological characteristics of patients diagnosed with BWI along with a positive QBC and their relationship with early diagnosis and progression to BWS. Results 525 patients were admitted to HUS Burn Center. Of those, 44/525 (8.23%) presented a clinical diagnosis of BWI (median age, 20.5 years [1–67 years]; 25/44 [56.8%] male). QBC was positive in 26/44 (59%), Staphylococcus aureus 14/44 (31.8%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7/44 (15.9%) were the mainly etiological agents isolated. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics was mostly to beta-lactams in 14/44 (31.8%), corresponding to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Clinical signs more related to infection were erythema in 33/44 (61.3%). As many as 10/44 (22.7%) progressed to sepsis and 2/44 (6%) died. Conclusion BWI increases hospitalization time and number of surgeries, increasing the risk of sepsis and death. The QBC allows an accurate diagnosis with lesser false-positive cases that impact antibiotic resistance and mortality. Protocols targeting this problem are needed to decrease the impact of this.

Background: The state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, has been recognized as a chronic kidney disease hotspot. Screening studies have revealed a high prevalence of persistent albuminuria (pA), histologically characterized by glomerulomegaly, and incomplete podocyte fusion, probably associated with oligonephrony. To date, urinary biomarkers have not been explored in this population. Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the presence of potential biomarkers of early renal injury in patients with pA (pACR) and that correspond with the characteristic nephropathy profile that prevails in this entity. Methods: This is a crosssectional, analytical, and comparative study. Four groups were recruited: adolescents aged 10-17 years with pACR, isolated albuminuria (iACR), no albuminuria (negative control), and adults with biopsy-confirmed glomerulopathy (positive control). Urinary excretion of SerpinA3, heat-shock protein-72 (HSP-72), podocalyxin (PCX), and nephrin was evaluated in urine samples. SerpinA3 and HSP-72 were analyzed by Western blot, and PCX and nephrin were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean GFR in the pACR group was 113.4 mL/min/1.73m2 and differed significantly only from that of the positive control group (65.1 mL/min/1.73m2). The mean albuminuria value in the pACR group was 48.9 mg/g. SerpinA3 concentration differed between groups (0.08 vs. 0.25 ng/mL, p < 0.001): it was significantly higher in the pACR group compared to the negative controls (p = 0.037). Conclusion: SerpinA3 was significantly associated with pA and could become a biomarker of early kidney injury. Further investigations are required to determine whether SerpinA3 precedes the development of albuminuria and its pathogenic role.

Obesity is an issue that impacts vulnerable populations worldwide, resulting in significant monetary costs related to health problems. Nutrient intake and preferences for specific foods are major factors that can lead to the development of healthy or poor nutritional habits, which will ultimately define if an individual becomes overweight. Various circumstances influence these preferences, such as physiological needs, emotional, social and hedonic factors, and the expression and signaling of different molecules. It is essential to clarify the diverse mechanisms by which the body “chooses” certain types of food since these choices will recur throughout the lifespan of an individual, potentially causing poor eating habits. Multiple components contribute to nutrient preference. Some of these are aging, variability in taste receptors, flavor perception, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, and gene expression. The purpose of this review is to identify and emphasize the physiological elements that may regulate and affect food preference.

Mature and old-growth forests (collectively “mature”) and larger trees are important carbon sinks that are declining worldwide. Information on the carbon value of mature forests and larger trees in the United States has policy relevance for complying with President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14072 directing federal agencies to define and conduct an inventory of them for conservation purposes. Specific metrics related to maturity can help land managers define and maintain present and future carbon stocks at the tree and forest stand level, while making an important contribution to the nation’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We present a systematic method to define and assess the status of mature forests and larger trees on federal lands in the United States that if protected from logging could maintain substantial carbon stocks and accumulation potential, along with myriad climate and ecological co-benefits. We based the onset of forest maturity on the age at which a forest stand achieves peak net primary productivity. We based our definition of larger trees on the median tree diameter associated with the tree age that defines the beginning of stand maturity to provide a practical way for managers to identify larger trees that could be protected in different forest ecosystems. The average age of peak net primary productivity ranged from 35 to 75 years, with some specific forest types extending this range. Typical diameter thresholds that separate smaller from larger trees ranged from 4 to 18 inches (10–46 cm) among individual forest types, with larger diameter thresholds found in the Western forests. In assessing these maturity metrics, we found that the unprotected carbon stock in larger trees in mature stands ranged from 36 to 68% of the total carbon in all trees in a representative selection of 11 National Forests. The unprotected annual carbon accumulation in live above-ground biomass of larger trees in mature stands ranged from 12 to 60% of the total accumulation in all trees. The potential impact of avoiding emissions from harvesting large trees in mature forests is thus significant and would require a policy shift to include protection of carbon stocks and future carbon accumulation as an additional land management objective on federal forest lands.

The cellular capacity of marine organisms to address rapid fluctuations in environmental conditions is decisive, especially when their bathymetric distribution encompasses intertidal and subtidal zones of estuarine systems. To understand how the bathymetric distribution determines the oxidative damage and antioxidant response of the estuarine anemone Anthopleura hermaphroditica, individuals were collected from upper intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of Quempillén River estuary (Chile), and their response analysed in a fully orthogonal, multifactorial laboratory experiment. The organisms were exposed to the effects of temperature (10°C and 30°C), salinity (10 ppt and 30 ppt) and radiation (PAR, > 400–700 nm; PAR+UV-A, > 320–700 nm; PAR+UV-A+UV-B, > 280–700 nm), and their levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and total antioxidant capacity were determined. The results indicated that the intertidal individuals of A. hermaphroditica presented higher levels of tolerance to the stressful ranges of temperature, salinity, and radiation than individuals from the subtidal zone, which was evident from their lower levels of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. These results were consistent with increased levels of total antioxidant capacity observed in subtidal organisms. Thus intertidal individuals could have greater plasticity to environmental variations than subtidal individuals. Future studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underlying stress adaptation in individuals from this estuarine anemone subjected to different environmental stressors during their life cycles.

Older adults can take advantage of social networking sites (SNS). However, SNS are not without the access gap among elders. Assuming that the data are homogenous within the same population may not be precise in social science research. What is known about the heterogeneous nature of older people? Considering this issue and the lack of research to help reflect the heterogeneity of elderly users of technologies, this study aims to identify segments in the use of SNS by the elderly. Data were collected from older Chilean adults. Cluster analysis suggested different profiles of adult users regarding the Technology Readiness Index. We used a hybrid multigroup partial least squares-structural equation model, including the Pathmox algorithm, to identify segments in the structural model. Based on the technology readiness profiles and the generation, we identified three segments with different determinant effects to explain the intention to use SNS: independent elder, technological-apathetic elder, and technological-eager elder. The contributions from this study are triple. First, this study helps to better understand how the elderly adopt information technology. Second, this study complements the existing corpus of research on using the technology readiness index in the elderly population. Third, we used an innovative method to segment users in the acceptance technology model.

Abstract Hurricanes cause dramatic changes to forests by opening the canopy and depositing debris onto the forest floor. How invasive rodent populations respond to hurricanes is not well understood, but shifts in rodent abundance and foraging may result from scarce fruit and seed resources that follow hurricanes. We conducted studies in a wet tropical forest in Puerto Rico to better understand how experimental (canopy trimming experiment) and natural (Hurricane Maria) hurricane effects alter populations of invasive rodents (Rattus rattus [rats] and Mus musculus [mice]) and their foraging behaviors. To monitor rodent populations, we used tracking tunnels (inked and baited cards inside tunnels enabling identification of animal visitors' footprints) within experimental hurricane plots (arborist trimmed in 2014) and reference plots (closed canopy forest). To assess shifts in rodent foraging, we compared seed removal of two tree species (Guarea guidonia and Prestoea acuminata) between vertebrate‐excluded and free‐access treatments in the same experimental and reference plots, and did so 3 months before and 9 months after Hurricane Maria (2017). Trail cameras were used to identify animals responsible for seed removal. Rat incidences generated from tracking tunnel surveys indicated that rat populations were not significantly affected by experimental or natural hurricanes. Before Hurricane Maria there were no mice in the forest interior, yet mice were present in forest plots closest to the road after the hurricane, and their forest invasion coincided with increased grass cover resulting from open forest canopy. Seed removal of Guarea and Prestoea across all plots was rat dominated (75%–100% rat‐removed) and was significantly less after than before Hurricane Maria. However, following Hurricane Maria, the experimental hurricane treatment plots of 2014 had 3.6 times greater seed removal by invasive rats than did the reference plots, which may have resulted from rats selecting post‐hurricane forest patches with greater understory cover for foraging. Invasive rodents are resistant to hurricane disturbance in this forest. Predictions of increased hurricane frequency from expected climate change should result in forest with more frequent periods of grassy understories and mouse presence, as well as with heightened rat foraging for fruit and seed in preexisting areas of disturbance.

Abstract Background Animal communities are vulnerable to agricultural practices. Intensive farming considerably reduces overall arthropod diversity, but not necessarily pest abundance. Natural control of herbivores in agroecosystems is accomplished by predators and parasitoids, but in intensified agricultural regimes, the chemical control used to reduce pest abundances also affects pests’ natural enemies. To achieve more sustainable agriculture, there is a need to better understand the susceptibility of predators to conventional management. Methods In order to quantify the arthropod diversity associated with different schemes of agricultural management of maize, we evaluated agricultural fields under two contrasting management regimens in Michoacán, México during the spring–summer cycle of 2011. Arthropod communities were evaluated in plots with conventional high-input versus low-input agriculture in two sites—one rainfed and one with irrigation. The experimental units consisted of twelve 1 ha agricultural plots. To sample arthropods, we used 9 pitfall traps per agricultural plot. Results During the sampling period, we detected a total of 14,315 arthropods belonging to 12 Orders and 253 morphospecies. Arthropod community composition was significantly different between the sites, and in the rain-fed site, we also found differences between management practices. Predators, particularly ants, were more abundant in low-input sites. Herbivory levels were similar in all fields, with an average of 18% of leaf area lost per plant. Conclusions Our results suggest that conventional farming is not reducing herbivore abundances or damage inflicted to plants, but is affecting arthropod predators. We discuss repercussions for sustainable agriculture.

The Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L.) is an evergreen tree native to semiarid environments of Peru and Bolivia in South America. This tree has been introduced and widely planted for ornamental and forestry purposes in several semiarid regions of the world because its seedlings are easily established and have a high survival rate; it also grows quickly, and it is tolerant of dry climates. We compared the global and regional niches of naturalized and planted populations of S. molle in order to examine the invasive stages and potential distribution of this species in four regions of the world. This work provides a novel approach for understanding the invasion dynamics of S. molle in these areas and elucidates the ecological processes that bring about such invasions. Most naturalized and planted populations were found to be in equilibrium with the environment. In its native range as well as in Australia and South Africa the models of the coverage area of habitat suitability for natural populations were the highest, whereas the coverage area of planted populations was lower. For planted populations in Australia and South Africa, a large percentage of predicted presences fell within sink populations. The invasion stages of S. molle vary across regions in its adventive range; this result may be attributable to residence time as well as climatic and anthropic factors that have contributed to the spread of populations.

The Colombian weasel, Neogale felipei (Izor & de la Torre, 1978), is one of the most enigmatic and threatened carnivores in South America, with only six confirmed records in the Andes of Ecuador and Colombia. During a long-term trail camera survey conducted at Mesenia-Paramillo Natural Reserve, we recorded the northernmost occurrence of the species, which extends its distribution by approximately 120 km to the north from the nearest previously known locality in Colombia. We also provide some comments on its natural history.

In Colombia, seven species of small-eared shrews of the genus Cryptotis Pomel, 1848 have been reported, and five of them endemic to the country. Here, we present the first confirmed record from Colombia of Cryptotis niausa Moreno Cárdenas & Albuja, 2014, a species that was previously known from only nine localities in Ecuador. The Colombian record comes from the Departamento de Nariño, in extreme southwestern Colombia, and it is supported by morphology and cytochrome-b gene evidence. This record increases to eight the number of species of Cryptotis from Colombia.

Abstract Two novel BODIPY‐Ugi (boron dipyrromethene) adducts exhibit peculiar room temperature (T=20 °C) H‐1 NMR spectra in that several protons located at the aromatic aniline‐type ring are lost in the baseline. This observation revealed the existence of a dynamic conformational process where rotation around the C−N bond is hindered. Variable‐temperature H‐1 and C‐13 NMR spectroscopic analysis confirmed this conclusion; that is, low‐temperature spectra show distinct signals for all four aromatic protons below coalescence, whereas average signals are recorded above coalescence (T=+120 °C). Particularly interesting was the rather large difference in chemical shifts for the ortho protons below coalescence, Δδ=1.45 ppm, which was explained based on DFT computational analysis. Indeed, the calculated lowest‐energy gas‐phase conformation of the BODIPY Ugi adducts locates one half of the aniline‐type ring in the shielding anisotropic cone of the bridge phenyl ring in the BODIPY segment. This is in contrast to the solid‐state conformation established by X‐ray diffraction analysis that shows a nearly parallel arrangement of the aromatic rings, probably induced by crystal packing forces.

El puercoespín pardo, Coendou vestitus, se encuentra entre los roedores endémicos más amenazados de Colombia, con presencia corroborada en pocas localidades de la cordillera Oriental, en los departamentos de Boyacá y Cundinamarca. Presentamos registros recientes para tres localidades y observaciones de historia natural, como horarios de actividad y el uso de la cola a manera de soporte durante el desplazamiento. Como parte del conocimiento local se ha identificado el uso de sus púas como defensa ante animales domésticos y el consumo de cañas de chusque (Chusquea sp.), al igual que el uso de las espinas por parte de pobladores de las zonas de registro, relacionado con sus creencias. Nuestros registros, amplían a diez el número de localidades para el flanco occidental de la cordillera Oriental, en la ecorregión Selvas Montanas del Valle del Magdalena. Los registros fueron obtenidos durante el día y la noche, lo que hace necesario estudiar los patrones de actividad de los Coendou, generalizados como nocturnos, y obtener nuevos datos sobre la historia natural de esta especie.

El conocimiento de los reptiles en Colombia es aún incompleto, aunque el país alberga una alta diversidad de este grupo. En los últimos años, las colecciones regionales han contribuido a llenar vacíos de información sobre la biogeografía, la variación intra e interespecífica y la sistemática de diversos grupos. Presentamos aquí la información de 613 registros depositados en la Colección de Reptiles del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad de Caldas. La mayoría de los registros (527) proceden del departamento de Caldas, pero se cuenta con registros de 15 departamentos más. El orden más representativo es Squamata (603 registros). La colección alberga 108 especímenes que han sido referenciados en 20 publicaciones nacionales y extranjeras.

Mazama temama (Kerr, 1792) is a representative species of the northern Neotropics, but the geographic range limits for this species remain unclear. We report the southernmost record of M. temama from the southwestern Colombian Andes, increasing the previously known range of this species by more than 300 km. We obtained a cytochrome gene sequence (849 bp) which is 95% identical to samples from Mexico. This record raises the need for extensive sampling to obtain more complete information about the distribution of M. temama in northern Colombia.

Abstract Advances in new technologies and the desire to achieve a sustainable and safe energy supply, enable communities to transition from conventional to renewable resources, such as geothermal energy. Perception and acceptance amongst different audiences have a high impact on the feasibility of energy projects, which is an important aspect to analyze. For this reason, this study focuses on describing the level of awareness and acceptance of deep geothermal energy within an educated segment of the population in five European and American countries (Canada, Colombia, Chile, Belgium, and France) at different stages of geothermal development. This study was conducted through an online survey, which was targeted to post-secondary students and professionals. Some of the most significant conclusions are: (1) there is a high degree of awareness of geothermal energy among the respondents in Chile and Canada, a medium level in Belgium and France, and a low one in Colombia; (2) there is a favorable acceptance of a geothermal project in each country, even when hydraulic stimulation is considered; (3) environmental aspects and community safety are the most important issues that must be addressed to support a pilot geothermal project.

Abstract In this study we report, the synthesis of ZnO and its doping with Transition Metal Oxides -TMO-, such as Cr2O3, MnO2, FeO, CoO, NiO, Cu2O and CuO. Various characterization techniques were employed to investigate the structural properties. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data and Rietveld refinement confirmed the presence of TMO phases and that the ZnO structure was not affected by the doping with TMO which was corroborated using transmission Electron microscopy (TEM). Surface areas were low due to blockage of adsorption sites by particle aggregation. TMO doping concentration in the range of 3.7–5.1% was important to calculate the catalytic activity. The UV–Visible spectra showed the variation in the band gap of TMO/ZnO ranging from 3.45 to 2.46 eV. The surface catalyzed decomposition of H2O2 was used as the model reaction to examine the photocatalytic activity following the oxygen production and the systems were compared to bulk ZnO and commercial TiO2-degussa (Aeroxyde-P25). The results indicate that the introduction of TMO species increase significantly the photocatalytic activity. The sunlight photocatalytic performance in ZnO-doped was greater than bulk-ZnO and in the case of MnO2, CoO, Cu2O and CuO surpasses TiO2 (P25-Degussa). This report opens up a new pathway to the design of high-performance materials used in photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation.

This document presents the supporting information for the evaluation of the role of Ni amount during the in situ synthesis of vulcan supported PdNi nanostructures using an organometallic approach for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline medium [1]. The data here presented included analysis of deconvolution during structural characterization, chemical composition and transmission electron microscopy. The information also contains complement data of cyclic voltammograms during activation in alkaline media. Supplement data of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements at two different overpotentials (-100 and -300 mV) and temperatures on the onset potential for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are also showed in this paper. The files can be used as a reference to determinate the effect of adding different in situ amount of Ni to Pd/C catalysts in presence of 2 equivalents of hexadecylamine (HDA) in order to improve the electrochemical performance on HER using an adjusted organometallic method. The data provided in this article have not been previously published and are available to enable critical or extended analyses.

The Coffee Region of Colombia is one of the most representative areas of the country due to its cultural appeal. 200 of the 528 mammal species in the country occur in this region. Pre-existing knowledge about the group in this region has been obtained through indirect and direct sampling methods. We present new records of mammals of the “Reserva Forestal Protectora Bosques de la Central Hidroeléctrica de Caldas (CHEC)”, located in the Coffee Region, based on vouchered citizen science records. To accomplish this, we held training workshops on the relevance of information provided by non-invasive vouchers for mammal collections that include bone remains, hairs, skin and other signs that can be found incidentally in the field by park rangers and other staff of the Reserve. In addition, we included photographic and video records of mammals taken by park rangers before and after the training workshops. We added vouchers obtained by the park rangers to the biological collection of the Natural History Museum of the Universidad de Caldas (MHN-UCa). Using this method, we obtained records of 34 mammalian species belonging to 20 families and 11 orders. We highlight the obtention of museum preserved vouchers of the Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous centralis (Miller 1899), and the Cauca Slender Opossum, Marmosops caucae (Thomas 1900), that had limited samples in national collections or had not been previously collected in the study area. With this work, a contribution network with the CHEC reserve staff was established, promoting the inclusion of these agents in the development of scientific research, and showing the relevance of collaborative science in assisting with filling information gaps about medium and large mammals.

We describe the advertisement call of seven males and observations on the natural history related to the parental attention by males, of a population of nurse frogs attributed to the Leucostethus fraterdanieli complex from the Central Cordillera in the Department of Caldas, Colombia. The advertisement call consists of a long sequence of repeated (x̅ = 143 notes.min-1) pulsed notes, which have an average duration of 79 ± 17 ms (range 63-122 ms), separated by time intervals between 187-413 ms (289 ± 67 ms). The dominant frequency values are in the range between 3209-3520 Hz. Our results suggest differences in temporal and spectral parameters between the population studied and other populations assigned to L. fraterdanieli, L. brachistriatus, and the recently described L. jota.

Two iconic and charismatic species that inhabit the northern Andes of South America are the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Both species can be found sympatrically in several areas of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. Despite their overlap in distribution, little is known about interactions between both species, with few reported cases of Andean bear attacks on the Mountain tapir. Here, we report a possible attack by an Andean bear on a Mountain tapir in the northern part of Puracé National Natural Park, Colombia based on strong wounds and marks on a tapir’s back and rump. The wounds match typical attack patterns generated by Andean bears and corroborates previous camera traps records of bears attacking tapirs in this locality.

Birds are important hosts for the development of the immature stages of several tick species that are vectors for disease-causing microorganisms in animals and humans. Colombia has the highest number of bird species worldwide; however, there is scarce data on the role of birds in the circulation of ticks and their associated pathogens, such as rickettsiae. The department of Arauca has a high diversity of resident and migratory (boreal and austral) birds and ticks associated with the transmission of Rickettsia. The objective of this research was to identify tick species parasitizing birds and to detect Rickettsia species in these ectoparasites. We conducted samplings in the municipalities of Arauca, Cravo Norte, and Tame between November of 2018 and August of 2019. Birds were captured using mist nets and examined for the presence of tick species. The collected ticks were morphologically and molecularly identified. Furthermore, we detected rickettsiae in ticks by amplifying fragments of the citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein (ompB) genes. We captured 606 birds belonging to 25 families and 115 species. Tick infestation rate was 3.3% (20/606) in the birds captured and eight new associations between wild birds and ticks are reported for the American continent. We identified four tick species: Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma mixtum, and Amblyomma sp.. Moreover, we confirmed the presence of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in A. nodosum, a medically-relevant rickettsia due to cases of rickettsiosis in the American continent. This finding manifests the importance of wild birds as hosts and dispersal agents of ticks infected with pathogenic rickettsiae, as well as the need to monitor migratory birds in the Orinoquia and other regions of Colombia and America.

The Spectral Bat (Vampyrum spectrum) is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In Colombia, it has not been included in any risk assessments, because it is a poorly documented species in the country. Using new occurrence data and ecological niche modelling we evaluate the distribution and analyze the species’ ecological and conservation needs in Colombia. With the new records, V. spectrum shows a distribution over six biogeographic provinces in the country, along an elevational range between 96 and 1750 m. The Spectral Bat has been reported in a wide variety of ecosystems from dry forest and fragmented landscapes, to forested areas. Predictive models suggest a wider presence of this species in the west of the country, center, and southern Andes. The limited number of specimens limits our attempt to evaluate morphometric variation among Colombian populations; however, we detect a variation in the mean value of the forearm and ear length regarding northeast South American populations. Areas with the greatest potential distribution detected in this study could be prioritized in conservation strategies, and make plans accordingly for this and other species that coexist in its range. Finally, we highlight the low representativeness of Protected Areas for the Spectral Bat and add some ecological notes about this rare species.

The Western Amazonian Dwarf Porcupine, Coendou ichillus Voss & Da Silva, 2001, is poorly known in South America. The species is known only from eight localities in the Amazon and Orinoquia regions of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Colombia, it is known from one locality in the Orinoquía region, based on a specimen collected in 1956. We present a new distribution record which adds information about the presence of C. ichillus in the Napo Moist Forests ecoregion, in the Department of Putumayo, Amazon region of Colombia. We suggest that C. ichillus is more widely distributed in the Amazon region of the country. However, based on the number of known records to date, C. ichillus is the rarest species of porcupine.

Porcupines of the genus Coendou are among the least studied mammals in the Neotropics. The Stump-tailed Porcupine, Coendou rufescens, is distributed in the Andean region from Colombia and south to Bolivia. Despite its wide distribution, nothing is known about its natural history, besides observation of banana consumption in captivity. Here we present new observations on the feeding habits, diurnal activity, and the use of the tail for support during feeding obtained by means of collaborative (citizen) science. We also comment on its locomotion on land and in trees. We observed five diurnal events of C. rufescens feeding on infructescences of trumpet tree (Cecropia angustifolia Trécul). During the feeding activities, the Stump-tailed Porcupine used the tail for stability and support. These are the first observations of such behavior in the wild for this species and suggest a more diurnal activity for this species which belongs to a group of rodents traditionally considered to be predominantly nocturnal.

Some species of mastiff bats, Molossus Geoffroy, 1805, inhabit human shelters such as houses and barns. Among them, the Pallas’s mastiff bat, Molossus molossus Pallas, 1766, is the most common species in South America. There are a few studies on this bat in Colombia, mostly on colony size, diet, ectoparasite records, and activity patterns in the Andean and Caribbean regions. Here, we provide information on the prevalence of chiggerfleas, Hectopsylla pulex (Haller, 1880), on M. molossus, along with molecular data on the flea, and its distribution in Colombia. In addition, we describe the size and sex ratio of the infested bat colony, located in the central Andes of Colombia. The bat colony was represented by ca. 45 individuals, of which 33 were captured. The colony had more females (25 individuals) than males (8 individuals). A total of four Pallas’s mastiff bats had chiggerfleas, H. pulex, most of which were attached to the bat’s faces and ears. The composition of the colony (sex ratio) and the observed activity times match those reported for other colonies of the species in Colombia. The cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, and the 12S rRNA mitochondrial gene obtained from H. pulex represent the second and first available sequences for the species, respectively. The level of infestation of individuals in the colony was low, similar to that observed in other South American countries, such as Brazil. Finally, the new locality is the seventh confirmed and the highest elevational record of H. pulex in Colombia.

Colombia, with 209 species, is one of the richest countries in terms of bat diversity. This high bat diversity is comprised in nine families and 72 genera. A total of eight species of the families Emballonuridae (n = 1) and Phyllostomidae (n = 7) are listed as endemic to the country. In spite the relevance of Colombia in bat diversity, little is known of these endemic species which are mostly known from the type locality (n = 4), whereas for others (n = 2), their taxonomic status is uncertain. Here, available information of endemic bats from Colombia is compiled, and new information on their distribution and conservation is provided. The most included species in publications including the original description (n = 15) was Lonchorhina marinkellei. The only distribution pattern observed for the species evaluated was for Carollia monohernandezi and Vampyressa sinchi that might overlap distributions in the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera. Most endemic species are from the Andean and inter-Andean regions of the country (n = 6). At national level, there are no endemic species in any threatened category; however, at least one species (Lonchorhina marinkellei) is considered as Vulnerable (VU) and one (Saccopteryx antioquensis) as Endangered (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN

In this work, we report and describe evidence of an anomaly in the tragus of an individual of Artibeus lituratus, captured in the Central Andes of Colombia. During field work in the Department of Caldas, municipality of Aranzazu, one individual of A. lituratus with unusual tragus form was trapped. This individual had a tragus with cylindrical shape and asymmetry. The individual was collected and deposited at the Museum of Natural History of the University of Caldas (MHN-UCa). A literature review was conducted to find similar cases using searching engines, but no previous reports of the anomaly were find. Furthermore, we reviewed the tragus of vouchers at the MHN-UCa and none of these had similar malformations. We concluded that this anomaly has not previously registered in Chiroptera.

The Brazilian Porcupine, Coendou prehensilis (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most widespread species of Coendou Lacépède, 1799 in South America, but little is known on its natural history, ecology and distribution. In Colombia, it has been reported in the lowlands and inter-Andean valleys of 18 continental departments, but there are still gaps on its distribution, natural history and ecology. We present new distribution records and add information of the presence of C. prehensilis in 10 additional departments of Colombia located at the Amazonia, Orinoco, Peri-Caribbean Arid Belt, and North Andean Biogeographic provinces. We suggest that C. prehensilis is the most widespread species in the lowlands of Colombia, although it does not occur in the Biogeographic Chocó and in the inter-Andean medium and high valleys of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers.

Cebus albifrons (Humboldt, 1812); Sapajus apella (Linnaeus, 1758) and Aotus lemurinus I. Geoffroy, 1843 are widely distributed primates in Colombia. Despite this, there are gaps in the occurrence of these species in the southwestern part of the country. Through the collection of specimen remains, molecular analyses and review of museum specimens, we reported new records for these species in the Department of Nariño, expanding their distribution range. Finally, we highlight some important notes for the conservation of these species.

The original description of Thamnodynastes dixoni Bailey & Thomas, 2007 was based on few specimens, and the morphological variation, distributional range, and ecological aspects of this species are virtually unknown. The species is known to occur in the Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela. In Colombia, it was recorded only in four localities. We report a fifth occurrence of T. dixoni in Colombia and the first in the Department of Meta. The new record extends this species’ distribution nearly 150 km (in a straight line) from the nearest previously known occurrence at Paz de Ariporo, Department of Casanare. Additionally, we also provide comments about the species’ defensive behavior, not reported elsewhere, and a thorough revision on the species’ geographical distribution.