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Abstract Climate change (CC) and human footprint (HF) shape species spatial patterns and may affect the effectiveness of Protected Areas (PAs) network. Spatial patterns of threatened bird species of Subtropical–temperate hotspots in Southeastern South American grasslands are relevant biodiversity features to guide conservation policies. However, the PAs network covers less than 1% of grassland areas and does not overlap areas with the most suitable environmental conditions for threatened birds. Our aim was to find the most environmentally suitable areas for both current and future threatened birds (2050 and 2070) in Entre Ríos. We applied Systematic Conservation Planning protocols with Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) and ZONATION using distribution interaction function and HF as a cost. Then we overlapped binary maps to find priority areas among time periods. HF showed a more fragmented spatial configuration. The PAs network may include environmentally suitable conditions for threatened birds in CC scenarios and HF. We found areas that showed more connectivity in landscape prioritization over time and ensure high-quality environmental conditions for birds. We concluded that the effectiveness of the PAs network could be improved by overlapping priority areas. Our approach provides a knowledge base as a contribution to conservation-related decisions by considering HF and CC.

Abstract One of the current challenges of evolutionary ecology is to understand the effects of phylogenetic history (PH) and/or ecological factors (EF) on the life‐history traits of the species. Here, the effects of environment and phylogeny are tested for the first time on the reproductive biology of South American xenodontine snakes. We studied 60% of the tribes of this endemic and most representative clade in a temperate region of South America. A comparative method (canonical phylogenetic ordination—CPO) was used to find the relative contributions of EF and PH upon life‐history aspects of snakes, comparing the reproductive mode, mean fecundity, reproductive potential, and frequency of nearly 1,000 specimens. CPO analysis showed that PH or ancestry explained most of the variation in reproduction, whereas EF explained little of this variation. The reproductive traits under study are suggested to have a strong phylogenetic signal in this clade, the ancestry playing a big role in reproduction. The EF also influenced the reproduction of South American xenodontines, although to a lesser extent. Our finding provides new evidence of how the evolutionary history is embodied in the traits of living species.

I present the first record of the tropical snake Erythrolamprus reginae from Entre Ríos province as the southernmost record from Argentina and South America. This record extends the range of this species by 510 km airline south of known localities in Corrientes province. Geographical distribution in Argentina and Paraguay is provided. This record confirms the presence of E. reginae in seasonally flooded gallery forest bordering the Uruguay River, a biogeographical corridor for tropical biota invading temperate latitudes.

We revisit the distribution and natural history data of Tachymenis chilensis chilensis (Schlegel, 1837) in Argentina based on compiled and novel records, extending its northern and southern distribution from the previously known localities in Argentina. We recorded two prey items in Argentinean populations: Rhinella rubropunctata, reported for the first time, and Liolaemus pictus. Tachymenis c. chilensis is mainly found in forested habitats, generally near wetlands with abundant populations of amphibians. The latitudinal range occupied by T. c. chilensis in Argentina is similar to that in Chile, but its northern distribution limit reaches the lowest latitudes in Chile. This is probably due to the higher humidity levels in the western slopes of the Andes and the barrier effect of the highest mountain ranges in this area.

Las serpientes tienen una notable flexibilidad y diversidad en sus tácticas reproductivas, a pesar de ello, los estudios acerca de la biología reproductiva de especies sudamericanas en zonas subtropicales-templadas son escasos. Se analizó la biología reproductiva de Liophis semiaureus en el nordeste de Argentina, incluyendo la madurez y dimorfismo sexual, fecundidad y ciclo reproductivo. Las hembras maduras fueron significativamente más largas, presentaron mayor peso corporal y alcanzaron la madurez sexual a una longitud mayor que los machos. Los machos tuvieron colas más largas que las hembras. El ciclo reproductivo fue estacional con mayor actividad en los períodos templados del año aunque previos a la época de inundaciones. Liophis semiaureus invirtió más energía en la reproducción que en el crecimiento, lo que posibilita que comiencen a reproducirse con tamaños más pequeños con respecto a otras poblaciones, sin retrasar su reproducción hasta alcanzar mayores tamaños. Esta puede ser una estrategia ventajosa en climas estacionales. Las características reproductivas y de dimorfismo sexual en L. semiaureus se encontrarían influenciadas por aspectos filogenéticos, geográficos y ecológicos, lo que determina que la especie responda de manera general al patrón reproductivo del grupo taxonómico pero con particularidades propias determinadas por los factores geográficos y los requerimientos ecológicos.Snakes in subtropical warm zones have a wide flexibility and diversity in your reproductive tactics. In spite of it, the studies in South America about that are scanty yet. We analyzed sexual dimorphism, sexual maturity, fecundity and reproductive cycle of a semi-aquatic snake, Liophis semiaureus, in north-east of Argentina. Females were significantly longer and heavier than the males. Females reach sexual maturity with longer snout-vent length than the males. Males had longer tails than the females. The reproductive cycle was seasonal. The individuals were more active on the first warm stations of the year and before the floods. Liophis semiaureus spent more energy in reproduction than growth, so they began to reproduce with smaller bodies than others population, this pattern of reproduction could be a profitable strategy in an environment of seasonal climate. The reproduction and sexual dimorphism in L. semiaureus would be influenced by aspects phylogenetic, geographical and ecological. The above aspects were similar to the taxonimic group but with their own characteristics due to geographical factors and to ecological requirements.

Communities are complex and dynamic systems that change with time. The first attempts to explain how they were structured involve contemporary phenomena like ecological interactions between species (e.g., competition and predation) and led to the competition-predation hypothesis. Recently, the deep history hypothesis has emerged, which suggests that profound differences in the evolutionary history of organisms resulted in a number of ecological features that remain largely on species that are part of existing communities. Nevertheless, both phylogenetic structure and ecological interactions can act together to determine the structure of a community. Because diet is one of the main niche axes, in this study we evaluated, for the first time, the impact of ecological and phylogenetic factors on the diet of Neotropical snakes from the subtropical-temperate region of South America. Additionally, we studied their relationship with morphological and environmental aspects to understand the natural history and ecology of this community. A canonical phylogenetical ordination analysis showed that phylogeny explained most of the variation in diet, whereas ecological characters explained very little of this variation. Furthermore, some snakes that shared the habitat showed some degree of diet convergence, in accordance with the competition-predation hypothesis, although phylogeny remained the major determinant in structuring this community. The clade with the greatest variability was the subfamily Dipsadinae, whose members had a very different type of diet, based on soft-bodied invertebrates. Our results are consistent with the deep history hypothesis, and we suggest that the community under study has a deep phylogenetic effect that explains most of the variation in the diet.

Las serpientes son usualmente muy perseguidas por el hombre y poco consideradas en estrategias de conservación de la biodiversidad, siendo las áreas protegidas esenciales para su preservación. Se analizaron los patrones de riqueza y biogeográficos de las serpientes de Santa Fe, Argentina, para priorizar áreas para su conservación y evaluar si las reservas existentes coinciden con ellas. Los patrones de diversidad y distribución fueron establecidos mediante el análisis de 2.532 especímenes de ofidios de Santa Fe, obtenidos en muestreos de campo y revisión de colecciones, complementados con registros bibliográficos y un banco de datos regional de 8.000 ejemplares. Se determinaron las áreas de endemismos de serpientes, las que fueron comparadas con las divisiones fitogeográficas. Se dividió Santa Fe en 16 celdas de un grado de latitud y longitud, para comparar su riqueza, similitud y complementariedad, aplicándose un método para priorizar áreas de conservación según la riqueza y el valor de conservación de cada taxón. La riqueza de especies en Santa Fe aumenta con la disminución de la latitud y longitud en relación con un gradiente de aumento de temperatura y precipitaciones anuales promedio. En consecuencia las celdas ubicadas en el extremo nordeste poseen la mayor riqueza (conteniendo 84 % de las especies) y las celdas ubicadas en el extremo suroeste la menor riqueza (20 %). Todas las celdas atravesadas por el río Paraná tienen una mayor riqueza que las celdas contiguas, probablemente, debido al efecto de este río como corredor de especies tropicales y subtropicales. Se definieron cinco áreas de endemismos, cuatro de ellas coinciden con una o dos divisiones fitogeográficas y son relevantes en análisis de conservación por tener especies exclusivas. El análisis de similitud entre celdas muestra tres grupos mayores, "noroeste", "noreste-centro" y "sur", que coinciden con tres áreas de endemismos. El análisis conjunto de los valores de prioridad de conservación, áreas de endemismos, similitud y complementariedad indicó que poblaciones de todos los taxones de serpientes de Santa Fe pueden ser conservadas si se protegen adecuadamente tres celdas ubicadas en los extremos noroeste (Chaco Seco), noreste (Chaco Húmedo-valle del Paraná) y sureste (Pampeana). Las dos primeras no tienen áreas protegidas, y la tercera celda tiene una pequeña reserva, una isla en el río Paraná, que no contiene ecosistemas pampeanos. El Chaco Seco no tiene reservas presentando la mayor deficiencia de áreas protegidas. La superficie de áreas protegidas es insuficiente y no están adecuadamente distribuidas en relación con los patrones de biodiversidad debido a la falta de criterios científicos para su selección. Este problema, sumado a graves deficiencias de implementación, hacen poco efectivo el sistema de reservas de Santa Fe para proteger a las serpientes y posiblemente a la biodiversidad provincialSnakes are usually persecuted by people and few are considered in biodiversity conservation strategies, being protected areas essential for their preservation. We analysed species richness and biogeographical patterns of the snakes of Santa Fe province, Argentina, to prioritise areas for their conservation and to assess if the existent reserves coincide with these areas. Species richness and distributional patterns were established from 2,532 specimens, obtained on field samplings and revision of collections, supplemented with bibliographical records and a regional database of 8,000 specimens. Areas of endemism were determined and compared with phytogeographical divisions. Santa Fe was divided in 16 cells of one degree of latitude and longitude, to compare species richness, similarity and complementarity. We applied a method to prioritise cells for conservation according to species richness and a conservative value of each taxa. Species richness in Santa Fe greatly increased with decreasing latitude and longitude in relation to an increasing gradient of temperature and rainfall. In consequence, the north-eastern cell presents the highest richness (containing 84 % of Santa Fe species and the south-western cell the lowest diversity (20 %). All cells crossed by the Paraná river have a higher richness than the western contiguous cells, probably, due to the corridor effect of this river for tropical and subtropical species. Five areas of endemism were defined, four of them coincide with one or two phytogeographical divisions and they are important in conservation analysis because of the presence of exclusive species. Similarity analysis among cells showed three major groups: the north-west, the north-east-centre and the south. Combined analysis of conservation priority values, areas of endemism, similarity and complementarity among cells showed that populations of all Santa Fe snakes would be conserved by protecting three cells appropriately, located in the north-east corner (Chaco Humid-Paraná valley), the north-west corner (Dry Chaco) and the south-west corner (Pampeana). The first two do not have protected areas and the third cell has a small reserve, an island in the Paraná river, that does not contain Pampean ecosystems. The Dry Chaco region does not have any reserve, showing the major protected areas deficiency. Protected areas surface is insufficient and not adequately distributed in relation to biodiversity patterns due to lack of scientific approaches for their selection. This problem, in addition to serious implementation deficiencies, makes the Santa Fe reserve system ineffective to protect snakes, and possibly, all the provincial biodiversity

RESUMEN Ante la acelerada pérdida de biodiversidad causada por actividades humanas, las áreas protegidas (APs) constituyen la principal respuesta para mitigar esta crisis. La Reserva Natural Iberá (RNI) incluye 13000 km2 de territorios privados y fiscales, que contienen humedales y tierras altas con elevada biodiversidad, endemismos e importantes poblaciones de especies amenazadas. Para implementar su conservación, a finales del siglo pasado se definieron cinco Unidades de Conservación (UC) priorizadas en infraestructura y guardaparques, seleccionadas mediante criterios pobremente explicitados. En este trabajo definimos áreas prioritarias para la conservación (APC) usando los patrones de distribución de los reptiles en la RNI, para evaluar la eficiencia de las UC instauradas y detectar otras posibles áreas a ser consideradas en gestiones de conservación. La RNI se dividió en 28 celdas de 0,25° de latitud-longitud y mediante muestreos de campo y revisión de colecciones se obtuvieron 1 482 registros de 71 especies de reptiles computándose su presencia/ausencia en las celdas. Se calculó por celda riqueza específica e Índice Combinado de Biodiversidad (ICB) (que incluye rareza y grado de amenaza). Las APC fueron definidas mediante una búsqueda exacta (Complementariedad), obteniendo el mínimo conjunto de áreas que contuvieran a todas las especies y valores del ICB, lo que se denomina “eficiencia máxima”. La superficie mínima necesaria que representa a todas las especies es de diez celdas (36%) y sólo dos incluyen UC actuales. Se necesitan adicionar ocho celdas para cubrir los vacíos de conservación de reptiles, particularmente en el norte de la RNI. Sobre 20 especies amenazadas o insuficientemente conocidas, 12 (60%) no fueron registradas en celdas con UC. Proponemos UC adicionales para efectivizar la protección de todos los reptiles e incluir especies amenazadas.