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Based on 40 years of meteorological data, we characterized and analysed long‐term climatic trends in the Chamela‐Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve on the Pacific coast of central Mexico. The region is still covered by a large proportion of well‐preserved tropical dry forest, characterized by a short period of rain and a dry season of around 8 months. We found a sustained temperature increase which is likely driven by global climate change. An increasing trend in rainfall was also found, but the trend was detected only during the wet season. Correspondingly, an increase in runoff during the rainfall season was also detected; this seems to be linked with an increasing number of intense rainfall events, rather than an increase in the total number of rainy days. El Niño years are likely to present below average precipitation during the wet season and above average precipitation during the dry season. The opposite is expected during La Niña years, when tropical cyclones are likely to come closer to the coast and cause intense rainfall events during the hurricane season. As many of the studied variables are likely to change under climate change scenarios, our results highlight the need to understand the expected impacts of global climate change on tropical dry forests. In particular, it is necessary to monitor changes in water availability to anticipate its consequences for the forest and the human communities that depend on it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Extreme climatic events are changing the structure and functioning of forests worldwide, and often reducing abruptly their capacity to provide ecosystem services, especially to rural communities intimately connected to their environment. In this paper, we analyze climate-induced changes to provisioning ecosystem services, including forest resources available and used by rural communities, and local perceptions about how these services changed after recent extreme climatic events inside and outside a Biosphere Reserve in northwestern Mexico. Our approach integrates quantitative and qualitative techniques from traditional (50 local interviews) and scientific (forest surveys in 24 1-ha plots) ecological knowledge. Our integrated analysis suggests widespread tree mortality was the main ecological effect of recent extreme climatic events, especially in forests regrowing in the reserve former agricultural land, overturning decades of forest natural regeneration. Reserve inhabitants, strongly relying on their surrounding forests for self-consumption, identified climatic events as the main driver of forest change. In addition to climatic events, people outside the reserve recognized selective logging for charcoal production and in general forest exploitation as key drivers of forest change, consistent with the decline of hardwood species revealed by our field surveys. The persistence of an eroding environmental dimension (e.g., unsustainable use of forest resources) outside reserves could increase the long-term vulnerability of rural socioecosystems to extreme climatic events. The protecting role of biosphere reserves will be essential to preserve old-growth forests more resistant to temperature extremes and aid the process of forest natural regeneration after climate-induced disturbance. In order to protect native biodiversity and reduce climate vulnerability, coupled human-environment systems such as Biosphere Reserves should genuinely and rightfully engage local people in management decisions, prioritizing policies that build more sustainable livelihoods and enhance the adaptive capacity of socioecosystems to cope with climate variability.

This study analyzed the relationships between species-area richness and phylogenetic diversity-area in the relict flora of the tropical dry forest in the Cauca River valley in Colombia, using a species list from 38 relict sites. The results showed that plant richness followed the species-area relationship (SAR) model, albeit with steeper slopes than expected for habitat islands, and that species dispersion affected the SAR model. Additionally, plant communities showed a nested pattern. Climate did not influence plant richness, but it did affect species composition. Phylogenetic diversity was not related to area, but phylogenetic clustering increased with it. As a conclusion, dispersion limitation is the factor that structures plant richness in tropical dry forest relicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known of intra- and inter-specific territoriality in Neotropical raptors that may defend territories throughout the year, and face greater inter-specific competition for resources. We evaluated intraand inter-specific territorial responses of four species of Neotropical raptors in the tropical dry forest of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. We conducted broadcast calls in territories of the Collared Forest-Falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus), Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens), Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus), and Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris), and measured the latency, duration, and type of territorial response to broadcast calls of conspecifics and sympatric raptor species. We applied repeated measures analysis to determine differences in intra- and inter-specific territorial responses of raptors, and GLMMs to evaluate whether traits of body size, nest type, and hunting technique were associated with territorial response by focal raptors. Large-bodied focal raptor species showed high intra-specific territoriality, giving faster, prolonged responses of various types, including duets and combined responses, to broadcast calls of conspecifics compared to sympatric species. All focal raptors showed some inter-specific territorial response, but this was mainly as vocalizations or displacements towards sympatric species broadcast calls. Species traits of body size, nest type, and hunting technique were associated with latency and duration of territorial response by the larger raptor species that nest in the forest canopy. These traits may be more strongly associated with territorial response of forest raptors that defend limited resources in a structurally complex environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Coleopterans are the most diverse animal group on Earth and constitute good indicators of environmental change. However, little information is available about Coleopteran communities' responses to disturbance and land-use change. Tropical dry forests have undergone especially extensive anthropogenic impacts in the past decades. This has led to mosaic landscapes consisting of areas of primary forest surrounded by pastures, agricultural fields and secondary forests, which negatively impacts many taxonomic groups. However, such impacts have not been assessed for most arthropod groups. In this work, we compared the abundance, richness and diversity of Coleopteran morphospecies in four different successional stages in a tropical dry forest in western Mexico, to answer the question: How do Coleopteran assemblages associate with vegetation change over the course of forest succession? In addition, we assessed the family composition and trophic guilds for the four successional stages. We found 971 Coleopterans belonging to 107 morphospecies distributed in 28 families. Coleopteran abundance and richness were greatest for pastures than for latter successional stages, and the most abundant family was Chrysomelidae, with 29% of the individuals. Herbivores were the most abundant guild, accounting for 57% of the individuals, followed by predators (22%) and saprophages (21%) beetles. Given the high diversity and richness found throughout the successional chronosequence of the studied tropical dry forest, in order to have the maximum number of species associated with tropical dry forests, large tracts of forest should be preserved so that successional dynamics are able to occur naturally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical dry forests (TDF) support the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide, but in contrast with the humid tropical forests, knowledge of their structure and biology is limited. This study aims to fill that gap using observations from the South Indian Deccan Plateau. Based on large, tree-mapped field plots, within or near a densely populated metropolitan area, we present details of 130 woody plant species, including a large number of climbers. The modelling approach includes a new function for developing species–area relations (SAR's). In addition to the greater flexibility of the function, when compared with traditional power and asymptotic functions, the Monod function not only provides greater flexibility, but also allows reasonable estimates of SAR's if the overall regional species richness is known. This is an important advantage when compared to the standard methods. Another new finding concerns the species abundance distribution (SAD) which explains processes of community assembly and species turnover. The SAD follows the Weibull model which is a significant improvement compared with the traditional use of the Lognormal model because the Weibull parameters seem to be related to species richness. We also present a new cell-based (in addition to the individual neighbourhood-based) approach for analysing structure. The cell-based analysis combines small-grain measures of density and crowding, richness and size variation and can be used to assess the degree of similarity or dissimilarity among forest stands, or between a current and some ideal target structure. The methods of analysis and the proposed framework for pro-active conservation presented in this study may be helpful in regions of the world where complex multi-species forests require advanced methods for sustaining their resilience and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrient fluxes, which impact landscape hydrology, geomorphology, and ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil), a system characterized by high levels of forest degradation and increasing aridity. By trapping dust and swelling of cyanobacterial filaments, biocrusts can seal soil surfaces and slow down infiltration, which potentially induces erosion. To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control, we used minidisc-infiltrometry, raindrop-simulation, and wet sieving at two sites with contrasting disturbance levels: an active cashew plantation and an abandoned field experiencing forest regeneration, both characterized by sandy soils. Under disturbance, biocrusts had a stronger negative impact on infiltration (reduction by 42% vs. 37% during regeneration), although biocrusts under regenerating conditions had the lowest absolute sorptivity (0.042 ± 0.02 cm s-1/2) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (0.0015 ± 0.0008 cm s-1), with a doubled water repellency. Biocrusts provided high soil aggregate stability although stability increased considerably with progression of biocrust succession (raindrop simulation disturbed: 0.19 ± 0.22 J vs. regenerating: 0.54 ± 0.22 J). The formation of stable aggregates by early successional biocrusts on sandy soils suggests protection of dry forest soils even on the worst land use/soil degradation scenario with a high soil erosion risk. Our results confirm that biocrusts covering bare interspaces between vascular plants in human-modified landscapes play an important role in surface water availability and erosion control. Biocrusts have the potential to reduce land degradation, but their associated ecosystem services like erosion protection, can be impaired by disturbance. Considering an average biocrust coverage of 8.1% of the Caatinga landscapes, further research should aim to quantify the contribution of biocrusts to forest recovery to fully understand the role they play in the functioning of this poorly explored ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical forests, understory herbaceous angiosperms (herbs), which can comprise up to 40% of plant species richness, have received relatively little attention compared with trees, and their diversity patterns and drivers remain poorly understood. While tropical tree diversity has been shown to be driven primarily by water availability, we hypothesized that herb diversity may be equally or more limited by light availability.To test the importance of water and light in shaping herb diversity, we surveyed herb communities in 13 one‐ha plots along a rainfall gradient in a seasonally dry tropical forest landscape in India. In each plot, herbs were censused thrice during the year in 47–50 one‐m2 subplots. We examined drivers of herb diversity and ground cover at the landscape scale (across plots) and local scale (among subplots) using simple linear regression and linear mixed models, respectively.At the landscape scale, herb diversity and ground cover were negatively related to rainfall and soil moisture, in contrast with previous studies of tropical forest trees. This indicates that water was not limiting for herbs. Instead, light availability, which was negatively correlated with rainfall, appears to drive patterns of herb diversity and ground cover across the gradient. Herb diversity and ground cover were uniformly low across the gradient during the dry season, indicating that water limitation does have a seasonal impact. When water was abundant (rainy season), herbs took advantage of higher light availability at more open (lower‐rainfall) plots.Consistent with landscape‐scale patterns, herb richness at the subplot level was positively related to light availability, with its effect stronger at higher‐rainfall (more closed‐canopy) sites. Herb species richness declined with increasing subplot soil moisture in all sites and seasons, suggesting negative impacts of water logging and high moisture.Synthesis. Diversity of understory herbs is limited by light availability at both local and landscape scales in this region, with the impact of water limitation restricted to the dry season. Our study shows that tree diversity patterns cannot be assumed to hold for other plant lifeforms, and conservation and restoration efforts must consider unique strategies for different lifeforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new records of Agaricales species from the Colombian Caribbean region are presented: Agrocybe pediades (Fr.) Fayod, Macrocybe titans (H.E. Bigelow & Kimbr.) Pegler, Lodge & Nakasone, and Podaxis pistillaris (L.) Fr. Descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of the macroscopic and microscopic features of each species are presented, as well as a brief discussion of their distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration is crucial to mitigate climate change and conserve biodiversity, and accurately monitoring responses to restoration is imperative to guide current and future efforts. This study examines the impact of ecological restoration of a tropical dry forest in Central India. Here, the state forest department and a nongovernmental organization work with local communities to remove an invasive shrub, Lantana camara, in the forest, to assist natural regeneration, primarily for the purpose of improving access to forest resources for forest‐dependent people. We used acoustic technology to examine the bird community composition and the acoustic space used (ASU) across comparable restored, unrestored (with L. camara), and naturally low L. camara density (LLD) sites. We found no significant difference in the cumulative number of bird species detected between the site types (median in restored and LLD = 38, unrestored = 41). We found a significant difference in bird community composition across sites (r2 = 0.049, p ≤ 0.001). ASU differs between site types (r2 = 0.023, p ≤ 0.10), with restored sites positively associated with ASU compared to unrestored and LLD sites, which could represent a temporary increase in ASU as animal communities are reorganized after the complete removal of L. camara. Our results suggest that small‐scale restoration efforts that aim to help meet livelihood needs have the potential to contribute to ecological goals in this landscape. However, it is necessary to continue to monitor the regeneration trajectory in restored sites and the possible changes in the ASU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Caldasia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We studied the forest structure and tree species diversity with diameter-atbreast-height (dbh) = 10 cm in the Abasumba Globally Significant Biodiversity Area Ghana. Sixteen 25 m * 25 m plots were demarcated and trees with dbh = 10 cm were inventoried following International Plant Nomenclature Index. The characteristic three-storey structure of tropical forests was shown, 68.7% of trees were in the lower 4.5-18 m and middle 18-30 m storeys. A majority 91.4% of 342 trees was in the dbh of 10-30 cm and a least 8.6% of 32 trees in 31-60 cm had dbh - 60 cm. Total of 46 species, 38 genera and 17 families, with mean Alpha, Shannon and Simpson's Diversity indices of 13.9, 1.44 and 0.07 and importance value index of 300.0 for 374 trees ha-1 was recorded. Plant families Sterculiaceae, Meliaceae, Leguminosae, Ulmaceae and Bombacaceae was the majority encountered while Triplochiton scleroxylon, Cola millenii, Trichilia monadelpha, Hymenostegia afzelii, Celtis mildbraedii, Ceiba pentandra and Ficus sur was the most occurring species in 54.0% of the plots accounting for 52.0% of the IVI for all trees. Blighia sapida, Bridelia grandis, Dialium guineense, Draceana arborea, Ficus sur, Holarrhena floribunda, Holoptelea grandis, Margaritaria discoidea, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Trilepisium madagascariense, Vitex ferruginea, Ximenia americana and Xylia evansii had one individual in the 10,000 m2 area indicated that they are rare and should be given conservation priority in the forest reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrient fluxes, which impact landscape hydrology, geomorphology, and ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil), a system characterized by high levels of forest degradation and increasing aridity. By trapping dust and swelling of cyanobacterial filaments, biocrusts can seal soil surfaces and slow down infiltration, which potentially induces erosion. To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control, we used minidisc-infiltrometry, raindrop-simulation, and wet sieving at two sites with contrasting disturbance levels: an active cashew plantation and an abandoned field experiencing forest regeneration, both characterized by sandy soils. Under disturbance, biocrusts had a stronger negative impact on infiltration (reduction by 42% vs. 37% during regeneration), although biocrusts under regenerating conditions had the lowest absolute sorptivity (0.042 ± 0.02 cm s−1/2) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (0.0015 ± 0.0008 cm s−1), with a doubled water repellency. Biocrusts provided high soil aggregate stability although stability increased considerably with progression of biocrust succession (raindrop simulation disturbed: 0.19 ± 0.22 J vs. regenerating: 0.54 ± 0.22 J). The formation of stable aggregates by early successional biocrusts on sandy soils suggests protection of dry forest soils even on the worst land use/soil degradation scenario with a high soil erosion risk. Our results confirm that biocrusts covering bare interspaces between vascular plants in human-modified landscapes play an important role in surface water availability and erosion control. Biocrusts have the potential to reduce land degradation, but their associated ecosystem services like erosion protection, can be impaired by disturbance. Considering an average biocrust coverage of 8.1% of the Caatinga landscapes, further research should aim to quantify the contribution of biocrusts to forest recovery to fully understand the role they play in the functioning of this poorly explored ecosystem.

We studied the forest structure and tree species diversity with diameter-at-breast-height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm in the Abasumba Globally Significant Biodiversity Area Ghana. Sixteen 25 m * 25 m plots were demarcated and trees with dbh ≥ 10 cm were inventoried following International Plant Nomenclature Index. The characteristic three–storey structure of tropical forests was shown, 68.7% of trees were in the lower 4.5–18 m and middle 18–30 m storeys. A majority 91.4% of 342 trees was in the dbh of 10–30 cm and a least 8.6% of 32 trees in 31–60 cm had dbh ˃ 60 cm. Total of 46 species, 38 genera and 17 families, with mean Alpha, Shannon and Simpson’s Diversity indices of 13.9, 1.44 and 0.07 and importance value index of 300.0 for 374 trees ha-1 was recorded. Plant families Sterculiaceae, Meliaceae, Leguminosae, Ulmaceae and Bombacaceae was the majority encountered while Triplochiton scleroxylon, Cola millenii, Trichilia monadelpha, Hymenostegia afzelii, Celtis mildbraedii, Ceiba pentandra and Ficus sur was the most occurring species in 54.0% of the plots accounting for 52.0% of the IVI for all trees. Blighia sapida, Bridelia grandis, Dialium guineense, Draceana arborea, Ficus sur, Holarrhena floribunda, Holoptelea grandis, Margaritaria discoidea, Rauvolfia vomitoria, Trilepisium madagascariense, Vitex ferruginea, Ximenia americana and Xylia evansii had one individual in the 10,000 m2 area indicated that they are rare and should be given conservation priority in the forest reserve.

Analyzing the spatial association pattern among species can help to better understanding the mechanisms that drive forest dynamics and assembly. We applied techniques of spatial point pattern analysis to data from a fully mapped plot of tropical dry forest (TDF) in Colombia to assess the spatial association network among the eight most abundant species and we tested the hypothesis that species traits related to the ability to cope with drought stress could explain the observed spatial association patterns. We conducted three analyses, first we classified the types of spatial association patterns of species pairs against a null model of spatial independence, second, we used a heterogeneous Poisson (HP) null-model to assess competitive and facilitative interactions, and finally, we integrated the spatial association network with a traits space spanned by hydraulic functional traits. Overall, the proportion of significant negative and positive associations were low and we found at smaller spatial scales (5 m) prevalence of positive association patterns (11%) and at intermediate scales (16 m) negative interactions (13%). The dominant, evergreen and bird-dispersed species Trichilia oligofoliata, which followed a hydraulically save strategy, was involved in most positive associations at small scales, whereas the evergreen large statured species Aspidosperma polyneuron, which also follows a conservative resource-use strategy, was involved in most negative interactions. In TDFs where water stress is prevalent, tree community assembly and spatial patterns formation are regulated by environmental heterogeneity (e.g., topography), and both facilitative and competitive processes act simultaneously, but at different spatial scales and involving different species. Our findings highlight the potential importance of the examined association patterns, not only for our understanding of community assembly, but also to provide restoration directions.

IntroductionTropical dry forests (TDF) are not only the most widespread tropical forest type but also the most threatened forest ecosystem worldwide. Yet, because their dynamics have been insufficiently studied, our knowledge about the factors responsible for the spatial and temporal variability in TDF dynamics remains very limited. In this study, we aimed (1) to assess the effects of two lithological substrates on TDF structure, diversity, and species composition, and (2) to determine whether and how these substrates affect temporal dynamics on TDF attributes.MethodsWe used information gathered through a 12-year long annual monitoring of 14 old-growth TDF permanent plots in southern Mexico, seven of which were established on limestone and seven on phyllite. Previous work shows that limestone-derived soils have higher humidity, conductivity, and phosphorous and calcium contents, but lower nitrogen content.ResultsTDF structure and diversity attributes were consistently higher on limestone TDF, while canopy height was higher on phyllite TDF. By contrast, temporal variation in TDF attributes, demographic rates (recruitment, growth, and mortality) and attribute residence times were indistinguishable between substrates. We also found a strong differentiation of species composition between substrates, yet substrates did not influence the temporal behavior of composition.DiscussionOur results suggest that limestone is a more favorable environment for TDF development (soil-effects mechanism), but the flora of the forest on phyllite seems to be better adapted to cope with harsher environmental conditions (composition-effects mechanism), which counterbalances the environmental advantage of limestone, ultimately resulting in spatially homogeneous TDF dynamics at the landscape level. Future studies should examine the role of functional attributes on old-growth TDF dynamics, as this will allow a better understanding of the impacts of extreme climatic events on forest attributes and their dynamics, as well as to foresee potential ecosystem state shifts and tipping points.

Aim of study: To determine the importance in terms of carbon sequestration of dispersed trees in pasture lands as a greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measure. Area of study: The study was carried out in the municipality of Agustin Codazzi (Cesar Department, Colombia), between October 2020 and March 2021. Material and methods: We characterized 43.57 hectares dispersed amongst sixteen plots and all trees with a diameter at breast height > 10 cm were measured. Allometric equations were used to estimate aboveground biomass storage and species were classified in terms of use: timber products (TP) and non-timber products (NTP). Main results: A total of 750 trees were registered, 10 families and 28 species, of which NTP and TP represented 60.71% and 32.1% respectively. Aboveground carbon stock in trees in pastures was estimated at 7.15 + 4.8 Mg C ha-1. The most abundant species were Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. and Albizia saman (Jacq.) Merr. Research highlights: NTP species present a high potential for carbon storage and provide livestock assets. Placing value on carbon storage in rangelands can offset the low opportunity cost of trees in pastures by providing incentives for carbon storage, conservation, and recovery of threatened species.

Background: Plant-plant facilitation provides benefits to the protected species since the host species reduces the intensity of stressful physical conditions. However, it has been hypothesized that the outcome of the interaction could be regulated by the characteristics of the interacting species and that herbivores could counteract the benefits of protective plants. Question: Can cactus size and identity of neighboring plants influence the herbivory of the columnar cactus P. leucocephalus? Studied species / Mathematical model: Pilosocereus leucocephalus (Poselg.) Byles & G.D. Rowley /One-way ANOVA, Repeated measures ANOVA, Analysis of covariance and linear regression. Study site and dates: San Ignacio, Veracruz, Mexico. April to May 2019. Methods: We randomly selected 60 P. leucocephalus plants growing underneath the canopy of seven species of shrubs and P. leucocephalus plants growing ≥ 3 m away from other species and exposed to full sunlight conditions. We obtained the size of the P. leucocephalus plants (size of main stem from ground to apex) and determined the intensity (number of bites on the stem) of vertebrate herbivory. Results: The number of bite scars by small vertebrate species was significantly higher on the stems of cacti established in open spaces than on those underneath the canopy of seven shrub species and increased significantly with the stem size of the protected species. Conclusions: We conclude that herbivory damage by rodents on a giant cactus in a dry tropical forest depends on cactus size and the identity, but not the shade, of the nearest neighbor.

The biodiversity within tropical dry forests (TDFs) is astounding and yet poorly catalogued due to inadequate sampling and the presence of cryptic species. In the Mexican TDF, endemic species are common, and the landscape has been continually altered by geological and anthropogenic changes. To understand how landscape and environmental variables have shaped the population structure of endemic species, we studied the recently described species of leaf-toed gecko, Phyllodactylus benedettii , in coastal western Mexico. Using double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing data, we first explore population structure and estimate the number of ancestral populations. The results indicate a high degree of genetic structure with little admixture, and patterns corresponding to both latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. We find that genetic structure cannot be explained purely by geographical distance, and that ecological corridors may facilitate dispersal and gene flow. We then model the spatial distribution of P. benedettii in the TDF through time and find that the coastline has been climatically suitable for the species since the Last Glacial Maximum. Landscape genetic analyses suggest that the combination of isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by resistance (IBR; forest cover) has influenced the spatial genetic structure of the species. Overall, our genomic data demonstrate fine-scale population structure in TDF habitat, a complex colonization history, and spatial patterns consistent with both IBD and other ecological factors. These results further highlight the Mexican TDF as a diversity hotspot and suggest that continued anthropogenic changes are likely to affect native fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface runoff was estimated using the curve number (CN) method for different storm events, and it was associated with the morphometric parameters of an ungauged watershed in Jalisco, Mexico. We derived the land use and land cover map for the year 2019 from the unsupervised classification of a Sentinel-2 image at 10 m resolution. The morphometric analysis revealed that the study area is dominated by areas of gentle slope and moderate to high permeability with dense vegetation and low relief. It is a well-drained watershed with low flood potentiality besides a groundwater potential zone. About 69% of the study area corresponds to natural cover with tropical dry forest and evergreen forest as the most representative classes. The number of storm events identified from 2013 to 2019 was 77, with runoffs ranging from 0.05 to 227.2 Mm³. September and October were the months with the most intense rainfall and, therefore, the months with the highest runoff volume. The average runoff was 14.52 Mm³, corresponding to an average runoff coefficient of 12.86%. Together, the methods used here provide useful results for delineating conservation strategies at the watershed level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avian Conservation & Ecology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding how anthropogenic activities, such as harvesting, influence plant populations is important to quantify sustainable practices that conserve species of socioeconomic importance. There is limited knowledge on how harvesting of branches and non‐timber forest products affect populations of trees in the dry tropics. We measure demographic vital rates of three dry tropical tree species in the presence and absence of harvesting and apply integral projection models to quantify population growth rates, which represent the mean fitness across the life cycle. Our results show that the three species vary in their demographic rates and life history. Harvesting significantly decreases the growth of two species. Current levels of harvesting only significantly decreased the population growth rate of one species that experienced both branch and main stem harvesting. Life table response experiments reveal that the negative effect of harvesting on the population growth rate of this species is primarily due to individuals being forced to re‐sprout from their base. Few individuals were observed recruiting from seed, and this might be due to the presence of other threats, such as fire, soil erosion, and grazing. Our results provide knowledge on the demography and the effects of harvesting on endemic tree species of the Eastern Ghats, a region for which few demographic studies are available. These results are relevant to conserving forest biodiversity for the benefits of people and can contribute to quantitative threat assessment for IUCN red listing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture, cattle grazing, and human settlements negatively affect bird biodiversity, driving the loss of ecologically specialized species and favoring the dominance of generalists. Because ecological pressures define organisms’ success by acting on their intrinsic traits, biodiversity loss due to anthropization might cause directional trait shifts. Here, we use a trait-based approach to find empirical evidence of trait-shifts in bird communities across an anthropization gradient in seasonal forests in central Mexico. We performed point-count bird surveys within a region of tropical deciduous and seasonal oak forests considering three degrees of anthropization: primary forest, secondary growth, and human settlements. A multivariate analysis (PCA) showed similar trait-covariation patterns for both forest types; in the anthropized habitat the bird communities exhibited shorter life-cycles, higher fecundity, and broader ecological niches (diet, foraging habitat, and nesting resources) than those in the primary forests. Our finding of directional trait shifts resembles Evolutionary Ecological Strategies Theory (EES) predictions for successful organisms within highly disturbed anthropized habitats, which are known as a “ruderal adaptative strategy” in the EES framework. The use of trait-based approaches could improve ecological generalizations in bird communities, leading to a better understanding of avian biodiversity's responses to anthropization.

• We analyzed two decades of anomalies of NDVI, precipitation and temperature. • Temperature and precipitation exert positive effects on vegetation greenness. • Lower landscape greenness seems related to droughts and extreme frost events. • Landscape greenness increased steadily after the 2011 extreme frost disturbance. Canopy greenness is an indicator of ecosystem primary productivity, which is often limited by temperature and precipitation. Changes in vegetation greening have been reported mostly at global scales. However, we still have a poor understanding of vegetation greening patterns and drivers for major vegetation types, such as the tropical dry forest, one of the most extensive vegetation types in Mexico. Here, we analyze two decades of interannual variation in greenness and its relationship to temperature and precipitation in the northmost neotropical dry forest occurring in Northwestern Mexico. We constructed time-series linear regression models using standardized anomalies with z-scores (i.e., standard deviations away from the long-term mean) for the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the climate data from 2001 to 2021. Our best models indicate both temperature and precipitation exert positive effects on vegetation greenness, particularly from a lagged effect perspective, as retained predictors were the accumulated precipitation of two monsoon (summer) seasons and previous year mean temperature. The lowest levels of landscape greenness seem connected to prolonged droughts and extreme frost events. In fact, a switch from negative to positive NDVI anomalies was observed in the years following the February 2011 extreme frost that affected much of North America, including northern Mexico. Notable, under the stricter statistical criterion of −1.7 ≥ z score ≥ 1.7, only climatic variables presented very-extreme anomalies and these were not necessarily linked to a very-extreme response in landscape greenness. However, considering the criterion of −1.3 ≥ z score ≥ 1.3, we identified several extreme NDVI anomalies and their corresponding climatic anomaly. Therefore, more flexible statistical criteria might reveal climate extremes of ecological and social relevance. Our overall findings have implications for forest and climate risk management, particularly as extreme climatic anomalies are expected to continue increasing in light of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc. (Arecaceae), known as licuri, is a palm tree widely distributed throughout the Brazilian semi-arid, being currently vulnerable to extinction. Its fruits are exploited by both humans and animals, representing high sociocultural, economic, and ecological relevance. This palm tree is found in areas under different management intensity and land use; therefore, both medium and long-term ecological monitoring programs are essential to verify the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the dynamic of their populations. Information on population structure and growth (λ) from 2018 to 2021 was obtained in 40 plots of 20 × 20 m (1.6 ha). Population matrix models based on five life stages (seedling, sapling, juvenile, immature adult, and reproductive adults) were obtained, in addition to information on fruit productivity and harvesting intensity. Individuals from the seedling stage predominated in both pasture and natural habitats. The populations from two habitats were stable (Pasture λ = 1.00 and Natural λ = 1.01); however, no transition occurred from earlier up to later stages. The population in the pasture was characterized by a low transition rate (recruitment of juveniles onwards), caused mainly by the pressure exerted by cattle. Our results suggest that the adult reproductive and seedling stages are the most important for the survival and growth of the populations. Harvest intensity had no effect on population growth, and only 16.65 % of the fruit annual production was collected. Therefore, fruit harvesting is sustainable, but the type of pasture management might compromise the future of the population. Management strategies ought to reduce the pressure exerted by livestock to increase the transition between stages and maintain the S. coronata populations over several years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plant species responsible for forest regeneration in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture are exploited for multiple uses. • Medicinal is the main type of uses of plants occurring in regenerating and old-growth forest stands. • A substantial portion of the flora of regenerating and old-growth forest stands together can be considered vulnerable to human-disturbances. • Tropical regenerating dry forests are considered important sources of useful plants for human populations. • The loss of vulnerable plants will impact the ecosystem functioning, service provision and rural communities. Tropical forests play an important role in maintaining, replenishing and conserving a large portion of the planet's biodiversity. However, these forests have been converted into anthropic landscapes, threatening the persistence of wildlife. The exploitation of forest products can result in different ecological impacts at different levels of biological organization. In this study, we propose a vulnerability index to examine the susceptibility of woody plants used by locals in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (i.e., the Catimbau National Park). We contrasted patterns of (1) plant use by local people (risk of use, collection risk, local importance, and diversity of use), (2) plant reproductive strategies (pollination, sexual and reproductive systems, dispersal mode, flowering and fruiting phenology), and (3) the conservation status of the plant species. We combined this information to propose a vulnerability index expressing species sensitivity to human disturbances in 14 regenerating and 14 old-growth forest stands. We tested the hypothesis that regenerating forest stands will harbor more vulnerable plant species compared to old-growth forest stands. Among the 119 plant species registered in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, 80 species (67.2 %) were recorded as useful for local people in Caatinga. Specifically, about 71.8 % and 70.5 % are exploited by the rural population for some type of use in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, respectively. The most frequent type of use was medicinal, followed by construction and fuel in both regenerating and old-growth forest stands. Regarding the potentially collected plant parts, the total removal of the individual and collection of leaves exhibited similar and higher relevance in regenerating, while leaves were the most collected part in old-growth forest stands. Of the 80 plant species analyzed, 62 % and 58.5 %, respectively, were classified as exhibiting moderate and high vulnerability to extirpation in regenerating and old-growth forest stands; thus not supporting our hypothesis. Our results suggest that in the Caatinga dry forest, (1) woody plant species responsible for forest regeneration in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture are exploited for multiple uses, (2) medicinal use is the main type of use of woody plants occurring in regenerating and old-growth forest stands, (3) total removal of the individual and collection of leaves were the most collected plant parts, and (4) both regenerating and old-growth forest stands showed a high vulnerability to human disturbances in the study area. In the long term, the exploitation of vulnerable plant species may negatively affect the composition and structure of the community and, consequently, the rate and trajectory of succession. It can be expected that as populations of vulnerable plant species are reduced or extirpated from the community, ecological interactions such as pollination and dispersal, which are key to ecosystem maintenance, will change along with the services provided. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronosequence changes among Tropical Dry Forests (TDFs) are essential for understanding this unique ecosystem, which is characterized by its seasonality (wet and dry) and a high diversity of deciduous trees and shrubs. From 2005 to 2021, we used two different airborne LiDAR systems to quantify structural changes in the forest at Santa Rosa National Park. Line- and shape-based waveform metrics were used to record the overall changes in the TDF structure. Based on a 16-year growth analysis, notable variations in height-related profiles were observed, particularly for RH50, RH100, and waveform-produced canopy heights. The results showed that Cy and RG have increased since the forests have been growing, whereas Cx has decreased. The decrease in Cx is because ground returns are lower when the canopy density i and canopy height increase. A positive relationship was observed between Cy and CH, RG, and RH100, particularly for the wet season data collected in 2021. These findings provide important insights into the growth dynamics of TDFs in Santa Rosa National Park and could inform future conservation efforts.

AIM: Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad‐scale environmental filtering. LOCATION: The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA) and Florida Keys (USA). TAXON: Seed plants—woody taxa (primarily trees). METHODS: We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969 and 2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Nonparametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation in climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized dissimilarity modelling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition. RESULTS: Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.

Background: Heteroflorum (Fabaceae) is a monospecific genus endemic to western Mexico. Community attributes of the forest where H. sclerocarpum is found are scarcely known, as well as its similarity with other tropical seasonal forests. Question: What is the composition, structure, and diversity of the tropical deciduous forest where H. sclerocarpum is physiognomically dominant? Study site and date: The study was carried out in the buffer area of the Zicuirán-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve, in the Churumuco municipality of Michoacán, Mexico (2014). Methods: In three 0.1-ha sites, we sampled trees with a diameter at breast height ≥ 1 cm and lianas whose rooted stem had a diameter of ≥ 1 cm. We calculated the density, biomass, rank-abundance, rank-basal area curves, and alpha and beta diversity measures for each site. Results: We recorded 64 species from 21 families in 0.3 ha. Fabaceae had the highest number of genera, species, individuals, and biomass in all sites sampled. The sites varied in richness (33-41 species), density (176-247 individuals), basal area (2-2.9 m2), and maximum height of trees (12-16 m). Rank-abundance curves differed significantly. Rarefaction curves showed that 0Dα and 1Dα did not differ among sites, while 2Dα separated one of the sites, which also showed a different diversity profile. Beta diversity did not show a strong species turnover among sites (0Dβ, 1.38-1.45; 2Dβ, 1.35-1.56). Conclusions: The composition of trees and shrubs in the forest sampled was similar to other seasonal forests, while the density and diversity were among the lowest values.

ABSTRACT The vegetation cover is the result of many biological and abiotic interactions. To identify the different factors that cause changes is crucial when defining future sustainable development and protection of natural resources. In the Brazilian semiarid region, the vegetation cover has been subjected to drastic deforestation and land use at centennial-scale that has led to desertification. Pollen analysis is an efficient tool to reconstruct the different processes of degradation of the vegetation cover over time. We built a referential data set for the vegetation cover using 48 pollen surface samples collected in the reservoirs of the Ceará. We used satellite images for comparison with the pollen signatures and defined an alteration score to express the correlation between terrestrial pollen and anthropic cover. Our results showed our surface samples to be generally representative of the vegetation cover and of the general degradation of the landscape. Our study areas can be considered as degraded as the initial categories “preserved” or “intermediary” are not reflected in the pollen assemblages, in agreement with results of botanical surveys and the historical background. The on-going process of desertification is climate-independent and was initiated many decades or centuries ago by intensive land use for agriculture and grazing.

Photo-identification has gained attention as a method that allows individual recognition in several animal taxa, avoiding the risks associated with artificial marking. However, no studies have determined the existence of individually distinct external markings for small avian species, and the reliability of natural markings as an identification technique has rarely been evaluated. We aimed to determine whether a zebra-backed woodpecker species posed distinctive elements in markings on the two central rectrice tail feathers that enable individual identification. We photographed 29 pairs of central rectrices of the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes chrysogenys), and characterized tail-feather markings to determine the existence of unique combinations of markings on the two central rectrices. We defined 26 traits of tail-feather markings, and found no individuals with identical natural markings in our free-living population. Cluster analysis confirmed that feather traits were sufficiently individualistic to segregate individuals, and indicated continuity in feather traits over at least two breeding seasons. Cluster analysis also segregated males and females based on feather traits, suggesting sexual differentiation in the pattern of natural markings that is rarely considered in studies. Finally, we performed recognition tests and a field simulation test on 28 volunteers and found that most volunteers made more than 80% correct matches based on feather markings. Our results suggest that natural markings may be a reliable identification technique for barred woodpeckers. Further studies are required to elucidate the continuity of individual markings after successive molts, but natural markings may serve as an identification protocol for woodpecker populations within a specified time-frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bursera comprises ~100 tropical shrub and tree species, with the center of the species diversification in Mexico. The genomic resources developed for the genus are scarce, and this has limited the study of the gene flow, local adaptation, and hybridization dynamics. In this study, based on ~155 million Illumina paired-end reads per species, we performed a de novo genome assembly and annotation of three Bursera species of the Bullockia section: Bursera bipinnata, Bursera cuneata, and Bursera palmeri. The total lengths of the genome assemblies were 253, 237, and 229 Mb for B. cuneata, B. palmeri, and B. bipinnata, respectively. The assembly of B. palmeri retrieved the most complete and single-copy BUSCOs (87.3%) relative to B. cuneata (86.5%) and B. bipinnata (76.6%). The ab initio gene prediction recognized between 21,000 and 32,000 protein-coding genes. Other genomic features, such as simple sequence repeats (SSRs), were also detected. Using the de novo genome assemblies as a reference, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for a set of 43 Bursera individuals. Moreover, we mapped the filtered reads of each Bursera species against the chloroplast genomes of five Burseraceae species, obtaining consensus sequences ranging from 156 to 160 kb in length. Our work contributes to the generation of genomic resources for an important but understudied genus of tropical-dry-forest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to generate knowledge about transition areas between phytophysiognomies for the understanding and conservation of these unique environments. Thus, the existence of different floristic groups was analyzed in a spatial gradient of an ecotone in the municipality of São Desidério, state of Bahia, Brazil. To this end, a transect of approximately 4.7 km, with orientation from Northeast to Southwest, was established along a spatial gradient. Twelve (12) 10x50 m sampling plots (500 m² each) were distributed throughout this transect. The following methodology was employed: First, the floristic similarity between the sampling plots was measured. These sampling plots were then grouped and the data were graphically presented in a dendrogram (Cluster analysis) and an ordering diagram (nMDS). Finally, the phytosociological parameters by ordered group were obtained. The results showed the presence of three floristic groups: Groups I, II and III, classified as wooded savannah, seasonal deciduous forest, and forested savannah, respectively. The floristic groups were formed gradually along the spatial gradient, and transition between phytophysiognomies does not occur abruptly, since the ordering by groups is more due to the difference between the abundance of species than to their presence and/or absence. The distribution pattern of the phytophysiognomies along the spatial gradient indicates association with abiotic factors, such as the pedological characteristics and the relief found along the transect, possibly creating an environmental gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Santa Elena Ophiolite is a well-studied ultramafic system in Costa Rica mainly comprised of peridotites. Here, tropical climatic conditions promote active laterite formation processes, but the biogeochemistry of the resulting serpentine soils is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the soil geochemical composition and microbial community of contrasting landscapes in the area, as the foundation to start exploring the biogeochemistry of metals occurring there. The soils were confirmed as Ni-rich serpentine soils but differed depending on their geographical location within the ophiolite area, showing three serpentine soil types. Weathering processes resulted in mountain soils rich in trace metals such as cobalt, manganese and nickel. The lowlands showed geochemical variations despite sharing similar landscapes: the inner ophiolite lowland soils were more like the surrounding mountain soils rather than the north lowland soils at the border of the ophiolite area, and within the same riparian basin, concentrations of trace metals were higher downstream towards the mangrove area. Microbial community composition reflected the differences in geochemical composition of soils and revealed potential geomicrobiological inputs to local metal biogeochemistry: iron redox cycling bacteria were more abundant in the mountain soils, while more manganese-oxidizing bacteria were found in the lowlands, with the highest relative abundance in the mangrove areas. The fundamental ecological associations recorded in the serpentine soils of the Santa Elena Peninsula, and its potential as a serpentinization endemism hotspot, demonstrate that is a model site to study the biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology and ecology of tropical serpentine areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal constraints imposed by the environment limit the activity time of ectotherms and have been a central issue in ecophysiology. Assessing these restrictions is key to determining the vulnerability of species to changing thermal niches and developing conservation strategies.We generate an explicit tortoise model of thermal constraints at both micro and macroclimate scales based on thermophysiology parameters and environmental operative temperatures during a biologically significant period. As a study model, we use a vulnerable species of gopher tortoise Gopherus evgoodei, whose primary habitat is the tropical dry forests in northwestern Mexico.Our mechanistic model is based on a monitoring of 5 years of environmental operative temperatures (Te). Here, we use the hours of activity (ha) and hours of thermal restriction (hr), calculated from the voluntary temperature range of G. evgoodei with respect to Te, to project and compare the thermal constraints across space and time. In addition, this model was projected using a pessimistic climate change scenario for 2070 (RCP 8.5).The results show that the period of activity of G. evgoodei, predicted by ha and hr, is limited by the frequency and availability of Te and differs significantly throughout the year and among years. In addition, under the RCP 8.5 scenario, we predict that hr will increase considerably and exceed the critical value (3.1 hr) placing this species as highly vulnerable.We discuss and compare the period of potential activity, thermoregulation strategies, and costs and benefits with other Gopherus species. Finally, we identify critical areas throughout its range to develop management strategies for protecting this Mexican endemic tortoise. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecuador, located in the Neotropics, has 66 protected natural areas, which represent about 13.77% of its overall territory. The Reserva Ecológica Arenillas reserve (REAr), located in southwestern Ecuador, protects an area of dry forest, coastal thorn forest, and mangroves. This dry forest is part of the Pacific equatorial core and is included the Tumbes–Chocó–Magdalena, one of the 34 biodiversity hot spots of the world. It is an extremely fragile ecosystem and therefore the need for conservation is of the utmost importance. Knowledge of the flora and their ecological characteristics is still limited, which was one of the main objectives of this work. In this study, 118 plots located in different locations of the REAr were selected in order to sample the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants within them. This information was supplemented with data from the literature and the GBIF; life forms were included according to Raunkiaer's classification and their growth habits. The flora of the REAr was represented by 381 species, belonging to 77 families. The two most numerous families were the Fabaceae (51 plant species) and Malvaceae (31 species). The dominant life form was the phanerophytes with 200 species (52.5%), followed by therophytes with 104 species (27.3%), and camephytes with 22 species (5.8%). Physiognomy was dominated by the herbaceous growth (44%). The biodiversity indices of two ecosystems were studied (The deciduous forest of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland and the low forest and deciduous shrubland of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland), obtaining higher values for the deciduous forest ecosystem of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland. With these indicators, a classification of each forest type was made by performing a hierarchical cluster analysis. The information provided in this paper is particularly important for focusing conservation efforts and preventing the loss of flora diversity in these forests, which are subject to great anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico is one of the richest countries in amphibian species (420 spp.), with a high level of endemism (69%). The order Anura represents the most diverse and widespread of the three extant amphibian orders (257 spp.). The anurofauna of Mexico's tropical dry forest ecosystem host a high proportion of the species and endemism registered in the country. In terms of conservation, both dry forests and amphibians are at risk due to climate change because it is expected that as the temperature becomes higher and precipitation decreases, this vegetation type may experience water stress. We applied the MaxEnt algorithm to estimate the potential current and future (year 2070) geographic distribution patterns of 95 endemic Mexican anuran species inhabiting the country's tropical dry forests by considering two representative concentration pathway scenarios (RCP4.5/RCP8.5) and analyzed the potential distributional pattern changes. The results indicated that overall, species would experience enough of a significant warming effect to cause a reduction in the original distribution area, with 44% of species losing an average of 50% of their original range (9 spp. in threatened category); additionally, 22% of the species in the dry forest ecosystem will experience an average increase of almost 50% in their original area, two species will lose more than 80% of their range, and one will disappear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat transformation and species loss bring enormous environmental damage, whereas establishing protected areas promotes more sustainable use of environmental resources through biodiversity conservation. In this study, we aimed to point out gaps in ant knowledge and provide a species checklist that contributes to biodiversity conservation in the transition areas between Cerrado and Caatinga biomes, constantly threatened by land use changes. This checklist integrates data from previous studies developed at “Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Pandeiros” (APA Pandeiros), Minas Gerais, Brazil, involving ant diversity and their contribution to ecological processes accessed and described in the studies. We showed and discussed how authors managed and provided information regarding methodologies and habitats sampled. We listed 143 ant species formally named. Pheidole, Camponotus and Cephalotes were the most speciose genera, with more than ten species each. Among ants involved in ecological processes, 40 are linked to diaspore removal (part of seed dispersal) and 30 to carcass interaction (part of the decomposition process). Unbaited pitfall traps, epigeic stratum and Cerrado sensu stricto, were the top sampling method, stratum, and habitats among ant studies. We presented proposals for the best management and integration of data from surveys in APA Pandeiros (e.g., sharing the results of the studies with the APA managers, creating a database, and the local community). These surveys are fundamental for understanding biodiversity and ecological processes and provide valuable information to conservation biology. Therefore, neglecting the importance of the Cerrado-Caatinga transition can lead to irreparable setbacks for scientific knowledge and biodiversity.

Distremocephalus gonzalezi. sp. nov., from Ixtlahuacán, Colima is described and illustrated; it is compared with D. wittmeri Zaragoza-Caballero, 1986for being a close species. New statal record is presented for D. leonilae Zaragoza-Caballero, 1986. Aspects about the distribution of the genus Distremocephalus in Mexico are commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the structure of the community and seasonality of the Cerambycidae family in the tropical deciduous forest (TDF) of San Andrés de la Cal, Tepoztlán in Morelos, Mexico. Following a year of systematic collections, and with the addition of data obtained from breeding chambers and sporadic collections, 155 species, 91 genera, 35 tribes, and 4 subfamilies were recorded. Thirty-three of these species, >21% are new records for the state of Morelos. Sample coverage was 97% and, according to the Chao 1 richness estimator, we found 80% of the species present in the study area. Greater species richness, abundance, and diversity were found during the rainy season, which generates a significant difference between seasons. The ordering of faunal similarities between months indicated a marked seasonality in the composition. The data suggest that the diversity of TDF insects is not completely known (i.e., new records were found), but comprises a diverse community, composed of a high proportion (78%) of rare species. Our findings reinforce the need to continue documenting insect diversity in TDF, especially considering that this is among the least protected of the ecosystems, and one that is negatively affected to a greater degree by anthropogenic activities and climate change. Resumen: El propósito de este estudio fue conocer la estructura de la comunidad de la familia Cerambycidae del bosque tropical caducifolio (BTC) de San Andrés de la Cal,Tepoztlán, Morelos, México. Después de un año de recolectas sistemáticas, además de datos adicionales de cámaras de cría y recolectas esporádicas, se registraron 155 especies, 91 géneros, 35 tribus y 4 subfamilias. Treinta y tres especies (>21%) son nuevos registros para el estado de Morelos. La cobertura de muestra fue del 97% y según el estimador de riqueza Chao 1, el 80% de las especies del área de estudio están representadas. La mayor riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de especies ocurrió durante la temporada de lluvias y el ordenamiento entre meses indicó una marcada estacionalidad. La estructura de la comunidad refleja una gran diversidad, compuesta por una alta proporción (78%) de especies raras. Los datos muestran que la diversidad de insectos en el BTC es alta y que los datos de distribución están incompletos (e. g. nuevos registros) lo que refuerza la necesidad de seguir documentándolo, especialmente considerando que este ecosistema se encuentra entre los menos protegidos y con mayor riesgo de desaparecer por la presión de las actividades antropogénicas y el cambio climático. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]