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The article presents a study which examined the consumption of rodent prey by barn owl Tyto alba and short-eared owl Asio flammeus during winter in agricultural areas in southern Chile. Researchers investigated the diets of the animals based on the pellets collected during the winters of 1986, 1987 and 1996. They found that both owl species consumed many different rodent prey, however, they preyed more often on the olivaceus field mouse Abrothrix olivaceus and long-tailed pygmy rice rat Oligoryzomys longicandatus. They concluded that the similarity in the diet of the two owl species may be due to convergencies in hunting modes and activity time, among other factors.

The two mammalian carnivores, puma (Puma concolor) and South American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus) were studied, in a remote area located in the humid temperate forest of the coastal range of southern Chile. A total of six locations were selected in three landscapes: pre-mountain range, mountain range, and coast. The chosen study locations are relevant because they correspond to threatened areas with different levels of human intervention., so they offer the ideal setting for studying how different species of carnivores respond to both human presence and activities. A dataset was collected for 24 months during 2016–2018 through photo-trapping (13 camera traps placed along 50 photo-trap stations). Wes estimated the apparent occurrence and relative abundance index (RAI) of the fauna registered, by means of generalized linear models to contrast those of an apex predator, such as the puma and a sympatric mesopredator, the South American grey fox, across the three landscapes. The ecological variables assessed were the RAI of the other carnivore considered, exotic carnivores such as dogs and cats, human intervention, farmland effect, prey availability, and habitat quality. The primary hypothesis was that the apparent occurrence and RAI of puma and fox would be positively associated with the RAI of prey and livestock and negatively with human intervention. On the other hand, the secondary hypothesis dealt with the interactions between puma and fox faced with different degrees of human intervention. The results showed that the apparent occurrence of the puma was statistically explained by location only, and it was highest at the mountain range. The apparent occurrence of foxes was explained by both puma apparent occurrence and relative integrated anthropization index (INRA), being highest in the pre-mountain range. Concerning the RAI of pumas, high values were yielded by location and fox RAI. For the RAI of foxes, they were location, puma RAI, and INRA. It can be suggested that eucalyptus plantations from the pre-mountain range could offer an adequate habitat for the puma and the fox, but not the coastal range, as the mountain range could be acting as a biological barrier. Due to the nature of the data, it was not possible to detect any relevant effect between the two carnivores' considered, between their respective preys, or the very abundant presence of dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that increased dependence on impact factors to evaluate scientific merit is having negative social and environmental effects in Latin America and focus on strengthening regional and national journals for research.

• In general, no linear relationship between leaf waxes and elevation is observed. • Chusquea sp. n -alkanoic acid abundance is correlated with precipitation and aridity. • A. araucana n -alkane ACL and abundance are correlated with temperature. • High relative abundance of n -alkanoic acids (>60%) in the three plant species. • Different abundance and ACL among species in both n -alkanes and n -alkanols. The n -alkyl leaf waxes of the temperate forest of South America are poorly studied, despite being a biogeographically isolated forest spanning wide environmental conditions. To evaluate whether local species adaptation and environmental changes influence the n -alkyl leaf wax composition, we measured the molecular abundance and distribution of n -alkyl leaf waxes (n -alkanoic acids, n -alkanes and n- alkanols) of three dominant native species from southern temperate forest in South America. We surveyed Araucaria araucana (n = 9), Nothofagus dombeyi (n = 17) and Chusquea sp. (n = 21) at different elevations. The relationship of n -alkyl leaf wax abundance and distribution with elevation is not significant in any species, except for n -alkane ACL (average chain length) in Chusquea sp. Significant correlations are found for n -alkanoic acid abundance with precipitation and aridity in Chusquea sp. and n -alkane abundance and ACL with temperature in A. araucana. These data suggest a species-specific response to environmental variables. The main similarity in the three species is a higher abundance of n -alkanoic acids (>60%) relative to other n -alkyl leaf waxes. Only n -alkanols are not correlated to any environmental variable, and neither ACL nor C max overlap among species. These results suggest n -alkanols as a potential chemotaxonomic indicator at a lower taxonomic level in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raptors are important predators of various species of small mammals, which renders them of economic importance since their prey may be either disease vectors or reservoirs which represent health problems, or economically important through the damage they cause to crops and stocks. The long-tailed rice rat Oligoryzomys longicaudatus is a reservoir and vector of Hantavirus, a disease of increasing importance in various Latin American countries. The nocturnal Barn Owl ( Tyto alba) and the diurnal White-tailed Kite ( Elanus leucurus) appear to be the most significant predators of this species. Here, we characterize the diet of these two raptors and analyze their trophic specialization and dietary selectivity using published information, pellet analysis, and field abundances of small mammals. Both raptor species positively selected O. longicaudatus in their diets to suggest that they could be potential controllers of the Hantavirus reservoir in Chile, both in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Predation on O. longicaudatus by these two raptors is interesting because they have complementary activity periods, a condition which enables them to share the same prey without having strong interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avifauna of South America is one of the most widely studied groups of vertebrates. However, certain species, such as the Andean Ibis ( Theristicus branickii ), have received limited attention regarding their ecological patterns, biology, current distribution, and environmental requirements. This study analyzed observation data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) on the Andean Ibis in four countries to identify and understand critical variables that determine the species' presence, assess the proportion of its habitat within protected areas and identify possible threats to the species. Additionally, this study considered environmental and ecological variables to model ecological niches using the maximum entropy approach in MaxEnt to map the suitable habitat of the species. The findings revealed the extent of suitable Andean Ibis habitats in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The variables that most determined the presence of the species were: altitude (36.57%), distance to lakes (23.29%) and ecological isothermality (13.34%). The distribution area of the Andean Ibis totaled 300,095.00 km 2 , spanning both sides of the Andean mountains range. Human activities have left a significant impact on the Andean Ibis habitat, with 48% of this area impacted by the human footprint and only 10% of the territory falling within protected areas designated by the respective countries. The results of this study show that the Andean Ibis presents characteristics of a specialist species due to its adaptation to the climate conditions of the plateau and highlands, including low temperatures, herbaceous vegetation and the presence of water bodies. The species is distributed in disconnected Andean landscape areas, whose functionality could be compromised by increased human activities. Complementary studies will be necessary to understand the ecological role and effectiveness of protected areas for conserving the species., Competing Interests: Roxana Rojas-VeraPinto, is employed by Isnache Project. Michaël André Jean Moens, was employed by Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. José León is employed by Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco., (©2023 Luzuriaga-Neira et al.)

The data set comes from a tree inventory conducted in an evergreen forest fragment (dominated by Laureliopsis philippiana and Eucryphia cordifolia ) and four fragments dominated by Nothofagus obliqua . The forests are located in an agroforestry matrix landscape of the Coastal Mountain Range of the Chilean Lake District. The data collection was carried out using line transect sampling, which was traced through the core of each fragment oriented towards its longest axis. Data provide taxonomic identity, diameter at breast height (DBP), overstory canopy cover, condition (e.g. live or snag), some height samples, and the estimate of the vertical stratification (e.g. canopy or understory) of 462 trees belonging to 19 species. The data also shows a record of 50 woody debris. The geographical location of each forest fragments is also included. Inventories are fundamental for knowledge of species diversity and provide the foundation for more complex analytical studies, such as the distribution of plant assemblages in the landscape; determine the conservation status of species, and research into biogeographical or macro-ecological areas of interest., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.)