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The high Andean mountains are ecosystems subject to high human pressure activities, resulting in disturbed areas increasingly dominating the landscapes. However, there needs to have more knowledge about the contributions of different vegetation coverages and species to global diversity at the local level. For three consecutive years, we studied a guild of fruit-feeding butterflies in four different land covers (cloud forests, paramo, mixed anthropogenic habitats, and cattle pastures) in the northern Andes in Colombia, analyzing the diversity and structure of the butterfly assemblage in the region. The assembly showed significant differences between land covers. The mixed habitat was the most diverse in order q1 (exponential of Shannon entropy) and q2 (inverse of Gini-Simpson dominance index) diversity, and the cloud forest contained the higher abundance and species richness. Abundance decreased from forest to pasture, significantly reducing diversity in pastures, with cloud forest and paramo containing the key endemic species. These results indicate the value of landscape diversity in providing resources and conditions required for the diversity conservation of high Andean butterflies. Implications for insect conservation: This study highlights the significance of the heterogeneity of natural landscape components in maintaining and preserving the diversity of butterfly assemblages in high Andean environments. Current conservation plans often tend to focus on paramo habitats, our findings highlight the crucial role of including the surrounding cloud forest and associated secondary forest in the design of effective conservation strategies. The analysis revealed a high complementarity between paramo and cloud forest assemblages, with each habitat type contributing significantly to the regional species pool. This underscores the interconnectedness and interdependence of these habitats, indicating that a comprehensive approach that considers both paramo and cloud forest ecosystems is essential for conserving the full diversity of butterfly species in the region. Moreover, our results demonstrate that cattle pastures exhibit extremely low butterfly species richness and possess a community structure that is distinctly different from native habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities are one of the most critical threats to wildlife. Therefore, understanding human-wildlife interactions is key to designing and applying sound conservation strategies. We identified wild animals relevant for people in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, southern Mexico considering four types of interactions: Use, affect (either positive or negative), and conflict. Twenty-eight workshops and 670 wildlife-human experiences with 58 taxa were recorded. The most relevant species were Odocoileus virginianus, Tapirus bairdii, Panthera onca, Pharomachrus mocinno, and Bothriechis bicolor. Positive affect was the most frequent interaction reported (46%), followed by use (20%), conflict (17%), and negative affect (16%). Negative affect and conflicts were mainly related to fear and damage by native predators. Species use was relatively infrequent (20%). We propose that conservation strategies be directed according to the species and their specific interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotis is the most diverse genus of bats in Central America, with 10 species currently reported for Guatemala. Here, we present the first record of M. volans (H. Allen, 1866), and third record of M. auriculus Baker & Stains, 1955 in Guatemala, both from the cloud forest of the highlands of Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve. This new locality may serve as one of the southernmost habitats akin to North American ecosystems for these two species. Our record of M. volans increases the number of bats in Guatemala to 105. Our findings underscore the importance of further research to understand patterns of biodiversity in Guatemala and Central America.

Following the IUCN criteria, we assess the risk of extinction for five orchid species recorded for the first time from Colombia: Acianthera viridis (Luer & Hirtz) Luer, Dichaea lankesteri Ames, Epidendrum lavendulum Hágsater, Masdevallia ariasii Luer, and Stenia stenioides (Garay) Dodson & R.Escobar. We propose a preliminary global Red List categories of Endangered, Least Concern, Endangered, Vulnerable, and Least Concern, respectively, for these species. The main threats of these orchids are habitat degradation, small and degraded AOO and EOO, and a small number of known populations. The Caraño river basin, where these species occur in Colombia, is an important site for orchid conservation. Consequently, strategies are needed to ensure its preservation.

Abstract Key Message We present data from a new delimited 1-ha forest plot on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia and describe its tree diversity, composition, and structure. This data can be used in regional analyses and help to refine remote sensing models. Future censuses will provide data on the demographics of rare, endangered, and endemic trees that can be used for their conservation. Dataset access is at https://doi.org/10.15472/ftwol2 . Associated metadata are available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/a4a7855f-4cb2-459b-a1a2-287bd1e6d587 .

Key Message: We present data from a new delimited 1-ha forest plot on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia and describe its tree diversity, composition, and structure. This data can be used in regional analyses and help to refine remote sensing models. Future censuses will provide data on the demographics of rare, endangered, and endemic trees that can be used for their conservation. Dataset access is at https://doi.org/10.15472/ftwol2. Associated metadata are available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/a4a7855f-4cb2-459b-a1a2-287bd1e6d587. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the geographical distribution of Habromys species based on distributional data from museum specimens, web databases, and literature. We recorded species-presence data of each species in 0.5° × 0.5° grid cells and biogeographic provinces in Mexico and Central America. We analyzed the association between vegetation types and land use. We carried out species distribution models of most species of Habromys and those tree species frequently harboring these mice, finding a high distributional congruence among mice and trees. Species of Habromys occur throughout the montane systems of Mexico and northern Central America, so they can be considered characteristic elements of the Neotropical montane cloud forests. All species of the genus occur in Mexico, whereas Guatemala and El Salvador have only one species. Although all species of Habromys are highly restricted and considered rare species, only one (H. simulatus) is currently protected by Mexican laws. We assigned two species to a high and four to the critical conservation risk. Habromys species contribute to the recognition of Mesoamerica as a biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change is expected to cause major impacts on the spatial distribution of insects, yet limited analyses are available for assessing the impact of climate change on the distribution of rare Neotropical insects. Oxeoschistus hilara, O. tauropolis, and Viloriodes napaea are narrowly-distributed satyrine butterflies associated to mountain cloud forests in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot. We investigate the habitat condition and occupancy of the study butterflies at local breeding sites in southern Mexico. We used distribution data to build potential spatial distribution models for the butterflies and host plants (Chusquea spp.), and to examine the potential favorable areas for both the butterfly species and Chusquea hostplants under current and future climate scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5). Habitat surveys indicated that the distribution of Chusquea longifolia was a good predictor of the satyrine distributions at the local scale. Climate projections indicated that both temperature and precipitation have a significant impact on the potential distribution areas for the butterflies and their Chusquea spp. hostplants. In both climate change scenarios, we estimated a significant contraction (between 30 and 56% for RCP 2.6, and between 46 and 82% for the RCP 4.5) in suitable climatic area for the study butterfly species. Projected joint distributions of butterfly species and Chusquea hostplants suggested an increasing overlap in potential climatic distributions of 15% for Chusquea spp. and O. tauropolis and of 4% for Chusquea spp. and O. hilara, and a decreasing concordance of 2% for Chusquea spp. and V. napaea, compared to current joint distributions. Implications for conservation: Considering significant reductions of suitable climatic area for the three butterfly species and their hostplants, we suggest that conservation efforts should be implemented in and around the high-suitability climatic areas to reduce population extinction risks. We also suggest reinforcing population-monitoring protocols at key butterfly locations to assess long-term variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients, making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities. This work aimed to assess the influences of elevation on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a historically neglected ecoregion. We evaluated the phylogenetic structure, forest structure (tree basal area and tree density) and species richness along an elevation gradient, as well as the evolutionary fingerprints of elevation-success on phylogenetic lineages from the tree communities. To do so, we assessed nine communities along an elevation gradient from 1210 to 2310 m a.s.l. without large elevation gaps. The relationships between elevation and phylogenetic structure, forest structure and species richness were investigated through Linear Models. The occurrence of evolutionary fingerprint on phylogenetic lineages was investigated by quantifying the extent of phylogenetic signal of elevation-success using a genus-level molecular phylogeny. Our results showed decreased species richness at higher elevations and independence between forest structure, phylogenetic structure and elevation. We also verified that there is a phylogenetic signal associated with elevation-success by lineages. We concluded that the elevation is associated with species richness and the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages in the tree communities evaluated in Mantiqueira Range. On the other hand, elevation is not associated with forest structure or phylogenetic structure. Furthermore, closely related taxa tend to have their higher ecological success in similar elevations. Finally, we highlight the fragility of the tropical montane cloud forests in the Mantiqueira Range in face of environmental changes (i.e. global warming) due to the occurrence of exclusive phylogenetic lineages evolutionarily adapted to environmental conditions (i.e. minimum temperature) associated with each elevation range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the occurrence of Leopardus tigrinus oncilla from eastern Panama. This is only the third such report of its presence across Panama, which expands the known distribution of this species to nearly the entire country. The presence of L. t. oncilla in Chucantí Private Natural Reserve confirms the importance of the Darien cloud forest for the conservation of this elusive felid.

Agroforestry systems, such as shade coffee plantations, favor the maintenance of woody vegetation, which promotes the presence of pollinators such as hummingbirds. Many shade coffee plantations in Mesoamerica have been abandoned due to the fall in coffee prices and undergone succession processes that increase vegetation complexity. Alternatively, they have been replaced by cattle pastures, which negatively affect hummingbird-plant interactions. Here, we describe the structure of hummingbird-plant interaction networks in three types of land use―late-successional forests, coffee plantations, and cattle pastures―that were derived from a cloud forest in southern Mexico. For one year (2019–2020), we collected bimonthly quantitative data on hummingbird-plant interactions for each type of land use. We found that the network of each land use had a heterogeneous structure, and most species had few linkages. The late forests and coffee plantations had more species, pairs of interactions, and modularity than the cattle pastures. The cattle pasture network had the greatest robustness due to the presence of generalist hummingbirds, which are important for network cohesion in a great disturbance scenario. Furthermore, hummingbird visits were influenced by plant traits, such as foliage height diversity. The study findings suggest that the conversion of natural habitats have implications for the conservation of plant-pollinator interactions and that generalist pollinator species are key to disturbance resiliency.

Worldwide, land use change is largely promoting intense biodiversity loss in many ecosystems, and Mexico is no exception to this. The information on how such changes have affected community structure, composition, and different components of plant biodiversity in Mexican tropical montane forests is scarce. This study aimed to assess how land use changes have affected: ecological diversity, taxonomic distinctness, and functional diversity, in Mexican montane cloud forests. We measured species composition and abundance in 10 × 10 m plots placed in different land use/land cover types, with increasing disturbance levels: preserved forest, regeneration forest, transition forest, coffee plantation, and pastureland. We quantified plant ecological diversity through Hill's true diversity values, taxonomic diversity with the taxonomic distinctness index, and functional diversity through functional richness and Rao's functional diversity index. We found that species composition varied with land use change. Furthermore, ecological diversity, taxonomic distinctness and functional diversity were lower in the disturbed sites (coffee plantations and pastureland) than in the more conserved forests. Soil type, rockiness, elevation, and disturbance intensity were major factors influencing plant communities' different dimensions of diversity. Analyzing different components of biodiversity was a useful approach to understand current and possible future responses of tropical montane forests to changes in land use. Our results highlight the relevance of conserving and restoring these forests. Long-term conservation actions would need stopping intensive and extensive logging, reducing forest transformation, and promoting habitat heterogeneity that hosts different levels of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales 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.)

The blackish small-eared shrew, Cryptotis nigrescens (Allen, 1895), is a blarinine soricid that occurs in high-elevation premontane wet forest and cloud forest in the Central American countries of Costa Rica and Panama. The species is taxonomically monotypic, although it exhibits size variation that manifests as a gradual increase in size from northwest to southeast. Habitat loss is currently the greatest threat to the species' existence, although populations in the few areas where C. nigrescens has been studied appear to be healthy, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as a species whose conservation status is "Least Concern" (LC). We include a complete synonymy for the genus CryptotisPomel, 1848. La musaraña negruzca de orejas pequeñas, Cryptotis nigrescens (Allen, 1895), es un sorícido blarinino que se encuentra en los bosques húmedos premontanos de gran altura y en los bosques nubosos de los países centroamericanos de Costa Rica y Panamá. La especie es taxonómicamente monotípica, aunque exhibe una variación de tamaño que puede manifestarse como un aumento gradual de tamaño del noroeste al sureste. La pérdida de hábitat es actualmente la mayor amenaza para la existencia de la especie, aunque las poblaciones en las pocas áreas donde se ha estudiado C. nigrescens parecen saludables, y la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) la ha clasificado como una especie cuyo estado de conservación es "Least Concern [Preocupación Menor]" (LC). Incluimos una sinonimia completa para el género CryptotisPomel, 1848. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and spatial patterns of aboveground biomass (AGB) are expected to correlate with ecosystem structure and biodiversity across biomes. However, the local and regional variations in the strength of such relationships remain poorly understood partly due to the influence of ecosystem disturbances, such as land-use change. Here, we quantified AGB in tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) in southern Mexico and analyzed its distribution patterns at local and regional scales. Specifically, we investigated how land use and environmental factors (that is, topography and climate) influence AGB spatial patterns and the relationship between forest structure, AGB, and tree species diversity across forests with different levels of disturbance, using 160 plots from the Mexican National Forest Inventory (FI) database. Our results show that AGB (averaging 137 Mg ha−1) is strongly influenced by variations in forest structure such as stand basal area and the density of large trees, with a weak but positive relation with tree species diversity. AGB increased with elevation and slope and decreased with very high levels of precipitation and land-use intensity, suggesting that spatial variation in AGB across the region can be best predicted by the interactive effects of land use and environmental factors, with land use having a larger role. Our results challenge general assumptions about the structural and compositional properties of montane forest ecosystems and emphasize the need to explicitly include interactions between environmental and human drivers when analyzing changes in AGB and devising sustainable management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Mexico's tropical forests are home to the country's highest richness of mammal species; La Chinantla region is situated within this area, its name from the indigenous group residing in the area and holding territorial ownership, namely the Chinantecos. In La Chinantla, there are no Protected Areas; instead, there are Areas Destined Voluntarily for Conservation (ADVC) and "Voluntary Conservation Areas" (VCA), that are managed by local inhabitants through social consensus. These ADVC may function as an archipelago reserve, which represents regional diversity, including the social context, through complementarity. To verify its biodiversity, we analyzed the richness, composition, distribution, and conservation of wild mammals in the region. Records were obtained from four sources-primary data collection, databases, scientific literature, and community monitoring-and were organized into four zones based on altitudinal and vegetation gradients. We compared the diversity between zones for three categories of mammals: small (<100 gr.), bats, and medium and large (>100 gr.). 134 species were identified comprising 11 orders, 26 families and 86 genera. The zone with highest elevation presented the greatest species richness for the assemblage of mammals and terrestrial mammals, while the zone with the lowest elevation had the highest richness of bats. For each mammal category, the zone with the most species also registered the highest number of exclusive species. For the assemblage of mammals and for medium and large mammals, the similarity index was highest between the two intermediate zones, while for small mammals and bats, the greatest similarity occurred between the areas of higher altitude. The study region was found to have the second highest richness of mammals in Mexico. Finally, we suggest that the conservation proposals by indigenous people could function as a set of "islands" that promote the conservation of biodiversity, possibly as an Archipelago Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently known species of Valeriana are herbs, shrubs, small trees and vines. After 20 years without new species of Valeriana in Mexico, here is described and illustrated the first epiphytic species in the genus. The species was found growing on Quercus glabrescens trees of the cloud forests from central Veracruz in eastern Mexico. It is known and described from very few specimens in the type locality. The most morphologically similar Mexican species are the vines V. naidae and V. subincisa, it was compared. Conservation assessment classifies this species under the Critically Endangered CR B1+B2ab(ii,v) category of the IUCN Red List Criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the description of Eugenia naraveana in 2016 from the cloud forest of the Cofre de Perote volcano, Mexico, the doubt about the existence of another unlocalized and sympatric species of Eugenia remained. After years of searching, the second endemic species of the Cofre de Perote volcano, Eugenia sarahchazaroi, is presented here. It belongs to the section Umbellatae, and is described, illustrated, and compared with E. naraveana and E. coetzalensis, recently described from Veracruz, the second state with the highest diversity of Eugenia in Mexico. The species is only known from the type locality and is classified in the Critically Endangered CR B1+B2(a,biii) category of the IUCN Red List conservation assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Australia's tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) exhibit exceptional species richness and endemism. Determinants of regeneration via seed of these species are next to unknown, limiting our ability to quantify and project their vulnerability to climate change. The ratio of red to far-red light (R:FR) has been shown to influence seed germination of many tropical species. Aims. We investigated germination of six previously unstudied TMCF species in relation to the presence or absence of light (light/dark) and light quality (R:FR). We hypothesised that increased R:FR would lead to increased germination and that small-seeded species would be more likely to have a light requirement and be less sensitive to R:FR compared to larger-seeded species. Methods. Sunlight and polyester filters were used to create a gradient of R:FR ranging from0.1 to 1.14. Seeds were also sown in constant darkness. Key results. Across species we saw varying germination responses. Three of the four smallest-seeded species exhibited an absolute light requirement for germination and did not discriminate between different R:FR. Germination of the small-seeded TMCF endemic Dracophyllum increased exponentially with increasing R:FR. Germination of the largest-seeded species was inhibited by both low and high R:FR, and germination was higher in constant darkness than diurnal light/dark. All six species were able to germinate at remarkably low R:FR values. Conclusions. Light affects seed germination of Australia's TMCF plant species in a variety of ways. Implications. The findings of this study provide insights into plant recruitment in situ, and the acclimation potential of these species under reduced R:FR predicted for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fog interception is a significant component of the water balance of Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests in the Southeast USA. Here, fog interception rates are quantified for spruce-fir and northern hardwood trees in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), Tennessee and North Carolina, as a precursor to examining how interspecific differences in fog interception could affect catchment water balances if there is widespread vegetation change from spruce-fir to hardwoods. A water-balance approach was implemented, based on paired open-site (rainfall) and beneath-canopy (throughfall) electronically recording tipping-bucket rain gauges that were in place in the spruce-fir zone of GSMNP from May to November 2021. Comparing identified fog interception events to actual conditions captured by a webcam, 90% of verifiable events had conditions that were either clearly or potentially favorable for fog interception. Estimated fog interception gain ranged from averages of 0.24 to 0.69 mm day−1, representing 3 to 8% of rainfall. Results are consistent with the expectation of higher fog interception gain for spruce and fir than for birch, the representative hardwood species. Quantification of fog interception rates provides valuable information about ecohydrological processes in ecologically significant Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations and models indicate that human activity is altering cloud patterns on a global scale. Clouds impact incident visible and infrared radiation during both day and night, driving daily and seasonal variability in plant temperatures—a fundamental driver of all physiological processes. To understand the impacts of changing cloud patterns on essential plant-based processes such as carbon sequestration and food production, changes in local cloud regimes must be linked, via ecophysiology, with affected plant systems. This review provides a comprehensive treatment of cloud effects (apart from precipitation) on fundamental ecophysiological processes that serve as the basis of plant growth and reproduction. The radiative effects of major cloud types (cumulus, stratus, cirrus) are differentiated, as well as their relative impacts on plant microclimate and physiology. Cloud regimes of major climate zones (tropical, subtropical, temperate, polar) are superimposed over recent changes in cloud cover and primary productivity. The most robust trends in changing global cloud patterns include: (i) the tropical rain belt (comprised mostly of deep convective clouds) is narrowing, shifting latitudinally, and strengthening, corresponding with shorter but more intense rainy seasons, increased clouds and precipitation in some parts of the tropics, and decreases in others; (ii) tropical cyclones are increasing in intensity and migrating poleward; (iii) subtropical dry zones are expanding, resulting in fewer clouds and drier conditions at these latitudes; (iv) summer mid-latitude storm tracks are weakening and migrating poleward, and clouds in temperate regions are decreasing; and (v) clouds over the Arctic are increasing. A reduction in coastal fog and low clouds (including those associated with montane cloud forests) have also been observed, although these trends can be partially attributed to local patterns of deforestation, urbanization, and/or reductions in aerosols associated with clean air initiatives. We conclude by highlighting gaps in the cloud-ecophysiology literature in order to encourage future research in this under-studied area.

Island forests are becoming increasingly fragmented and colonized by invasive species, which can eventually lead to local species extinctions. In the Galapagos Islands, invasive species pose a serious extinction threat to the endemic daisy tree Scalesia pedunculata, formerly the dominant habitat-forming species of the unique Scalesia forest. This forest has been reduced to fragments due to land use changes in the past and is now increasingly invaded by introduced plants. We conducted a field experiment on Santa Cruz Island to assess the impacts of blackberry (Rubus niveus) and two other invasive plant species, Cestrum auriculatum and Tradescantia fluminensis, as well as the effects of the removal of two of these (R. niveus and C. auriculatum) on cover, composition and diversity of the resident plant communities. Particular attention was paid to effects of the invasive species on the S. pedunculata population. Annual vegetation monitoring was carried out in a total of 34 permanent plots (10 m × 10 m) over 10 years (2014–2023), using the line-intercept method. Seventeen of these plots were established in an invaded area and 17 plots in an area with continuous invasive plant removal since 2014. Results indicated that there were significant changes in both the species composition of the plant communities and average percent cover of species over time, comparing removal plots with invaded plots. Species composition in removal plots changed significantly more than in invaded plots, towards a plant community with greater percent cover of endemic species. A significant negative relationship between the three invasive species and cover of S. pedunculata suggested that multiple invader species may have additive negative impacts. Natural recruitment of S. pedunculata by seeds was observed in the removal but not in the invaded plots. These results, as well as the striking decrease of 71% in cover of adult S. pedunculata in the invaded plots indicate that this threatened species will be driven to local extinction on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, in less than 20 years if invasive plant species are not removed on a large scale.

Clouds are critical to the biodiversity and function of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests (TMCF) as they control water regimes and sunlight that can be perceived by plants. These ecosystems provide a key role in ecosystem services to humanity and are considered hotspots of endemism, given that the number of species is restricted to their microclimates. The cloudiness in these ecosystems is projected to decline owing to global warming, but recent temporal trends remain unclear. Here, we evaluated trends in low-cloud fractions (CF) (e.g., the proportion of an area covered by low-cloud) and other Essential Climatic Variables (ECV) (e.g., surface temperature, pressure, soil moisture, and precipitation) for 521 sites worldwide with TMFCs from 1997 to 2020. We hypothesize that recent traces of global warming over the last few decades have led to decreases in CF on TMCFs. The previous was also assessed globally and among biogeographic realms to identify regional trends. We calculated trends by aggregating hourly observations from ERA5 reanalysis and CHIRPS into annual averages and then using linear regressions to calculate slopes (i.e., rate of change) (Δ, year−1). Our results suggest that CF trends at the TMCFs range between −64.7×10−4 and 51.4×10−4 CF year−1, revealing that 70 % of the assessed sites have experienced reductions in CF. Declines in low-clouds in these ecosystems are 253 % more severe than tropical landmasses when peak values of density distribution are compared (TMCFs: −7.8×10−4 CF year−1; tropical landmasses −2.3×10−4 CF year−1). Despite this, CF trends differ among biogeographic realms, as those TMCFs from the Neotropics and Indomalayan realms have the most pronounced declines. Decreases in CF were also associated with increases in surface temperature and pressure and decreases in soil moisture, revealing that the TMCF's climate is changing to warmer environments. These climatic shifts may represent imprints of global change on TMCFs, highlighting a current threat to species and essential ecosystem services that these ecosystems provide.

Biodiversity conservation is a priority because it is the cornerstone of ecosystem services and natural cycles, providing essential resources for the development of humans and other species. Several indices have been proposed to prioritize areas needing protection. However, some require specific information while others are based on subjective categorical variables, are limited to a particular plant community or cannot be represented at a spatial scale. We developed an Index of Importance for Biological Conservation (InICoB), which was applied to a temperate forest in central Mexico but can be used for any plant community by adjusting some of its parameters. The proposed index is objective, based on quantitative indicators of vegetation composition and structure, and can be spatially projected. InICoB was tested and validated on a temperate cloud forest (CF) and its associated communities: advanced secondary vegetation (ASV) / coffee plantations (CP), agriculture, and induced grasslands. Life forms, presence of endemic, climax, native and protected species, diversity, structural complexity, and complementarity were used as indicators in its construction. InICoB was calculated for 63 sampling units (SUs), and a geostatistical model was incorporated for its interpolation with environmental and social variables as predictors. The results show that InICoB adequately evaluated the different environmental units that cover the locality. Significant differences were observed between the forest and the secondary/induced vegetation. The highest value of InICoB (0.91) was found in the CF, and the lowest in induced vegetation (0.3). The geostatistical model showed that occupation of the land, distance to town, and slope have an important influence on InICoB. The advantages of InICoB include the use of quantitative indicators that can be applied to any plant community. Additionally, it is flexible with respect to the data collected, it can be calculated only with the presence/absence of species or it can include forest measurement data. Furthermore, it is easy to interpret and can be spatially represented in a raster layer that can be added to a geographic information system. Therefore, it can be a very helpful tool in decision-making for land use planning and evaluation of the effects of human activities on plant communities.

Despite the existence of important floristic and forest inventories in the Paraná state, the montane and upper montane ecosystems still give rise to new species and new records of plants. Here, we report for the first time in the Paraná state Hydrocotyle itatiaiensis Brade (Araliaceae), a rare and poorly studied species endemic to montane and upper montane rainforests and highland grasslands of the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. The previously known geographic distribution had a 700 km gap between northern São Paulo and southern Santa Catarina states, which is now filled by the present record. We provide photographs from the field, a map of occurrences, a description, and comments on the morphology, taxonomy, and conservation status of the species. Our new records reinforce the conservation importance of these environments and the need for further floristic sur-veys in the region.

Southern Mexico’s tropical forests are home to the country’s highest richness of mammal species; La Chinantla region is situated within this area, its name from the indigenous group residing in the area and holding territorial ownership, namely the Chinantecos. In La Chinantla, there are no Protected Areas; instead, there are Areas Destined Voluntarily for Conservation (ADVC) and “Voluntary Conservation Areas” (VCA), that are managed by local inhabitants through social consensus. These ADVC may function as an archipelago reserve, which represents regional diversity, including the social context, through complementarity. To verify its biodiversity, we analyzed the richness, composition, distribution, and conservation of wild mammals in the region. Records were obtained from four sources—primary data collection, databases, scientific literature, and community monitoring—and were organized into four zones based on altitudinal and vegetation gradients. We compared the diversity between zones for three categories of mammals: small (100 gr.). 134 species were identified comprising 11 orders, 26 families and 86 genera. The zone with highest elevation presented the greatest species richness for the assemblage of mammals and terrestrial mammals, while the zone with the lowest elevation had the highest richness of bats. For each mammal category, the zone with the most species also registered the highest number of exclusive species. For the assemblage of mammals and for medium and large mammals, the similarity index was highest between the two intermediate zones, while for small mammals and bats, the greatest similarity occurred between the areas of higher altitude. The study region was found to have the second highest richness of mammals in Mexico. Finally, we suggest that the conservation proposals by indigenous people could function as a set of “islands” that promote the conservation of biodiversity, possibly as an Archipelago Reserve.

The science is clear – significant reductions in tropical montane (TM) habitats are projected to occur by the end of this century. Urgent action is needed to build the resilience of TM flora and understand its adaptive capacity to climate change. Seed banking is the most widely employed ex situ conservation tool, providing insurance against plant species extinction and germplasm for associated research. However, tropical forest floras are grossly under-represented in seed banks due to historic assumptions and generalisations regarding collection, storage and germination of tropical forest seeds. In Australia, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northeast Queensland contains tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) in which > 70 endemic, seed-bearing species are at high risk of extinction. To mitigate this risk, we synthesised current seed science knowledge from TM plant communities around the world and examined what we know about collection, storage behaviour and germination of TM seeds. Included are our own preliminary investigations into seed banking of Australian TMCF flora. We argue that seed banking is applicable to more TM biodiversity than previously assumed and that a global effort to broaden ex situ conservation to include TM flora is needed. Making use of all the seed/gene banking tools available today, we call for a nationwide coordinated effort to establish a secure network of ex situ germplasm collections of Australian TMCF flora. Seed science research needed to inform and accelerate ex situ conservation of TMCF flora is also discussed.

Mycena section Calodontes is macromorphologically distinguished by the collybioid or mycenoid basidiome, which is pink, purple, or violet, and, rarely, reddish-brown or yellowish. It is further characterized by the presence of oxalate crystals in the basal mycelium. The section comprises approximately 40 taxa, of which only five species and one variety exhibit bioluminescence. As part of an extensive study on Mycena sect. Calodontes in Mexico, specimens belonging to this section were collected and subjected to morphological analysis. Sequences from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, RNA polymerase II large subunit Rpb1 (rpb1), and translation elongation factor-1α (Tef-1α) were generated to infer the relationships within Mycena sect. Calodontes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The phylogenetic evidence, along with the macro- and micromorphological features, supported the recognition of five new bioluminescent species within Mycena sect. Calodontes. Detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions, line-drawing illustrations, and light and dark photographs of the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the existence of important floristic and forest inventories in the Paraná state, the montane and upper montane ecosystems still give rise to new species and new records of plants. Here, we report for the first time in the Paraná state Hydrocotyle itatiaiensis Brade (Araliaceae), a rare and poorly studied species endemic to montane and upper montane rainforests and highland grasslands of the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. The previously known geographic distribution had a 700 km gap between northern São Paulo and southern Santa Catarina states, which is now filled by the present record. We provide photographs from the field, a map of occurrences, a description, and comments on the morphology, taxonomy, and conservation status of the species. Our new records reinforce the conservation importance of these environments and the need for further floristic surveys in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The province of Darien in eastern Panama is well known for its endemic doves. Most of them are poorly studied and threatened. The aim of this study was to recognize the wild dove’s diversity from CPNR and describe an ethological baseline. We compiled 38,592-day hours, with information on circadian activity and behavioral data from camera traps from December 2012 to May 2014 in a cloud forest. We detected four species of wild doves and obtained information on circadian activity for the most frequent species detected. An ethogram was built for Zentrygon goldmani and Leptotila cassinii in five categories: transversal walking, foraging, courtship, copulation and walking together. Courtship occurred during December, February, July and September, in both the dry and rainy seasons. We also detected Geotrygon montana and Zentrygon lawrencii for the Pacific slope of Panama and for the Chucanti Private Natural Reserve. The diversity found regarding wild doves represents a unique opportunity to study this endemic species at CPNR, and another important reason for its conservation.

Background: Land use is a major factor determining stream water physicochemistry. However, most streams move from one land use type to another as they drain their watersheds. Here, we studied three land use scenarios in a tropical cloud forest zone in Mexico. We addressed three main goals, to: (1) assess how land use scenarios generate different patterns in stream physicochemical characteristics; (2) explore how seasonality (i.e., dry, dry-to-wet transition, and wet seasons) might result in changes to those patterns over the year; and (3) explore whether physicochemical patterns in different scenarios resulted in effects on biotic components (e.g., algal biomass). Methods: We studied Tropical Mountain Cloud Forest streams in La Antigua watershed, Mexico. Streams drained different three scenarios, streams with (1) an upstream section draining forest followed by a pasture section (F-P), (2) an upstream section in pasture followed by a forest section (P-F), and (3) an upstream forest section followed by coffee plantation (F-C). Physicochemistry was determined at the upstream and downstream sections, and at the boundary between land uses. Measurements were seasonal, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH. Water was analyzed for suspended solids, alkalinity, silica, chloride, sulfate, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Nutrients included ammonium, nitrate, and phosphorus. We measured benthic and suspended organic matter and chlorophyll. Results: Streams presented strong seasonality, with the highest discharge and suspended solids during the wet season. Scenarios and streams within each scenario had distinct physicochemical signatures. All three streams within each scenario clustered together in ordination space and remained close to each other during all seasons. There were significant scenario-season interactions on conductivity (F = 9.5, P < 0.001), discharge (F = 56.7, P < 0.001), pH (F = 4.5, P = 0.011), Cl- (F = 12.2, P < 0.001), SO42- (F = 8.8, P < 0.001) and NH4+ (F = 5.4, P = 0.005). Patterns within individual scenarios were associated with stream identity instead of land use. Both P-F and F-C scenarios had significantly different physicochemical patterns from those in F-P in all seasons (Procrustes analysis, m12 = 0.05-0.25; R = 0.86-0.97; P < 0.05). Chlorophyll was significantly different among scenarios and seasons (F = 5.36, P = 0.015, F = 3.81, P = 0.42, respectively). Concentrations were related to physicochemical variables more strongly during the transition season. Conclusion: Overall, land use scenarios resulted in distinctive water physicochemical signatures highlighting the complex effects that anthropogenic activities have on tropical cloud forest streams. Studies assessing the effect of land use on tropical streams will benefit from assessing scenarios, rather than focusing on individual land use types. We also found evidence of the importance that forest fragments play in maintaining or restoring stream water physicochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This revision is part of a continuing series of taxonomic work aimed at the description of new taxa and the redescription of known taxa of the Tachinidae of Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica. Here we describe 33 new species in the genus Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Tachinidae). All species described here were reared from this ongoing inventory of wild-caught caterpillars spanning a variety of families (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Eupterotidae, Noctuidae, Notodontidae, Saturniidae, and Sphingidae). We provide a morphological description of each species with limited information on life history, molecular data, and photographic documentation. In addition to the new species, the authors provide a redescription of the genus Belvosia, as well as provide a key to the identification of the species present in the Meso- and North-American fauna. New information: The following 33 new species of Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830, all authored by Fleming & Woodley, are described: Belvosia adrianguadamuzi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia anacarballoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia angelhernandezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia brigittevilchezae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia alixtomoragai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia carolinacanoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia ciriloumanai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia diniamartinezae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia duniagarciae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia duvalierbricenoi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia eldaarayae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia eliethcantillanoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia freddyquesadai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia gloriasihezarae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia guillermopereirai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia harryramirezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia hazelcambroneroae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia jorgehernandezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia josecortezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia joseperezi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia keinoraragoni Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia luciariosae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia manuelpereirai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia manuelriosi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia minorcarmonai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia osvaldoespinozai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia pabloumanai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia petronariosae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia ricardocaleroi Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia robertoespinozai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia rostermoragai Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia ruthfrancoae Fleming & Woodley sp. n., Belvosia sergioriosi Fleming & Woodley sp. n. Belvosia canalis Aldrich, 1928 is reared and recorded from the inventory; new information relative to host is provided and the species is rediscribed. The following are proposed by Fleming & Woodley as new synonyms of Belvosia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830: Brachybelvosia Townsend, 1927 syn. n., Belvosiomimops Townsend, 1935 syn. n. The following three new combinations are proposed as a result of the new synonymies: Belvosia brasilensis (Townsend, 1927), comb. n.; and Belvosia barbiellinii (Townsend, 1935), comb. n. The authors also propose the following new synonymies: Belvosia brasilensis (Townsend, 1927) = Belvosia aurulenta (Bigot, 1888), syn. n.; Belvosia pollinosa Rowe, 1933 = Belvosia borealis Aldrich, 1928 syn. n.; Belvosia weyenberghiana (Wulp, 1883) = Belvosia fuliginosa (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosia brasiliensis Townsend, 1927 = Belvosia fuliginosa (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosia luteola Coquillett, 1900 = Belvosia ochriventris (Wulp, 1890) syn. n.; Belvosia socia (Walker, 1853) = Belvosia proxima (Walker, 1853) syn. n.; Belvosia chrysopyga (Bigot, 1887) = Belvosia unifasciata (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) syn. n.; Belvosia chrysopygata (Bigot, 1888) = Belvosia unifasciata (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) syn. n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential effects of climate change on plant reproductive phenology include asynchronies with pollinators and reductions in plant fitness, leading to extinction and loss of ecosystem function. In particular, plant phenology is sensitive to extreme weather events, which are occurring with increasing severity and frequency in recent decades and are linked to anthropogenic climate change and shifts in atmospheric circulation. For 15 plant species in a Venezuelan cloud forest, we documented dramatic changes in monthly flower and fruit community composition over a 35‐year time series, from 1983 to 2017, and these changes were linked directly to higher temperatures, lower precipitation, and decreased soil water availability. The patterns documented here do not mirror trends in temperate zones but corroborate results from the Asian tropics. More intense droughts are predicted to occur in the region, which will cause dramatic changes in flower and fruit availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Andean montane forests are biodiversity hotspots and large carbon stores and they provide numerous ecosystem services. Following land abandonment after centuries of forest clearing for agriculture in the Andes, there is an opportunity for forest recovery. Field‐based studies show that forests do not always recover. However, large‐scale and long‐term knowledge of recovery dynamics of Andean forests remains scarce. This paper analyses tropical montane forest recovery trajectories over a 15‐year time frame at the landscape and tropical Andean scale to inform restoration planning. Methods: We first detect "potential recovery" as areas that have experienced a forest transition between 2000 and 2005. Then, we use Landsat time series analysis of the normalized difference water index (NDWI) to classify four "realized recovery" trajectories ("ongoing", "arrested", "disrupted" and "no recovery") based on a sequential pattern of 5‐yearly Z‐score anomalies for 2005–2020. We compare these results against an analysis of change in tree cover to validate against other datasets. Results: Across the tropical Andes, we detected a potential recovery area of 274 km2 over the period. Despite increases in tree cover, most areas of the Andes remained in early successional states (10–25% tree cover), and NDWI levelled out after 5–10 years. Of all potential forest recovery areas, 22% showed "ongoing recovery", 61% showed either "disrupted" or "arrested recovery", and 17% showed "no recovery". Our method captured forest recovery dynamics in a Peruvian arrested succession context and in landscape‐scale tree‐planting efforts in Ecuador. Main conclusions: Forest recovery across the Andes is mostly disrupted, arrested or unsuccessful, with consequences for biodiversity recovery and provision of ecosystem services. Low‐recovery areas identified in this study might be good candidates for active restoration interventions in this UN Decade on Restoration. Future studies could determine restoration strategies and priorities and suggest management strategies at a local planning scale across key regions in the biodiversity hotspot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Soil microenvironmental variables showed an important key in a and β-tree diversity in Neotropical montane oak forest. Thus, understanding the microenvironment fluctuation at small-fragment effects on tree diversity is crucial in maintaining the montane oak ecosystems. In this study, we hypothesized that within a relatively small-fragment (151.63 ha), tree α and β-diversity fluctuate and specific soil microenvironmental factors could influence tree species diversity to answer three questions: Do tree α and β-diversity differ among transects, even in a short-distance between them? Do microenvironmental variables influence tree diversity composition that occurs within a relict Neotropical montane oak forest? Is there a particular microenvironmental variable influencing tree species-specific? Methods. We established four permanent transects during a year in a relict Neotropical montane oak forest, we assessed tree diversity and specific microenvironmental variables (soil moisture, soil temperature, pH, depth litterfall and light incidence). This allowed us to evaluate how microenvironmental variables at small-fragment influence α and β-tree diversity and tree species-specific. Results. Our results showed that a-diversity was not different among transects; however, β-diversity of tree species was mostly explained by turnover and soil moisture, soil temperature, and light incidence were the microenvironmental variables that triggered the replacement (i.e., one species by another). Those variables also had effect on tree species-specific: Mexican beech (Fagus mexicana), Quebracho (Quercus delgadoana), Pezma (Cyathea fulva), Aguacatillo (Beilschmiedia mexicana), Pezma (Dicksonia sellowiana var. arachneosa), and Mountain magnolia (Magnolia schiedeana). Discussion. Our results confirm our hypothesis related to β-diversity but not with α-diversity; however, the tree community structure of the diversity was similar among transects. Our study represents the first effort to evaluate and link the soil microenvironmental effect on tree α and β-diversity, finding a high replacement in a small-fragment of Neotropical montane oak forest from eastern Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The montane Argyrogrammana Strand, 1932, fauna (Riodinidae: Symmachiini) of the eastern Andes is reviewed. There are five described species from the region, and an additional three species are described here from Ecuador and Peru: A. janiceae Ahrenholz & Hall, n. sp., A. aurora Hall & Willmott, n. sp. (both occidentalis group), and A. cosnipata Hall, n. sp. (amalfreda group). A ninth species, known from only a single Peruvian female, is figured but not described. These nine east Andean endemics range in elevation from 550 to 2200 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen species (18%) in the genus Dracula (Orchidaceae) in Colombia lack basic information about their ecology and biogeography. Dracula anthracina has remained as a charismatic market-valued species with no information on its natural habitat. We found the precise location of D. anthracina in explorations across the Colombian eastern Cordillera. Our observations of wild populations and cultivated plants suggest that D. nigritella should be reduced to a synonym of D. anthracina based on morphological characters. Furthermore, the species seems to be rare, geographically restricted, and has small populations. Hence, we suggest that D. anthracina should be considered of conservation concern and should be excluded from Ecuador's flora. Trece especies (18%) del género Dracula en Colombia carecen de información básica de su biogeográfica y ecológica. Dracula anthracina es una especie de alto valor en el mercado, cuya información del habito natural ha permanecido históricamente obscuro. Durante exploraciones de la orquideoflora de la cordillera oriental de Colombia, encontramos la ubicación de D. anthracina. Tras estudiar los caracteres morfológicos de individuos de D. anthracina en su hábitat natural y material cultivado, encontramos que D. nigritella debe ser reducido a sinónimo de D. anthracina. Nuestro muestreo aleatorio sugiere que esta Dracula es rara, con distribución geográfica restringida y poblaciones pequeñas. De tal manera, D. anthracina como especie comercializada debe ser considerada como una especie de conservación endémica de Colombia y debe ser excluida de la flora de Ecuador. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revision of the species of Hymenophyllum subg. Hymenophyllum in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest domain is presented. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed based on herbarium material and samples collected during fieldwork. Molecular analyses were performed with data of the plastidial markers rbcL, rbcL-accD, rps4-trnS, and trnG-R. The results demonstrate the existence of three distinct and independent lineages of H. subgenus Hymenophyllum in the Atlantic Forest domain. Three taxa were recognized: H. fucoides, H. megachilum, and a new species, H. bradeanum, endemic to the Itatiaia Massif, southeast Brazil. Distribution maps, identification keys, descriptions, and illustrations are provided, together with a preliminary update of the conservation status of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Ternstroemia is associated with the vulnerable tropical montane cloud forest in Mexico and with other relevant vegetation types worldwide. It contains threatened and pharmacologically important species and has taxonomic issues regarding its species limits. This study describes 38 microsatellite markers generated using a genomic-based approach. Methods and results: We tested 23 of these markers in a natural population of Ternstroemia lineata. These markers are highly polymorphic (all loci polymorphic with 3–14 alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity between 0.202 and 0.908), most of them (19 out of 23) are in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and free of null alleles (18 out of 23). Also we found no evidence of linkage among them. Finally, we tested the transferability to six other American species of Ternstroemia, two other Pentaphylacaceae species, and four species from different families within the order Ericales. Conclusions: These molecular resources are promising tools to investigate genetic diversity loss and as barcodes for ethnopharmacological applications and species delimitation in the family Pentaphylacaceae and some Ericales, among other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades, numerous natural habitats have been converted into settlement areas, agricultural land, and tree plantations on a large spatial scale. As a result, natural ecosystems have been destroyed. In consequence, many ecosystems exist today as small and geographically isolated remnants. To what extent the original species diversity can persist in such small habitat patches is questionable and strongly depends on the ecology of the species. A prominent example of severe habitat destruction are the species-rich tropical cloud forests of Taita Hills in southern Kenya, which have been deforested almost completely during past decades. However, there still exist typical forest species in the few remaining forest fragments. In this study, we investigate the population ecology and behaviour of two butterfly species present in the cloud forest remnants of Taita Hills, Protogoniomorpha parhassus and Precis tugela. Over a period of one month, we conducted Mark-Release-Recapture to study population sizes and demographic structures, lifespan, dispersal, and behaviour. We found that both species exhibited medium population sizes and are sedentary. However, some individuals performed dispersal throughout the forest. The behaviour of the two species differs: While P. tugela was mostly observed basking with open wings, P. parhassus was mostly sitting under leaves with closed wings. The life span was rather long for butterflies. Implications for insect conservation: This study documents the population ecology and behaviour of these two Afrotropical butterflies and underlines the relevance of the conservation of cloud forest remnants to preserve species, which mainly depends on these habitat remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic tools are now commonly used to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure of species and populations, and they provide the ability to describe and address the negative effects of population declines and fragmentation. However, such studies are lacking for arboreal mammals despite their contribution to various ecosystem services, especially in uncommon and critically endangered ecosystems such as cloud forests. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic arboreal mice from Mexican cloud forests that are associated with areas with different levels of impacts from human activities. We performed genotyping-by-sequencing in 47 Habromys schmidlyi and 17 Reithrodontomys wagneri individuals to evaluate genetic diversity and differentiation. In both species, the genetic diversity was low compared to other cricetid species, and we observed different population structure patterns, potentially linked to the different ecological associations. We detected two genetic groups in H. schmidlyi, that is a territorial species present in areas of low incline, while a single genetic group was found in R. wagneri, which forms family groups in areas with steep slopes. Overall, these results highlight how species' genetic diversity can be differentially impacted depending on differential ecological associations within the same ecosystem. This information is essential for the development of the adequate conservation and management of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been related to rapid population declines and extinction in amphibians around the world. Bd has been associated with a severe decline in amphibian populations in southern Mexico. We compare the prevalence and intensity of Bd infection in two tree frogs in southern Mexico with similar life habits (Plectrohyla matudai and Ptychohyla euthysanota), inquiring if they differ across habitat types with different degrees of disturbance: preserved cloud forest, secondary cloud forest and anthropized riparian vegetation, and across three seasons. We examine the relationship between infection prevalence and intensity with biotic and abiotic variables. Infection prevalence differed between the two species, but not among environments, despite their similar life habits. Among seasons, prevalence decreased significantly at the end of the rainy season. There was no indication of significant changes in infection intensity between species, environments, and seasons. Moreover, the interaction among extrinsic factors (canopy cover, temperature, relative humidity) and factors intrinsic factors (body condition) explains the dynamics of Bd infection in the region. In our sample, we found no disease‐affected individuals, which may indicate that both species are resistant to the effects of the pathogen under field conditions. Finally, our results found no evidence to indicate that open canopies and anthropized habitats of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas are a refuge that prevents high prevalence or infection of Bd in stream breeders' amphibians. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual communication is apparently widespread among anurans, but these behaviours in many Neotropical species remain unstudied. We provide the first descriptions of visual displays in males of the Neotropical treefrog Dendropsophus carnifex (Hylidae) from three populations at Mindo, in northwestern Ecuador. We describe hind-foot lifting, foot-flagging, arm waving, toe trembling, body raising, and throat exposure for D. carnifex. All visual displays include exposure of flash colours in hidden surfaces of body and legs. Vocalisations were not emitted simultaneously with visual displays but were intercalated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licaria ramiroi, a species endemic to western Mexico, is described and illustrated. The ascription of the new species to Licaria is analysed. It is classified in the subgen. Licaria and is most closely related to L. triandra and L. siphonantha from which it differs by its glabrous vegetative and floral structures, stamens mainly with free anthers and the inner wall of the receptacle sericeous. According to the IUCN criteria, the species is classified as critically endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Through a long-term sampling of the ectomycorrhizal fungi in remnant fragments of both lowland oak forest and montane cloud forest, in central Veracruz, Mexico, a new species, Tylopilus tropicalis of the Tylopilus balloui group, was discovered, along with a new record of T. oradivensis originally described from Costa Rica. Macro- and micromorphological features, a phylogenetic analysis of a concatenated ITS, 28S and RPB1 dataset, as well as ecological distribution, support the hypotheses. The new species proposed here grows under Quercus sapotifolia, and T. oradivensis appears near Q. xalapensis in the tropical oak forest and in the montane cloud forest, respectively. Both species treated here are described, illustrated, and discussed. An artificial key is provided to distinguish both species from other closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]