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Los sistemas ecológicos aportan bienes y servicios fundamentales para el funcionamiento de la vida y contribuyen significativamente al bienestar humano. En México, al ser un país megadiverso, existe la necesidad de documentar la riqueza en cada uno de sus territorios. La Sierra de Otontepec es una formación montañosa aislada de la Sierra Madre Oriental que en 2005 se decretó como Área Natural Protegida bajo la categoría de Reserva Ecológica. La presente obra aborda el patrimonio natural de este sitio desde diferentes perspectivas y escalas, como factores hidrometeorológicos, de diversidad vegetal y mamíferos, cambios espacio-temporales de la cobertura, a nivel de grupos biológicos, como orquídeas, cícadas, murciélagos y mariposas, además de perspectivas socioecológicas como la importancia cultural y uso del venado. Se ponen en perspectiva los logros y los retos para el mantenimiento de su capital natural y se abre una ventana para desarrollar estudios multidisciplinarios y trazar su hoja de ruta hacia la sostenibilidad.

Phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and toxic effects of two orchid (Prosthechea cochleata and Prosthechea livida) were examined in their different hexane and dichloromethane/methanol extracts of leaves, pseudobulbs, rhizome and roots. Phytochemical screening reveals the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and terpenes except for anthracene derivatives in P. livida and tannins in both species. Results showed exhibited significant toxicity against brine shrimp with an LC50 values ranged from 3 to 54 µg/ml in 24 h. Finally, the results of the antioxidant test in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) showed that CH2Cl2:MeOH extract of P. cochleata root extract presented the most efficient protective antioxidant percentage (%PA), with 20 µg/mL, displaying a cell viability of 68.58%. In P. livida case, rhizome extract presented the most efficient %PA, with 1000 µg/mL, with a cell viability of 65.82%. The results evidenced the toxicity of Prosthechea cochleata and Prosthechea livida and reveals potential antioxidative of extracts.

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Mexico is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with an important proportion of endemism mainly because of the convergence of the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions, which generate great diversity and species turnover at different spatial scales. However, most of our knowledge of the Mexican ant biota is limited to a few well-studied taxa, and we lack a comprehensive synthesis of ant biodiversity information. For instance, most of the knowledge available in the literature on Mexican ant fauna refers only to species lists by states, or is focused on only a few regions of the country, which prevents the study of several basic and applied aspects of ants, from diversity and distribution to conservation. Our aims in this data paper are therefore (1) to compile all the information available regarding ants across the Mexican territory, and (2) to identify major patterns in the gathered data set and geographic gaps in order to direct future sampling efforts. All records were obtained from raw data, including both unpublished and published information. After exhaustive filtering and updating information and synonyms, we compiled a total of 21,731 records for 887 ant species distributed throughout Mexico from 1894 to 2018. These records were concentrated mainly in the states of Chiapas (n = 6,902, 32.76%) and Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (n = 4,329, 19.92%), which together comprise half the records. The subfamily with the highest number of records was Myrmicinae (n = 10,458 records, 48.12%), followed by Formicinae (n = 3,284, 15.11%) and Ponerinae (n = 1,914, 8.8%). Most ant records were collected in the Neotropical region of the country (n = 12,646, 58.19%), followed by the Mexican transition zone (n = 5,237, 24.09%) and the Nearctic region (n = 3,848, 17.72%). Native species comprised 95.46% of the records (n = 20,745). To the best of our knowledge, this is the most complete data set available to date in the literature for the country. We hope that this compilation will encourage researchers to explore different aspects of the population and community research of ants at different spatial scales, and to aid in the establishment of conservation policies and actions. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using its data for publications or teaching events.

Se analizo la composicion de especies y se evaluo la eficiencia en la remocion de estiercol vacuno por escarabajos del estiercol de la subfamilia Scarabaeinae durante las temporadas de lluvias y secas en 2 zonas ganaderas del norte de Veracruz con diferente cobertura vegetal. Tamiahua, con pastizales sin vegetacion arborea, solo con arboles aislados y Tlacolula, con vegetacion arborea en los alrededores de los pastizales y cercas vivas. Se recolectaron 5 especies en Tamiahua y 16 en Tlacolula. Las especies mas abundantes en Tamiahua fueron: Canthidium pseudopuncticolle (Harold, 1867), Canthon cyanellus cyanellus LeConte y Digitonthophagus gazella Fabricius, mientras que en Tlacolula fueron: C. c. cyanellus, Coprophanaeus pluto Harold y C. pseudopuncticolle . En la temporada de lluvias, la remocion del estiercol fue mayor en los pastizales de Tlacolula que en los de Tamiahua; sin embargo, en ambas localidades no hubo remocion de estiercol en la temporada de secas. En ambas zonas, la especie dominante en el proceso de remocion de estiercol fue D. gazella , especie africana introducida. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la reincorporacion del estiercol se ve afectada por la composicion de especies, la temporada del ano y por la heterogeneidad del paisaje en las zonas ganaderas del norte de Veracruz.

Several species of insects have been found in propagules of species of mangrove forest, but Coccotrypes rhizophorae (Hopkins) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been recorded as one of the main pest of Rhizophora mangle (L.) (Malpighiales: Rhizophoraceae). While the species of mangrove is common in the Gulf of Mexico, the insect fauna associated with its propagules and characteristics of the damage they cause are unknown. This study evaluated the relationship between the presence of insects and damage characteristics in R. mangle propagules. Eleven mangrove forest sites in seven municipalities of the state of Veracruz (Mexico) were sampled, and 10 R. mangle propagules were collected from each site (110 in total). We found 192 individual insects of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera at different stages of development in the propagules; Coleoptera was the most abundant order (64.3%). Qualitative characteristics such as perforations and galleries were not always associated with the presence of insects. However, other damage characteristics such as perforation size and gallery volume were significantly related to insect presence. Gallery volume, estimated as a measure of the intensity of tissue removal, was significantly greater when C. rhizophorae shared the gallery with other species of insects than when the beetle or other insects were found alone in the propagule. The results showed that R. mangle propagules could maintain colonization dynamics in insects of different orders, consuming tissue that jeopardized the survival and establishment of propagules. The damage can increase under stress in R. mangle, caused by environmental factor generating potential damage to tropical sentinel ecosystems that can eventually become irreversible.

Contests between males fighting over limited resources often determine the reproductive success of the contestants. It is possible that the outcomes of such contests are affected by traits that also contribute to the likelihood of males achieving paternity when sperm from multiple males compete to fertilize the ova of a single female; however, this relationship has been poorly characterized. In dung and carrion roller beetles, contests among males for the possession of a food ball – a vital resource for nesting – are frequent in nature. However, females that roll and nest with a male often store the sperm of previous mates, forcing males to engage in sperm competition. We analyzed the relationship between wins and losses in contests between food ball owner males and subsequent paternity success in the carrion roller beetle Canthon cyanellus using both naive (virgin) and experienced (previously mated) males. Owner males that initiated contests were more likely to win, and contest durations were longer between experienced owner males than between naive owners. The paternity of the winner owner males nesting with a female that had previously mated with another male was higher than for loser owner males, and the paternity of experienced owners also tended to be higher than for virgin owners. Our results indicate that winning and being an experienced male are associated with greater success at fighting and sperm competition than losing and being a naive male.

Summary We present the first record of Rhizophora mangle (Malpighiales: Rhizophoraceae) as a host of Acalles sablensis Blatchley, 1920 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae) in the Ramsar site No. 1602 of the Mangroves and Wetlands of Tuxpan. The presence was recorded of dead Rhizophora mangle propagules that presented perforations in the bark. Beetles of the family Curculionidae was found within the propagules and identified as Acalles sablensis. This species has previously only been recorded in Cape Sable and Chokoloskee, Florida, USA, in 1920 and 1922 in dead branches of Sideroxylon celastrina (Kunth) T. D. Penn (Ericales: Sapotaceae) (Blatchley 1920, 1922). This study represents the first report of this curculionid species in Mexico.

Fights among females are frequent, although less attention has been placed on them than on male fights. They arise when females compete for food, oviposition, mates, brooding sites, or access to resources which increase offspring survival. It has been shown that the outcome of female fights may be less predictable by asymmetries in resource holding power, than in male fights. Male roller beetles fight over food resources, food balls, needed for mating and nesting, and it has been show in some species that asymmetries in reproductive experience and resource holding power in terms of size predict fight outcome, including ties in which contenders cut and split the food ball. In this study, we tested the influence of asymmetries in reproductive status (experience) and body size on female fight outcome in the carrion roller beetle Canthon cyanellus cyanellus. As predicted, and as previously found for males of the same species, female reproductive status of both contenders and relative size predict fight outcome. Larger and reproductively experienced contenders have a higher probability of winning. Furthermore, ties are more likely in fights involving opposing asymmetries (vgr. Large reproductively naïve owner versus small reproductively experienced intruder). Also as predicted, food ball splitting is more likely to be started by the predicted loser. This mode of resource sharing may be the result of a fighting strategy in which the costs of continuing to fight are greater than the benefits of not splitting, if a fraction of the disputed resource is more than the minimum needed for the present reproductive needs, and reduces costs associated to a longer fight.

Theory predicts that asymmetry between contenders influences their ability to defend resources. More recently, some theoretical approaches have also examined the circumstances that might promote sharing of the disputed resources. We tested these hypotheses in males of the ball roller beetle Canthon cyanellus cyanellus. Males fight for possession of a food ball, which is a vital resource used for nesting. We evaluated the role of food resource ownership, body size and reproductive status on the outcome of contests (win, lose or share) between males that rolled a food ball (owners or finders) either alone or with a female partner, when faced with male intruders (or joiners). Large owners of a food ball had a higher probability of victory than small intruders, and small owners had a high probability of losing when faced with large intruders. The reproductive status of both contenders also influenced their chances of winning: previously mated owners of a food ball had a higher probability of winning than virgin owners. Males of a similar size tended to split the food ball, thereby sharing the resource. Our results suggest that competitors may adjust the intensity of their aggression depending at least on their own resource holding power (RHP), the value of the resource in dispute and perhaps even the RHP of their opponents. Sharing the food ball emerges as a fresh solution between similarly matched contestants.

Several studies have shown that males assess female reproductive status and use different mechanisms to increase their reproductive success. However, a male's reproductive status can also affect its own reproductive success. In Canthon cyanellus cyanellus, a male–female pair makes several brood balls during nesting and both care for the brood balls. However, in females that are transported to the nest by males, the spermatheca is often already filled with viable sperm from other males, such that sperm competition is strong. We analyze the effect of the reproductive status of males and females on the frequency of mating during brood ball construction, as well as the reproductive success of males that nest with previously mated females. Virgin and previously mated males copulated with the same frequency before the construction of each brood ball when they nested with virgin females. However, when both types of males nested with previously mated females, the frequency of mating increased before the construction of the first brood ball. The paternity of previously mated males was significantly higher (82%) than that of virgin males (62%). Therefore, the reproductive status of both sexes of C. c. cyanellus affects the frequency of mating and the reproductive success of males.

Contests between male dung roller beetles for the possession of food balls and females have been well documented. However, the factors that determine contest success between resource owners and intruders trying to appropriate it, have received considerably less attention. We analyzed how the reproductive status of males influenced the outcome of contests between owners and intruders during the nidification of pairs in Canthon cyanellus cyanellus . When mated owners were attacked by unmated intruders, the mated owners won more contests than when they were attacked by mated intruders. Unmated owners had the same likelihood of defeating intruders, regardless of the reproductive status of the intruding male. Another factor influencing contest outcome was the stage of nidification during which the pair was attacked. If the pair was just beginning a nest, the male was more successful at defending than when the pair had finished making the brood balls and most of the eggs had been fertilized. Larger males had a greater likelihood of winning a combat than smaller ones. Males of similar size and reproductive status, as well as large unmated male owners that fight with small mated intruders, did not tend to fight, in lieu they divided the food for reproduction.

ResumenLos propágulos de las especies de manglar presentan una particular estrategia de superviviencia y dispersión. Desafortunadamente algunos reportes han afirmado que los propágulos de Rhizophora mangle son frecuentemente atacados por coleópteros y lepidópteros antes y después de su período de dispersión. El escarabajo Coccotrypes rhizophorae es un parásito obligado que puede causar la mortalidad de propágulos y plántulas de R. mangle, moldeando la estructura de sus poblaciones. Debido a la importancia de esta especie de mangle, su sobrevivencia y el aumento del impacto humano en la zona, este trabajo evaluó la presencia de propágulos barrenados por C. rhizophorae en el manglar de Tumilco, en el estado de Veracruz, México. Para esto, se establecieron tres zonas de muestreo: 1) manglar de R. mangle, 2) zona más impactada al borde de un camino de terracería con R. mangle y A. germinans, y 3) borde con Typha latifolia y R. mangle; en cada área, tres parcelas aleatorias de 25x25 m fueron analizadas. Se registró el número de propágulos barrenados por zona cada 15 días durante un año de muestreo (n= 567) de enero a diciembre 2012. También observamos el área dañada del propágulo (basal, medio, apical) y los propágulos barrenados vivos y muertos por temporada y los resultados para diferentes temporadas en el área: lluvias, nortes y secas. Los insectos fueron identificados por un experto. Nuestros resultados muestran un incremento en el número de propágulos barrenados durante la temporada de secas, principalmente en la zona 2 y 3. La supervivencia de los propágulos barrenados fue mayor cuando se presentó la perforación en el área basal, y durante la temporada de secas y nortes. En particular, la zona de estudio 2 presentó mayor número de propágulos vivos cuando el daño se encontró en el área basal del propágulo. En las tres zonas hubo mayor mortalidad cuando el daño fue apical. La zona 1 y 3 presentaron mayor supervivencia de propágulos durante las secas, mientras que en la zona 2 la supervivencia fue mayor durante la temporada de lluvias y nortes. El número de propágulos disminuyó conforme los niveles de inundación aumentaron. Los resultados muestran que C. rhizophorae tiene una amplia distribución en el manglar de Tumilco, pero la mortalidad de los propágulos de R. mangle está infuenciada por el área dañada, por la temporada del año y por las características de la zona en donde se encuentre la infestación. Se requieren estudios para evaluar la forma en que la mortalidad de los propágulos afecta la estructura poblacional de R. mangle. AbstractMangrove species propagules represent a particular survival and dispersal strategy. Unfortunately, some reports have stated that Rhizophora mangle propagules are frequently attacked by Coleoptera and Lepidoptera before and after their dispersion period. The beetle species Coccotrypes rhizophorae is an obligate parasite that can cause mortality in propagules and seedlings of R. mangle, and may modify the structure of its populations. Because of the importance on this mangrove species, survival and increasing human impacts in the area, this study evaluated the presence of propagules with C. rhizophorae boring evidence in the Tumilco mangrove, in Veracruz State, Mexico. For this, three sampling areas were established: 1) mangrove core of R. mangle, 2) most impacted edge of an unpaved road with R. mangle and A. germinans, and 3) edge with Typha latifolia and R. mangle; in each area, three 25x25 m random plots were analyzed. The number of bored propagules per site was recorded every 15 days over a sampling period of one year (n= 567) from January to December 2012. We also observed the damaged part of the propagule (basal, central, apical) and the number of live and dead bored propagules per season, and compared results for different seasons in the area: rainy, cold northerly fronts or “norte” and dry. Insects were identified by an expert. Our results showed that a higher number of bored propagules was observed during the dry season, mainly in zones 2 and 3. Survival of bored propagules was higher when the perforation occurred in the basal part of the plant, and during the dry and norte seasons. Study zone 2 in particular presented a higher number of live propagules when the damage occurred in the basal part of the propagule. In all three zones, mortality was higher when the damage was apical. Zones 1 and 3 presented higher propagule survival during the dry season, while survival in zone 2 was higher during the rainy and norte seasons. The number of propagules decreased with rising flooding levels. The results showed that C. rhizophorae has a wide distribution in the Tumilco mangrove, but the mortality of R. mangle propagules is influenced by the part of the propagule that suffers damage, as well as by the season of the year and the characteristics of the area in which the infestation occurs. Futher studies are required to evaluate the impact of propagule mortality on the population structure of R. mangle. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (3): 1120-1128. Epub 2017 September 01.

Floral visitors, particularly pollinators, are important during the life cycle of many orchids. However, despite their biological importance, this information is still unknown in many species, particularly those in mangrove forests. The aim of this research was to study the floral visitors, as well as the pollinators, of the two orchid species Myrmecophila grandifloraand Brassavola nodosa, in a protected natural area with mangrove (RAMSAR), in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico. Ants of different genera were the floral visitors of M. grandiflora, its pollinator is the carpenter bee, Xylocopa nautlana. In B. nodosa, were observed mosquitoes and ladybugs as floral visitors, the pollinator could not be registered, but it is possible that it is a species of moth (Scopula sp.). Finally, this study provides field information about floral visitors and pollinators in two orchid species in mangrove ecosystems and the evidence for pollination.