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Thirty-six species and three genera of moths are recorded for the first time in Colombia, in the families Notodontidae (31 spp., 2 genera), Saturniidae (4 spp., 1 genus), and Sphingidae (1 sp.). All records are based on photographs of live individuals attracted to white and UV lights.

We studied the rheophytic vascular flora of the middle Caquetá River basin in the Colombian Amazon, by sampling along the margins and islands of its two largest rapids, Angostura and Araracuara, along the rapids of the black-water Yarí river, its second largest tributary, and along a swift black-water creek flowing from a small Tepui into the latter. We identified and quantified rheophytes in 12 plots and col-lected other rheophytic species spotted outside the plots. We found 28 species of rheophytes, belonging to 20 families, mostly herbs and subshrubs. The rheophytic flora of the white-water Río Caquetá only shared three species, with that of the Yarí River; instead, the Yarí River shared no rheophytic species with its tributary creek, despite being just a few meters away. The family Podostemaceae dominates the extreme rheophytic belt, where the current hits the strongest. The most diverse families were Myrtaceae, and Xyridaceae (three species each); Acanthaceae (two species) is the most diverse family in the middle level, whereas Myrtaceae (three species) predominates in the upper rheophytic belt of small trees, and makes up a transition between the truly rheophytic and the riparian floras. The most abun-dant and frequent species was Pfaffia iresinoides (Amaranthaceae). Eight species are endemic to this area, and no species is shared with the other Neotropical areas where rheophytes have been surveyed.

The topographic gradients of the Tropical Andes may have triggered species divergence by different mechanisms. Topography separates species’ geographical ranges and offers climatic heterogeneity, which could potentially foster local adaptation to specific climatic conditions and result in narrowly distributed endemic species. Such a pattern is found in the Andean centered palm genus Aiphanes. To test the extent to which geographic barriers and climatic heterogeneity can explain distribution patterns in Aiphanes, we sampled 34 out of 36 currently recognized species in that genus and sequenced them by Sanger sequencing and/or sequence target capture sequencing. We generated Bayesian, likelihood, and species-tree phylogenies, with which we explored climatic trait evolution from current climatic occupation. We also estimated species distribution models to test the relative roles of geographical and climatic divergence in their evolution. We found that Aiphanes originated in the Miocene in Andean environments and possibly in mid-elevation habitats. Diversification is related to the occupation of the adjacent high and low elevation habitats tracking high annual precipitation and low precipitation seasonality (moist habitats). Different species in different clades repeatedly occupy all the different temperatures offered by the elevation gradient from 0 to 3,000 m in different geographically isolated areas. A pattern of conserved adaptation to moist environments is consistent among the clades. Our results stress the evolutionary roles of niche truncation of wide thermal tolerance by physical range fragmentation, coupled with water-related niche conservatism, to colonize the topographic gradient.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the surgical outcomes of inferomedial wall orbital decompression (IM-OD) and balanced medial plus lateral wall orbital decompression (ML-OD) in patients with inactive Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) with regard to exophthalmos reduction and ocular motility abnormalities. METHODS: Forty-two patients with inactive GO eligible for OD were randomly assigned to either the IM-OD or ML-OD groups. Pre and postoperative evaluations included Hertel exophthalmometry, sensory, and motor extraocular motility assessment, standardized photographs in the nine gaze positions, and computed tomography (CT) of the orbits. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03278964. RESULTS: Exophthalmometry reduction was statistically significant in both groups (p

El presente número de Biota Colombiana está dedicado a la memoria de Gustavo Kattan, uno de los más polifacéticos y destacados miembros de la comunidad biológica colombiana, quien falleció el pasado 5 de mayo. Durante cuatro décadas, Gustavo adelantó investigaciones sobre ecología y conservación de ecosistemas andinos, estudiando numerosos aspectos de diversos grupos de animales, incluyendo insectos, anfibios, reptiles, aves y mamíferos. Su legado es enorme y perdurará a través del trabajo de quienes fueron sus discípulos, algunos de los cuales son ya investigadores destacados. Su visión amplia de la naturaleza, su rigor académico, su sencillez y su generosidad con el conocimiento son un ejemplo a seguir para las nuevas generaciones de investigadores. Próximamente dedicaremos un número de Biota Colombiana a artículos relacionados de una u otra forma con el trabajo de Gustavo Kattan. La publicación de una colección de artículos de excelente calidad será el menor homenaje a él y al alto nivel que siempre puso en sus investigaciones.

Abstract Andean orogenesis has driven the development of very high plant diversity in the Neotropics through its impact on landscape evolution and climate. The analysis of the intraspecific patterns of genetic structure in plants would permit inferring the effects of Andean uplift on the evolution and diversification of Neotropical flora. In this study, using microsatellite markers and Bayesian clustering analyses, we report the presence of four genetic clusters for the palm Oenocarpus bataua var. bataua which are located within four biogeographic regions in northwestern South America: (a) Chocó rain forest, (b) Amotape‐Huancabamba Zone, (c) northwestern Amazonian rain forest, and (d) southwestern Amazonian rain forest. We hypothesize that these clusters developed following three genetic diversification events mainly promoted by Andean orogenic events. Additionally, the distinct current climate dynamics among northwestern and southwestern Amazonia may maintain the genetic diversification detected in the western Amazon basin. Genetic exchange was identified between the clusters, including across the Andes region, discarding the possibility of any cluster to diversify as a distinct intraspecific variety. We identified a hot spot of genetic diversity in the northern Peruvian Amazon around the locality of Iquitos. We also detected a decrease in diversity with distance from this area in westward and southward direction within the Amazon basin and the eastern Andean foothills. Additionally, we confirmed the existence and divergence of O. bataua var. bataua from var. oligocarpus in northern South America, possibly expanding the distributional range of the latter variety beyond eastern Venezuela, to the central and eastern Andean cordilleras of Colombia. Based on our results, we suggest that Andean orogenesis is the main driver of genetic structuring and diversification in O. bataua within northwestern South America.

The palm Astrocaryum malybo is an endangered species growing in forest remnants in the Caribbean lowlands of Colombia, where its spear leaves provide fiber for a flourishing artisanal activity. We studied the palm’s population structure and dynamics near the town of Chimichagua, Cesar, in order to provide ecological information required for its management and conservation. We modeled population growth and fiber production in the next 20 years under different management scenarios using Integral Projection Models. Although there was a low proportion of seedlings and population structure was variable, population would grow for the next 20 years, with an annual growth rate of 7.1%, yielding ca. 35 spear leaves/ha/year for artisanal activity. Simulations on the model show that the population is susceptible to alterations that affect the survival of individuals; removal of as few as 34 palms of any size per ha/year would cause the population to decrease, and spear leaf production will decline accordingly. Conversely, any increase in seedling growth or survival would lead to population growth. If properly managed, A. malybo is a key species for conservation of the dry forest relicts in the Caribbean lowlands of Colombia.

En este estudio se caracterizaron los sistemas de manejo de Copernicia tectorum en dos localidades de la Región Caribe de Colombia: Plato (Magdalena), y Magangué (Bolívar). También se analizó el impacto de la cosecha de cogollos en la estructura de la población, el número de hojas y la longitud de los cogollos. En Plato sólo se cosechan cogollos de palmas subadultas y adultas, lo que parece no afectar las palmas a nivel individual, ni poblacional. En Magangué se cosechan palmas de las clases juveniles, lo que limita su crecimiento; esto da como resultado palmares con muy pocos adultos, comprometiendo su sostenibilidad, incluso en el corto plazo. El modelo de uso comunitario y de libre acceso a los palmares ha permitido su conservación en Plato; en Magangué, por el contrario, se hizo apropiación individual de la tierra, tanto legal como ilegal, lo que trajo fraccionamiento de la población, tala y restricción de acceso para la cosecha. En Plato el manejo debe enfocarse en detener la tala y la afectación a los complejos cenagosos donde crece la palma. En Magangué se debe controlar la sobreexplotación y favorecer el reclutamiento de las clases juveniles.

Copernicia tectorum is a palm that grows in large populations on seasonally flooded savannas in the Caribbean region of Colombia, where its stems and expanded leaves are used in construction, and its unexpanded leaves are used to make handicrafts. We studied abundance and population structure in 34 plots of 20×10m (0.68 ha) of three localities (Plato, Córdoba and Magangué) at the Mompox Depression, an inner delta formed by the confluence of four large rivers. We recorded growth and mortality of 164 palms of different size classes over 13 months, and additionally we estimated seedling and juvenile mortality in two 10x10m plots within the same sites. Data analysis using Kolgomorov-Smirnov (KS), Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were made on Statgraphics Plus and SPSS. We related the structure and dynamics of the palm stands to flood intensity. Copernicia tectorum has the fastest leaf production rate recorded for any palm (19-23 leaves/year in subadults and adults), and a short life span of ca. 46 years. The abundance, density and high leaf production rate of this palm offer a great potential for the sustainable use of its unexpanded leaves (especially at Plato, where there are ca. 480ha of palm stands with 300-1 000 individuals/ha), as leaf harvest from subadult and adult individuals does not appear to affect population structure. The palm is a pioneer of the flood plain, and the palm stands at particular sites appear to wax and wane following sedimentation dynamics, in which the species plays in important role. Current population structure and the scarce recruitment of juveniles at the study site suggest that the population is waning in that site. Management actions should be taken to reestablish natural river dynamics at the lagoon complex where the palm grows. Appropriate management of palm stands may contribute to minimize any negative effects of river dynamics.

We studied the management of the fiber-producing chambira palm Astrocaryum chambira by indigenous people in the Colombian Amazon. Between 2009 and 2012, we visited four communities and two marketing centers, where we interviewed 12 people. In addition, we specifically observed A. chambira harvesting, processing, and commercialization; studied palm populations at five localities; measured leaf production rate; and integrated secondary data. At least 21 aboriginal groups in the Colombian Amazon use chambira fiber. The palm grows in association with human communities, and it has been widely used and managed in past agroforestry systems. The fiber is obtained from the unexpanded leaves of juvenile or adult palms, and harvesting is often unsustainable because of overharvesting acaulescent palms or of cutting down adult palms. This is leading to a depletion of palm population. Annual leaf production rate was 1.59-2.89 leaves/palm year−1, which is lower than that reported in other studies. Based in our results, we recommended a harvest of 1 leaf/palm year−1 in acaulescent palms, and 1-2 leaves/palm year−1 in stemmed palms. Chambira-derived products are mostly handicrafts for marketing, and their trade represents 40%-100% of artisan household cash income. Improving the management of chambira palms requires the introduction of non-destructive harvest techniques and a wider use of the palm in agroforestry systems. An analysis of traditional management practices and of the role of chambira among Amerindian people indicates that A. chambira was an incipient domesticate at the time of the European conquest.

The wood of the palm Iriartea deltoidea is an excellent material used for building, furniture and handicrafts in the Colombian Amazon, especially in the Amazon foothills where a small industry has developed around this species. We report the management practices, uses and commercial trends of this species in the municipality of Mocoa (Putumayo). We present data on population structure at three contrasting sites. The estimated demand of stems is ca. 750 per year, and the area necessary to supply them is 17-83 ha. Harvesting is carried out in natural forests or in pastures. The management practices are selective logging, sowing of seedlings and sparing of palms in pastures. Taking into account the natural condition of Mocoa, the abundance of the species, its growth rate and the current extraction system, productivity could grow if the followings activities were performed: enrichment of secondary forests, re-population of eroded areas, reduction of deforestation, and establishment of minimal harvest sizes based on height rather than diameter.

The fruits of asaí (Euterpe precatoria Mart.) are a traditional food for Amazonian inhabitants who harvest it from wild populations, employing management practices that affect palm populations and productivity. Here we present management data on fruit harvesting in a Tikuna community in the Colombian Amazon. We identified the market structure in Leticia and evaluated the population structure and fruit productivity in a scarcely harvested forest and a heavily harvested one. We performed interviews to determine management and market practices and we established plots to identify population structure and productivity. Harvesting is mostly for self-supply and palm felling is the main method. The fruits are mostly consumed and marketed as juice. The asaí market is small and seasonal but it represents an important source of income for many, mainly indigenous, families. The population density was 1 680 individuals and 248 adults/ha in San Martín de Amacayacu, where harvesting was from 2 % of all adult palms, and 916 individuals and 30 adults/ha in Leticia, where harvesting was from 23 % of all adult palms. The population structure in both sites followed an in-verted J-curve in which the majority of the individuals were seedlings. Productivity was 2.2 ton/ha/ year in San Martín de Amacayacu and 0.33 ton/ha/ year in Leticia. The population in Leticia is heavily harvested to supply the local market and the consequences of this use are a reduction in population density and fruit productivity and a low abundance of individuals in all size classes.

A glossary of 1276 Amerindian names or name variants of palms is presented, representing at least 121 species in 64 aboriginal languages of Colombia. The species with documented names in the largest number of languages are Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bataua, Mauritia flexuosa,Euterpe precatoria, andAstrocaryum chambira, which are five of the most used palms in South America. The languages with the largest number of named species are uitoto (48), tikuna (47), muinane (43), siona (34), sikuani (31) and miraña (30). These figures reflect the detailed studies carried out with these ethnic groups, besides the palm diversity of their territories and their knowledge about it. The names are presented in three separate lists –arranged by species, by language, and a global list of names that includes references for each individual record.

This article presents an inventory of South American palms including 457 species and 50 genera. The distribution of palms within seven phytogeographical entities is analyzed. Factors which influence the evolution of palms in South America are discussed.

We studied the populations of the Quindío Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) surviving in deforested areas of the upper Cocora Valley, Quindío, Colombia, by comparing photographs taken in October 1988 and December 2012 at the same sites. The seven pairs of images cover an area of ca. 26.4 hectares, corresponding to 7.4% of the deforested area of the upper valley, where most of the population persists. During the 24 years of the study, the number of palms included in the sample units decreased from 585 to 469, a reduction of 19.8%. Most palms that died during this period were senescent plants over 40 m tall, with estimated ages of 139-169 years. Considering their growth rates, we calculate that during the next 47 years, most palms surviving today will reach heights greater than 40 m and will probably die, without leaving young palms behind to replace them. With this severe reduction in the number of palms, one of Colombia’s most emblematic Andean landscapes, as well as a top tourist destination, will disappear. We present the scenario of the palm stands during the current century, and recommend their immediate recovery, through the creation of a National Sanctuary of the Quindío Wax Palm, and by recognizing Ceroxylon quindiuense as an umbrella species. This would perpetuate the existence of Colombia’s National Tree at this site, with a great potential for the socioeconomic development of the central region of Colombia.

Wax palms are an important element of the cloud forests in the tropical Andes. Despite heavy deforestation, the density of adults seems to be similar in deforested pastures as in forests. We aimed to infer the mechanisms responsible for this apparent resilience in pastures and we tested two hypotheses to explain it: 1) adult palms survived in pastures because they were spared from logging, and 2) adults occurred in pastures through the resilience of large juvenile rosettes, which survived through subterranean meristems and later developed into adults. For this purpose, we characterized the demographic structure of C. quindiuense in a total of 122 plots of 400 m(2) in forests and pastures at two sites with contrasted land use histories in Colombia and Peru. Additionally, we implemented growth models that allowed us to estimate the age of individuals at four sites. These data were combined with information collected from local land managers in order to complete our knowledge on the land use history at each site. At two sites, the presence of old individuals up to 169 years and a wide age range evidenced that, at least, a portion of current adults in pastures were spared from logging at the time of deforestation. However, at the two other sites, the absence of older adults in pastures and the narrow age range of the populations indicated that individuals came exclusively from rosette resilience. These interpretations were consistent with the land use history of sites. In consequence, the combination of the two hypotheses (spared individuals and rosette resilience) explained patterns of C. quindiuense in pastures on a regional scale. Regeneration through subterranean meristems in palms is an important, yet overlooked mechanism of resilience, which occurs in a number of palm species and deserves being integrated in the conceptual framework of disturbance ecology.