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New taxonomic and faunistic data on spiders of Ecuador are provided, based on a small set of previously unstudied specimens collected at Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Orellana. These specimens belong to five species in three families: Anapistula tiputiana sp. n. (♀; Symphytognathidae) and Pseudanapis yasunica sp. n. (♂; Anapidae) are described as new to science, and the hersiliids Neotama obatala Rheims & Brescovit, 2004, Ypypuera crucifera (Vellard, 1924) and Y. vittata (Simon, 1887) are newly recorded in Ecuador. Illustrations are provided for all treated species.

New taxonomic and faunistic data on spiders of Ecuador are provided, based on a small set of previously unstudied specimens collected at Tiputini Biodiversity Station in Orellana. These specimens belong to five species in three families: Anapistula tiputiana sp. n. (♀; Symphytognathidae) and Pseudanapis yasunica sp. n. (♂; Anapidae) are described as new to science, and the hersiliids Neotama obatala Rheims & Brescovit, 2004, Ypypuera crucifera (Vellard, 1924) and Y. vittata (Simon, 1887) are newly recorded in Ecuador. Illustrations are provided for all treated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We describe a new species of giant crab spider of the genus Sadala Simon, 1880 collected in Lowland Evergreen rainforests at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Amazonian Ecuador. This new species corresponds to the first record of the genus from Ecuador. Females of the new species of Sadala are similar to S. punicea and S. nanay, by having the epigyne with a median septum diamond‐shaped posteriorly. The new species is easily distinguished from S. punicea and S. nanay by having relatively straight anterior lateral margins of the median septum. This study increases to 10 the number of described species of Sadala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En Ecuador, el género Tortopus está representado por una especie, Tortopus arenales Molineri, registrada en la provincia de Esmeraldas, región costa del Pacífico. Se describe aquí a Tortopus yasuni sp. nov. a partir de adultos de ambos sexos, para la región amazónica ecuatoriana, provincia de Orellana. La nueva especie se caracteriza por: 1) longitud del ala anterior 11-13 mm (macho) y 15-16 mm (hembra); 2) alas anteriores amarillas translúcidas, venas transversales y longitudinales pálidas, en el macho venas Sc y R1 ligeramente pigmentadas de gris hasta los 2/3 de la longitud del ala y en la hembra ligeramente pigmentadas de gris hasta el extremo apical del ala; 3) alas posteriores hialinas en el macho y en la hembra venas Sc y R1 sombreadas de gris hasta los 2/3 de la longitud del ala; 4) parastilo largo 3,3 veces la longitud de la base del pedestal y en vista lateral el parastilo alcanza 0,31 de la longitud del forceps; 5) especie amarilla clara con sombreados grises especialmente en el centro del pronoto y en el occipucio entre los ocelos, excepto alrededor del ocelo medio.

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo 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.)

Artificial prey techniques-wherein synthetic replicas of real organisms are placed in natural habitats-are widely used to study predation in the field.We investigated the extent to which videography could provide additional information to such studies. As a part of studies on aposematism and mimicry of coral snakes (Micrurus) and their mimics, observational data from 109 artificial snake prey were collected from video-recording camera traps in three locations in the Americas (terra firme forest, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador; premontane wet forest, Nahá Reserve, Mexico; longleaf pine forest, Southeastern Coastal Plain, North Carolina, USA). During 1,536 camera days, a total of 268 observations of 20 putative snake predator species were recorded in the vicinity of artificial prey. Predators were observed to detect artificial prey 52 times, but only 21 attacks were recorded. Mammals were the most commonly recorded group of predators near replicas (243) and were responsible for most detections (48) and attacks (20). There was no difference between avian or mammalian predators in their probability of detecting replicas nor in their probability of attacking replicas after detecting them. Bite and beak marks left on clay replicas registered a higher ratio of avian:mammalian attacks than videos registered. Approximately 61.5% of artificial prey monitored with cameras remained undetected by predators throughout the duration of the experiments. Observational data collected from videos could provide more robust inferences on the relative fitness of different prey phenotypes, predator behavior, and the relative contribution of different predator species to selection on prey. However, we estimate that the level of predator activity necessary for the benefit of additional information that videos provide to be worth their financial costs is achieved in fewer than 20% of published artificial prey studies. Although we suggest future predation studies employing artificial prey to consider using videography as a tool to inspire new, more focused inquiry, the investment in camera traps is unlikely to be worth the expense for most artificial prey studies until the cost:benefit ratio decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attendants of Neotropical mixed-species flocks are hypothesized to benefit primarily by gaining protection from predators, while potential costs have received little attention. The Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) frequently joins mixed-species understory flocks but also often forages alone. We hypothesized that, because of the significant vertical component of its foraging behavior, the primary cost to flock-following might be a decrease in foraging efficiency associated with conforming to flock movement patterns. We compared the foraging behavior and microhabitat use of Wedge-billed Woodcreepers in and out of flocks at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, eastern Ecuador, during January-March, 2010-2012. We measured foraging height range, time spent per trunk, vertical movement rate, distance flown between trunks, extent of foliage cover around the focal bird, hitch rate, and peck rate. We tracked birds in 2012 using radiotelemetry to measure horizontal movement rates and to record the locations of flock-joining and -leaving. Wedge-billed Woodcreepers in flocks foraged in more exposed microhabitats, moved vertically at a faster rate despite a decrease in foraging height range, and exhibited greater hitch rates than individuals foraging alone. Peck rates, peck:hitch ratio, and distance flown between trunks did not differ between situations. Horizontal movement rate did not differ in and out of flocks, but the length of flock-following sessions was negatively correlated with movement rate above a threshold of 4 m min-1. These observations are consistent with an antipredator benefit of flocking for this species and suggest an energetic or foraging efficiency cost associated with conforming to flock movement patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remote Tiputini-Yasuni tropical forest region of the northwest Amazon (eastern Ecuador) represents a rich biodiversity likely unsurpassed anywhere else on earth. The myriad ecosystems, habitats and organisms are embedded in layers of symbiotic expressions. This region and particularly its Tiputini Biodiversity Station operated by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito offer unique and significant opportunities for symbiosis research and needed habitat conservation support. The centrality of symbioses in tropical rainforests is discussed through a review of selected literature and based on recent first-hand field experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]