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The objective of this work is to update and improve the existing cartography on the spatial distribution of native forests in the Buenos Aires province, Argentina. It was developed within the framework of a project executed by researchers of the national scientific and technological system for the Dirección de Bosques of the Ministerio de Ambiente de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, focusing on the design and execution of a uniform methodology for the identification and delineation of native forest covers for the entire province. The cartographic update used a combination of field-collected information, complemented with visual interpretation of multitemporal series of high-resolution optical images, generalized using machine learning algorithms fed with information derived from Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite image series. The products obtained were evaluated using metrics derived from the contingency matrix, calculated from field-labeled data. The methodology used for automatic classification is detailed, including the methodology for labeling training points, the spectral information used to feed the classifiers, the selection of the classification methodology itself, as well as the details of the post-processing procedure applied to each specific forest formation and the evaluation of the final products obtained. The delineation obtained excludes 235182 ha from the 968397 ha of the current map, which we consider to not correspond to native forests, and incorporates 187512 ha of native forests that had not been previously mapped, reducing the total mapped area of native forests in the province by 4.9%. The evaluation, carried out with 719 field-labeled points, assigns an overall accuracy of 0.89 and a kappa index of 0.85 to the classification obtained, indicating that the proposed methodology is suitable for the delineation of native forests in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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El fuego es un componente natural de los ecosistemas y también una herramienta en el manejo de los sistemas agropecuarios en la provincia de La Pampa. Sin embargo, los incendios forestales representan también un riesgo para las personas, bienes, actividades rurales y recursos naturales, El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la ocurrencia de incendios forestales en La Pampa entre los años 2005 y 2017. Se examinaron el número de incendios y sus causas, la superficie y tipo de vegetación total afectada para cada uno de los 22 Departamentos de la provincia. Durante el período de estudio se registraron 638 eventos, que afectaron un total de 2.675.875 ha (aproximadamente 18,7 % de la provincia). La mayoría de los eventos fueron de origen natural, no superaron las 5000 ha de extensión y afectaron en proporciones similares a bosques nativos, arbustales y pastizales. El mayor número de incendios forestales ocurrió en enero, probablemente debido a condiciones de mayor temperatura, baja humedad de los combustibles y ocurrencia de tormentas eléctricas que favorecen la ignición y propagación del fuego. La temporada más significativa fue 2016/17, con 1.337.170 hectáreas afectadas. Entre los Departamentos, Chalileo y Caleu Caleu tuvieron la mayor superficie quemada (˃570.000 ha; ~65 % de la superficie total); mientras que Chalileo y Utracán presentaron el mayor número de incendios (~115). No se registraron incendios en el sector nororiental de la provincia. Estos resultados contribuyen a las actividades de prevención y planificación desarrolladas para la gestión del riesgo de incendios a nivel provincial y regional.

The inhabitants of the arid plain of northwest San Luis harvest rainwater in impoundments (small dams) to support cattle and goat production in native forests. This ancient technology has been complemented, in the last two decades, by aqueducts that transport water from the central mountains of San Luis (Nogolí dam). In this study, we 1) present an approach to social perceptions and local knowledge about impoundments; 2) implement technological improvements in six of them to increase the efficiency of water harvesting and storage, and 3) characterize the temporal dynamics of the regional water resource (impoundments and Nogolí dam). To achieve this, we conducted surveys with impoundment users, installed water level sensors, hired road machinery for improvements, and analyzed existing databases. The survey results showed that the impoundments, far from being mere water reservoirs, constitute the cultural heritage of rural families. The application of technological improvements significantly increased the maximum average water level of the enhanced impoundments, from 144 to 220 cm (P<0.05), resulting in a 113% increase in the average maximum stored volume, reaching 1282 m³ (P<0.05). The daily water level of the improved impoundments was higher than control ones (on average, 110 vs. 62 cm, respectively; P<0.01). The water supply from the impoundments exhibited complementarities concerning the temporal dynamics of the Nogolí dam in terms of the speed of response to rainfall and the time lag between filling and emptying. This study provides key knowledge to achieve ‘water sovereignty’ in the arid plain of northwest San Luis by proposing the enhancement of existing impoundments and the use of the aqueduct as a complement to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina is the country with the highest proportion of arid and semi-arid ecosystems in Latin America. In the rangelands of Southwestern Buenos Aires (Patagones Department), there is a clear advancement of the agricultural frontier to the detriment of the native forest in this region. Due to rainfall variation and seed acquisition, Thinopyrum ponticum is cultivated as a forage perennial crop in this region. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of T. ponticum as a facilitating crop for the medium-term rehabilitation of natural grasslands in semi-arid areas. The working hypotheses were that: 1) native perennial grass cover increases over the years and 2) diversity and specific richness of the vegetation are enhanced by the duration of Tall Wheatgrass implantation. Data were collected from commercial plots where T. ponticum was shown: recent implantation (5–8 years, RI); medium implantation (13–15 years, MI); and old implantation (20–22 years, OI). Thirty-four species were identified and classified into seven functional groups: Annual grasses, annual herbs, perennial herbs, exotic perennial herbs, perennial forage grasses, exotic perennial forage grasses, perennial forage exotic grasses, and non-forage perennial grasses. Thinopyrum ponticum 's total cover was between RI and OI. Total cover, species richness, and Shannon-Weaver diversity index showed no differences among treatments. Perennial forage grasses exhibited higher cover values in sites with greater implantation age and annual grasses showed the opposite response. Our results indicated that T. ponticum does not invade the sampled plots and enhances the colonization of the planted plots by perennial forage native species. However, even though the herbaceous cover had been recovered, the woody layer which could provide environmental services and specific values for conservation was not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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En este artículo se busca comprender las epistemologías de la manigua, entendidas como, un complejo sistema de conocimientos y vida, en diálogo con el monte y el agua en el Departamento de Chocó, Colombia. Las categorías de ‘conocimiento ancestral’ y ‘tradicional’ le asignan un carácter involutivo al ribereño; lo anclan al pasado. Las epistemologías de la manigua como metodología implican un diálogo interepistémico entre el método genealógico y las mañas de Tío Conejo, Ananse, Miguel Caicedo, Jaime Arocha, Sergio Mosquera, Lydia Cabrera, en especial, Rogerio Velásquez. La oralidad representa potentes guayacanes3. Los ribereños son portadores de conocimientos propios: espiritualidad, ombligamiento, partería, etc. Esta racionalidad se encuentra amenazada por el colonialismo.

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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.)

South American drylands roughly form two diagonals both termed in the biogeographical literature as the "South American dry diagonal" (SADD). However, they correspond to two different geographical areas. One comprises the Caatinga, Cerrado and Chaco domains, thus encompassing the areas between northeastern Brazil and northwestern Argentina. The other stretches from Patagonia in southern Argentina to the Pacific deserts of northern Chile and Peru, thus also including the Monte, Prepuna and dry Puna domains. I termed them the eastern and western SADDs, respectively (i.e., eSADD and wSADD). In this mini review I attempt to summarize the major climatic features of the two South American dry diagonals, their possible origins, biogeographical patterns within and around them and to explore possible interconnections. The eSADD is generally more humid than the wSADD and has more pronounced rainfall seasonality, with precipitation concentrated in summer, while the wSADD tends to be less seasonal due to year-round aridity, with little precipitation largely occurring in winter. The origin of both diagonals appears to go back to the middle Miocene, associated with global cooling. Biogeographical studies show that these diagonals are important in structuring South American distribution patterns south of the Equator, both acting as barriers for humid-adapted lineages and corridors for arid-adapted taxa. Remarkably, the two diagonals appear to have few plant and animal taxa in common, which may explain why biogeographers speaking about one diagonal seem to ignore the existence of the other.

In a context of global desertification, direct seeding of native species is emerging as a hopeful technique to achieve large‐scale arid land restoration. Although low percentages of establishment have been reported for direct seeding in arid lands, it has been more cost‐effective than outplantings for some species. Therefore, in order to determine the most suitable species for direct seeding we evaluated potential germination in laboratory trials (ex situ), and seedling emergence and establishment in the field (in situ) for five shrub species from the most arid region of Argentina called "Monte." Direct seeding was performed in three alternative environmental conditions: (1) abandoned oil‐drilling platforms, (2) bare soil patches, and (3) under the canopy of shrubs patches in cattle ranching areas. In the three cases, four soil treatments were applied: hydrogel, soil enrichment with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and clay pot irrigation. Seedling emergence and establishment after the first period of extreme weather conditions (summer) were higher in severely degraded sites (oil‐drilling platforms). In this particular condition, seedling emergence and establishment presented the highest values for Ephedra ochreata (64.8–82.8% and 26.8–46.4%, respectively) and the lowest values for Larrea divaricata (6.78–24.8% and 2.8–6.4%, respectively). These results show that direct seeding offers potential possibilities to restart processes of assisted succession in arid lands and that species selection is a key stage/phase in direct seeding success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amblyomma tigrinum es una especie de garrapata con amplia distribución en América del sur. Presenta importancia médica y veterinaria debido a que los estadios adultos han sido registrados principalmente en mamíferos, incluyendo a humanos. El día 25 se septiembre ingresó al Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre un ejemplar de gato montés Leopardus geoffroyi con trauma cefálico, procedente del departamento de San Martín, provincia de San Juan. Se procedió a realizar un examen externo registrándose dos garrapatas, identificadas como A. tigrinum. Esta interacción parásito- hospedador es el primer registro para la provincia de San Juan y el segundo para Argentina. El presente estudio brinda información novedosa no antes registrada sobre la interacción de A. tigrinum con L. geoffroyi, contribuyendo al conocimiento parasitario en carnívoros de Argentina.

Prosopis species (mesquite trees) provide one of the main Non-Timber Forest Products of the Monte Desert and their pods have played an important role as a source of livelihood for the inhabitants of most arid regions of America. Our goals for this study were to analyze the morphological variability of P. flexuosa (mesquite) fruits and the chemical-nutritional properties (moisture content, ash, total protein, total lipids, total crude fiber, soluble sugars and total carbohydrates) of the endocarp-free flour in eight provenances distributed along the latitudinal gradient of the Monte desert (Pipanaco, Fiambalá, Chilecito, Telteca, Montecaseros, Las Catitas, Ñacuñán and San Rafael). The fruits were collected from locations isolated from each other by mountain ranges or by a distance of more than 100 km. A latitudinal differentiation in fruit morphology was observed between the locations. Those from the northernmost location (latitude 27° 58' - 29° 29' S) differed in their morphological characteristics in that they were longer, and therefore have more knots and seeds than the fruits of the southernmost populations (latitude 32° 22' - 35° 18' S). However, there was no observed effect of geographical location on the chemical characterization of the flour. Only the total fat content was higher in the southern population. P. flexuosa flour from Mendoza contained high levels of soluble sugars and carbohydrates in Telteca, which could be related to the water stress tolerance of mesquite trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chica (Ramorinoa girolae, Fabaceae) is an endemic species with a valuable ecological role in arid environments of Argentina, protecting watersheds and wildlife and providing food for humans. The aim of this study was to describe its woody anatomy, growth dynamics, recruitment and relation to climate. Samples from three sites were collected, and anatomical woody analysis and standard dendrochronological techniques were applied. After dating the samples, residual tree-ring chronology was compared with two climate variables, temperature and southern oscillation index (SOI). Results show that chica has variable porosity (diffused, semicircular or circular) with single or grouped vessels. Vessel density varies among the annual growth rings. The storied rays are considered characteristics of a specialized wood. Wider vessels in the beginning of the growing season and terminal parenchyma allowed us to detect tree-ring boundaries. Missing rings and lenses were common, making the dating process difficult. Mean radial growth was 1.2 mm year-1 (SD ± 0.25; 1605 - 2009 period). Temperature and SOI have a positive impact on growth. Results showed the anatomical adaptations of chica wood to arid conditions and its potential to provide data from more than 400 years to environmental and temporal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Ecological knowledge of wildlife shows that species are not equally important to human communities. The present work aims to identify the ethnospecies of higher cognitive salience to local people, and to explain their salience based on the cultural value they are assigned. M&M: The Sutrop's cognitive salience index of each ethnospecies and its statistical significance were calculated from fauna free lists. Descriptive statistical and qualitative analysis of uses and perceptions was carried out through the nature's contributions to people categories, using interviews and observation. Results: The free lists recorded a total of 100 ethnospecies, corresponding to birds (58%), mammals (18%), insects (13%), reptiles (7%), and amphibians and arachnids (2% each). Positive and negative contributions were detected in thirty-eight ethnospecies, although only eleven were statistically significant. Among the positive ones, material contributions stand out, followed by non-material and regulating ones. Among the negative, contributions were linked to damage to domestic animals and dangerousness. Additionally, relational and non-anthropocentric values appeared. Discussion and conclusions: Among relevant ethnospecies, those with the greatest number of positive contributions stand out. Also some related to negative perceptions for being responsible for attacks on domestic animals, and their dangerousness. The results provide inputs for policy makers and to re-think the links of local people with the fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a contrastive study of Brazilian Portuguese um monte de NP and Moscow Standard Russian kucha NPgen quantifying binominal constructions, under a usage-based constructionist approach. To identify semantic specificities in both constructions, an empirical investigation based on collostructional analysis was conducted. The results indicate that despite some similarities between Portuguese and Russian in terms of cognitive operations involved in the conceptualization of the binominal quantifying constructions um monte de NP and kucha NPgen, there are specificities concerning each construction in each language in terms of semantic compatibility of lexemes co-occurring in them.

Abstract The advance of the agricultural frontier in the north of Río Negro led to the land on the plateau being used for dryland livestock production. Livestock practices such as these result in an ecological imbalance that involves the spontaneous plant species in the scrublands. In this study, the species that grow spontaneously in this area were identified, as well as their specific richness and distribution. The native species were related to cattle consumption and the exotic species to toxic potential. The Sörensen similarity index was calculated to express the degree of similarity between the sites. The study area included 59 families, 197 genera and 300 species of vascular plants. The most representative families being the Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Verbenaceae and Chenopodiaceae. The highest percentage of species consumed were native and 66% of the exotic species are potentially toxic to cattle. The Riparian Zone presented a greater number of exotic species. The highest similarity was between the Plateau Plain and the Foot of Escarpment. The information provided is a basis for evaluative studies between dryland cattle production and plant conservation in the Middle Valley of Río Negro.

The lizard Liolaemus darwinii (Liolaemidae) is a typical species with wide distribution in Monte environments of Argentina. The objective of this study is contribute to knowledge of sexual dimorphism in L. darwinii. We evaluated sexual shape and size variation of the cephalic region through procustes analyses with geometric morphometry. We predict that the heads in males tend to be larger than in females. The results showed significant sexual differences in shape, mainly in supraocular scales. Size was larger in males, although the differences were not significant. Our results are similar to other analyses using lineal morphometry in other populations of L. darwinii of Argentina. Geometric morphometry analyses are a useful tool for addressing sexual differences in Monte lizards. For San Juan province, in the center-west of Argentina, this is the first study using these analyses.

The lizard Liolaemus darwinii (Liolaemidae) is a typical species with wide distribution in Monte environments of Argentina. The objective of this study is contribute to knowledge of sexual dimorphism in a population of L. darwinii (Bell, 1843). We evaluated sexual shape variation of the cephalic region through procustes analyses with geometric morphometry. We predict that the heads in males will have differences in shape with respect to females. The results showed significant sexual differences in shape, mainly in the region around the eyes. There were no significant differences in sizes. Geometric morphometry analyses are a useful tool for addressing sexual differences in Monte lizards. This constitutes the first study for the center-west of Argentina in San Juan province that implements these geometric morphometry analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The north of Neuquén province shares with the south of Mendoza province the subprovince Payunia of the biogeographical province of Patagonic steppe, which is characterized by the presence of approximately 800 volcanoes. Although we have conducted several samplings in volcanoes of Mendoza in past years to recognize the biodiversity of tenebrionids, it is still pending which is the role that these mountains have in the biota of tenebrionids in Neuquén. In this work we reported the results of two consecutive years of prospection in two volcanoes separated by 120 km between each other, Tromen and Auca Mahuida which have 3978 and 2215 meters above sea level respectively. We found that Auca Mahuida harbours a total diversity of 10 tenebrionid species and Tromen 9, but these communities were significantly different between them. From these prospections two new endemic species of Tenebrionidae are described: Scotobius aucamahuidensis Silvestro sp. nov. (Tenebrioninae: Scotobiini) from Auca Mahuida and Psectrascelis tromensis Flores sp. nov. (Pimeliinae: Nycteliini) from Tromen. Photographs for these two new species are included, with comparisons to other known species of these genera. Based on these results we discuss the role of different factors that influence tenebrionid diversity and their implications to conserve biodiversity.

La legislación española ha acogido tradicionalmente algunos de los elementos propios de la naturaleza con el objeto de regular su explotación o conservación al formar parte del patrimonio regio o señorial, en algunos casos. Entre ellos, ha destacado el reflejo en la normativa de los bosques y montes. Sin embargo, con la ampliación material del medio ambiente, dada la evolución de la conciencia ambientalista, pudiera pensarse que estos conceptos se han visto superados por la referencia a este concepto. Este no es el caso. Los bosques y montes han sido algo que ha gozado en España de alta protección ya desde el siglo xvi, creándose para ello un órgano en el seno de la Administración pública de manera concreta e individualizada. Pese a esta presencia tan tradicional en la regulación de los bosques, el legislador nacional nunca se ha interesado por crear una interpretación auténtica que defina de manera clara qué debemos entender por la misma. En este estudio, tratamos de vislumbrar y analizar las referencias que a este concepto se ha hecho tanto en el ámbito jurídico, jurisprudencial como doctrinal.

This is the first comparative research in which phylogeographical patterns and present and palaeoclimatic distribution were investigated in desert plants that inhabit the Argentinian Monte and Chaco biogeographic provinces. We investigated two closely related and partially sympatric species of legume shrubs, Senna aphylla and Senna pachyrrhiza , to contribute to understand the evolutionary history of arid plants and the impact of Quaternary climatic oscillations in these regions. We carried out phylogeographic analyses using plastid DNA accD - psa1 and rpL32-trnL sequences and reconstructed palaeodistribution by ecological niche modelling (ENM). In S. aphylla , that inhabits northern areas of the Monte, the haplotype network, demographic and spatial analyses and ENM indicated that the populations have remained demographic and spatially stable and would have undergone fragmentation in intermountain valleys and bolsons. In S. pachyrrhiza , distributed mainly along the Monte and southwestern Dry Chaco, the haplotype network presented a 'star-like' topology and demographic analyses and ENM supported a recent demographic expansion but no range expansion. The species diversified c. 2.5 Mya, survived Quaternary glaciations and responded differently to climatic changes, complex topography and environmental heterogeneity. The complex geological and climatic history of arid lands in mid-latitude South America provides different scenarios that promoted a mosaic of phylogeographical patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological soil crust (BSC) plays an important role in numerous functional aspects of arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Particularly, it plays a decisive role in offering suitable microsites for establishment and development of vascular plant species. BSC would be important to assist the ecological restoration of land degraded by use and increase the development of native communities with ecological value. The objective of this work was to examine the emergence and establishment of seedlings of Pappophorum caespitosum and Nassella longiglumis, two native grass species, in relation to the presence of BSC and water availability. The results obtained allow us to observe that the differences in the emergence and establishment of the herbaceous species studied were related with the availability of water and not with the coverage of BSC. In order to carry out ecological restoration works that include CBS and native forage species, aspects related to precipitation and temperature regimes should be taken into account. The results obtained do not allow us to state whether CBS has positive or negative effect on the establishment of seedlings of these species, but they do allow us to know their behavior under different soil water conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In few groups of parasites have the patterns of distribution been studied using quantitative methods, even though, the study of these organisms indirectly provides information on the biogeographic history of their hosts, and in turn, the history of the hosts allows elucidation of speciation events of the parasites. Our objective was to quantitatively identify distributional congruence patterns of native fleas in northwestern Argentina. We analyzed 159 georeferenced distributional records of 47 species and six subspecies of fleas in northwestern Argentina using NDM/VNDM software. We found eight consensus areas, defined by 17 species and two subspecies, included in six patterns of distributional congruence (PDCs) with endemic and non-endemic fleas. The PDCs with the greatest values of endemicity (E) were mainly associated with Monte and Yungas Forests areas. All patterns indicated strong tendency of the Yungas Forests as a possible endemism area. Our results indicate that distributional congruence centers are generally located in Yungas Forests areas and highlight the importance of these areas in conservation and historical biology. This new information will allow delimitation of areas in the region at a more detailed resolution in the future.

The sentence of the High Court of Justice of the Region of Murcia on December 2, 2021 addresses the case of an agricultural company that requested the cleaning of an abandoned plot to plant almond trees. The court concluded that the change of use was not exceptional and that the presence of habitats of community interest in the plot justified the denial of authorization. Despite the existence of a road on the plot, it is not considered a discontinuity in the continuity of the forest land. The appeal filed is dismissed. [Extracted from the article]

Male-only obligate semelparity is a well-studied reproductive strategy in some Australian marsupials. This strategy has not been documented in South American species, although semelparity in both sexes occurs in some Neotropical didelphids. The fat-tailed mouse opossum, Thylamys bruchi , is an endemic species of the temperate Monte Desert, in Argentina. Seasonality and predictability of resources are two of the attributes associated with habitats where marsupial semelparity has evolved, and both are characteristic of the Monte Desert. We aimed to characterize the life-history strategy of T. bruchi to explore if it can be considered a semelparous species. We studied a fat-tailed mouse opossum population for 7 years with two different capture techniques (Sherman traps and nest boxes). Thylamys bruchi showed strong seasonality in abundance, with the highest captures during summer and autumn. Reproduction and weaning coincided with the most favorable period of the year with respect to climate and resource availability. Every year we observed a single cohort with little overlap until weaning of young. After breeding, all adults disappeared from the population; however, unlike any other didelphids, males showed delayed mortality and died, along with females, after weaning. We found no evidence of survival to a second breeding season for either sex. We therefore propose T. bruchi as a desert-dwelling marsupial with a semelparous reproductive strategy. Because the severity of winters may be acting as an important constraint on the energetic balance of adults in this population, we propose that challenging climatic conditions, coupled with the seasonality and high predictability of food resources, may have contributed to the evolution of the extreme reproductive strategy in this didelphid marsupial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During last decade we surveyed the richness of non-flying mammals of La Pampa Province using different methods that included 4 transects using motor vehicles, trappings (13 sites), bird pellets and carnivore feces analyses (5 sites), interviews with local farmers, and collected road-kill and other remains from locally consumed mammals. We calculated species richness through 0.25° x 0.25° (ca. 616 km2) quadrants, richness and number of records by Phytogeographic Province (PP). We generated 591 records comprising 31 native species included in 27 genera and 12 families, coming from 123 direct observations, 108 trapped specimens, 230 specimens from pellets and feces, and 103 recovered from locals, 21 records were generated from interviews and 6 specimens from the consultation of informal collections. The highest richness was found in the Espinal PP (23 species, with values between 14 and 1 per quadrant), in Monte PP (23 species, with values between 12 and 1 species per quadrant), and in the Pampa PP (16 species, with values between 10 and 1 per quadrant). Of the 30 species recorded, one is categorized for Argentina as Endangered, 2 Vulnerable, 2 Near Threatened, and 1 Data Deficient, while the remainder species are treated as Least Concern. The results updates the distribution of several taxa and are an important source of information to generate conservation measures aimed at resolving conflicts between the local fauna and local inhabitants, or to identify new zones for inclusion in the provincial protected area system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid and semiarid environments dominate the Earth's surface and are very vulnerable to global change. Chañar (Geoffroea decorticans) and brea (Parkinsonia praecox) are two ubiquitous woody species of these environments. They grow in degraded forests, strongly modified areas and as a main component of secondary forests. Despite the value of both species, little is known about their growth dynamics and their relationship with climate. The objective of this research was to determine their dendrochronological potential and the connection between growth and climate variables. Anatomical and standard dendrochronological methods were applied. First of all, we stated the anatomical characteristics that allowed us to detect tree-ring boundaries (terminal parenchyma and variation in the shape of vessels). Further, after dating and measurement of tree rings we determined significant correlation between series, which means a common growth signal among trees as a result of environmental variable effects. Trees were not older than 40 years. Mean annual radial growth was 3.37 mm (SD±0.71) and 2.16 mm (SD±0.61) for chañar and brea, respectively. Finally, chañar and brea had a negative growth-mean temperature association. Rainfall affected chañar and brea growth in summer previous to the growing season. Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) had an inverse association with growth of brea. This means, in the case of brea, a significant association with local (temperature and rainfall) and global (SOI) climate variables. These results evidenced the growth dynamics of both species and their value for dendroclimatological studies for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Hipogrifo: revista de literatura y cultura del siglo de oro is the property of Hipogrifo: revista de literatura y cultura del siglo de oro 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 intraspecific evolutionary history of South American xerophytic plant species has been poorly explored. The tree species Prosopis chilensis has a disjunct distribution in four South American regions: southern Peru, southern Bolivia, central–western Argentina and central Chile. Here, we combined phylogeographical (based on chloroplast and nuclear markers), morphological and climatic data to evaluate the relative contribution of historical demo-stochastic and adaptive processes in differentiating the disjunct areas of distribution. The results obtained with the two molecular markers revealed two closely related phylogroups (Northern and Southern, predominating in Bolivian Chaco and in Argentine Chaco/Monte, respectively), which would have diverged at ~5 Mya, probably associated with transgression of the Paranaense Sea. Bolivia and Argentina have a larger number of exclusive haplotypes/alleles and higher molecular diversity than Chile, suggesting a long-lasting in situ persistence in the former and a relatively recent colonization in the latter, from the Bolivian and Argentinian lineages. The two main lineages differ in morphology and climatic niche, revealing two significant, independent evolutionary units within P. chilensis promoted by local adaptation and geographical isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El presente trabajo aporta al conocimiento de la biogeografía humana en ambientes áridos y las fases de poblamiento en relación con las trayectorias demográficas humanas. En ese marco, se presenta nueva información arqueológica del área El Corcovo, emplazada en el Monte surmendocino/nordpatagónico. Se detallan los trabajos de campo que contemplaron transectas, excavación arqueológica de un sitio y el relevamiento de arte rupestre de otros tres. Los resultados señalan el inicio de las ocupaciones en torno a 1900 años 14C AP y un cambio en el patrón de movilidad en torno a 600 años 14C AP. Ambas situaciones son consistentes con las estimaciones cronológicas relativas existentes para el arte rupestre del área. Con base en un modelo demográfico regional del Monte, los resultados encuentran dos pulsos de incremento en la señal humana que se corresponden cronológicamente con la fecha inicial de ocupación estimada para el área y con la fecha obtenida para el cambio propuesto. Al asociarse estos pulsos con disminuciones significativas en el sector fitogeográfico de Patagonia se postulan explicaciones alternativas sobre la dinámica poblacional.

Summary: We combined tools of phylogeography, population genetics and biogeographical interpretation to analyse a group of phylogenetically independent lineages (animals and plants) that coexist within the same geographical region, yet under markedly different environments, in order to identify generalized barriers for gene flow. We tested the hypothesis that major geographic features have produced a concordant genetic structure in phylogenetically independent lineages. A rigorous bibliographic search was performed, selecting available molecular information from six taxa occupying distinct southern biomes of South America: Yungas, Prepuna, Puna and northern Monte. We estimated within-population genetic diversity, the genetic structure and haplotype phylogenies to assemble distribution maps of genetic barriers for each species. We found a strong association between genetic variation and latitudinal distribution of populations. We detected a major barrier for six taxa at 27°S latitude and a second one for a group of three species at 25–26°S. Two alternative non-exclusive hypotheses – geology and/or climate – explain concordant genetic barriers in divergent lineages. We suggest that the term 'biogeographically significant units' portrays a group of populations of phylogenetically unrelated taxa that inhabit the same geographic region that have been similarly impacted by major physical events, which can be used to identify priority areas in landscape conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American mink (Neovison vison) is the most widespread invasive carnivore in Patagonia. Based on field surveys and historical records, we present novel and detailed information of the American Mink present distribution along 180km of the Río Negro. This invasion nucleus represents the most northeastern area recorded for the species, a new invaded ecoregion (Monte Oriental) and a new province with wild populations (Buenos Aires). We document the existence of a fur farm located in Carmen de Patagones and Viedma cities (1965-1974) that may have originated this focus. We recommend the prompt design and implementation of a control plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR 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 White-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cactorum) drills wells in living branches and trunks of trees and shrubs to feed on sap flows, providing an energy-rich food resource for other bird species diverse in ecological attributes and taxonomic affinities. The aim of this study was to explore the avian assemblage that consumes sap from sap wells drilled by the White-fronted Woodpecker in 4 regions of Argentina distributed along an aridity gradient (precipitation and temperature), reaching from humid forest of the Chaco in the north to scrublands and open forest of the Monte in the south. We classified sap-feeding species according to the importance of nectar in their diet (specialist, facultative, or occasional nectarivores) and their efficiency in assimilation of sucrose (the main sugar in sap). We also compared the proportion of observed sap-feeding species with diversity of potential sap-feeding birds along the geographical aridity gradient. Forty-six bird species were recorded feeding at sap wells drilled by the White-fronted Woodpecker. Proportion of sap-feeding species was similar along the aridity gradient, and the type of diet and sucrase activity were not associated with the geographical aridity gradient. However, the proportion of occasional nectarivores with a low rate of sucrose assimilation was higher in Arid Monte (the most arid region) than in regions of lower aridity. Sap-feeding species could supplement their diets with sap, in varying degrees, during periods of scarcity of food resources, and White-fronted Woodpeckers through their sap wells could contribute to the persistence of this assemblage of sap-feeding bird species. Nevertheless, sap consumption by sapfeeding birds depends ultimately on the physiological and behavioral characteristics of each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El objeto de este estudio es indagar y explicar qué supone la práctica del carboneo y el carbón en el reino de Córdoba durante el periodo bajomedieval. Ante la carencia de estudios antracológicos, las fuentes documentales plasman la tipología de carbones existentes, cómo se obtenía esta materia prima, a qué usos se destinaba, cómo era transportado hasta la ciudad, y en último lugar, su comercialización. Gracias a esta información se puede comprender el significado que tenía el carboneo para nuestros antepasados, pues nos han dejado un legado carbonífero que seguimos utilizando en la actualidad.

The influence of Bulnesia retama was studied on the infiltration rate in a pilot site of the Bermejo basin (San Juan). Infiltration is related to surface runoff. It is affected by the texture and structure of the soil, the content of organic matter, the initial humidity and the vegetation cover. The field data were taken by homogeneous units defined on the basis of the digital processing of an elevation model, participatory mapping and satellite image visual interpretation. Five linear transects of 50 m were made, measuring coverage with the line intersection technique. Infiltration tests were performed inside and outside the canopy, with a single-ring infiltrometer (21 cm diameter) and distrivariable loading. The data were adjusted according to the diameter of the infiltrometer. Soil samples were taken determining: content of organic matter, texture, total nitrogen, conductivity and pH. The average coverage of B. retama was 34%, that of bare soil, of 53.2%. The infiltration rate was higher under the canopy of B. retama compared to bare soil. The results suggest that the presence of B. retama favors the infiltration rate in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Jurídica de Castilla y León is the property of Junta de Castilla y Leon, Direccion de Servicios Juridicos 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 mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.) have become significant in ethnobiological terms because of the multiplicity of their uses. In Argentina Prosopis flexuosa (black algarrobo or sweet algarrobo) have literature and oral records reporting food use. On the basis of different works that consider the history of use of P. flexuosa in the Monte, the present study aims to analyze the current knowledge and food uses of the species, in particular the flour obtained from its fruits and the patay, in the center west of Argentina. Interviews with different stakeholders involved in the production, marketing and promotion of algarroba-derived products were conducted for this purpose. The results of this study show that at the present time some communities of the west center of the Monte keep alive the practices associated with the production of flour, while in others, the uses go back to the past. In addition, some state agencies are working in the territory to promote the production of flour and derived products, under the axes: native forests, non-timber products and families / community. In turn, the product is detected in the marketing circuits of urban centers, but without an adequate identification, generating a de-localization of the local. Towards the end, the work leaves open some questions related to the benefits, strengths and obstacles that local communities and traditional knowledge could deal with in the face of innovation proposals that emanate from the State. At the same time, the possibility arises that the production of these foods is an opportunity for rapprochement of rural and urban communities through the consumption processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]