scholarly journals Rainfall as a significant contributing factor to butterfly seasonality along a climatic gradient in the neotropics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F. Checa ◽  
Elisa Levy ◽  
Jaqueline Rodriguez ◽  
Keith Willmott
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Climatic Gradient ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Seasonal Forests

AbstractWe analyzed the dynamics of multi-species butterfly communities along a climatic gradient with varying precipitation regimes for three consecutive years, and determine how climatic variables associate with observed butterfly seasonality. To provide a baseline for future studies of how climate change might affect these butterfly populations, we additionally explored the role of butterfly seasonality as a potential contributing factor for their susceptibility to climate variation. As far as we know, this represents the first study that simultaneously sampled and described seasonality patterns of tropical butterfly communities across ecosystems with varying climatic seasonality. A 3-year survey was carried out at three sites (i.e., wet, transition and dry forests) across a climatic gradient in western Ecuador. Butterflies were sampled using traps baited with rotting banana and prawn every two months from Nov 2010 to Sep 2013. Traps were set up at two heights, in the understory and canopy. In total, 7046 individuals of 212 species were sampled over 180 sampling days.Butterfly communities exhibited conspicuous intra and inter-annual variation in temporal dynamics with certain elements (e.g., maximum abundance recorded) of seasonality patterns likely synchronized in seasonal forests (i.e., transition and dry forest) across years but not in aseasonal forests (i.e., wet forest). In addition, the highest numbers of species and individuals occurred during the wet season across all study sites and years; indeed, rainfall was significantly positively associated with temporal abundance. Likewise, butterfly species displaying stronger seasonality were significantly associated with higher rainfall periods in seasonal forests. Variation in precipitation regimes might significantly affect more seasonal species.

scholarly journals Fruiting phenology and consumption by birds in Ficus calyptroceras (Miq.) Miq. (Moraceae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. RAGUSA-NETTO
Keyword(s):  
Food Resource ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Frugivorous Birds ◽  
Fruiting Phenology ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Seed Dispersers ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Figs are a remarkable food resource to frugivores, mainly in periods of general fruit scarcity. Ficus calyptroceras Miq. (Moraceae) is the only fig species in a type of dry forest in western Brazil. In this study I examined the fruiting pattern as well as fig consumption by birds in F. calyptroceras. Although rainfall was highly seasonal, fruiting was aseasonal, since the monthly proportion of fruiting trees ranged from 4% to 14% (N = 50 trees). I recorded 22 bird species feeding on figs. In the wet season 20 bird species ate figs, while in the dry season 13 did. Parrots were the most important consumers. This group removed 72% and 40% of the figs consumed in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. No bird species increases fig consumption from dry to wet season. However, a group of bird species assumed as seed dispersers largely increases fig consumption from wet to dry season, suggesting the importance of this resource in the period of fruit scarcity. The results of this study points out the remarkable role that F. calyptroceras plays to frugivorous birds, in such a dry forest, since its fruits were widely consumed and were available all year round.

scholarly journals Assembly Mechanisms of Neotropical Butterfly Communities Along an Environmental Gradient

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F. Checa ◽  
David Donoso ◽  
Elisa Levy ◽  
Sebastián Mena ◽  
Jaqueline Rodriguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Habitat Filtering ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
Variable Environments ◽  
Species Similarity ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Seasonal Forests

AbstractOur goal was to test the hypothesis that assembly processes that limit species similarity (i.e., competition) predominantly occur in more ‘stable’ abiotic environments, whereas habitat filtering (i.e., habitat characteristics) is a major driver of community composition within more variable environments at regional (e.g., aseasonal vs seasonal forests) and local scales (e.g., understory vs. canopy). A combined approach of phylogenetic- and functional trait-based analyses using forewing length and aspect ratio as traits, were used to this hypothesis.A 3-year survey was carried out at three sites (i.e., wet, transition and dry forests) across a climatic gradient in western Ecuador. Transition and dry forests were considered as seasonal, whereas wet forest were considered aseasonal. Butterflies were sampled using traps baited with rotting banana and prawn every two months from Nov 2010 to Sep 2013. Traps were set up at two heights, in the understory and canopy. DNA was extracted to sequence the barcode’ section of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) for phylogenetic analyses. Measurements of morphological traits, forewing length and aspect ratio were done using digital photographs of specimens.A total of 6466 specimens representing 142 species of Nymphalidae were recorded. Based on phylogenetic- and trait-based analyses, we rejected the hypothesis that assembly processes that limit species similarity (i.e., competition) are likely to predominantly occur in more ‘stable’ abiotic environments, whereas habitat filtering can be a major driver of community composition within more variable environments at regional (i.e., aseasonal forest vs seasonal forests) and local scales (i.e., understory vs. canopy). My study of assembly mechanisms revealed the opposite pattern, with stronger evidence for the action of ecological filters in the assembly of butterfly communities from the wet aseasonal forests, and competition likely to be a major assembly process within dry seasonal forests. The present study therefore provided new insights into community assembly mechanisms in one of the richest butterfly faunas worldwide.

scholarly journals Myiarchus flycatchers are the primary seed dispersers of Bursera longipes in a Mexican dry forest: An overlooked coevolutionary process?

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Carlos Almazán-Núñez ◽  
Luis E. Eguiarte ◽  
María del Coro Arizmendi ◽  
Pablo Corcuera
Keyword(s):  
Forest Succession ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Geographic Mosaic ◽  
Frugivorous Birds ◽  
Nurse Plants ◽  
Adaptive Processes ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship ◽  
Seed Dispersers ◽  
Study Sites

We evaluated the seed dispersal of Bursera longipes by birds along a successional gradient of tropical dry forest (TDF) in southwestern Mexico. B. longipes is an endemic tree to the TDF in the Balsas basin. The relative abundance of frugivorous birds, their frequency of visits to B. longipes and the number of removed fruits were recorded at three study sites with different stages of forest succession (early, intermediate and mature) characterized by distinct floristic and structural elements. Flycatchers of the Myiarchus and Tyrannus genera removed the majority of fruits at each site. Overall, visits to B. longipes were less frequent at the early successional site. Birds that function as legitimate dispersers by consuming whole seeds and regurgitating or defecating intact seeds in the process also remove the pseudoaril from seeds, thereby facilitating the germination process. The highest germination percentages were recorded for seeds that passed through the digestive tract of two migratory flycatchers: M. cinerascens and M. nutingii. Perch plants, mainly composed of legumes (e.g., Eysenhardtia polystachya, Acacia cochliacantha, Calliandra eryophylla, Mimosa polyantha), serve also as nurse plants since the number of young individuals recruited from B. longipes was higher under these than expected by chance. This study shows that Myiarchus flycatchers are the most efficient seed dispersers of B. longipes across all successional stages. This suggests a close mutualistic relationship derived from adaptive processes and local specializations throughout the distribution of both taxa, as supported by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution.

scholarly journals DYNAMICS OF FRUIT FLIES POPULATIONS IN TWO MANGO PRODUCTION ZONES (KORHOGO AND FERKÉ) IN NORTHERN CÔTE D’IVOIRE

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 256-264
Author(s):  
Minhibo Magloire Yves ◽  
Akpesse Akpa Alexandre Moïse ◽  
Coulibaly Tenon ◽  
Koua K Hervé ◽  
Coulibaly Adama
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Fruit Flies ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Bactrocera Dorsalis ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Study Sites

Fruit flies are a major constraint to the production and export of mangoes by causing the rot of mangoes. The objective of this work is to follow the fluctuation of population of flies in the northern part of Côte d'Ivoire between May 2015 and October 2016. A network of trapping flies using food baits (the Torula and Ceratrap) and sexual attractants (Methyl Eugenol and Trimedlure) were set up in Korhogo and Ferké mango orchards with the forest Diabaté Kamonon and the forest Petit Clerc as reference area. During trapping, 11 species of fruit flies were identified at all study sites. Among these species, Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra, were the most abundant in the area. In general, diversity indices were low. The Ferké’s Forest has the highest Shannon index (H = 1.20). This index was higher than the index found in Ferke's orchards (0.9398). At Korhogo the Shannon index in orchards (H = 0.84) is higher than in the forest (H = 0.41). It has been observed that the genus Bactrocera swarmed on mango orchards when precipitation was plentiful. While the genus Cerartitis only appeared when precipitation was low. In addition, knowledge of the ecology and fluctuation of fruit flies, will allow to develop a site monitoring device through a trapping system with sexual and food attractants.

scholarly journals Eurema brigitta (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) – a new record of butterfly for Socotra

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (Suppl.) ◽  
pp. 221-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Faltýnek Fric ◽  
Michal Rindoš ◽  
Vladimír Hula
Keyword(s):  
New Record ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Socotra Island ◽  
First Time

Eurema brigitta (Stoll, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is recorded for the first time from the Socotra Island (Yemen). The specimen represents either a wet season form of a subspecies originating from Africa or a form with its usual occurrence in Madagascar, Mascarenes, Aldabra and Comoros. The current number of butterfly species known for Socotra is now 27.

scholarly journals Myiarchusflycatchers are the primary seed dispersers ofBursera longipesin a Mexican dry forest

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2126 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Carlos Almazán-Núñez ◽  
Luis E. Eguiarte ◽  
María del Coro Arizmendi ◽  
Pablo Corcuera
Keyword(s):  
Forest Succession ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Geographic Mosaic ◽  
Frugivorous Birds ◽  
Nurse Plants ◽  
Adaptive Processes ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship ◽  
Seed Dispersers ◽  
Study Sites

We evaluated the seed dispersal ofBursera longipesby birds along a successional gradient of tropical dry forest (TDF) in southwestern Mexico.B. longipesis an endemic tree to the TDF in the Balsas basin. The relative abundance of frugivorous birds, their frequency of visits toB. longipesand the number of removed fruits were recorded at three study sites with different stages of forest succession (early, intermediate and mature) characterized by distinct floristic and structural elements. Flycatchers of theMyiarchusandTyrannusgenera removed the majority of fruits at each site. Overall, visits toB. longipeswere less frequent at the early successional site. Birds that function as legitimate dispersers by consuming whole seeds and regurgitating or defecating intact seeds in the process also remove the pseudoaril from seeds, thereby facilitating the germination process. The highest germination percentages were recorded for seeds that passed through the digestive system of two migratory flycatchers:M. cinerascensandM. nutingii. Perch plants, mainly composed of legumes (e.g.,Eysenhardtia polystachya, Acacia cochliacantha, Calliandra eryophylla, Mimosa polyantha), serve also as nurse plants since the number of young individuals recruited fromB. longipeswas higher under these than expected by chance. This study shows thatMyiarchusflycatchers are the most efficient seed dispersers ofB. longipesacross all successional stages. This suggests a close mutualistic relationship derived from adaptive processes and local specializations throughout the distribution of both taxa, as supported by the geographic mosaic theory of coevolution.

scholarly journals The Morphological Measurement Variations of Periophthalmus chrysospilos along the Coastline in the Mekong Delta

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Trung Hieu ◽  
Dinh Minh Quang ◽  
Hua Van U ◽  
Nguyen Huu Duc Ton
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Mekong Delta ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Morphological Variations ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Eye Diameter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Study Sites

This study provided data on morphological variation in Periophthalmus chrysospilos. The study was carried out in four provinces from Tra Vinh to Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. Fish samples were collected by hand-catching over 12 months from April 2020 to March 2021. Analysed results of a collection of 1,031 individuals (508 females and 523 males) showed that the total length (TL) and weight (W) of the female Periophthalmus chrysospilos were higher than that of the male, higher in the wet season than in the dry season and gradually increased from Tra Vinh to Ca Mau. Besides, the total length and weight of fish were also influenced by the interaction of season ´ site and gender ´ site. In addition, the morphological variation of this species such as eye diameter (ED), eye distance (DE), body height (BD), head length (HL) and taxonomic ratios such as HL/TL, BD/TL, ED/HL, DE/HL was gender, seasonal fluctuations and study sites. These morphological variations and ratios were also influenced by interactions season ´ site interactions. The findings contributed further information to fish identification and the ecological adaptation understanding of this species.

Dynamics in the emergence of dormant and non-dormant herbaceous species from the soil seed bank from a Brazilian dry forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Djalma de Souza ◽  
Bruno Ayron de Souza Aguiar ◽  
Danielle Melo dos Santos ◽  
Vanessa Kelly Rodrigues de Araujo ◽  
Júlia Arruda Simões ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Soil Seed Bank ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Physical Dormancy ◽  
Soil Seed Banks ◽  
Interspecific Differences

Abstract Aims In dry tropical forests, herbaceous species may have dormancy mechanisms and form persistent and transient seed banks in the soil. Evolutionarily acquired, these mechanisms are efficient for the establishment and survival of these herbs, especially in forests with unpredictable climates, such as the Caatinga. Thus, our objective was to verify whether the studied herbaceous species adopt the physical dormancy mechanism and how these natural barriers are overcome, to understand the temporal dynamics existing in the soil seed bank from a Brazilian dry tropical forest. Methods Seeds of five native herbaceous species from the Caatinga forests were selected and submitted to pre-germinative treatments for verifying the presence of physical dormancy. We collected soil samples in the rainy and dry seasons for four consecutive years and monitored the emergence of the selected herbaceous in the greenhouse. We verified the differences in germination and seed bank emergence in the soil by generalized linear models. Important Findings The presence and absence of physical dormancy were observed in seeds from Caatinga herbaceous species. We found intraspecific and interspecific differences in the herbaceous emergence from soil seed banks between years and climatic seasons. In perennial herbs, consecutive lack of emergence between seasons and years was frequent, which suggests a direct relationship with the mechanism of physical dormancy and the environmental conditions necessary to overcome integument barriers. In these species, seed dimorphism and dormancy may confer additional advantages to their survival. Moreover, presenting intermediate levels of physical dormancy in an annual species may be an evolutionary adjustment to rainfall unpredictability. In contrast, we found that the annual herb without dormancy is more sensitive to seasonal and interannual climate changes, as evidenced by the increase and significant reduction of its emergence in the soil seed bank. These differences acquired evolutionarily are advantageous for the establishment of herbaceous populations, mainly in semiarid regions with an unpredictable climate.

scholarly journals Modelling temporal dynamics of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) populations on Reunion Island (Indian Ocean), vectors of viruses of veterinary importance

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Grimaud ◽  
Hélène Guis ◽  
Frédéric Chiroleu ◽  
Floriane Boucher ◽  
Annelise Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Hurdle Model ◽  
Reunion Island ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Réunion Island ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Background Reunion Island regularly faces outbreaks of epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue (BT), two viral diseases transmitted by haematophagous midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to ruminants. To date, five species of Culicoides are recorded in Reunion Island in which the first two are proven vector species: Culicoides bolitinos, C. imicola, C. enderleini, C. grahamii and C. kibatiensis. Meteorological and environmental factors can severely constrain Culicoides populations and activities and thereby affect dispersion and intensity of transmission of Culicoides-borne viruses. The aim of this study was to describe and predict the temporal dynamics of all Culicoides species present in Reunion Island. Methods Between 2016 and 2018, 55 biweekly Culicoides catches using Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute traps were set up in 11 sites. A hurdle model (i.e. a presence/absence model combined with an abundance model) was developed for each species in order to determine meteorological and environmental drivers of presence and abundance of Culicoides. Results Abundance displayed very strong heterogeneity between sites. Average Culicoides catch per site per night ranged from 4 to 45,875 individuals. Culicoides imicola was dominant at low altitude and C. kibatiensis at high altitude. A marked seasonality was observed for the three other species with annual variations. Twelve groups of variables were tested. It was found that presence and/or abundance of all five Culicoides species were driven by common parameters: rain, temperature, vegetation index, forested environment and host density. Other parameters such as wind speed and farm building opening size governed abundance level of some species. In addition, Culicoides populations were also affected by meteorological parameters and/or vegetation index with different lags of time, suggesting an impact on immature stages. Taking into account all the parameters for the final hurdle model, the error rate by Normalized Root mean Square Error ranged from 4.4 to 8.5%. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to model Culicoides population dynamics in Reunion Island. In the absence of vaccination and vector control strategies, determining periods of high abundance of Culicoides is a crucial first step towards identifying periods at high risk of transmission for the two economically important viruses they transmit.

First Amburana cearensis (Fabaceae) tree-ring chronology in Brazil in a dry forest shows great potential for climate reconstruction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Godoy-Veiga ◽  
Giuliano Locosselli ◽  
Lior Regev ◽  
Elisabetta Boaretto ◽  
Gregório Ceccantini
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tree Ring Width ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Standard Tree

<p>Tree-ring chronologies are an excellent climate archive for their spatial and temporal resolution. While networks of chronologies have been built outside the tropics helping to understand past regional climate trends, tropical regions still lag behind in terms of spatial coverage. Dendrochronological studies, however, may succeed in seasonally dry tropical forests where the growing season is well defined. <em>Amburana cearensis</em>, found in both dry and wet forests in South America, is poorly explored for dendrochronological purposes, with no previous study in Brazil. Therefore, we sampled trees growing in a seasonally dry forest in a karstic area in Central-Eastern Brazil, under the South American Monsoon domain, in order to explore this species potential for dendroclimatological studies in the region. We build a tree-ring width chronology using 26 trees. We found a strong common growth signal among trees, with an r-bar of 0.51 and an average mean sensitivity of 0.50. The standard tree-ring width chronology showed a significant negative correlation with Vapor-Pressure Deficit during the entire wet season (0.54), negative correlation with temperature at the end of the wet season (0.45), and a positive correlation with the sum of precipitation during the wet season (0.46). Further stable isotopic analysis will provide additional records of climate variability in the region. Since Amburana cearensis occurs across most of the seasonally dry forests and savannas from South America, it has a great potential to be used to develop climate reconstructions and verify the effects of climate change currently affecting the region.</p>

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