Pachasophy: Landscape Ethics in the Central Andes Mountains of South America

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy H. May, Jr. ◽  
PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noelia Verónica Guzmán ◽  
Silvia Mónica Pietrokovsky ◽  
Maria Marta Cigliano ◽  
Viviana Andrea Confalonieri

The Andean Mountain range has been recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. The proposed mechanisms for such species diversification, among others, are due to the elevation processes occurring during the Miocene and the intensive glacial action during the Pleistocene. In this study we investigated the diversification history of the grasshopperTrimerotropis pallidipennisspecies complex which shows a particularly wide latitudinal and altitudinal distribution range across the northern, central and southern Andes in South America. Many genetic lineages of this complex have been so far discovered, making it an excellent model to investigate the role of the central Andes Mountains together with climatic fluctuations as drivers of speciation. Phylogenetics, biogeographic and molecular clock analyses using a multi-locus dataset revealed that in Peru there are at least two, and possibly four genetic lineages. Two different stocks originated from a common ancestor from North/Central America—would have dispersed toward southern latitudes favored by the closure of the Panama Isthmus giving rise to two lineages, the coastal and mountain lineages, which still coexist in Peru (i.e.,T. pallidipennisandT. andeana). Subsequent vicariant and dispersal events continued the differentiation process, giving rise to three to six genetic lineages (i.e., clades) detected in this study, which were geographically restricted to locations dispersed over the central Andes Mountains in South America. Our results provide another interesting example of “island diversification” motored by the topography plus unstable climatic conditions during the Pleistocene, pointing out the presence of a hotspot of diversification in the Andean region of Peru.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1599-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wagner ◽  
I. Fast ◽  
F. Kaspar

Abstract. In this study, we assess how the anthropogenically induced increase in greenhouse gas concentrations affects the climate of central and southern South America. We utilise two regional climate simulations for present day (PD) and pre-industrial (PI) times. These simulations are compared to historical reconstructions in order to investigate the driving processes responsible for climatic changes between the different periods. The regional climate model is validated against observations for both re-analysis data and GCM-driven regional simulations for the second half of the 20th century. Model biases are also taken into account for the interpretation of the model results. The added value of the regional simulation over global-scale modelling relates to a better representation of hydrological processes that are particularly evident in the proximity of the Andes Mountains. Climatic differences between the simulated PD minus PI period agree qualitatively well with proxy-based temperature reconstructions, albeit the regional model overestimates the amplitude of the temperature increase. For precipitation the most important changes between the PD and PI simulation relate to a dipole pattern along the Andes Mountains with increased precipitation over the southern parts and reduced precipitation over the central parts. Here only a few regions show robust similarity with studies based on empirical evidence. However, from a dynamical point-of-view, atmospheric circulation changes related to an increase in high-latitude zonal wind speed simulated by the regional climate model are consistent with numerical modelling studies addressing changes in greenhouse gas concentrations. Our results indicate that besides the direct effect of greenhouse gas changes, large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperatures also exert an influence on temperature and precipitation changes in southern South America. These combined changes in turn affect the relationship between climate and atmospheric circulation between PD and PI times and should be considered for the statistical reconstruction of climate indices calibrated within present-day climate data.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 247 (4) ◽  
pp. 247 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUAN C. OSPINA

New lectotypifications and new synonyms are provided as a result of a systematic study of the genus Festuca from the Central Andes. In the Andes mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, several species of Festuca are dominant components of the grasslands and high Andean steppes. Festuca circinata and F. dissitiflora occur in this area and were described based on morphological characters. Some authors have considered F. circinata as a valid species while others have treated it as a synonym of F. dissitiflora, together with F. dissitiflora var. loricata , F. dissitiflora var. villipalea, and F. erecta var. aristulata. In this study, a review of the taxonomy and nomenclature of F. castilloniana, F. circinata, and F. potosiana was performed, and their morphological and anatomical characters were compared with F. dissitiflora. Based on morphoanatomical and epidermal characters, this study contributes to the delimitation of F. circinata and F. dissitiflora. Nomenclatural notes and new anatomical and epidermal descriptions are included for these species. Differential characters between F. circinata and F. dissitiflora are discussed and F. circinata is restored as a valid species for Argentina. Festuca castilloniana and F. potosiana are synonymised under F. dissitiflora. Festuca dissitiflora var. loricata, F. dissitiflora var. villipalea, and F. erecta var. aristulata are excluded from the synonymy of F. dissitiflora and it is suggested that these names should be subordinate under F. fiebrigii. Festuca stuckertii is proposed as a new synonym of F. uninodis. Lectotypes are designated for the names F. argentinensis, F. dissitiflora, F. nemoralis and F. parodii, and second-step lectotypes are designated for the names F. circinata and F. ampliflora.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4656 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUAN TIMMS ◽  
JUAN C. CHAPARRO ◽  
PABLO J. VENEGAS ◽  
DAVID SALAZAR-VALENZUELA ◽  
GUSTAVO SCROCCHI ◽  
...  

We describe a new species of montane pitviper of the genus Bothrops from the Cordillera Oriental of the Central Andes, distributed from southern Peru to central Bolivia. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the characteristic combination of a dorsal body color pattern consisting of triangular or subtriangular dark brown dorsal blotches, paired dark brown parallel occipital stripes, a conspicuous dark brown postocular stripe, the presence of canthorostrals in some specimens, prelacunal fused or partially fused with second supralabial, one scale usually separating internasals, rostral trapezoidal, two canthals oval to rounded, similar size or slightly larger than internasals, three or four medial intercanthals, eight to twelve intersupraoculars, intercanthals and intersupraoculars keeled and frequently slightly keeled, supraoculars oval, one to three suboculars, two to three postoculars, loreal subtriangular, two to six prefoveals, subfoveals absent, two or none postfoveals, one or two scales between suboculars and fourth supralabial, seven or eight supralabials, nine or eleven infralabials, 23–25 middorsal scales, 189–195 ventrals in females and 182–190 in males, 48–58 subcaudals in females and 54–63 in males, exceptionally undivided. The new species is apparently restricted to areas within Andean montane forests that are less humid and devoid of large trees. 


The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 390-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth E. Campbell ◽  
Eduardo P. Tonni

Abstract The extinct family Teratornithidae contains the world's largest known flying birds. A new method of determining body weights of extinct birds, based on the size of their tibiotarsi, facilitates the estimation of the wing dimensions of these giant birds. An analysis of the bones of the teratorn wing shows that they closely resemble those of condors, suggesting that teratorns flew in a manner similar to these large New World vultures. The bones of the pelvic girdle and hindlimbs indicate that teratorns were probably agile on the ground, though better adapted for walking and stalking than running. We estimate that the largest teratorn, Argentavis magnificens, weighed 80 kg and had a wingspan of 6-8 m. It probably became airborne by spreading its huge wings into the strong, continuous, westerly winds that blew across southern South America before the elevation of the Andes Mountains and, once aloft, flew in the manner of condors.


Tectonics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lamb ◽  
Leonore Hoke

Tectonics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. n/a-n/a ◽  
Author(s):  
Leland J. O'Driscoll ◽  
Mark A. Richards ◽  
Eugene D. Humphreys

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