Dendrometric variables and traumatic resin ducts in pine species associated with wood-stripping: a traditional practice in the conifer forests of Central Mexico

Background: In La Malinche National Park (LMNP), Pinus species are exploited mainly because they are a non-woody source of products such as ocote (resinous wood chips) and wood. Questions/Objective: Which Pinus species are subjected to wood-stripping (WS) in the LMNP? What are their dendrometric characteristics? Do WS trees present traumatic resin ducts associated with the ocoteo practice? Does the number of trees subjected to WS increase with altitude? Study site and dates: La Malinche National Park; Tlaxcala, México, 2017-2018. Methods: Random stratified sampling was done in a total of 33 plots in three different altitudes to quantify the number of damaged and undamaged trees and the total height and diameter per tree in each plot. Increment borers were obtained to estimate tree age, samples were taken for taxonomic determination, and tissue samples to evaluate mechanical damage. Results: Pine species subjected to wood-stripping (ocoteo) were P. leiophylla, P. montezumae, P. pseudostrobus, and P. teocote, with P. montezumae being the most affected in high and mid altitudes. WS trees were those with the greatest diameter and with the largest number of traumatic resin ducts. The species having the highest number of traumatic resin ducts was P. teocote. Conclusions: WS intensity in the LMNP is greater in the mid and low altitudes and in trees of greater diameter, height, and age. The species most affected by WS is P. montezumae and all WS individuals have a significantly higher number of traumatic resin ducts.

Host species influence on flea (Siphonaptera) infection parameters of terrestrial micromammals in a temperate forest of Mexico

Studies of abundance and distribution of organisms are fundamental to ecology. The identity of host species is known to be one of the major factors influencing ectoparasitic flea abundance, but explanations are still needed regarding how host taxa influence abundance parameters of different flea species. This study was carried out at La Malinche National Park (LMNP), Tlaxcala, Mexico, where previously 11 flea species had been recorded on 8 host species. Our aims were to list micromammal flea species, to determine flea infection parameters [flea prevalence (FP) and flea mean abundance (FMA)] and to analyse the influence of host species on these parameters. A total of 16 species of fleas were identified from 1178 fleas collected from 14 species of 1274 micromammals captured with Sherman®traps from March 2014 to December 2015 in 18 sites at LMNP. Some host species influence FP and FMA, in particular,Microtus mexicanusandPeromyscus melanotisshowed particularly higher infection values than other host species.Plusaetis aztecusandPlusaetis sibynuswere identified as the most abundant flea species.

Bat fauna associated with artificial ponds in La Malinche National Park, a mountain ecosystem of Mexico

An increase in water demand in mountains has reduced its availability for the fauna. As conservation tools, artificial ponds can be used to offer water to animals. Many studies have assessed the use of ponds by bats. However, most of them have been concentrated in the United States and Europe, while in regions with higher bat diversity the information is scarce. We captured the bat species associated with artificial ponds in a Mexican mountain where water was intubated 25 years ago. We identified and analyzed the bats’ species proportion and sex ratio and evaluated if species richness and abundance were affected by season, mean monthly precipitation, maximum monthly temperature and maximum monthly humidity. We captured 90 bats of seven species (Vespertilionidae), where

Availability of Wild Edible Fungi in La Malinche National Park, Mexico

The aim of this paper is to compare edible mushroom availability between the two slopes of La Malinche National Park in central México, and to discuss the possible relation between their availability and traditional use. Eight transects were set up. Samples were collected weekly during the rainy seasons of years 1998–2000. Sixty-one edible mushroom species were collected from a total area of 3200 m2 (0.32 ha). Over the three-year period, the diversity of mushrooms ranged from 21 to 28 taxa per transect line. Sporocarps were produced at a rate from 2.06 to 6.05 kg/401.51 m2. The highest species richness and production values for spatio-temporal frequency were obtained in Southeast slope. Edible mushrooms availability in the Southeast slope showed a strong dominance, driven mainly by Laccaria trichodermophora and Hebeloma mesophaeum. The Southwest slope had more diversified availability in time and space, with the most representative species, being L. trichodermophora. The characteristics of traditional management on each slope determined the differences found.

Evaluación de una nueva trampa para capturar conejos silvestres (Sylvilagus cunicularius y S. floridanus).

Resumen: En este artículo se describe el diseño de una trampa de red que se desarrolló para capturar conejos silvestres de las especies Sylvilagus cunicularius y S. floridanus en el Parque Nacional La Malinche, Tlaxcala. El desempeño de la trampa de red fue comparado con el de trampas de caja evaluando la eficiencia de captura y recaptura, el sesgo de capturas respecto al sexo y peso corporal y los tipos de lesiones que causan cada tipo de trampa sobre los conejos durante su captura. Se obtuvo mayor eficiencia de captura y recaptura de S. cunicularius con las trampas de red que con las de caja y no se encontraron sesgos de captura respecto al sexo en cada tipo de trampa. Sólo en trampas de red hubo un sesgo de captura hacia los individuos más pesados de S. cunicularius. En cambio, hubo un sesgo de capturas respecto al sexo en S. floridanus (fueron capturados una mayor proporción de machos), no se lograron observar los patrones encontrados en S. cunicularius, posiblemente porque S. floridanus fue la especie menos representada en las capturas. En ambas especies de conejos, las lesiones causadas durante su captura fueron más severas cuando se capturaron en trampas de caja que en las de red. Se concluye que la trampa de red es un buen dispositivo para realizar capturas y recapturas de conejos silvestres del género Sylvilagus, preferentemente conejos de mayor peso sobre todo en aquellos casos que se opte por capturar individuos adultos, tanto hembras como machos. Además este tipo de trampa de red reduce daños físicos en los conejos atrapados. Palabras clave: Conejos, Sylvilagus cunicularius, S. floridanus, trampa de red, trampa de caja, eficiencia de captura, Tlaxcala. Abstract: We describe the design of a net trap developed to capture wild rabbits of the species Silvilagus cunicularius and S. floridanus in La Malinche National Park, Tlaxcala. The performance of the net trap was compared with that of box traps, evaluating the efficiency of capture and recapture, and bias with respect to sex, body mass and the type of injuries associated with capture using each method. For S. cunicularius greater efficiency of capture and recapture was obtained with the net traps than with the box traps, no bias was found for sex for either type of trap, and only a bias was found towards the capture of the heaviest animals for the net traps. For S. floridanus, although there was a bias in captures with respect to sex (captures comprised a greater proportion of males), the pattern of captures was not as clear as for S. cunicularius, possibly due to the smaller number of captures for this species. In both species injuries caused by capture were more severe for the box than for the net traps. In conclusion, the net trap described here is a good method for capturing and recapturing wild rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus, and particularly heavier adult animals of either sex. It also reduces physical damage to the trapped animals. Key words: Rabbits, Sylvilagus cuniculus, S. floridanus, net traps, box traps, trapping efficiency, Tlaxcala