Escasa presencia y grave amenaza para el “cortarramas peruano”, Phytotoma raimondii

En este artículo presentamos una actualización del estado de conservación del “cortarramas peruano”, indicando su escasa presencia dentro del área de distribución de la especie y sus amenazas. Desde Tumbes hasta Ancash se han identificado solo seis lugares donde existen poblaciones de más de 10 individuos y tres sitios en los que se reproduce. Los resultados indican que en total la población actual sería inferior a 500 individuos. Estos sitios contienen especies de flora representativa del matorral desértico peruano, varias de las cuales están amenazadas. Los sitios son muy pequeños (entre 5 y 150 ha), están muy fragmentados y se encuentran en inminente peligro de destrucción debido a la expansión urbana y agrícola, tala ilegal, sobre pastoreo e introducción de especies vegetales exóticas.

In this article, we present an update on the conservation statuts of the Peruvian Plantcutter. We find little presence of the species within its distribution area we catalog threats to the remaining populations. From Tumbes to Ancash only six sites have been identified with populations of more than 10 individuals and only three sites where the species is known to reproduce. Results indicate that the current total population is less than 500 individuals. These sites where the species is found contain floral species typical of the Peruvian desert scrub, several of which are threatened. Sites are very small (between 5 to 150 ha), highly fragmented and are under immediate threat of destruction due to agriculture, urban expansion, illegal logging, livestock foraging, and the introduction of exotic plant species.

Composición florística del hábitat de la cortarrama peruana (Phytotoma raimondii)

A través del registro de la composición florística de 16 parcelas de media hectárea en 12 lugares donde se encontraba Phytotoma raimondii, la cortarrama peruana, se halló que la riqueza y diversidad de plantas no influyen en la abundancia del ave. Además, no existe relación entre la abundancia de alguna de las 7 especies usadas para alimento o para nidificar excepto para el algarrobo. Las plantas más frecuentes en los 12 sitios fueron el algarrobo Prosopis pallida (92% de los sitios), el vichayo Capparis ovalifolia (67%), el canutillo Grabowskia boerhaviifolia (58%), el sapote Capparis scabrida (58%) y el realengo Maytenus octogona (25%). Además del algarrobo, el canutillo parece ser una planta clave para el ave, ya que en las parcelas donde solo se encontraban tres especies de plantas, estas dos siempre estaban presentes. Se encontró también que en las parcelas donde había canutillo, no había más realengo de lo esperado al azar. Se señala la alarmante la disminución y escasez de lugares o hábitats aptos para la existencia y reproducción de la cortarrama peruana, especie en grave peligro de extinción

Through of the analysis of the floristic composition of 16 plots of half an hectare in 12 sites where the Phytotoma raimondii, Peruvian plantcutter exists, we found that richness and diversity of plants are not related to the abundance of the bird, neither the abundance of any of the 7 species used as food or for nestting, except the algarrobo (Prosopis pallida). The most frequent species in the 12 sites were algarrobo Prosopis pallida (92% of the sites), vichayo Capparis ovalifolia (67%), canutillo Grabowskia boerhaviifolia (58%), sapote Capparis scabrida (58%) and realengo Maytenus octogona (25%). Besides algarrobo, canutillo seem to be a key species because in the plots where only three species occurred, those two were present. In the plots where canutillo was present, realengo did not more than expected statistically. It is alarming the decrease and few places or habitats for the occurrence and reproduction of the Peruvian plantcutter, a species considered in danger of extinction

Caracterização florística de duas áreas de caatinga na região centro-sul do Ceará, Brasil / Flora of two areas of scrubland in south-central region of Ceará, Brazil

A caatinga está presente em quase toda área de clima semiárido do nordeste brasileiro e apresenta formações vegetais, fisionômica e florísticamente distintas. O estudo foi realizado em duas áreas de remanescentes de caatinga, um de embasamento cristalino (Fazenda Trussu - 6°19'46"S e 39°22'37''O) e outro sedimentar (Fazenda Elmo Moreno - 6º21'78"S e 39º14'24''O), localizadas no município de Iguatu, região centro-sul, Ceará. As coletas botânicas foram feitas quinzenalmente nos quatro meses de chuvas e mensalmente nos meses secos, durante o período de abril de 2007 a dezembro de 2010. Coletou-se ervas, subarbustos, arbustos, árvores, epífitas, hemiparasitas e lianas. A coleção botânica encontra-se depositada no acervo do Herbário MOSS. Na Fazenda Trussu coletou-se 186 espécies, distribuídos em 135 gêneros e 53 famílias e na Fazenda Elmo Moreno coletou-se 148 espécies, distribuídas em 107 gêneros e 46 famílias. Confirma-se a hipótese de que a vegetação da caatinga se diferencia de acordo com o tipo de substrato presente (cristalino ou sedimentar), exercendo a profundidade do solo influência sobre a distribuição e competição de espécies lenhosas. O registro de um significativo número de espécies vegetais lenhosas exclusivas e raras nas áreas estudadas indica que os trabalhos realizados até o momento ainda não amostraram ou cobriram considerável número de espécies presentes nas diferentes regiões do bioma caatinga.

The scrub is present in nearly every area of semi-arid northeast of Brazil and has vegetation, physiognomic and floristically distinct. The study was conducted in two areas of remnant scrub, one of the crystalline basement (Farm Trussu - 6 ° 19' 46 "S and 39 ° 22' 39''O) and other sedimentary (Farm Elmo Moreno - 6 of 21 '78 "S and 39 º 14' 24''O) located in the municipality of Iguatu, south-central, Ceará. The botanical collections were made fortnightly in four months and monthly rainfall in the dry months during the period April 2007 to December 2010. Was collected herbs, shrubs, trees, epiphytes, and lianas hemiparasites. The botanical collection is deposited in the Herbarium MOSS. On Farm Trussu was collected 186 species distributed in 135 genera and 53 families in the Farm and Elmo Moreno was collected 148 species belonging to 107 genera and 46 families. Confirms the hypothesis that the caatinga vegetation differs according to the type of substrate present (crystalline or sedimentary), exerting influence on soil depth distribution and competition of woody species. The registration of a significant number of woody plant species unique and rare in the study area indicates that the work performed so far have not covered or sampled a considerable number of species present in different regions of the Scrubland biome.

Florística y fisonomía de un matorral xerófilo espinoso intervenido en Punta de Piedras, Municipio Miranda, Estado Zulia, Venezuela

Floristic and physiognomic characteristics of disturbed thorny xerophytic scrubland in Punta de Piedras, Miranda Municipality, Zulia State, Venezuela. We determined the floristic and physiognomic aspects of disturbed thorny xerophytic scrubland in Punta de Piedras, Miranda Municipality, Zulia State, Venezuela. Botanical sampling was done twice monthly (November 2005-June 2006), in both rainy and dry seasons, for a total of 16 samples. The sampling was done in 10 vegetation patches, in an average area of 718,2 ± 706,24 m², and adjacent graminoid floristic components were identified using three 400 m² (20 x 20 m) plots, divided into 4 subplots (20 x 5 m²) and in these, were delimited 12 subplots (1 x 1 m²). In addition, human paths were carried out in order to identify other species plant. Thorny xerophytic scrubland showed human disturbances e.g. periodic fires, solid wastes, roads and human settlements and coastal semiarid thorny scrubland characteristics, similar to another Venezuelan localities. Forty-five species, in 22 families were identified, and the Poaceae (6), Mimosaceae (4), Boraginaceae (3), Cactaceae (3), Caesalpinaceae (3), Euphorbiaceae (3) and Fabaceae (3) presented the highest number of species. Human disturbances probably favor the appearance of vegetation patches and secondary grassland formations. In the last, Aristida venesuelae, Aristida pittieri y Portulaca pilosa showed the highest relative abundances and frequencies values with a summatory of 49,38% and 46,86%, respectively, while in the patches there were observed two layer: an herbaceous layer (less than 1 m high) as well as a bush-tree layer (2.63 ± 1.37 m high), comprised mostly of Opuntia wentiana, Piptadenia flava and Jatropha gossypifolia with relative abundances of 32,82, 15,60 and 15,14 %, respectively. The thorny xerophytic scrubland in Punta de Piedras presents a low number of species; however, the physiognomic characteristics are similar to other undisturbed thorny xerophytic scrublands in Venezuela. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 271-281. Epub 2009 June 30.

Se determinaron los aspectos florísticos y fisonómicos de un matorral xerófilo espinoso intervenido de Punta de Piedras, municipio Miranda, estado Zulia, Venezuela. Se realizaron dieciséis muestreos quincenales, entre noviembre 2005 y junio 2006, para la recolecta, identificación y conteo de las especies tanto en el periodo lluvioso como en el seco. Los muestreos se llevaron a cabo en 10 manchones de vegetación con un área promedio de 718 ± 706.24 m², en una formación graminiforme en la que se emplearon tres parcelas de 20 x 20 (400 m²), dividiéndose cada una de éstas en cuatro subparcelas de 20 x 5 (100 m²) y a su vez, dentro de ellas, se delimitaron 12 subparcelas de 1 x 1. (1 m²), y también se realizaron recorridos para el reconocimiento de otras especies de la zona. El matorral xerófilo espinoso mostró evidencias de intervención antropogénica como quemas periódicas, deposición de desechos sólidos, caminerías para el tránsito de las personas y asentamientos poblacionales en las zonas circunvecinas; y presentó una vegetación semiárida de espinar costero característica y comparable a la señalada para otras regiones del país. Se identificaron 45 especies agrupadas en 22 familias, entre las cuales destacaron: las Poaceae (6), Mimosaceae (4), Boraginaceae (3), Cactaceae (3) Caesalpinaceae (3), Euphorbiaceae (3) y Fabaceae (3). La intervención antropogénica parece generar la aparición de manchones de vegetación arbustiva y arbórea y de una formación graminiforme o pastizal. En esta última, Aristida venesuelae, Aristida pittieri y Portulaca pilosa presentaron los mayores valores de abundancia y frecuencia relativa cuya sumatoria corresponde a 49.38% y 46.86%, respectivamente; mientras que en los manchones se destacaron dos estratos: uno herbáceo menor a 1 m, y otro estrato arbustivo-arbóreo de bajo porte (2.63 ± 1.37 m de altura media), conformado principalmente por Opuntia wentiana, Piptadenia flava y Jatropha gossypifolia, especies que presentaron las mayores abundancias relativas de 32.82, 15.60 y 15.14%, respectivamente. El matorral xerófilo espinoso de Punta de Piedras presentó un bajo número de especies en comparación con otras comunidades xerófilas, no intervenidas, del país. Sin embargo, a pesar de la intervención antropogénica presente en esta comunidad, los manchones de vegetación mostraron rasgos fisonómicos análogos a los correspondientes a otras formaciones xerófilas espinosas no perturbadas de Venezuela.

Caracterización florística de ambientes de la cuenca baja del Río Cucurital, afluente del Río Caroní, Estado Bolívar, Guayana Venezolana / Floristic charaterization of enviroments of the lower Cucurital river basin, affluent of Caroní river, Bolívar State, Venezuelan Guayana

Como una contribución al conocimiento florístico de la cuenca del Río Caroní se realizaron colecciones botánicas en varios ambientes de la cuenca baja del Río Cucurital, que incluyen formaciones boscosas, tanto en penillanura como ribereñas, morichales, sabanas, arbustales y ambientes perturbados; en los bosques se hicieron colecciones en parcelas de 0,1 ha y fuera de ellas. De manera general, las familias con mayor cantidad de especies fueron Melastomataceae (46), Rubiaceae (33), Euphorbiaceae (23), Cyperaceae (19), Myrtaceae (18), Fabaceae (18), Clusiaceae (15), Arecaceae (15), Caesalpiniaceae (14), Chrysobalanaceae (14), Lauraceae (14), Poaceae (13) y Burseraceae (12), siendo las más representativas de la cuenca baja. Los géneros con mayor cantidad de especies fueron Miconia (17), Psychotria (13), Ocotea (10), Myrcia (8), Protium (7), Licania (7) y Rhynchospora (7). Melastomataceae y Rubiaceae predominaron en todos los ambientes con excepción de la sabana; Lauraceae, Burseraceae, Arecaceae, Chrysobalanaceae y Euphorbiaceae fueron las de mayor importancia en los bosques, y Myrtaceae y Cyperaceae en los bosques ribereños, esta última junto con las Poaceae predominaron en morichal y sabana. Se encontraron 19 especies restringidas a la Guayana venezolana, de las cuales 12 se conocen sólo del estado Bolívar, evidenciando que las condiciones ecológicas, topográficas y edáficas determinan la presencia de elementos florísticos particulares. Las actividades humanas son escasas, lo que se ha reflejado en poca alteración de las comunidades vegetales y en el mantenimiento del carácter prístino de los ambientes. Los escasos ambientes intervenidos han sido colonizados por especies herbáceas y arbustivas típicas de la región.

As a contribution to the floristic knowledge of the Caroní river basin, botanical collections were made in several environments of the lower Cucurital river basin, including forests, riverine forests, palm swamp forests (morichal), savanna, scrublands and altered areas. In middle and tall forests additional collections were made in plots of 0.1 ha. In general, the families with the highest number of species were Melastomataceae (46), Rubiaceae (33), Euphorbiaceae (23), Cyperaceae (19), Myrtaceae (18), Fabaceae (18), Clusiaceae (15), Arecaceae (15), Caesalpiniaceae (14), Chrysobalanaceae (14), Lauraceae (14), Poaceae (13) and Burseraceae (12), being the most representative of the low river basin. The genera with highest number of species are Miconia (17), Psychotria (13), Ocotea (10), Myrcia (8), Protium (7), Licania (7) and Rhynchospora (7). Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae families predominated in all environments with exception of the savanna. In the forest, Lauraceae, Burseraceae, Arecaceae, Chrysobalanaceae and Euphorbiaceae were the most abundant, as such as Myrtaceae and Cyperaceae in the riverine forests. Cyperaceae and Poaceae predominated in morichal and savanna. Nineteen species were previously reported only to the Venezuelan Guayana. Twelve of these are only known to the Bolivar state, reinforcing the idea that ecological, topographic and edaphic conditions can determine the presence of particular floristic elements. Human activities are scarce, which is reflected in unaltered vegetal communities and environments. The few altered communities have been colonized by native herbaceous and scrub species.

Factors influencing seasonal and monthly changes in the group size of chital or axis deer in southern India.

Chital or axis deer (Axis axis) form fluid groups that change in size temporally and in relation to habitat. Predictions of hypotheses relating animal density, rainfall, habitat structure, and breeding seasonality, to changes in chital group size were assessed simultaneously using multiple regression models of monthly data collected over a 2 yr period in Guindy National Park, in southern India. Over 2,700 detections of chital groups were made during four seasons in three habitats (forest, scrubland and grassland). In scrubland and grassland, chital group size was positively related to animal density, which increased with rainfall. This suggests that in these habitats, chital density increases in relation to food availability, and group sizes increase due to higher encounter rate and fusion of groups. The density of chital in forest was inversely related to rainfall, but positively to the number of fruiting tree species and availability of fallen litter, their forage in this habitat. There was little change in mean group size in the forest, although chital density more than doubled during the dry season and summer. Dispersion of food items or the closed nature of the forest may preclude formation of larger groups. At low densities, group sizes in all three habitats were similar. Group sizes increased with chital density in scrubland and grassland, but more rapidly in the latter–leading to a positive relationship between openness and mean group size at higher densities. It is not clear, however, that this relationship is solely because of the influence of habitat structure. The rutting index (monthly percentage of adult males in hard antler) was positively related to mean group size in forest and scrubland, probably reflecting the increase in group size due to solitary males joining with females during the rut. The fission-fusion system of group formation in chital is thus interactively influenced by several factors. Aspects that need further study, such as interannual variability, are highlighted.