Ecosystem antifragility: beyond integrity and resilience.

We review the concept of ecosystem resilience in its relation to ecosystem integrity from an information theory approach. We summarize the literature on the subject identifying three main narratives: ecosystem properties that enable them to be more resilient; ecosystem response to perturbations; and complexity. We also include original ideas with theoretical and quantitative developments with application examples. The main contribution is a new way to rethink resilience, that is mathematically formal and easy to evaluate heuristically in real-world applications: ecosystem antifragility. An ecosystem is antifragile if it benefits from environmental variability. Antifragility therefore goes beyond robustness or resilience because while resilient/robust systems are merely perturbation-resistant, antifragile structures not only withstand stress but also benefit from it.

Data documenting the potential distribution of Aedes aegypti in the center of Veracruz, Mexico.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Establishment of Aedes aegypti (L.) in mountainous regions in Mexico: Increasing number of population at risk of mosquito-borne disease and future climate conditions" (M. Equihua, S. Ibáñez-Bernal, G. Benítez, I. Estrada-Contreras, C.A. Sandoval-Ruiz, F.S. Mendoza-Palmero, 2016) [1]. This article provides presence records in shapefile format used to generate maps of potential distribution of Aedes aegypti with different climate change scenarios as well as each of the maps obtained in raster format. In addition, tables with values of potential distribution of the vector as well as the average values of probability of presence including data of the mosquito incidence along the altitudinal range.

Establishment of Aedes aegypti (L.) in mountainous regions in Mexico: Increasing number of population at risk of mosquito-borne disease and future climate conditions.

The study was conducted in the central region of Veracruz Mexico, in the metropolitan area of Xalapa. It is a mountainous area where Aedes aegypti (L.) is not currently endemic. An entomological survey was done along an elevation gradient using the Ae. aegypti occurrences at different life cycle stages. Seven sites were sampled and a total of 24 mosquito species were recorded: 9 species were found in urban areas, 18 in non-urban areas with remnant vegetation, and 3 occurred in both environments. Ae. aegypti was found only in the urban areas, usually below 1200m a.s.l., but in this study was recorded for the first time at 1420m a.s.l. These occurrences, together with additional distribution data in the state of Veracruz were used to developed species distribution models using Maxlike software in R to identify the current projected suitable areas for the establishment of this vector and the human populations that might be affected by dengue transmission at higher elevations. Its emergence in previously unsuitable places appears to be driven by both habitat destruction and biodiversity loss associated with biotic homogenization. A border study using data from the edges of the vector's distribution might allow sensitive monitoring to detect any changes in this mosquito's distribution pattern, and any changes in the anthropic drivers or climate that could increase transmission risk.

Current and Future Distribution of the Tropical Tree Cedrela odorata L. in Mexico under Climate Change Scenarios Using MaxLike.

Climate change is recognized as an important threat to global biodiversity because it increases the risk of extinction of many species on the planet. Mexico is a megadiverse country and native tree species such as red cedar (Cedrela odorata) can be used to maintain forests while helping mitigate climate change, because it is considered a fast growing pioneer species with great economic potential in the forestry industry. In order to assess possible shifts in areas suitable for C. odorata plantations in Mexico with ecological niche models, we used the MaxLike algorithm, climate variables, the geo-referenced records of this species, three general circulation models and three scenarios of future emissions. Results show a current potential distribution of 573,079 km2 with an average probability of occurrence of 0.93 (± 0.13). The potential distribution area could increase up to 650,356 km2 by 2060 according to the general circulation model HADCM3 B2, with an average probability of occurrence of 0.86 (± 0.14). Finally, we delimited an area of 35,377 km2 that has a high potential for the establishment of C. odorata plantations, by selecting those sites with optimal conditions for its growth that are outside protected areas and are currently devoid of trees. C. odorata has a significant potential to help in the mitigation of the effects of climate change. Using MaxLike we identified extense areas in Mexico suitable to increase carbon sequestration through plantations of this highly valued native tree species.

Using four capitals to assess watershed sustainability.

The La Antigua watershed drains into the Gulf of Mexico and can be considered as one of the most important areas in Mexico because of its high productivity, history, and biodiversity, although poverty remains high in the area in spite of these positive attributes. In this study, we performed an integrated assessment of the watershed to recommend a better direction toward a sustainable management in which the four capitals (natural, human, social, and built) are balanced. We contrasted these four capitals in the municipalities of the upper, middle and lower watershed and found that natural capital (natural ecosystems and ecosystem services) was higher in the upper and middle watershed, while human and social capitals (literacy, health, education and income) were generally higher downstream. Overall, Human Development Index was negatively correlated with the percentage of natural ecosystems in the watershed, especially in the upper and lower watershed regions. Our results indicate that natural capital must be fully considered in projections for increasing human development, so that natural resources can be preserved and managed adequately while sustaining intergenerational well-being.

Rehabilitación de algunas propiedades químicas de los suelos y del bosque de niebla en veracruz, México con ensambles experimentales de leñosas nativas y casuarina equisetifolia L, Amoen / Rehabilitation of some chemical properties of soils and cloud forest at veracruz, Mexico with experimental assemblages of native woody species and casuarina equisetifolia L, Amoen / Reabilitação de algumas propriedades químicas dos solos e do bosque de neblina em veracruz, México com montagens experimentais de lenhosas nativas e casuarina equisetifolia L, Amoen

En la rehabilitación de un sitio muy degradado donde antes hubo bosque nublado, se exploró el efecto de ensambles experimentales de especies leñosas en algunas propiedades químicas del suelo, así como en el desempeño de las plantas. Brinzales de diez especies leñosas nativas de distintas etapas sucesionales del bosque nublado y la especie exótica Casuarina fueron combinados en cinco ensambles experimentales de distinta composición y riqueza. El impacto de los ensambles fue notable en cinco de las ocho propiedades químicas del suelo analizadas. El ensamble con Casuarina sobresalió de los demás por contener los individuos más altos y los niveles superiores de la mayoría de los nutrientes, notablemente nitrógeno. Más de la mitad de los individuos se establecieron exitosamente durante los dos primeros años del experimento (1999 y 2001). Los ensambles afectaron la supervivencia individual, así como todas las variables de crecimiento analizadas. La formación de una cubierta vegetal ocurrió más rápida y extensamente en los ensambles que solo contenían especies nativas, particularmente encinos, los que resaltaron también con niveles altos de algunos nutrientes. El ensamble más rico en especies mostró atributos intermedios en las variables de suelo y de desarrollo. Se valida la inclusión de Casuarina en suelos degradados para favorecer la acumulación de nutrientes. Los resultados sugieren que la rehabilitación inicial puede favorecerse mediante el establecimiento de ensambles.

On the rehabilitation of a severely degraded site formerly occupied by cloud forest, the impact of five experimental tree species assemblages on some soil chemical properties and plant performance was explored. Seedlings of ten native cloud forest succession tree species and the exotic species Casuarina were combined in five assemblages of different composition and richness. Their effect was noticeable on five out of eight soil properties analyzed. The one that included Casuarina stood out on height, and had the highest levels of most of the nutrients, particularly nitrogen. More than half of the trees sown remained alive after the initial two years of the experiment (1999 and 2001). Assemblages affected individual survival time as well as growth variables. Plant cover was most rapid and extensively formed by the native species assemblages; those that included oaks, showed high levels of some nutrients. The richest assemblage displayed intermediate levels in soil and plant variables. The inclusion of the rapid growth species Casuarina was validated to enhance nutrient accumulation on degraded soils. The results suggest that initial rehabilitation can be achieved by the assemblage establishment.

Na reabilitação de um lugar muito degradado onde antes houve bosque de neblina, se explorou o efeito de montagens experimentais de espécies lenhosas em algumas propriedades químicas do solo, assim como no desempenho das plantas. Mudas de dez espécies lenhosas nativas de distintas etapas sucessionais do bosque nublado e a espécie exótica Casuarina foram combinadas em cinco montagens experimentais de distinta composição e riqueza. O impacto das montagens foi notável em cinco das oito propriedades químicas do solo analisadas. A montagem com Casuarina destacou-se entre as outras por conter os individuos mais altos e os níveis superiores da maioria dos nutrientes, notavelmente nitrogêneo. Mais da metade dos indivíduos se estabeleceram exitosamente durante os dois primeros anos do experimento (1999 e 2001). As montagens afetaram a sobrevivência individual, assim como todas as variáveis de crescimento analisadas. A formação de uma coberta vegetal ocorreu mais rápida e extensamente nas montagens que somente continham espécies nativas, particularmente carvalhos, os que ressaltaram também com níveis altos de alguns nutrientes. A montagem mais rica em espécies mostrou atributos intermédios nas variáveis do solo e de desenvolvimento. Certifica-se a inclusão de Casuarina em solos degradados para favorecer a acumulação de nutrientes. Os resultados sugeren que a reabilitação inicial pode favorecer-se mediante o estabelecimento de montagens.

Movements of the white-tailed deer and their relationship with precipitation in northeastern Mexico

Mejores estrategias de manejo pueden ser diseñadas mediante la evolución a mediano y largo plazo del efecto de las variaciones animales interanuales en el comportamiento del venado. Se analizó una relación del tamaño del ámbito hogareño y distancias de desplazamiento del venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) con la distribución y cantidad de precipitación en el Rancho San Francisco, noreste de México. Se evaluó también las diferencias entre épocas, sexos y años. El área de estudio comprende 1000ha, con alta disponibilidad de agua (34 fuentes de agua/km2). Se estimó el ámbito hogareño y las distancias de desplazamiento en tres épocas biológicas: reproductiva, prospectiva y crianza, durante cuatro años (sep 1994 a ago 1998). El tamaño del ámbito hogareño fue mayor en 1997 (258 ± 18ha) cuando se registró la mayor cantidad de lluvia. Se encontraron diferencias en el tamaño del ámbito hogareño en tres sexos, siendo mayor para los machos

Human urine and chicken feces as fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) attractants for resource-poor fruit growers.

We evaluated human urine and chicken feces, two naturally occurring, inexpensive, and readily available substances, as baits for the capture of Anostrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) by using glass McPhail traps. Two studies were performed simultaneously in a commercial mango orchard in Veracruz, México. In the first study, we compared a 50% water dilution of human urine against hydrolyzed protein, both compounds at the fresh and 5-d-old stages, and water alone (control treatment). In the second study, we tested fresh chicken feces mixed with water, a torula yeast/borax solution at three different ages (1-4, 5-9, and 10-15 d), and water (control treatment). Both human urine and chicken feces were attractive to Anastrepha adults compared with water alone, but attracted two and three times fewer adults than hydrolyzed protein and torula yeast/borax, respectively. However, unlike torula yeast/borax, aging of human urine did not decrease its attractiveness. Five-day old human urine attracted numerically more A. serpentina females than males, similar numbers of A. obliqua males and females, and significantly more sexually immature A. obliqua females than mature ones. Chicken feces proved to be as attractive as the aged torula yeast/borax treatments for A. obliqua and A. serpentina. We argue that because both human urine and chicken feces are cost-free and can be easily obtained, they are viable, low-technology alternatives to costly commercial attractants, particularly for low-income growers or backyard farmers in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Bat Diversity and Abundance as Indicators of Disturbance in Neotropical Rainforests.

Evaluating the degree of disturbance of any region to determine its relative importance for conservation purposes requires procedures that are relatively inexpensive and that yield accurate results fast. Because bats are abundant, diverse, and easy to sample, especially in the Neotropical rainforest, they fulfill several of the requirements of indicator species as identified in the literature. For 10 months we sampled bat communities in the Selva Lacandona in Chiapas, Mexico, at 15 sites representing five habitats. We also measured 10 variables representing vegetation structure and diversity at each site. With fuzzy-set techniques we produced a gradient classification of disturbance for the 15 sites based on the vegetation data. We explored the relationship between vegetation conditions, described as the membership degrees in the construct "fuzzy forest set" (the complementary fuzzy set of "disturbance"), and four bat community variables. Bat species richness, number of rare bat species, and the bat diversity index were positively correlated with the vegetation scores, and relative abundance of the most abundant bat species was negatively correlated with vegetation scores. A high number of phyllostomine species in a community is a good indicator of low levels of disturbance. Although a single indicator group will probably not be sufficient for decision-making processes in conservation, evaluating bat populations may be a good first step in assessing an area's conservation value, especially in rainforest regions.

RESUMEN: La evaluación del grado de perturbación de una región particular para determinar su importancia relativa para propósitos de conservación requiere que los procesos de toma de decisiones utilicen tecnologías relativamente baratas y que proporcionen resultados precisos pronto. Puesto que los murciélagos son abundantes, diversos y fáciles de muestrear, particularmente en las selvas húmedas del Neotrópico, llenan varios de los requerimientos de las especies indicadoras. Muestreamos por 10 meses comunidades de murciélagos en la Selva Lacandona de Chiapas, México, en 15 sitios representantes de cinco hábitats. También medimos 10 variables representantes de la estructura y diversidad de la vegetación en cada sitio. Mediante el uso de técnicas de conjuntos difusos produjimos una clasificación gradual de la perturbación de la vegetación para los 15 sitios. Exploramos las relaciones entre las condiciones de la vegetación, descritos como los grados de membresía en la construcción de los conjuntos difusos del bosque (el conjunto difuso complementario de la perturbación) y cuatro variables de la comunidad de murciélagos. La riqueza de especies de murciélagos, el número de especies de murciélagos raros, y el índice de diversidad de murciélagos estuvieron positivamente correlacionados con los valores de la vegetación y la abundancia relativa de la especie más abundante estuvo negativamente correlacionado con estos valores. Un alto número de especies de Phyllostominae en la comunidad es un buen indicador de bajos niveles de perturbación. Sin embrago, un solo grupo indicador probablemente no es suficiente en el proceso de toma de decisiones en conservación. La evaluación de poblaciones de murciélagos puede ser un buen primer paso en la evaluación del valor de un área para la conservación, especialmente en regiones de selva húmeda.