Alejandro A. Castro-Luna

Quantifying phyllostomid bats at different taxonomic levels as ecological indicators in a disturbed tropical forest

ABSTRACT With the aim of quantitatively evaluating the usefulness of phyllostomid bats as ecological indicators, we compared intra-family levels and feeding guilds between tropical old-growth forest and patches of secondary vegetation growing where the land had been used for shifting agriculture. There were significant differences between vegetation types in bat species composition, with the frugivore guild most abundant in secondary vegetation and the animalivore guild most abundant in the old-growth forest. These results are congruent with the findings for other Neotropical zones and appear to be associated with the type of soil management that allows secondary vegetation to grow. Using the Indicator Value method, two subfamilies, five genera and five species were found to have a significant indicator value. However, these numbers only represent a small proportion of the five subfamilies, 20 genera and 28 species recorded, indicating that under the disturbance conditions that characterize the study area, phyllostomid bats were poor ecological indicators. Even so, some species and subfamilies are useful as disturbance detectors.

Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma affects native corn at high elevations in Southeast Mexico

In the 2013–2014 growing season, field surveys were conducted in native corn fields located in high altitude agricultural communities in the ‘Sierra Norte de Puebla’ in Mexico. Symptoms typical of maize bushy stunt (MBS) disease were observed and DNA extracted from symptomatic native corn plants was used as template to confirm the presence of phytoplasmas. Amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA-encoding sequences and chaperonin 60 universal target (cpn60 UT) sequences followed by in vitro restriction fragment length polymorphism and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the phytoplasma detected belongs to the subgroup 16SrI-B, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. Based on 16S rRNA-encoding gene sequence analysis and on a single nucleotide polymorphism within the cpn60 UT sequence, two MBS strains, MBS-Puebla and MBS-Veracruz, were identified. This is the first detection of MBS phytoplasma (MBSP) affecting native corn and the first molecular survey made in corn fields in Mexico to detect and characterize MBSP. We discuss these results in light of the potential evolutionary relationship between corn and MBSP.

Regaining the traditional use of wildlife in wetlands on the coastal plain of Veracruz, Mexico: ensuring food security in the face of global climate change

Wetlands play important roles that benefit social-ecological systems. They are threatened by climate change and human activities, i.e., raising livestock and wildlife hunting. The latter is essential for subsistence and for the food security of rural communities. To understand the traditional uses of wildlife, we examined the use of wildlife among people living within and outside of, but close to wetlands, in the communities located in four municipalities of Veracruz, Mexico, using open-ended interviews. We also analyzed the socioeconomic factors and environmental problems associated with the use of wildlife, and how these affect food security. People, especially those living within the wetlands, use wildlife mainly for food and trade. Wildlife is mainly used as food but also as pets, ornaments and medicine. The most useful species were black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis), nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) and Meso-American slider (Trachemys venusta). People living within the wetland make more intensive use of wildlife. The main problems causing decreasing wildlife populations were water pollution, hunting practices and deforestation. Local communities were aware of the importance of wetlands, their degradation and the need to preserve them. More research focused on socioecological systems is required to address both the need for biodiversity conservation and food security. Also, good local management plans that incorporate current knowledge about key species have to be drawn up with the participation of government and scientific institutions, citizens and local stakeholders.

First report of a hard fruit in the diet of Centurio senex (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Mexico

Abstract Recently it was proposed that Centurio senex specializes on hard fruit because of its strong bite compared to other similar-sized frugivorous bats; however, this hypothesis has not been tested. We tested the hardness of 5 fruit species eaten by bats, including Sideroxylon capiri (Sapotaceae), here reported for the 1st time as part of the diet of C. senex. Results show that S. capiri is the hardest fruit of the species evaluated. This is the 1st evidence of C. senex eating hard fruit in the wild, which supports the theory of a skull adapted to eating hard fruit. Resumen Recientemente se planteó que Centurio senex se especializa en frutos duros, ya que posee una fuerte mordida comparada con otros murciélagos frugívoros de talla similar; aunque no se ha probado. Pusimos a prueba la dureza de 5 especies de frutos consumidos por murciélagos, incluyendo Sideroxylon capiri (Sapotaceae), que reportamos por primera vez en la dieta de C. senex. Los resultados muestran que S. capiri es la especie con semilla más dura de las estudiadas. Esta es la primera evidencia del consumo de un fruto duro por C. senex en la naturaleza, lo cual apoya la teoría de un cráneo adaptado para el consumo de frutos duros.

Consumption of Conostegia xalapensis fruits and seed dispersal of Coussapoa oligocephala by the nectarivorous bat Hylonycteris underwoodi Thomas, 1903 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

We report the dispersal of Conostegia xalapensis (Melastomataceae) and Coussapoa oligocephala (Urticaceae) seeds by Underwoods long-tongued bat, a species considered to be a specialized nectar and pollen consumer. Informamos la dispersión de semillas de Conostegia xalapensis (Melastomataceae) y Coussapoa oligocephala (Urticaceae) por el murciélago de lengua larga de Underwood, una especie considerada como consumidora especializada en néctar y polen.