Andrés Felipe Suárez-Castro

Reframing landscape fragmentation's effects on ecosystem services

Landscape structure and fragmentation have important effects on ecosystem services, with a common assumption being that fragmentation reduces service provision. This is based on fragmentations expected effects on ecosystem service supply, but ignores how fragmentation influences the flow of services to people. Here we develop a new conceptual framework that explicitly considers the links between landscape fragmentation, the supply of services, and the flow of services to people. We argue that fragmentations effects on ecosystem service flow can be positive or negative, and use our framework to construct testable hypotheses about the effects of fragmentation on final ecosystem service provision. Empirical efforts to apply and test this framework are critical to improving landscape management for multiple ecosystem services.

Richness and distribution of porcupines (Erethizontidae: Coendou) from Colombia

Abstract In spite of previous reviews, there is still no consensus on the information associated to the richness of the genus Coendou in Colombia. To clarify some issues concerning the distribution and the taxonomic identity of the species of Coendou in the country, we reviewed specimens from five natural history collections. We introduce the first record of Coendou ichillus from the Orinoco river basin of the country, extending the distribution of the species by more than 600 km to the north from previous known localities in Ecuador and Peru. Additionally, we present new records of C. pruinosus and C. quichua from the Amazonia and inter-Andean valleys, respectively. Only one skull presents the diagnostic characters of C. bicolor; thus, previous records of this species for the country were based on misidentifications. Coendou is distributed in seven of the nine geographic provinces of Colombia. Coendou prehensilis was found in five provinces and is expected to be present in the Amazonia, whereas C. pruinosus was documented in three provinces (North Andean, Orinoco and Guyana). The rest of the species of Coendou were distributed in one or two provinces. The richest provinces were North Andean and Orinoco with six and four Coendou species, respectively. The elevational ranges of C. prehensilis and C. pruinosus are revised to 0–1975 and 90–2200 m, respectively.

Landscape Fragmentation and Ecosystem Services: A Reply to Andrieu et al.

In a recent opinion article [1], we presented a framework that conceptualized the effects of landscape fragmentation on ecosystem service (ES) provision by considering its impacts on both ES supply and flow. Andrieu et al. [2] assert that our framework contains three errors that weaken its contribution to understanding how landscape changes affect ES provision. However, the three points they raise do not constitute, as they propose, ‘difficulties that undermine’ our framework. Rather, they largely demonstrate the flexibility and utility of our framework across different landscapes and ESs, and we encourage others further to develop, adapt, and test our framework. Below we address each of Andrieu et al.’s points in turn.

Re-examining the hypothesis of allopatric distribution of Myoprocta acouchy and M. pratti (Mammalia: Dasyproctidae) in South America

Currently, two allopatric species of acouchies, genus Myoprocta (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) are recognized. Nevertheless, there is morphological variability in the regions where the species are distributed that suggests either sympatry of two (or more) distinct species or else breakdowns in the characters that have been used to diagnose the species. We reviewed specimens of Myoprocta from Colombia and found that both reddish and greenish forms are sympatric in the Amazon basin of the country, including areas adjoining Ecuador and Peru. These records apparently refute the hypothesis of allopatry for these species in South America. However, the results of a principal components analysis showed little or no morphological separation between these two forms. In addition, a review of skulls throughout the geographic range of M. pratti shows high morphological variation. Although sympatry of reddish and greenish acouchies has been suggested for the Amazon region of Ecuador, our review found no evidence of this. In view of our findings, further revisionary work is needed to clarify the status of these forms.

Lonchorhina marinkellei (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Abstract: Lonchorhina marinkellei Hernández-Camacho and Cadena-G., 1978 is a bat commonly called Marinkelles sword-nosed bat. It is one of the largest species of the genus and one of the rarest bats of northern South America, only known from 5 specimens and 1 locality in the eastern llanos of Colombia. Globally, it is considered “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, mostly due to its restricted distribution and the continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.