Systematic conservation planning (SCP) identifies priority areas for biodiversity conservation using surrogates for adequate representation of biodiversity content. The use of multiple well‐known ...taxonomic groups rather than single ones as a surrogate set is expected to enable a better representation of most important biodiversity constituents in prioritizing conservation areas. We quantitatively analyzed if single‐ or multitaxa groups of terrestrial vertebrates serve best as surrogates for representing biodiversity constituents in the state of Oaxaca, a biodiversity hotspot in southern Mexico. We produced species distribution models for 1,063 terrestrial vertebrate species using a maximum entropy algorithm. To determine which fraction of each terrestrial vertebrate group best represented the remaining groups, we produced solutions requiring different proportions of species to be represented with a 10% target of the species' potential distribution in conservation area networks. Precedence to geographical rarity, minimizing area, and enhancing compactness in shape of the selected priority areas was established using ConsNet. We further evaluated performance with surrogacy graphs for determining the representation of each group of terrestrial vertebrates treated as biodiversity constituents. Inclusion of multiple terrestrial vertebrate groups as surrogates performed best for the representation of biodiversity constituents compared to a single terrestrial vertebrate group, in all solutions with different proportions of species in these conservation areas. Terrestrial vertebrate species were poorly represented in the few protected areas (<2% of species), but representation increased significantly (99% of species) when complemented with other established conservation initiatives. SCP should include multitaxa surrogate sets and all established conservation initiatives to ensure priority areas for conservation with an adequate biodiversity representation.
Bat acoustic libraries are important tools that assemble echolocation calls to allow the comparison and discrimination to confirm species identifications. The Sonozotz project represents the first ...nation‐wide library of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. It was assembled following a standardized recording protocol that aimed to cover different recording habitats, recording techniques, and call variation inherent to individuals. The Sonozotz project included 69 species of echolocating bats, a high species richness that represents 50% of bat species found in the country. We include recommendations on how the database can be used and how the sampling methods can be potentially replicated in countries with similar environmental and geographic conditions. To our knowledge, this represents the most exhaustive effort to date to document and compile the diversity of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. This database will be useful to address a range of ecological questions including the effects of anthropogenic activities on bat communities through the analysis of bat sound.
The Sonozotz project represents the first nation‐wide library of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country.
Biodiversity is multidimensional and different mechanisms can influence different dimensions. The spatial distribution of these dimensions can help in conservation decisions through the location of ...complementary areas with high diversity. We analyzed congruence in spatial patterns of species richness and functional diversity of cricetid rodents in the state of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, at different scales, and environmental variables related. Potential distribution models were produced for 49 species of cricetids in Maxent and superimposed to obtain potential communities in cells of 25, 50,100, 200 and 400 km2. We estimated species richness (SR) and functional diversity (SES.FD) eliminating the species richness effect through null models. The patterns and spatial congruence of species richness and functional diversity are described. The relationships between the environmental variables (elevation, temperature, precipitation, net primary productivity and potential evapotranspiration) and the SR and SES.FD were explored using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The highest species richness was found in mountainous ecosystems while the highest functional diversity was in tropical forests, revealing a spatial incongruence among these components of biodiversity (r = -0.14, p = 0.42; Pearson correlation). The locations of the cells of low congruence varied according to spatial resolution. In univariate models, elevation was the variable that best explained species richness (R2 = 0.77). No single variable explained the functional diversity; however, the models that included multiple environmental variables partially explained both the high and low functional diversity. The different patterns suggest that different historic, ecological and environmental processes could be responsible for the community structure of cricetid rodents in Oaxaca. These results indicate that one great challenge to be met to achieve more effective planning for biological conservation is to integrate knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of different dimensions of biodiversity.
Southern Mexico’s tropical forests are home to the country’s highest richness of mammal species; La Chinantla region is situated within this area, its name from the indigenous group residing in the ...area and holding territorial ownership, namely the Chinantecos. In La Chinantla, there are no Protected Areas; instead, there are Areas Destined Voluntarily for Conservation (ADVC) and “Voluntary Conservation Areas” (VCA), that are managed by local inhabitants through social consensus. These ADVC may function as an archipelago reserve, which represents regional diversity, including the social context, through complementarity. To verify its biodiversity, we analyzed the richness, composition, distribution, and conservation of wild mammals in the region. Records were obtained from four sources—primary data collection, databases, scientific literature, and community monitoring—and were organized into four zones based on altitudinal and vegetation gradients. We compared the diversity between zones for three categories of mammals: small (<100 gr.), bats, and medium and large (>100 gr.). 134 species were identified comprising 11 orders, 26 families and 86 genera. The zone with highest elevation presented the greatest species richness for the assemblage of mammals and terrestrial mammals, while the zone with the lowest elevation had the highest richness of bats. For each mammal category, the zone with the most species also registered the highest number of exclusive species. For the assemblage of mammals and for medium and large mammals, the similarity index was highest between the two intermediate zones, while for small mammals and bats, the greatest similarity occurred between the areas of higher altitude. The study region was found to have the second highest richness of mammals in Mexico. Finally, we suggest that the conservation proposals by indigenous people could function as a set of “islands” that promote the conservation of biodiversity, possibly as an Archipelago Reserve.
Los ratones espinosos de abazones Liomys y Heteromys son roedores granivoros que se distribuyen en bosques tropicales secos y en matorral espinoso a lo largo de tierras bajas del Pacifico y en ...regiones xerofilas en la meseta de Mexico. Analizamos la dinamica poblacional del raton espinoso de abazones Heteromys pictus en la costa de Oaxaca, Mexico, en dos sitios de bosque tropical caducifolio con diferente grado de perturbacion humana: ZPP = zona poco perturbada, y ZMP = zona con mayor perturbacion. Se establecieron dos cuadros en cada area con 66 estaciones de trampeo; se utilizo el metodo de captura-recaptura durante 12 periodos de muestreo. La densidad poblacional se estimo utilizando el metodo del Numero Minimo de Individuos Conocidos Vivos (NMIV). Se capturaron 706 individuos, 290 para la ZPP y 416 para la ZMP. La densidad poblacional fluctuo entre 28 y 142 ind./ha para ambas zonas; sin embargo esta fue mayor para la ZMP (54 a 142 ind./ha). La densidad poblacional de ambas zonas aumento durante la temporada de lluvia y coincidio con el mayor reclutamiento. Se registro actividad reproductiva a lo largo de todo el estudio en ambas zonas, pero fue mayor para la ZMP. La proporcion de sexos fue de 1:1 en la ZPP, mientras que en la ZMP fue de 1: 0.75. En la ZMP encontramos una mayor densidad poblacional y actividad reproductiva en las hembras. Estos resultados sugieren que H. pictus prefiere la ZMP, lo que indica que en este lugar la especie no es afectada significativamente por la perturbacion humana. Palabras clave: captura-recaptura, Liomys, perturbacion, poblaciones, raton espinoso de abazones. Spiny pocket mice Liomys and Heteromys are forest-dwelling granivorous rodents distributed in seasonally dry forest or thorn scrub along the Pacific lowlands or xeric regions in the Mexican Plateau. We analyzed the population dynamics of the spiny pocket mouse Heteromys pictus, in the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, in two sites of tropical deciduous forest with different degrees of disturbance: ZPP = less disturbed site, and ZMP = more disturbed site. Two plots were established in each area with 66 trap stations; we used the capture-recapture method and trapping for 12 periods for one year. Population density was estimated using the method of Minimum Number of Individuals Known Alive (MNKA). We captured 706 individuals, 290 for the ZPP and 416 for the ZMP. The population density ranged from 28 to 142 ind./ ha for both zones, but it was higher for the ZMP (54 against 142 ind./ha). The population density for both areas increased during the rainy season and coincided with the increased recruitment of adults. Reproductive activity occurred throughout the study period in both areas, but it was higher for the ZMP. The sex ratio in the ZPP was 1:1 while in the ZMP was 1:0.75. In the ZMP we found a higher population density and reproductive activity in females, compared to the ZPP. These results suggest that H. pictus prefers the ZMP, indicating that the species is not significantly affected by human disturbance in the studied location. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (4): 1415-1429. Epub 2016 December 01. Key words: capture-recapture, disturbance, Liomys, populations, spiny pocket mouse.
Resumen: En la Selva de los Chimalapas, Oaxaca, México, aún existen poblaciones de felinos; sin embargo, debido a factores antropogénicos sus poblaciones se ven amenazadas. La importancia de estas ...especies se debe a la función ecológica que tienen como carnívoros depredadores, no obstante su estado poblacional y su distribución espacial en esta región son desconocidas. Durante los años 2009 al 2013, se recopilaron datos de campo sobre la presencia de estas especies en la región y sobre su estado de conservación; además, se determinaron sus abundancias relativas, patrones de actividad y estructura poblacional mediante el uso de cámaras trampa. Se llevaron a cabo cinco periodos de muestreo fotográficos con un total de 30 cámaras trampa en cada periodo. Con un esfuerzo total de muestreo de 9,000 días/trampa se estimó un índice de abundancia relativa (IAR) de: 0.44 para Herpailurus yagouaroundi, 0.55 para Leopardus wiedii, 0.66 para Puma concolor, 1.55 para Panthera onca y 3.22 para Leopardus pardalis. Esta última especie resultó con mayor número de registros independientes (n = 29), mientras P. concolor y P. onca estuvieron ausentes durante los dos primeros años de muestreo. Con respecto a la estructura poblacional se reconocieron individualmente la mayoría de los felinos manchados. Se registraron tres patrones de actividad: H. yagouaroundi fue una especie diurna, L. wiedii y P. onca fueron nocturnas, P. concolor una especie crepuscular, mientras que L. pardalis estuvo activa las 24 h. Se concluye que la educación ambiental, la regulación de la cacería de subsistencia, el establecimiento de un sistema fuente-sumidero, el pago del seguro ganadero y de servicios ambientales son factores indispensables para la conservación de estas especies en la región.
Biological collections have become a key tool for biodiversity research. They are repositories of germplasm and data on modified or extinct natural populations, providing valuable information for ...understanding anthropogenic impacts on the natural world. We appraised the scientific value of the three mammal collections maintained by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional of Mexico (IPN): Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), CIIDIR Durango (CRD), and CIIDIR Oaxaca (OAXMA). We evaluated their specimen inventory, geographic coverage, and scientific importance for mammalogy. We assessed their physical conditions and provided insights into their future as data sources for understanding natural changes in the 21st century. We measured the scientific importance of the collections in terms of the number of specimens and taxa held and their geographic coverage. We also quantified research projects, publications, theses, and dissertations that have used at least one specimen, associated data, or materials deposited in these collections. We assessed their physical conditions by comparison with the standards set by the American Society of Mammalogists. As of 2018, these collections held a total of 61,560 cataloged specimens (ENCB 44,275; CRD 12,163; OAXMA 5,122), the largest repository of Mexican mammals in the Americas. All the orders, 86 % of the genera, and 69% (342) of the species of terrestrial mammals known to inhabit Mexico are represented in these collections. Specimens from all the Mexican States are included, with CRD focusing mostly on the northern part of the country, ENCB on central and southeastern Mexico, and OAXMA on the southeast. Materials from these collections have been used for at least 285 peer-reviewed publications, 91 research projects, and 107 theses and dissertations. CRD keeps >9,000 tissue samples, while OAXMA keeps >300 tissue samples plus 1,139 echolocation recordings of 24 bat species. All collections meet most curatorial standards of specimen preservation and availability and are being actively used in research projects. Nonetheless, we believe a sound institutional policy is necessary for the IPN mammal collections to successfully face the 21st-century challenges, particularly for ensuring the availability of usable data for the scientific community, digitizing the holdings, and designing and implementing a long-term preservation strategy.
La vertiente del Pacífico mexicano en el suroeste de Oaxaca alberga una gran diversidad de aves que ha sido poco estudiada. Presentamos un inventario y análisis de la avifauna de esa región, mediante ...transectos, redes de niebla y observaciones no sistemáticas, en 12 localidades repartidas en cuatro tipos de vegetación (selva mediana subcaducifolia, vegetación ribereña, áreas sujetas a manejo agropecuario y selva baja caducifolia). Contabilizamos 120 especies, correspondientes a 39 familias y 19 órdenes. Del total de especies, 72% fueron residentes todo el año y 24%, de invierno. Por el tipo de alimentación, las terrestres insectívoras (52%) fueron las más abundantes, seguidas de las carnívoras (20%) y terrestres herbívoras (15%). El mayor número de especies (68%) estuvo asociado a vegetación ribereña. Esta región de Oaxaca alberga 16% de la riqueza de aves de México, entre ellas a nueve especies endémicas o cuasiendémicas de México y 12 en categorías de riesgo a nivel nacional o internacional, como el pato real (Cairina moschata), loro corona lila (Amazona finschi), loro cabeza amarilla (Amazona oratrix) y vireo de Bell (Vireo bellii). Recomendamos la protección de la vegetación ribereña y de las selvas como la mejor estrategia para la conservación de la avifauna.
The greatest challenge that we currently face is generating integrative conservation strategies to guarantee the preservation not only of species richness, but also of ecological functions and ...evolutionary history. We propose to assess these different dimensions to identify areas of high multidimensional diversity (AMC), and exemplify this approach with cricetid mice, in a region of Mexico with high diversity that is considered a priority for global conservation. We elaborate models of the potential geographic distribution of 49 species of mice to predict their communities; we then used those predictions to calculate the number of rare species, and taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity. Subsequently, we identify AMC and evaluate their ecological integrity and the level to which they are protected by government and indigenous communities. We found a high spatial incongruity between the different dimensions of biodiversity, which indicates that in situ diversification processes and dispersal limitation drive spatial heterogeneous patterns of diversity. The AMC overlapped very little with the governmental (6.4%) and indigenous communities (15.2%) conservation areas, the Payments for Environmental Services initiative is the most overlaps. Half of the AMC had an intermediate ecological integrity. Protected areas systems protect few sites with high multidimensional biodiversity values, and half of the priority areas we identified requires restoration programs. The proposed methodology is an integral way to evaluate current protected areas systems and will be useful to guide effective and efficient conservation priorities involving evolutional and ecological dimensions of the biodiversity.
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