Fine‐scale coexistence between Mediterranean mesocarnivores is mediated by spatial,temporal, and trophic resource partitioning

1. The partition of the ecological niche can enhance the coexistence of predators due to differences in how they exploit three main resources: food, space, and time, the latter being an axis that often remains unexplored.
2. We studied niche segregation in a Mediterranean mesocarnivore community composed by Vulpes vulpes, Genetta genetta, Meles meles, and Herpestes ichneumon, addressing simultaneously different niche axes: the temporal, trophic, and spatial axes.
3. We assessed temporal segregation between mesopredators and prey and between potential competitors, using camera trap data between 2018 and 2020 in a Mediterranean landscape in Southern Spain. We deployed camera traps in 35 stations in three sites with varying vegetation cover within Doñana National Park. We further examined the spatial overlap in activity centers and trophic preferences between potential competitors using diet information from studies performed in the study area.
4. We found an overall temporal segregation between trophic generalist species, with species showing higher temporal overlap differing in their trophic preferences and/or showing limited spatial overlap. Furthermore, we observed an overall high overlap between the activity patterns of predators and their major prey in the area (the common genet vs. small mammals and the red fox vs. European rabbit).
5. Our study suggests that coexistence of the different species that compose the mesocarnivore assemblage in Mediterranean landscapes can be facilitated by subtle differences along the three main niche axes, with temporal segregation being a most pronounced mechanism. Our findings reinforce the idea that the coexistence mechanisms underlying community structure are multidimensional.

     

Probable loose linkage between the ABO locus and Waardenburg syndrome type I.

The possibility of linkage was tested in 3 large kindreds with Waardenburg syndrome type I against the ABO locus. Loose linkage is probably present; the recombination fraction in males, females, and both sexes combined seems to be approximately theta' equals 0.175, theta equals 0.255, and theta', theta equals 0.20, respectively. There are still more informative matings to be studied in those pedigrees, as well as the inminent possibility of determining the phase status in several of them, for the ABO locus and a few other loci.     

Low stocking incidence in brown trout populations from northwestern Spain monitored by LDH-5* diagnostic marker

Brown trout Salmo trutta is one of the most valuable species inhabiting river drainages in Galicia (northwestern Spain). The influence of man, through overfishing and pollution, is thought to have caused the decline of trout in Galician rivers. To balance the possible population decline, Galician rivers have been stocked extensively with a brown trout stock of German origin during the last 30 years. In this study, the incidence of stocking practices has been investigated by an LDH-5 * genetic marker. A very low number of stocked individuals have been observed within river populations, despite the long period of repopulation. Only eight out of the 44 populations analysed showed a limited number of individuals of hatchery origin. Most stocked individuals detected were 0+ age, and showed a poor condition factor ( K < 1). Environmental factors (muscular stamina and food habits) and genetic factors (different selective conditions in hatchery medium) are invoked to explain the low viability of hatchery fish Observed in this Study.     

Morpho-agronomic and molecular characterisation of oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. material from Angola

The characterisation of phytogenetic resources is used to improve conservation strategies, promote new sources of plant material, and design breeding strategies. In this study, we evaluated oil palm material with nine morpho-agronomic traits and 30 microsatellite markers (Simple Sequence Repeats; SSRs) that had been previously collected in five geographical regions of Angola. The analysis of variance for components of bunch production and oil yield showed highly significant (p?<?0.001) statistical differences between geographical regions and among families for all traits evaluated. The SSRs were highly informative, suggesting high genetic diversity (H _T ?=?0.666) among the accessions evaluated. However, the clustering pattern at both morpho-agronomic and molecular levels did not match the geographical distribution of accessions, showing a low genetic differentiation (G _ST ?=?0.039) between regions. On the other hand, genotypic (G _ST ?=?0.150) and phenotypic differences were found among families, which could offer the potential for future genetic gains in the oil palm. The information generated indicates that the evaluated accessions have desirable characteristics that should be included in breeding programs, which could expand the genetic basis of the crop.     

Análisis morfométrico de las especies de Echinocereus sección Triglochidiati (Cactaceae) en México

Echinocereus section Triglochidiati has been accepted in the most recent taxonomic treatments of the genus. However, the number of included species has varied from one to 14. This study aims to define the species number of section Triglochidiati in Mexico through multivariate analysis, and to identify quantitative characters that can be used to recognize them. We used canonical discriminant analysis and classification discriminant analysis for 11 putative taxa native to Mexico and 20 morphometric characters. The number of stem ribs, number of central spines, stem diameter, length of radial spines (position 09), length of flower, receptacular tube length / perianth length ratio, and the receptacular tube trichome length permitted the differentiation of six taxa: E. acifer, E. arizonicus, E. coccineus, E. koehresianus, E. polyacanthus and E. scheeri. A key to the species is included.