The Assemblage of Birds Foraging in Native West Indian Pine (Pinus occidentalis) Forests of the Dominican Republic during the Nonbreeding Season1

We studied avian resource use in a native West Indian pine (Pinus occidentalis) forest in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic during the nonbreeding season. The forest is characterized by a fairly open pine canopy and a dense mixed-broadleaf and pine understory. We used a principal components analysis of 23 foraging characters for 23 bird species, including foraging height, the proportional use of 5 different foraging methods, 3 horizontal positions and foliage densities, and 11 foraging substrates. Five principal components accounted for 74 percent of the total variance of the assemblage variables and resulted in the delineation of at least 5 foraging guilds. 78 percent of bird species had mean foraging heights of 5.0–10.0 m, corresponding to the region of overlap of pine and broadleaf vegetation. As a result, the diversity of foraging substrates and maneuvers used by birds, rather than foraging height, appears to be the primary means by which birds that exploit this habitat separate ecologically. Migrant wood warblers (Parulinae) are probably able to integrate into the community because of little diet overlap between residents and migrants, and the fairly specialized nature of their largely insectivorous foraging habits. Avian foraging in this habitat may reflect the effects of frequent disturbance such as hurricanes.     

Carry‐over effects provide linkages across the annual cycle of a Neotropical migratory bird,the Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla

Population limitation models of migratory birds have sought to include impacts from events across the full annual cycle. Previous work has shown that events occurring in winter result in some individuals transitioning to the breeding grounds earlier or in better physical condition than others, thereby affecting reproductive success (carry‐over effects). However, evidence for carry‐over effects from breeding to wintering grounds has been shown less often. We used feather corticosterone (CORT_f) levels of the migratory Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla as a measure of the physiological state of birds at the time of moult on the breeding territory to investigate whether carry‐over effects provide linkages across the annual cycle of this stream‐obligate bird. We show that birds arriving on wintering grounds with lower CORT_f scores, indicating reduced energetic challenges or stressors at the time of moult, occupied higher quality territories, and that these birds then achieved a better body condition during the overwinter period. Body condition, in turn, was important in determining whether adult birds returned the following winter, with birds in better condition returning at higher rates. Together these data suggest a carry‐over effect from the breeding grounds to the wintering grounds that is further extended with respect to annual return rates. Very few other studies have linked conditions during the previous breeding season with latent effects during the subsequent overwintering period or with annual survival. This study shows that the effects of variation in energetic challenges or stressors can potentially carry over from the natal stream and accumulate over more than one life‐history period before being manifested in reduced survival. This is of particular relevance to models of population limitation in migratory birds.     

Phylogenetics and taxonomy of the New World leafy spurges,Euphorbia section Tithymalus (Euphorbiaceae)

The 480 species of leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula, represent the main temperate radiation in the large genus Euphorbia. This group is distributed primarily in temperate Eurasia, but with smaller, disjunct centres of diversity in the mountains of the Old World tropics, in temperate southern Africa and in the New World. The majority of New World diversity (32 species) occurs in a single section, section Tithymalus. We analysed sequences of the nrITS and plastid ndhF, trnH‐psbA, trnS‐trnG and trnD‐trnT regions to reconstruct the phylogeny of section Tithymalus and to examine the origins and diversification of the species native to the New World. Our results indicate that the New World species of section Tithymalus form a clade that is sister to the widespread, weedy E. peplus. The New World species fall into two primary groups: a ‘northern annual clade’ from eastern North America and a diverse clade of both annual and perennial species that is divided into three subgroups. Within the second group, there is a small ‘southern annual clade’ from Texas and northern Mexico, a perennial ‘Brachycera clade’ from the western United States and northern Mexico, and a perennial ‘Esuliformis clade’ from montane areas of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate that the annual habit probably evolved in the ancestor of E. peplus and the New World clade, with a subsequent reversal to the perennial habit. In conjunction with this phylogenetic framework, the New World species of section Tithymalus are comprehensively reviewed. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175 , 191–228.     

Taxonomic revision of hispaniola tiger beetles in the genus brasiella rivalier 1954 (coleoptera, carabidae, cicindelinae)

The Brasiella tiger beetle fauna on Hispaniola, the second largest island of the Greater Antilles, has more species diversity than currently recognized as all populations previously have been assigned to the insular endemic Brasiella dominicana (Mandl). A comparative study of adult morphology, particularly male genitalic and female abdominal characters, for available Brasiella specimens from populations on Hispaniola, proposes eight additional new species also endemic to this island. Except for three sympatric species in the Sierra de Baoruco in southern Dominican Republic occurring in different habitats, all the Brasiella on Hispaniola appear to be allopatric. Most species occur in the major mountainous regions of Hispaniola. Two species, however, are known only from river floodplains in the southern coastal plain of the Dominican Republic. Brasiella dominicana (Mandl) and Brasiella ocoa, new species, occur along river floodplains emanating from the eastern end of the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic. Two new Brasiella species, Brasiella bellorum, and Brasiella philipi, occur in the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic, the former species from central portions, and the latter species from north slopes of this mountain range, respectively. Three new Brasiella species, Brasiella rawlinsi, Brasiella iviei, and Brasiella youngi, are isolated in the Sierra de Baoruco, Dominican Republic, where each occupies a different habitat along an altitudinal gradient. The two new Brasiella species in Haiti are Brasiella darlingtoniana, in the Massif de la Selle, and Brasiella davidsoni, in the Massif de la Hotte. All nine Brasiella species on Hispaniola, along with Brasiella viridicollis (Dejean) and its two subspecies on Cuba, belong to the viridicollis species group of the genus Brasiella based on criteria presented in earlier published phylogenetic studies of Brazilian and West Indian tiger beetles. The subspecies Brasiella viridicollis fernandozayasi (Kippenhan, Ivie and Hopp) may represent a distinct species within this species group, whereas removal of Brasiella wickhami (W. Horn) from this species group seems warranted based on evidence presented. A general overview of species relationships for the Brasiella on Hispaniola are discussed, along with the current and ancestral geographic distributions of the Brasiella viridicollis species group in the West Indies.     

Egg rejection behavior in a population exposed to parasitism: Village Weavers on Hispaniola

In contrast to African Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus)that are parasitized by Diederik Cuckoos (Chrysococcyx caprius),introduced weavers on Hispaniola existed without parasitismfor at least 2 centuries until the arrival of the Shiny Cowbird(Molothrus bonariensis) in the 1970s. Cruz and Wiley (1989)found that Hispaniolan weavers had a lower rejection rate offoreign eggs than African populations. Subsequently, Robertand Sorci (1999) and Lahti (2005, 2006) found that acceptanceof dissimilar eggs is not characteristic of the species throughoutits Hispaniolan range. In 1999–2002, we studied egg rejectionin Hispaniolan weavers on a broad regional scale. Rejectionincreased as experimental eggs became increasingly differentfrom the host eggs. Rejection rates for mimetic eggs, differentcolor eggs, different-spotting eggs, and cowbird eggs was 23.2%,33.3%, 61.5%, and 85.3%, respectively, with higher rejectionof cowbird eggs in areas where cowbirds were observed. Althoughrejection is likely to have a genetic component, the differencescould be due to phenotypic plasticity. Plasticity in egg rejectionmay be expected, given the potential cost of rejection and thespatiotemporal distribution of cowbirds. Thus, egg rejectionhas not necessarily decreased in Hispaniolan weavers, but itmay act in a plastic manner, increasing where cowbirds are present.     

A new species of Illicium subsection Parviflora (Illiciaceae) from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti

Illicium hottense, a new species, is here described from the floristically diverse Massif de la Hotte of southern Haiti. It is compared to related species, especiallyI. ekmanii, with which it has previously been confused.Illicium hottense andI. ekmanii are members ofIllicium subsectionParviflora, a group that comprises four species, all endemic to peninsular Florida (I. parviflorum) or the Greater Antilles: Cuba (I. cubense) and Hispaniola (I. ekmanii, andI. hottense). The subsection is characterized by its distinctive laminar-carnose, ovoid stamens; all have trisyncolpate pollen.Illicium hottense is similar toI. ekmanii andI. parviflorum in having flowers with ten to thirteen carpels and six to less commonly eight stamens, but differs from both in its strongly papillose outer tepals and consistently acute leaves. In addition, its leaves lack the strong anise fragrance ofI. parviflorum. Finally, molecular data provide support for recognizingI. hottense as a species distinct fromI. ekmanii.     

To which genus of Asteraceae does Liabum oblanceolatum belong? Vegetative characters have the answer

The West Indian species Liabum oblanceolatum Urb. & Ekman was established on the basis of sterile young specimens represented by acaulescent herbs with rosulate leaves. However, these specimens have important traits that do not correspond to Liabum Adans. More than 90 genera of Asteraceae occur in Hispaniola (= Santo Domingo), but only 14 of them include species represented by acaulescent herbs with rosulate or grouped leaves at the base of the stem. From these genera, Chaptalia Vent. and Liabum are the most similar to the types of L. oblanceolatum . Habit, leaf arrangement, lamina shape, leaf margin, leaf surface, leaf margin intrasection, leaf venation, leaf pubescence, leaf trichomes, stomata and upper surface leaf cuticle were analysed in the type specimens of L. oblanceolatum and in species of Chaptalia and Liabum of Hispaniola. The vegetative trichomes are described in detail. The analysis reveals that the type specimens of L. oblanceolatum fit with all the vegetative traits of Chaptalia angustata Urb. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 479–486.     

Alarista succina gen. et sp. nov. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) in Dominican amber

Alarista succina gen. et sp. nov. (Poaceae) is described from a single floret preserved in amber of Tertiary age originating from the Dominican Republic. The new genus is characterised by (1) a narrow-winged lemma awn, (2) numerous (as many as 17) lemma nerves, (3) a lengthy rachilla internode (implying a lax spikelet), (4) sinuous-margined long cells, (5) silica cells arranged transversely, (6) stomatal subsidiaries low domed and (7) papillae. The epidermal features are characteristic of the abaxial leaf blade surface of members of the Bambusoideae and the fossil is placed in this group.

htp://zoobank.org/033FCBF4-CD61-4C85-97E4-8418C9ABA5E6     

Phytosociological study of the Pinus occidentalis forests in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

The article deals both with the Pinus occidentalis pine tree forests growing on high mountain limestones and siliceous substrates, and with the copses growing on serpentines in Dajabón (Cibao Valley), Dominican Republic. The samplings carried out in these forests reveal the occurrence of numerous endemic species and, consequently, the habitats can be considered as endemic, priority habitats of the Antilles. The article relies on some previous surveys carried out by us, Cano E, Velóz Ramirez A, Cano-Ortiz A, Esteban FJ. (2009b). Analysis of the Pterocarpus officinalis forests in the Gran Estero (Dominican Republic). Acta Botanica Gallica 156(4):559–570, that made use of the data provided by 87 weather stations of the Dominican Republic. With the values of the Ci, Oi, Cti, etc. indexes, we make a bioclimatical proposal for Hispaniola. Our preliminary analysis of the studies published on the vegetation of the Island of Hispaniola and nearby islands, along with the samples taken by us, lead us to propose two new alliances: Ilici tuerckheimi–Pinion occidentalis and Phyllario mummularioidi–Leptogonion buchi, and three new associations: Dendropemon phycnophylli–Pinetum occidentalis, Cocotrino scopari–Pinetum occidentalis and Leptogono buchi–Pinetum occidentalis.