Is non‐host pollen suitable for generalist bumblebees?

Current evidence suggests that pollen is both chemically and structurally protected. Despite increasing interest in studying bee–flower networks, the constraints for bee development related to pollen nutritional content, toxicity and digestibility as well as their role in the shaping of bee–flower interactions have been poorly studied. In this study we combined bioassays of the generalist bee Bombus terrestris on pollen of Cirsium, Trifolium, Salix, and Cistus genera with an assessment of nutritional content, toxicity, and digestibility of pollen. Microcolonies showed significant differences in their development, non‐host pollen of Cirsium being the most unfavorable. This pollen was characterized by the presence of quite rare δ7‐sterols and a low digestibility. Cirsium consumption seemed increase syrup collection, which is probably related to a detoxification mixing behavior. These results strongly suggest that pollen traits may act as drivers of plant selection by bees and partly explain why Asteraceae pollen is rare in bee generalist diet.     

Tree species regeneration in a mid-elevation,temperate rain forest in Isla de Chiloé, Chile

The regeneration of canopy and subeanopy species in a mid-elevation, primary rain forest in the Coastal Range of Isla de Chiloé (42°30S), in the cold-temperate region of Chile, was studied by comparing seedling and sapling abundances under the forest canopy, and within 36 tree-fall gaps. The forest was dominated byAmomyrtus luma andLaurelia philippiana (33 and 32% of the main canopy individuals), and two subcanopy species (Myrceugenia ovata, andMyrceugenia planipes) were also important. Uncommon species in the canopy wereDrimys winteri, Amomyrtus meli, andRaphithamnus spinosus. Tree-fall gaps were created generally by the fall of several trees, and the main canopy species were the principal gap-makers. Gap sizes varied between 28 and 972 m², with a mean of 197 m². Seedling and sapling abundances indicate that the dominant species are capable of regenerating below the canopy, but they also germinate and show enhanced growth within small light gaps. For one of the common subcanopy species (M. planipes) and the two infrequent canopy species (D. winteri, andA. meli) regeneration seems to depend entirely on tree-fall gaps. Thus, in this forest, light gaps allow the persistence of infrequent canopy species, but seem less important for the regeneration and maintenance of dominant canopy species.     

Validating the use of stereo‐video cameras to conduct remote measurements of sea turtles

Point 1: Stereo‐video camera systems (SVCSs) are a promising tool to remotely measure body size of wild animals without the need for animal handling. Here, we assessed the accuracy of SVCSs for measuring straight carapace length (SCL) of sea turtles.Point 2: To achieve this, we hand captured and measured 63 juvenile, subadult, and adult sea turtles across three species: greens, Chelonia mydas (n = 52); loggerheads, Caretta caretta (n = 8); and Kemp''s ridley, Lepidochelys kempii (n = 3) in the waters off Eleuthera, The Bahamas and Crystal River, Florida, USA, between May and November 2019. Upon release, we filmed these individuals with the SVCS. We performed photogrammetric analysis to extract stereo SCL measurements (eSCL), which were then compared to the (manual) capture measurements (mSCL).Point 3: mSCL ranged from 25.9 to 89.2 cm, while eSCL ranged from 24.7 to 91.4 cm. Mean percent bias of eSCL ranged from −0.61% (±0.11 SE) to −4.46% (±0.31 SE) across all species and locations. We statistically analyzed potential drivers of measurement error, including distance of the turtle to the SVCS, turtle angle, image quality, turtle size, capture location, and species.Point 4: Using a linear mixed effects model, we found that the distance between the turtle and the SVCS was the primary factor influencing measurement error. Our research suggests that stereo‐video technology enables high‐quality measurements of sea turtle body size collected in situ without the need for hand‐capturing individuals. This study contributes to the growing knowledge base that SVCS are accurate for body size measurements independent of taxonomic clade.     

Geographical Information Systems risk assessment models for zoonotic fascioliasis in the South American Andes region

The WHO recognises Fasciola hepatica to be an important human health problem. The Andean countries of Peru, Bolivia and Chile are those most severely affected by this distomatosis, though areas of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela are also affected. As part of a multidisciplinary project, we present results of use of a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) forecast model to conduct an epidemiological analysis of human and animal fasciolosis in the central part of the Andes mountains. The GIS approach enabled us to develop a spatial and temporal epidemiological model to map the disease in the areas studied and to classify transmission risk into low, moderate and high risk areas so that areas requiring the implementation of control activities can be identified. Current results are available on a local scale for: (1) the northern Bolivian Altiplano, (2) Puno in the Peruvian Altiplano, (3) the Cajamarca and Mantaro Peruvian valleys, and (4) the Ecuadorian provinces of Azuay, Cotopaxi and Imbabura. Analysis of results demonstrated the validity of a forecast model that combines use of climatic data to calculate of forecast indices with remote sensing data, through the classification of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps.     

The helminth community of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Sierra Espuna, Murcia, Spain

The helminth community of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in the Sierra Espuna was characterized after a complete analysis of its helminth community component and infracommunity structure relative to host age, sex and year of capture. The helminth community comprised 13 species: one trematode, four cestodes and eight nematodes. The cestode Pseudocatenotaenia matovi and the nematode Syphacia frederici were the most prevalent and abundant helminth species, respectively. Sixty four percent of mice analysed presented helminths with a direct cycle and 42% presented helminths with an indirect cycle. The helminth community presents a low diversity with infracommunities usually made up of only one or two helminth species. Host age and year of capture seem to play a major role in determining species richness and helminth diversity, but not in determining the abundance of helminths. Host sex does not seem to affect the infection rate nor the diversity. Further studies on more samples of wood mice and other small mammal species in this regional park are needed to explore any possible interactions between helminth communities in the host populations.     

Simple purification of immunoglobulins from whey proteins concentrate

We have developed a new protocol with only two steps for purification of immunoglobulins (Ig) from a protein concentrate of whey. Following this protocol, we have an 80% recovery of immunoglobulins, fairly pure. The purification was achieved by eliminating the BSA, via a strong adsorption on DEAE-agarose. Full desoprtion of the other serum proteins could be achieved without contamination with BSA. Thus, a protein solution containing only Ig and very small proteins (e.g., beta-lactoglobulins and alpha-lactalbumin) was obtained. Offering this protein mixture to a lowly activated aminated support, only Ig adsorbed on the support. It has been shown that BSA is able to interact with other proteins (including Ig and lactalbumins). This ability to form complexes with other proteins prevented the success of the direct adsorption of Ig on this mildly activated support, even although Ig should be the largest protein presented in dairy whey.     

Comparative population genetics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Basilichthys microlepidotus</Emphasis> (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichomycterus areolatus</Emphasis> (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) in north central Chile

To describe comparative population genetic structure of the Chilean silverside Basilichthys microlepidotus and the catfish Trichomycterus areolatus, four rivers and three sites within each river were investigated by the analysis of haplotype polymorphisms of the mitochondrial Control Region. For both species, analyses revealed significant differentiation among rivers and low differences within rivers. However, the species differ in haplotype composition; individuals of B. microlepidotus shared some haplotypes in all four rivers, while individuals of T. areolatus showed a different haplotype composition in most rivers. This difference may be explained by the different ecological features of the species. Assuming that both silversides and catfish were present before the separation of the rivers, B. microlepidotus migrated after river isolation, probably using coastal water, while T. areolatus has probably never migrated between these rivers. The long times that the studied rivers have been separated should be taken into account in future conservation plans for the freshwater fish of Chile.