No abstract

Pinus contorta is considered one of the most invasive tree species worldwide, generating significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems. In several Patagonian ecosystems in southern Chile, it has escaped from plantations established mainly in the 1970s, and is now invading both forests and treeless environments. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the invasion of P. contorta on microenvironmental conditions in Araucaria araucana forest and Patagonian steppe ecosystems, and assessed how these changes related to the richness and abundance of native and non-native plant species. In each ecosystem, 24 plots of 100 m2 were established along a gradient of P. contorta biomass, where 18 environmental variables and the composition of native and non-native vegetation were measured at a local scale. Our results indicated that increased pine biomass was associated with differences in microclimatic conditions (soil and air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and soil moisture) and soil properties (potassium, nitrate, pH, and litter accumulation). These changes were ecosystem dependent, however, as well as associated with the level of invasion. Finally, the reduction in the richness and abundance of native plants was associated with the changes in soil properties (accumulation of leaf litter, pH, and organic matter) as well as in the microclimate (minimum air temperature, PAR) generated by the invasion of P. contorta. Overall, our results confirm that the invasion of P. contorta impacts microenvironmental conditions (i.e., canopy cover, litter accumulation, minimum air temperature, and maximum soil temperature) and reduces native plant diversity. For future restoration plans, more emphasis should be given to how environmental changes can influence the recovery of invaded ecosystems even after the removal of the living pine biomass (i.e., legacy of the invasion).

Efecto de la alta temperatura en la germinación y supervivencia de semillas de la especie invasora Pinus contorta y dos especies nativas del sur de Chile Effects of high temperatures in the germination and seed survival of the invasive species Pinus contorta and two native species of South Chile In order to comprehend the regeneration response to post-fire, it is necessary to know the response and tolerance of the seeds to high temperatures. Seeds of P. contorta, A. araucana and N. antarctica were sown in pots with sand and subsequently heated at 80, 100 and 120 °C for five minutes. Germination and seedling survival tests were carried out in a greenhouse. Germination in N. antarctica was null.Heat treatments did not have a negative effect on the germination of P. contorta, but they did on A. araucana inhibiting the germination at temperatures over 100 °C. These results suggest that when undergoing a fire of high intensity, P. contorta has a competitive advantage over A. araucana and N. antarctica; the seed bank would have more possibilities to survive the effects of a wildfire.Key words: Araucaria araucana, Nothofagus antarctica, wildfire, fire ecology, heat shock. RESUMENEstudios en Sudamérica han reportado aumentos en la invasividad de Pinus spp. después de eventos de fuego. Esto se debe a adaptaciones morfológicas y fisiológicas a incendios que presentan algunas especies de este género. Pinus contorta es uno de los pinos más invasores en ecosistemas templados y se encuentra invadiendo los bosques de Araucaria araucana y Nothofagus antarctica en la Reserva Nacional Malalcahuello, Chile. Para comprender la respuesta potencial de la regeneración post-incendios en árboles, es necesario conocer la respuesta y tolerancia de la semilla a altas temperaturas. Semillas de P. contorta, A. araucana y N. antarctica fueron sembradas en bandejas con arena y sometidas a 80, 100 y 120 °C por cinco minutos, después fueron llevadas al invernadero para evaluar la germinación y supervivencia de las plántulas. La germinación para N. antarctica fue nula incluso en el control. Las altas temperaturas no presentaron efectos negativos en la germinación de P. contorta, pero sí en A. araucana inhibiendo la germinación a temperaturas mayores a 100 °C. Estos resultados sugieren que, en incendios de alta intensidad, las semillas de P. contorta tiene una ventaja competitiva sobre A. araucana y N. antarctica, ya que el banco de semillas tendrá mayores posibilidades de sobrevivir ante un incendio forestal.Palabras clave: Araucaria araucana, Nothofagus antarctica, incendio forestal, ecología del fuego, choque térmico.

Diversity of understory birds in tropical forests, natural recovery areas, and African oil palm crops in wetlands of the Izabal Lake, Guatemala. – African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) crops have been identified as one of the most important threats to biodiversity of tropical forests. By mean of mist nets, species richness, diversity and structure of understory bird communities were studied in three vegetation types of a Neotropical wetland: humid tropical forest remnants, natural regeneration sites (“guamiles”), and African oil palm plantations. We captured a total of 734 birds of 106 species, belonging to 22 families. The habitat with highest diversity was forest (63 species and 329 individuals), followed by guamiles (62 species and 368 individuals) and finally oil palm plantations (11 species and 37 individuals). As expected, statistical differences were found among the studied habitats. Only 11% of species and 5% of the total captured birds were recorded in the African oil palm plantations. Our data show that oil palm cultivation represents a serious threat to biological diversity, making it a priority to generate guidelines based on scientific and conservation criteria.

Resumen ∙ El Pavo de Cacho (Oreophasis derbianus) es una especie de crácido críticamente amenazada y endémica de México y Guatemala; sin embargo, su tamaño poblacional ha sido pobremente documentado en la mayor parte de su distribución. Se estimó su densidad poblacional en la Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala, mediante detecciones visuales y auditivas obtenidas durante el recorrido de trayectos lineales, con base en la teoría del muestreo de distancias. Tres trayectos (8 km de longitud total) fueron recorridos mensualmente para obtener un esfuerzo de muestreo de 72 km, de abril a diciembre de 2009. Los trayectos se ubicaron en el bosque nuboso y latifoliado de la zona núcleo “Las Cabañas” de la Reserva de Biosfera Sierra de las Minas, en la localidad de Albores, departamento de El Progreso, Guatemala. La densidad poblacional estimada fue de 3,04 ± 1,16 (± EE) ind/km². Esta densidad fue comparada con otras estimaciones en diferentes áreas de la distribución de la especie en México y Guatemala. La distribución de las estimaciones de densidad parece ajustarse a un patrón biogeográfico en donde una mayor densidad poblacional se encuentra al centro de la distribución geográfica de la especie, disminuyendo hacia la periferia. Si este es el caso, esto podría tener importantes implicaciones en la definición de estrategias para la conservación de la especie. Sin embargo, factores de perturbación humana como la cacería y captura también podrían ser la causa de la diferencia en las densidades poblacionales entre los sitios comparados. La mayoría de las detecciones ocurrieron en junio, mientras que una hembra y sus dos pollos fueron observados en agosto. Se observó que el Pavo de Cacho utilizó 22 especies de plantas en el área de estudio para alimentarse, vocalizar o posarse, de las cuales tres (Passiflora membranaceae, Prunus barbata y Oreopanax hederaceum) fueron nuevos registros en su dieta. Se reporta actividad de cacería en la zona núcleo del área protegida, lo que representa una amenaza para la viabilidad de esta población. Estudios sobre presión de cacería, requerimientos de hábitat, patrones de movimiento y variabilidad genética del Pavo de Cacho son clave para comprender a fondo su biología y establecer medidas de conservación adecuadas.Abstract ∙ Population density and natural history of the Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus) in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala The Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus) is a critically endangered cracid species endemic to Mexico and Guatemala; nevertheless, its population size has been poorly documented throughout most of its distributional range. In the Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala, population density was estimated by visual and acoustic surveys in line transects, based on the distance sampling theory. Three transects (8 km total length) located in the cloud and mixed forest at "Las Cabañas" core area of the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve in the Albores locality, Department of El Progreso were monthly surveyed to total up 72 km of sampling effort from April to December 2009. Estimated population density was 3.04 ± 1.16 (± SE) ind/km², which was compared with other density estimates from different areas within the species distribution in Mexico and Guatemala. The distribution of density estimates seems to fit a biogeographic pattern where higher population densities are found at the center of the species distributional range tending to decrease towards the periphery. If this is the case, it may have important implications in the definition of the species conservation strategies. Nevertheless, human impacts, such as hunting and poaching, could also be the cause of differences in population density among sites. Most of the detections occurred in June, and a female with two chicks was observed in August. The Horned Guan was observed to use 22 plant species in the study area for feeding, vocalizing, and perching, of which three (Passiflora membranaceae, Prunus barbata, and Oreopanax hederaceum) were new records as food items. Hunting activity is reported within the core zone of the protected area, threating the viability of this population. Research on hunting pressure, habitat requirements, movement patterns, and genetic variability are key to further understand the biology of the Horned Guan and to establish appropriate conservation measures.