Background: Environmental stressors increase the secretion of glucocorticoids that in turn can shorten telomeres via oxidative damage. Modification of telomere length, as a result of adversity faced early in life, can modify an individual's phenotype. Studies in captivity have suggested a relationship between glucocorticoids and telomere length in developing individuals, however less is known about that relationship in natural populations. Methods: In order to evaluate the effect of early environmental stressors on telomere length in natural populations, we compared baseline corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere length in nestlings of the same age. We collected blood samples for hormone assay and telomere determination from two geographically distinct populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) that differed in brood size; nestlings body mass and primary productivity. Within each population we used path analysis to evaluate the relationship between brood size, body mass, baseline CORT and telomere length. Results: Within each distinct population, path coefficients showed a positive relationship between brood size and baseline CORT and a strong and negative correlation between baseline CORT and telomere length. In general, nestlings that presented higher baseline CORT levels tended to present shorter telomeres. When comparing populations it was the low latitude population that presented higher levels of baseline CORT and shorter telomere length.

The purpose of this study was to assess nucleotide variation at a non‐coding chloroplast DNA region in Olea species, to evaluate their phylogenetic relationships within the Olea genus and, more particularly, to clarify the relationships between cultivated olive (O. europaea) and the other taxa of section Olea. The analysis was made on an intergenic region between the trnT(UGU) and trnL(UAA) 5′ exon, within a large single copy region of the chloroplast genome. Site‐specific primers were used to amplify the region by PCR. This sequence analysis was applied to the same array of Olea species as assayed by Lumaret et al. (2000[16]) using cpDNA RFLPs, thus making it possible to compare phylogenetic relationships analysed at two complementary levels of cpDNA variation. On the 666 bp aligned sequence, 8 different haplotypes were defined, with 9 single nucleotide mutations, a different length of a poly‐T region and an indel for O. paniculata. Haplotypes were shared by the species pairs O. europaea‐O.laperrinei, O. maroccana‐O. cerasiformis, O. capensis‐O. lancea and O. africana‐O.indica. Phylogenetic analyses of these data distinguished four groups: the species Olea capensis and O. lancea, which both belong to subgenus Ligustroides, the Olea forms from southeast Africa, those from Asia and the taxa of northwest Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, which include olive crop. The results are consistent with those previously found using cpDNA RFLPs, with some minor differences observed within each group. They constitute further evidence to clarify the phylogeny of Olea.

A new genus and species, Pseudorestias lirimensis, is described from the southern part of the Chilean Altiplano. While sharing several characters that clearly align the new species with Orestias, this new fish is characterized by numerous autapomorphies: the Meckel cartilage is a continuous cartilage that broadly expands posteriorly (in large specimens, it keeps its anterior part and is resorbed posteriorly), the basibranchials are fused into one long element, the second pharyngobranchial is not displaced dorsally over pharyngobranchial tooth plate 3+4, but they are aligned, the anterior and posterior ceratohyals are closely articulated keeping a scarce amount of cartilage between both bones and ventral to them, ossified middle and distal dorsal radials are present in females as well as ossified middle and distal anal radials. Pseudorestias lirimensis presents strong sexual dimorphism associated to size. Females are almost twice as large and long than males, neuromast lines are absent in males, a mesethmoid is present in males, squamation on head is reduced in males, and ossified middle and distal radial of dorsal fin are cartilaginous in males. Pseudorestias and Orestias are suggested as the sole members of the tribe Orestiini. A list of characters diagnosing the tribe is provided. The presence of the new genus is interpreted as a possible result of the ecosystem isolation where the fish is living from surrounding basins—as early as possibly from the Miocene-Pliocene times—and its physical and chemical characteristics. Small populations, living conditions, small habitat, and reduced distribution make this species a strong candidate to be considered critically endangered, a situation already established for all other Chilean species living in the Altiplano. There is high probability it will become extinct due to water demands and climate change in the region.

RESUMENLos peces muestran una amplia diversidad de comportamientos alimentarios, algunas veces asociados con morfologías específi cas, las cuales pueden refl ejar adaptaciones para usar los recursos dependiendo de su hábitat. En los sistemas acuáticos aislados, los peces son un buen modelo de estudio para entender las relaciones trófi cas. Este estudió evaluó la dieta de cinco especies de Orestias, las cuales habitan ocho sitios diferentes en la Región de Arica y Parinacota, Parque Nacional Lauca. Se analizaron 177 estómagos pertenecientes a las especies Orestias chungarensis, O. laucaensis, O. parinacotensis, O. piacotensis y Orestias cf agassii. Para los análisis se utilizaron descriptores cuantitativos de número de items presa y frecuencia de ocurrencia. Se analizó la riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de presas por especies y localidad, se evaluó la amplitud y sobrelapamiento de dieta y mediante un análisis de correspondencia (DCA) se analizó la composición dietaria.En general, la dieta de Orestias consistió en zooplancton y macroinvertebrados asociados a las macrófi tas como son Cladocera (Chydorus, Daphnia, Alonella), Ostracoda (Cyprinotus). Amphipoda (Hyalella), Mollusca (Biomphalaria) e Insecta (Chironomus). La variación en la riqueza de presas y amplitud de dieta observado entre las poblaciones de Orestias sería el refl ejo de una estrategia oportunista de las especies, consumiendo las presas de mayor frecuencia, no observándose diferenciación trófi ca entre ellas. PALABRAS CLAVES:Altiplano, alopatría, dieta, peces, simpatría. ABSTRACTFish exhibit a wide diversity of feeding behaviors, sometimes associated with specifi c morphologies, which may refl ect adaptations to exploit the resources depending upon where they live. In isolated aquatic systems, fi sh provide a good model to study species trophic relationships. The present study evaluates the diet of fi ve species of Orestias which inhabit eight different sites of the Arica and Parinacota Region,Lauca National Park, Chile. We analyzed 177 stomachs of Orestias chungarensis, O.laucaensis, O.parinacotensis, O. piacotensis and Orestias cf agassii. For the analyses we used quantitative descriptors of number of prey items and frequency of occurrence. We analyzed the richness and abundance of prey,diet overlap by species and by location. We analyzed diet composition using an analysis of correspondence (DCA). The diet of Orestias consisted of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates associated with macrophytes such as Cladocera (Chydorus, Daphnia, Alonella), Ostracoda (Cyprinotus). Amphipoda (Hyalella), Mollusca (Biomphalaria) and Insecta (Chironomus). The variation in prey richness and diet amplitude observed among the studied populations of Orestias may refl ect an opportunist trophic strategy of these species, consuming the prey species which are most frequent, thus no showing trophic differentiation among them.

The killifish Orestias ascotanensis is endemic to the small isolated springs of Ascotán salt pan in the Central High Andes, Chile. Due to small populations, mining activity, and increasing aridity, this species is catalogued in danger of extinction. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. ascotanesis was assembled with an Ion Torrent sequencer (chip 318) that produced 2.61 million of reads. The 16 617 bp of the entire genome consisted of 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, and a control region, showing that the gene composition and arrangement match to that reported for most fishes.