Phytoplankton, especially the nanoplankton fraction, and its possible relationships with the hydrographic conditions in the southern Gulf of Mexico were studied during an oceanographic cruise in April 2000. Hydrographic data and phytoplankton were analyzed. Phytoplankton species composition showed heterogeneity among stations. A total of 180 species were found: 114 diatoms, 32 dinoflagellates, 32 coccolithophores, and 2 silicoflagellates. Diversity indices were variable (0.96–5.12 bits ind–1). Phytoplankton was numerically dominated by coccolithophores or nanoplanktonic diatoms. Cell abundance was low to moderately high, ranging from 5.3 × 103 to 1.4 × 105 cells L–1. The most abundant, dominant species were nanoplanktonic forms: two coccolithophores, Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica; the pennate diatoms Nitzschia bicapitata, N. bifurcata and N. leehyi; and centric diatoms of the genus Thalassiosira. The high subsurface abundance of coccolithophores at two stations was related to a thermal front in the Grijalva-Usumacinta river system.

In nature hummingbirds face floral resources whose availability, quality and quantity can vary spatially and temporally. Thus, they must constantly make foraging decisions about which patches, plants and flowers to visit, partly as a function of the nectar reward. The uncertainty of these decisions would possibly be reduced if an individual could remember locations or use visual cues to avoid revisiting recently depleted flowers. In the present study, we carried out field experiments with white-eared hummingbirds Hylocharis leucotis, to evaluate their use of locations or visual cues when foraging on natural flowers Penstemon roseus. We evaluated the use of spatial memory by observing birds while they were foraging between two plants and within a single plant. Our results showed that hummingbirds prefer to use location when foraging in two plants, but they also use visual cues to efficiently locate unvisited rewarded flowers when they feed on a single plant. However, in absence of visual cues, in both experiments birds mainly used the location of previously visited flowers to make subsequent visits. Our data suggest that hummingbirds are capable of learning and employing this flexibility depending on the faced environmental conditions and the information acquired in previous visits.

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Background: Wetlands in Neotropics harbor high fungal diversity, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE). This study describes the interaction of plant roots with AMF and DSE in a freshwater wetland belonging to a hotspot of biodiversity.Hypothesis: Differential root colonization between arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi is influenced by plant species and abiotic conditions in a freshwater wetland.  Studied species: Plant species colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal and dark septate endophyte fungi.Methods: Properties of soils and the water column, floristic composition, root colonization by AMF and DSE, and molecular identification of AMF inside roots were studied.Results: Soils were Gleysol and flooded during the rainy season. Most of identified plant species were herbaceous, with Cyperus articulatus and Mimosa pigra as the dominant species. Seven of 8 analyzed plant species exhibited differential co-colonization between AMF and DSE. Repeated sampling for one year under flooding/dry conditions demonstrated that C. articulatus and M. pigra were mainly associated with DSE and AMF, respectively. A positive correlation between dissolved O2 in the water column and fungal colonization was observed in C. articulatus. Glomerales and Archaeosporales were molecularly identified inside roots containing arbuscules of M. pigra.Conclusions: Findings highlight differential coexistence between AMF and DSE in plant roots; fungal colonization was influenced by flooding/dry conditions in a neotropical wetland; the community of AMF inside arbusculated roots of M. pigra includes at least four clades.

A B S T R A C TThe abundance and distribution of total autotrophic picophytoplankton (PFP), temperature, salinity, PAR, and chlorophyll a were determined in two presumably contrasting environments: (1) two coastal areas (close to the mouths of three rivers), and (2) one oceanic area (Campeche Canyon), of the southern Gulf of Mexico, during the "dry season" (June-July, 2004). The picoprokaryotes Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus were identified by TEM, whereas Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes populations were also recognized by flow cytometry. The highest PFP abundance (1.67×105 cells ml-1) was found in shallow waters (~10 m depth) around the Grijalva-Usumacinta river mouth, followed by that found at a station close to the Coatzacoalcos River (1.19×105 cells ml-1); PFP abundances in the Campeche Canyon were usually lower (maximum 1.53×104 cells ml-1). Greater variability in PFP abundances was found in coastal stations than in oceanic waters, and weak relationships appeared between the patterns of chlorophyll a and PFP abundance. Peaks of PFP were detected in both coastal and more oceanic areas, but in the Campeche Canyon they were located deeper (60 m), relatively closer to the deep maximum of chlorophyll (located at about 75 m). Results suggest that PFP populations include a substantial photosynthetic component in both coastal and oceanic waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico. R E S U M OAbundância e distribuição do picofitoplâncton autotrófico total (PFP), temperatura, salinidade, PAR e clorofila-a, foram determinados em dois ambientes presumivelmente diferentes: (1) duas áreas costeiras (perto da foz de três rios) e (2) uma área oceânica (Campeche Canyon), ambas situadas ao sul do Golfo do México, durante a "estação seca" (Junho-Julho, 2004). Os picoprocariontes Prochlorococcus e Synechococcus foram identificados por TEM, e as populações de Synechococcus e de picoeucariontes também foram reconhecidas por citometria de fluxo. A maior abundância de PFP (1,67 × 105 células ml-1) foi encontrada em águas rasas (~ 10 m de profundidade) em torno dos rios Grijalva Usumacinta, seguida de uma estação perto do Rio Coatzacoalcos (1,19 × 105 células ml-1). As abundâncias de PFP em Campeche Canyon foram geralmente menores (máximo 1,53 × 104 células ml-1). A maior variabilidade em abundâncias de PFP foi encontrada em estações costeiras quando comparado às águas oceânicas, e quase não houve correlação entre os padrões de clorofila-a e abundância de PFP. Picos de PFP foram detectados nas áreas costeiras e oceânicas, mas em Campeche Canyon localizaram-se em maior profundidade (60 m), relativamente mais perto do local onde se registrou o máximo de clorofila (cerca de 75 m). Os resultados sugerem que as populações de PFP englobam um componente fotossintético substancial em ambas as águas costeiras e oceânicas do sul do Golfo do México.