We studied the medicinal plants used by the Popoluca of the Sierra de Santa Marta (eastern Mexico). Using Moerman's method of regression analysis we determined which ethnomedically used taxa are over-represented in the Popolucan pharmacopoeia (e.g., Asteraceae) and which are underrepresented (e.g., Orchidaceae). Moerman et al. (1999)found high correlation between the holarctic pharmacopoeias and assumed that apart from the relatedness of the northern floras a "'global pattern of human knowledge" may account for this finding. Although the Popoluca dwell in a habitat dominated by a neotropical flora but intermixed with important holarctic elements, they include considerably fewer neotropical taxa in their pharmacopoeia as one would expect if the historical transmitted knowledge were influencing their selection. This finding confirms the theory stated by Moerman et al. However, the Popoluca include some neotropical taxa in their pharmacopoeia and thus a moderate correlation exists between the Popolucan pharmacopoeia and the neotropical pharmacopoeia analysed by Moerman et al. We therefore conclude that apart from historically transmitted knowledge about specific taxa the "global pattern of human knowledge" addressed by Moerman et al. is largely based on "'common selection criteria."

In the Pampa ecoregion of South America, the intensification of agriculture has led to the almost total replacement of pristine vegetation by agroecosystems. This has caused a great loss of biodiversity and a decline of bird assemblages. We monitored birds in Dos Hermanas Wildlife Reserve, an integrated ecosystem-based management area in preserved natural saline wetland relicts (grasslands and shrublands) with a cultivated sector (sustainable grazing and organic crops). We recorded a total of 170 species, including altitudinal migrants, Nearctic migrants, migrants of the temperate-tropical and cold-temperate systems, and residents. Seven are globally threatened species and three are exotic species. The high diversity of birds recorded at Dos Hermanas Wildlife Reserve highlights the importance of this reserve for the conservation of the regional biota. The application of ecosystem-based management allows the presence of contrasting vegetation structures with positive effects on the diversity of bird assemblages in the Pampa region.