Determining the permeability of different types of landscape matrices to animal movement is essential for conserving populations in fragmented landscapes. We evaluated the effects of habitat patch size and matrix type on diversity, isolation, and dispersal of ithomiine butterflies in forest fragments surrounded by coffee agroecosystems in the Colombian Andes. Because ithomiines prefer a shaded understory, we expected the highest diversity and abundance in large fragments surrounded by shade coffee and the lowest in small fragments surrounded by sun coffee. We also thought shade coffee would favor butterfly dispersal and immigration into forest patches. We marked 9675 butterflies of 39 species in 12 forest patches over a year. Microclimate conditions were more similar to the forest interior in the shade-coffee matrix than in the sun-coffee matrix, but patch size and matrix type did not affect species richness and abundance in forest fragments. Furthermore, age structure and temporal recruitment patterns of the butterfly community were similar in all fragments, independent of patch size or matrix type. There were no differences in the numbers of butterflies flying in the matrices at two distances from the forest patch, but their behavior differed. Flight in the sun-coffee matrix was rapid and directional, whereas butterflies in shade-coffee matrix flew slowly. Seven out of 130 recaptured butterflies immigrated into patches in the shade-coffee matrix, and one immigrated into a patch surrounded by sun coffee. Although the shade-coffee matrix facilitated movement in the landscape, sun-coffee matrix was not impermeable to butterflies. Ithomiines exhibited behavioral plasticity in habitat use and high mobility. These traits favor their persistence in heterogeneous landscapes, opening opportunities for their conservation. Understanding the dynamics and resource requirements of different organisms in rural landscapes is critical for identifying management options that address both animals' and farmers' needs.

1 Plant patch shape may affect the abundance of herbivorous insects. Patches of the same size but longer or irregular have a higher perimeter/area relationship (P/A) than square or regular ones, which may determine the immigration, emigration and abundance of individuals in the patch. 2 Only specialist species should be affected by plant patch shape. Those species that are more abundant in smaller patches should be more abundant in patches with higher P/A, whereas those that are more abundant in larger patches should be more abundant in patches with lower P/A. 3 We studied the density of eggs, larvae and pupae of Pieris brassicae, Plutella xylostella and Trichoplusia ni in square (low P/A) and I-shaped (high P/A) patches of 144 plants of Brassica oleracea. We also estimated their immigration to these patches, and the final plant weight. 4 Plant patch shape affected the abundance, but not the distribution, of the two specialist species. Whereas P. brassicae was denser in I-shaped patches, P. xylostella was more abundant in square patches. The generalist T. ni was not affected by patch shape. Immigration of P. brassicae was higher in I-shaped patches, but immigration of P. xylostella and T. ni was not affected by patch shape. Plants were heavier in the centre of square patches. 5 Our results suggest that plant patch shape affects the density of herbivorous insects and should be considered independently from other plant patch variables when studying the population dynamics of these organisms.

Las especies vegetales subvaloradas son plantas marginalmente aprovechadas, aunque presentan nutrientes esenciales valiosos. El occidente cercano antioqueño se caracteriza por el crecimiento del turismo, que ha desplazado a la producción de frutales tropicales tradicionales y con ello amenaza el conocimiento local sobre su uso y manejo. Este trabajo evaluó la diversidad de plantas con potencial de integración al turismo y describió los usos y el manejo dados por la población. Se registraron 78 especies, de las cuales el 32 % reunieron las características de ser nativas, tradicionales y aceptadas por el turismo. Las especies más promisorias fueron zapote, tamarindo, corozo, iraca y algarrobo. La alta diversidad de especies y el conocimiento tradicional deben conservarse, a través de propuestas de turismo con identidad cultural.

Los paisajes rurales albergan muchas especies silvestres y complementan la estrategia de conservación en las áreas naturales protegidas. Esta investigación se planteó dos preguntas: a) ¿Cual es la diversidad de mariposas diurnas de la granja del Politécnico JIC?, b) ¿De las especies encontradas qué proporción han sido referenciadas como indicadoras de bosques? Se dividió la granja en cinco zonas, en las cuales se realizaron once muestreos durante doce meses. Se determinó la diversidad esperada a través de estimadores no-paramétricos y se comparó la diversidad por zonas con el análisis de agrupamiento Chi-cuadrado. Se colectaron 933 individuos, que representaron 117 especies y seis familias: Nymphalidae (78), Pieridae (18), Hesperiidae (6), Riodinidae (6), Papilionidae (5) y Lycaenidae (4). Las especies nectarívoras más abundantes fueron Anartia amathea, Anartia jatrophae y Mechanitis menapsis, de las especies frugívoras capturadas, la única abundante fue Pareuptychia hesione. Un 23% de las especies pertenecen a subfamilias relacionadas con paisajes poco intervenidos. La diversidad esperada fue de 158 especies y este estudio encontró el 74% de ella. Las zonas presentaron baja similitud en las especies, la mayor diversidad y abundancia se presentó en las zonas uno y dos, posiblemente debido a la mayor abundancia de plantas ornamentales y arvenses forecidas todo el año. La presencia de especies típicas de sitios poco intervenidos indicaría que los parches de bosque de la granja son importantes en la provisión de recursos para las mariposas o como ruta de paso hacia parches de bosque mayores en este paisaje.