First phylogenetic analysis of Mesoamerican brocket deer Mazama pandora and Mazama temama (Cetartiodactyla: Cervidae) based on mitochondrial sequences: Implications for Neotropical deer evolution

Mammalian Biology 81 (2016) 303–313

First phylogenetic analysis of Mesoamerican brocket deer Mazama pandora and Mazama temama (Cetartiodactyla: Cervidae) based on mitochondrial sequences: Implications for Neotropical deer evolution

Luis A. Escobedo-Morales • Salvador Mandujano
Luis E. Eguiarte • Marco A. Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Jesús E. Maldonado

Abstract

Several recent studies have tried to unravel the complex evolutionary history of Neotropical cervids. However, the two Mesoamerican brocket deer Mazama pandora and M. temama have not been included in these studies and their relationship to other Neotropical cervids remains unclear. Here, we present analyses that included concatenated sequences from the mitochondrial genes ND2, Cytb, and tRNA-Pro-Control region.

Our results suggest that both Mesoamerican brocket deer fall within the “red” clade, more closely related to genus Odocoileus and red brocket deer species, such as South American Mazama americana, M. bororo, M. nana, and M. rufina.

We estimated that M. temama diverged from other red brocket deer ca. two MYA. Two hypothesis emerge regarding the relationship of the Yucatan brocket deer M. pandora with respect to the other Neotropical deer.

• The first one, based on analyses of concatenated sequences from all three genes, implies an early split from a larger clade that includes Odocoileus and other red Mazama species, with an estimated divergence time dating back to 2.7 MYA. This would suggest isolation on the Yucatan peninsula, limiting the crossing of this species into South America.
• The second one, based only on Cytb, places M. pandora more closely related to Odocoileus and with an estimated divergence time of ca. 1.9 MYA. This would suggest that the humid tropical forests of Mexico and Central America could have been the most likely place of origin of members of the red brocket deer clade.

Deer colonization into South America occurred after the complete formation of the Panamanian land bridge in the late Pliocene, more than one ancestor of the gray brocket deer clade crossed into South America, as well as a red brocket deer ancestor and Odocoileus dispersed southward. A posterior event probably occurred when divergent ancestors of M. temama and M. pandora respectively moved northward after the split with South American red brocket deer.

Our results add to the growing body of evidence calling for an extensive taxonomic revision of this group, and we concur with previous recommendations that the generic taxonomic designation of Mazama should be applied not only to the red brocket deer but also to all of the species currently recognized under the genus Odocoileus.

Abundancia relativa de la zorra gris Urocyon cinereoargenteus en la zona centro de Veracruz México

ISSN impreso: 0034-7744
ISSN electrónico: 2215-2075

Abundancia relativa de la zorra gris Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Carnívora: Canidae) en la zona centro de Veracruz, México

Sonia Gallina T. • Paloma López-Colunga
Carolina Valdespino • Verónica Farías

Abstract
Relative abundance of the gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Carnívora: Canidae) in Veracruz central area, Mexico. The gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, is a medium-size canid widely distributed in México. Most studies on this species focus on habitat use, home range, diet, intraguild competence, and lanscape distribution between urban and rural sites. In central Veracruz, gray foxes are present in fragments of cloud forest and in shaded coffee plantations; nevertheless, its abundance has not yet been compared among other vegetation types found in the area, such as sugarcane plantations. In this study we described gray foxes abundance variations using 500 m transects, among sugarcane plantations, shaded coffee plantations, and cloud forest fragments throughout eight months, by scat counting in three sites of each cover type. We reported the relative abundance index for each cover type and each month, and evaluated its relationship with four landscape features:

1. shade percent,
2. trail density,
3. human population density, and
4. habitat juxtaposition, in influence areas of 450 ha around sampling sites.

Abundance comparison among cover types showed lower abundances in cloud forest fragments and higher abundances in coffee and sugarcane plantations. No significant differences were found throughout months (p = 0.476). We proposed that higher abundances in plantations may be related to the presence of rodent plagues and fruit trees which offer food resources to gray foxes. The evaluation of landscape features showed that only medium-impact trail density and human population density were positively correlated with gray fox abundance; fact that demonstrates that this canid can coexist with humans in rural sites. We highlight the gray fox capacity to take advantage of heterogeneous landscapes.

Manual de técnicas del estudio de la fauna

ISBN: 978-607-7579-45-8

D.R. © Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
Carretera antigua a Coatepec No. 351,
El Haya, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, México

CONTENIDO

1. Técnica de colecta, manejo y envío de muestras biológicas de fauna silvestre tropical
2. Técnicas de campo y laboratorio para el estudio de parásitos
3. Aplicaciones del análisis de isótopos estables para el manejo y conservación de fauna silvestre
4. Métodos estadísticos aplicados al estudio de vertebrados.
5. Evaluación de la diversidad de especies en ensamblajes de vertebrados: un primer acercamiento midiendo y comparando la riqueza de especies.
6. Análisis de viabilidad poblacional aplicado al manejo de fauna.
7. Técnicas para estimar la capacidad de carga para herbívoros.
8. Técnicas para el estudio de murciélagos.
9. Métodos de investigación social: fundamentos, técnicas y aportaciones para el entendimiento de las relaciones sociedad -vida silvestre-.

Editora: Sonia Gallina Tessaro

Classification of vegetation types in the habitat of white-tailed deer in a location of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

ISSN 1940-0829

June 2015 | Vol. 8 | Issue 2 | pages 284-597

Classification of vegetation types in the habitat of white-tailed deer in a location of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Ariana Barrera-Salazar, Salvador Mandujano
Oscar A. Villarreal Espino-Barros & Daniel Jiménez-García

Abstract
This paper classifies the vegetation types that comprise the habitat of the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus at a location within the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve (TCBR) in Mexico.

The vegetation was sampled, identified, and mapped at 308 points distributed along 28 transects (each of 500 m in length). To determine the effect of the classified and mapped vegetation types on the white-tailed deer, we estimated population density using the PELLET procedure based on the pellet-group count method.

The principal vegetation types at the study site are tropical dry forest (TDF, 63% of the area) dominated by tetecho (Neobuxbaumia tetezo), uña de gato (Mimosa spp.) and mulato (Bursera spp.), and crassicaule scrub dominated by mantecoso (Parkinsonia praecox).

The TDF can be sub-classified into four spatially different clusters (vegetation types) depending on the dominance of these species. The white-tailed deer population density varied significantly depending on vegetation type. Our results contribute to the ecological knowledge of the white-tailed deer in tropical habitats and are of value for the implementation of effective conservation and management.

(contacta a los autores, pulsando sobre sus nombres)

Riqueza y abundancia relativa de mamíferos medianos y grandes en una localidad en la Reserva de la Biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, México

THERYA, 2015, Vol. 6 (2): 435-448
DOI: 10.12933/therya-15-277, ISSN 2007-3364

Riqueza y abundancia relativa de mamíferos medianos y grandes en una localidad en la Reserva de la Biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Oaxaca, México

Oscar Cruz-Jácome • Eva López-Tello •
Christian A. Delfín-Alfonso • Salvador Mandujano

Introduction: In Mexico, the state of Oaxaca is the second with higher mammalian richness. However, habitat loss and poaching have resulted in the decline and extinction of several species of flora and fauna. The present study focused on identifying the species richness and the relative abundance of medium and large mammals in the community of San Gabriel Casa Blanca, in the Biosphere Reserve Tehuacán-Cuicatlán. The work is important for the management and conservation of wildlife.
(contacta a los autores, pulsando sobre sus nombres)

Cascading impacts of anthropogenically driven habitat loss: deforestation, flooding, and possible lead poisoning in howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra)

ISSN: 0032-8332 (print version)
ISSN: 1610-7365 (electronic version)

Cascading impacts of anthropogenically driven habitat loss: deforestation, flooding, and possible lead poisoning in howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra)

Juan Carlos Serio-Silva •Eugenia J. Olguín •
Luis Garcia-Feria • Karla Tapia-Fierro •
Colin A. Chapman

Abstract
To construct informed conservation plans, researchers must go beyond understanding readily apparent threats such as habitat loss and bush-meat hunting. They must predict subtle and cascading effects of anthropogenic environmental modifications. This study considered a potential cascading effect of deforestation on the howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) of Balancán, Mexico. Deforestation intensifies flooding. Thus, we predicted that increased flooding of the Usumacinta River, which creates large bodies of water that slowly evaporate, would produce increased lead content in the soils and plants, resulting in lead exposure in the howler monkeys. The average lead levels were 18.18 ± 6.76 ppm in the soils and 5.85 ± 4.37 ppm in the plants. However, the average lead content of the hair of 13 captured howler monkeys was 24.12 ± 5.84 ppm. The lead levels in the animals were correlated with 2 of 15 blood traits (lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin) previously documented to be associated with exposure to lead. Our research illustrates the urgent need to set reference values indicating when adverse impacts of high environmental lead levels occur, whether anthropogenic or natural, and the need to evaluate possible cascading effects of deforestation on primates.

Evaluation of fecal sex steroids in captive horned guan (Oreophasis derbianus, Aves: Cracidae)

Evaluación de esteroides sexuales fecales del pavón cornudo (Oreophasis derbianus, Aves: Cracidae) en cautiverio

Dr. Luis M. GARCÍA-FERIA,
Dra. Carolina VALDESPINO

Abstract
The measurement of sexual steroids over time allows evaluating the changes in reproductive function of individuals. We evaluate the profiles of fecal testosterone (T_f) and fecal estradiol (E_2f) of three males and four females of Oreophasis derbianus (Aves: Cracidae) in a breeding program. Sex steroids faecal samples were quantified by a chemoluminiscence immunoassay. There are not significant differences in the T_f concentrations between males (P = 0.894) and along the sampling time (P = 0.305), but there was a hormone pattern corresponding with monogamous mating system, even when the polygyny has been reported in this bird. One of the individuals had higher concentrations E_2f (34.09 ± 1 .08 ng/g) than the other two (6.83 ± 1 .38 and 7.98 ± 2.13 ng/g), suggesting a greater reproductive age, as has been previously reported that this hormone increases with senescence. The females did no show significant differences between them (P = 0.473) and along sampling time (P = 0.668). The evaluation of the concentrations of both steroids in the same individual and their ratio allowed defining that the hormonal activity corresponds to the traditionally assigned to each sex, where males show Tf concentrations larger than females and the opposite in the case of E_2f. The E_2f/T_f ratio is therefore greater in females. In captivity, estimate the gonadal activity to determine the success or reproductive failure, assess sexual maturity and fertility of wild animals, allow determining if an individual or group has the ability to reproduce and become part of a breeding program.

Disponible en Acta Zoológica Mexicana 31(1):1-9