Abstract:

A new species of flea of the genus Cleopsylla Rothschild, 1914 (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) is described from sigmodontine rodents from northwestern Argentina. In Argentina, the genus was cited for the first time in 2008, but the species was erroneously identified. An identification key to species of Cleopsylla is presented.

Author affiliation: Lopez Berrizbeitia, Maria Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Hastriter, Michael W.. University Brigham Young; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Díaz, María Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Abstract:

Morphological and molecular studies allowed us to recognize a new species of Oxymycterus from the southern end of the Yungas of Argentina. External morphologic traits allow the new species, Oxymycterus wayku, to be differentiated from O. paramensis and O. akodontius, the two currently recognized species for northwestern Argentina, as well as from the remaining species of the genus. Those traits include very dark general coloration, ears covered with nearly black hairs, a white spot on the chin, and claws on fore and hind feet long and robust. Cranial characteristics of the new species include wide and relatively shallow zygomatic notches, proportionally short incisive foramina and molar series, and a relatively robust braincase compared to O. paramensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome b DNA sequences corroborates the distinctiveness of Oxymycterus wayku n. sp. Observed divergence values support this distinction. This new species is particularly important from a conservation viewpoint due to its rarity and the advanced level of alteration of its habitat.

Author affiliation: Jayat, Pablo J.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas; Argentina

Author affiliation: D Elia, Guillermo. Universidad de Concepción; Chile

Author affiliation: Padriñas, Ulyses F. J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentina

Author affiliation: Miotti, Maria Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina

Author affiliation: Ortiz, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina

Abstract:

Author affiliation: Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo. División Paleontología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina

Author affiliation: Dozo, María Teresa. Laboratorio de Paleontología. Centro Nacional Patagónico. Puerto Madryn. Chubut; Argentina

Author affiliation: Cerdeño, Esperanza. Departamento de Geología y Paleontología. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología, y Ciencias Ambientales. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica. Mendoza; Argentina

Abstract:

Ambient temperature strongly affects an ecosystem's characteristics as well as the attributes of individuals, eventually determining the distribution of populations and species. Phenotypic plasticity plays a central role in the administration of energy under thermal variation through traits underlying energy acquisition and expenditure. A powerful approach to assess acclimation ability to environmental variation is studying relevant traits along natural geographic gradients. Our goal was to assess and quantify in the small rodent Phyllotis xanthopygus, changes in traits relevant to energy balance in response to its thermal landscape. We compared energy intake and digestibility by animals from sites at different elevations under different temperatures in the laboratory. Results showed an increase in energy acquisition rates by the lower-elevation individuals to cope with low temperatures, while high-elevation animals appeared unaffected by this treatment. After acclimating to warmer conditions, all individuals showed a similar decrease in energy intake, irrespective of their origin site. We also assessed thermal conductance in individuals from different elevations and found that animals from higher sites exhibited lower heat loss rates. Our evidence suggests that heat conservation differences could in part account for differences among high and low elevation animals in the ability to cope with low temperatures. The lack of plasticity under the warm thermal treatment conforms to recent reports of high conservatism on the upper limit of the thermoneutral zone. P. xanthopygus displays intraspecific variation in the response to temperature, and we propose that this is highly relevant to model its chances in a warming environment.

Author affiliation: Sassi, Paola Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Novillo, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentina

Abstract:

The record of an opossum is reported here coming from a Middle–Late Pleistocene fluvial sedimentary sequence outcropping in the austral Chaco geomorphological region, Santa Fe province. Despite this family has different living forms widely distributed in South American plains, with great tolerance to diverse habitats conditions, the Pleistocene occurrence of didelphoids is very scarce and only limited to Holocene deposits sensu lato from austral pampean plains. The specimen found represents at the moment the only Pleistocene didelphoid opossum from Argentina with an accurate stratigraphical context. In a taphonomic framework, MFA-Pv 1582 shows no evidence of abrasion produced by transport, probably resulting of a very short time-transport. This intertropical form of Didelphis genus from Pleistocene sequences displays undoubtedly novel and sustancial paleoenvironmental and ecomorphological conditions to test in the austral Chaco region. Although the specimen shares a generalized didelphoid form, some morphologies in the humerus are closer with arboreal habits. In this context, added to the sedimentological and stratigraphical framework, it’s possible to suggest that subtropical conditions with some woodlands and wetlands dominate the provenance region of the fossil material, over a late Middle–Late Pleistocene interglacial period.

Author affiliation: Vezzosi, Raúl Ignacio. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina

Author affiliation: Brunetto, Ernesto. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina

Author affiliation: Flores, David Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina

Abstract:

The mammalian and flea fauna of La Rioja Province is one of the least known from northwestern Argentina. In this study, the distribution and nomenclature of 13 species of fleas of bats and rodents from La Rioja Province are updated. Four species of fleas are recorded for the first time in La Rioja Province including a new record for northwestern Argentina, and two new flea-host associations. An identification key and distribution map are included for all known species of Siphonaptera of bats and rodents from La Rioja Province, Argentina.

Author affiliation: Lopez Berrizbeitia, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Sánchez, Rocío Tatiana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentina

Author affiliation: Barquez, Ruben Marcos. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina

Abstract:

Glyptodonts were giant (some of them up to ~2400 kg), heavily armoured relatives of living armadillos, which became extinct during the Late Pleistocene/early Holocene alongside much of the South American megafauna. Although glyptodonts were an important component of Cenozoic South American faunas, their early evolution and phylogenetic affinities within the order Cingulata (armoured New World placental mammals) remain controversial. In this study, we used hybridization enrichment and high‐throughput sequencing to obtain a partial mitochondrial genome from Doedicurus sp., the largest (1.5 m tall, and 4 m long) and one of the last surviving glyptodonts. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that glyptodonts fall within the diversity of living armadillos. Reanalysis of morphological data using a molecular ‘backbone constraint’ revealed several morphological characters that supported a close relationship between glyptodonts and the tiny extant fairy armadillos (Chlamyphorinae). This is surprising as these taxa are among the most derived cingulates: glyptodonts were generally large‐bodied and heavily armoured, while the fairy armadillos are tiny (~9–17 cm) and adapted for burrowing. Calibration of our phylogeny with the first appearance of glyptodonts in the Eocene resulted in a more precise timeline for xenarthran evolution. The osteological novelties of glyptodonts and their specialization for grazing appear to have evolved rapidly during the Late Eocene to Early Miocene, coincident with global temperature decreases and a shift from wet closed forest towards drier open woodland and grassland across much of South America. This environmental change may have driven the evolution of glyptodonts, culminating in the bizarre giant forms of the Pleistocene.

Author affiliation: Mitchell, Kieren J.. University of Adelaide; Australia

Author affiliation: Scanferla, Carlos Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; Argentina

Author affiliation: Soibelzon, Esteban. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Bonini, Ricardo Adolfo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Ochoa, Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Provincia de Córdoba. Museo Arqueológico e Histórico Regional ‘Florentino Ameghino’; Argentina

Author affiliation: Cooper, Alan. University of Adelaide; Australia

Abstract:

The establishment of landfills in urban areas leads to extensive disturbances. Their development after landfill closure depends on the characteristics of the soil cover, the surrounding communities and the dispersal of plants and animals. This study was carried out in a landfill closed in 2004, surrounded by an urban area, freshwater marshes and a riparian forest. The aim of this study was to determine the role that the closed landfill may play in maintaining rodent communities typical of this zone and its relation to characteristics of the sites. Four rodent and plant samplings were carried out from December 2005 to September 2006 at five sites inside the landfill: three filled cells and two areas of the riparian margin. We recorded a total of 433 individual rodents. The rodent community of the closed landfill included species typical of rural, riparian and rural habitats: Akodon azarae (358), Oligoryzomys flavescens (32), Deltamys kempi (14), Rattus rattus (14), Cavia aperea (11) and Scapteromys aquaticus (4). Rodent species composition varied among sites, but A. azarae was usually the dominant species. We found a rich rodent community mostly composed of wild species. The relictual riparian margin may have served as a major refuge for native rodent community while the landfill was in operation, and after closure it possibly acted as a source for some species to colonize the covered cells.

Author affiliation: Carballido, María Florencia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina

Author affiliation: Arístide, Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina

Author affiliation: Busch, Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Cittadino, Emilio Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Coordinación Ecológica Área Metropolitana Sociedad del Estado; Argentina

Author affiliation: Gomez Villafañe, Isabel Elisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Abstract:

In this paper we report an investigation of the utility of coprological analysis as an alternative technique to study parasite specificity whenever host sampling is problematic; acanthocephalans from marine mammals were used as a model. A total of 252 scats from the South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, and rectal faeces from 43 franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, from Buenos Aires Province, were examined for acanthocephalans. Specimens of two species, i.e. Corynosoma australe and C. cetaceum, were collected from both host species. In sea lions, 78 out of 145 (37.9%) females of C. australe were gravid and the sex ratio was strongly female-biased. However, none of the 168 females of C. cetaceum collected was gravid and the sex ratio was not female-biased. Conversely, in franciscanas, 14 out of 17 (82.4%) females of C. cetaceum were gravid, but none of 139 females of C. australe was, and the sex ratio of C. cetaceum, but not that of C. australe, was female-biased. In putative non-hosts, the size of worms was similar to that from specimens collected from prey. Results suggest that both acanthocephalans contact sea lions and franciscanas regularly. However, C. australe and C. cetaceum cannot apparently reproduce, nor even grow, in franciscanas and sea lions, respectively. Coprological analysis may represent a useful supplementary method to investigate parasite specificity, particularly when host carcasses are difficult to obtain.

Author affiliation: Aznar Avendaño, Francisco Javier. Universidad de Valencia; España

Author affiliation: Hernández Orts, Jesús Servando. Universidad de Valencia; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Suarez, Amalia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina

Author affiliation: García Varela, M.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Departamento de Botánica. Instituto de Biología; México

Author affiliation: Raga, J. A.. Universidad de Valencia; España

Author affiliation: Cappozzo, Humberto Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina

Abstract:

To contribute to the knowledge of the role of small mammals in the transmission cycle of tegumentary leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania braziliensis, we studied the small mammal community and its temporal and spatial association with phlebotominae, as well as small mammal infection by Leishmania spp. by PCR-RFLP analyses in an endemic area of northeastern Argentina. Ten small mammal samplings were conducted (2007–2009, 7506 Sherman trap nights and 422 cage trap nights). In two of these samplings, 16 capture stations each one consisting of a CDC light trap to capture phlebotominae, two to four Sherman traps and two cage traps were placed. We found co-occurrence of phlebotominae and small mammal captures in four stations, which were all the stations with small mammal captures and yielded 97% (2295 specimens, including 21 gravid females) of the total phlebotominae captures, suggesting that small mammals may provide a potential source of blood for phlebotominae females. One Didelphis albiventris and two Rattus rattus were associated with high captures of Nyssomyia whitmani, vector of L. braziliensis in the study area. The PCR-RFLP analyses confirm the presence of L. braziliensis in two sigmodontine small mammals (Akodon sp. and Euryoryzomys russatus) for the first time in Argentina, to our knowledge.

Author affiliation: Fernández, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Fraschina, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina

Author affiliation: Acardi, Soraya Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentina

Author affiliation: Lestani, Eduardo Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentina

Author affiliation: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentina

Author affiliation: Busch, Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina

Author affiliation: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentina