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Bromeliads play a vital role in preserving biodiversity in the Neotropical region. To understand their impact on arthropod diversity in Brazil's semi-arid region, we studied the rupicolous bromeliad Encholirium spectabile. From 2011 to 2018, we observed the arthropod fauna in E. spectabile clumps, documenting the associated taxa, their abundance, and interactions. We also investigated how seasonality affects arthropod richness and composition during the dry and rainy seasons. Over the observation period, 15 orders and 57 arthropod families were recorded in association with E. spectabile. Insecta dominated, followed by predatory chelicerates. Eight usage categories were identified, with Shelter being the most prevalent, followed by Predators, Nesters, and Nectarivores. Significant differences in taxonomic richness were noted between rainy and dry seasons, with the rainy season exhibiting higher diversity. Seasonal variation was also observed in species composition. Clumps of E. spectabile emerged as crucial habitats for surrounding arthropod fauna. This research underscores the importance of non-phylotelm bromeliads, particularly in high abiotic stress environments like semi-arid regions. The taxonomic diversity observed aligns with findings from diverse environments, shedding light on the relevance of E. spectabile for associated arthropod fauna. These results prompt further exploration of non-phylotelm bromeliads in semi-arid settings, providing a fresh perspective on their significance in shaping arthropod communities.

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The pseudoscorpion family Withiidae is widely distributed around the world, with most of its diversity in tropical areas. Five new species and a new genus from Colombia are described: Cystowithiusflorezisp. nov., Parawithiusbromelicolasp. nov., Oligowithiusachaguasp. nov., and the genus Paciwithiusgen. nov. with two species Paciwithiusvalduparensissp. nov. and Paciwithiuschimbilacussp. nov. A reassessment of the subgenus Dolichowithius (Oligowithius) Beier, 1936 allows the elevation to a full generic level, and the transfer of the only known species to Oligowithius, forming the new combination Oligowithiusabnormis (Beier, 1936), comb. nov.

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Resumen Las bromelias tienen un alto potencial comercial como especies ornamentales. La creación de nuevas variedades es de suma importancia para el mercado. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la variabilidad morfo agronómica de híbridos provenientes de cruces intra e interaespecíficos de las especies Guzmania lingulata, G. freya, G. wittmackii, G. conifera, G. zahnii y el cultivar Vriesea "Electric". Se estudiaron diez grupos de plantas provenientes de cruces entre accesiones de Guzmania y Vriesea para una explotación comercial de bromelias entre los años 2017 y 2018, a los cuales se les midieron las variables cuantitativas: altura de la planta, diámetro de planta, longitud del pedúnculo, número de hojas, largo de hojas, ancho de hojas basales, longitud de la inflorescencia y diámetro de la inflorescencia. A dichas variables se les determinó estadígrafos descriptivos como media, CV y DE y se realizó un ANOVA con una prueba de separación de medias de Duncan al 0,05%. Las variables se sometieron a un análisis de componentes principales y de correlaciones de Pearson. En cuanto a resultados se obtuvo que el cruce 1 alcanzó los mayores valores para todas las variables excepto NH y DI, mientras, los cruces 4 y 6 mostraron los valores más bajos para la mayoría de las variables (p<0,05). Se encontró variables con alta correlación como el largo del pedúnculo (Lped) y altura de la planta (AP), largo de pedúnculo (Lped) y diámetro de planta (DP), largo de hoja (LH) y diámetro de planta (DP) y altura de inflorescencia (AI) con altura de la planta (AP). De forma general en el análisis de componentes principales se encontró que todas las variables, excepto el Diámetro de la Inflorescencia (DI), contribuyen a la variabilidad en los dos primeros componentes. De acuerdo con los análisis realizados y las variables cuantificadas se encontró suficiente variabilidad para desarrollar un programa de mejora genética.

Abstract Bromeliads have a high commercial potential as ornamental species. The creation of new varieties is of utmost importance for the market. The objective of this research was to evaluate the morpho-agronomic variability of hybrids from intra and interspecific crosses of Guzmania lingulata, G. freya, G. wittmackii, G. conifera, G. zahnii and the Vriesea "Electric" cultivar. Ten groups of plants from crosses between accessions of Guzmania and Vriesea were studied for a commercial exploitation of bromeliads between 2017 and 2018, to which the quantitative variables were measured: plant height, plant diameter, peduncle length, number of leaves, length of leaves, width of basal leaves, length of inflorescence and diameter of inflorescence. Descriptive statistics were determined for these variables as mean, CV and SD and an ANOVA was performed with a Duncan mean separation test at 0,05%. The variables were subjected to an analysis of principal components and Pearson's correlations. Regarding results, it was obtained that crossing 1 reached the highest values ​​for all the variables except NH and DI, while crossings 4 and 6 showed the lowest values ​​for most of the variables (p<0,05). Highly correlated variables were found, such as peduncle length (Lped) and plant height (AP), peduncle length (Lped) and plant diameter (DP), leaf length (LH) and plant diameter (DP). and inflorescence height (AI) with plant height (AP). In general, in the principal components analysis, it was found that all the variables, except the Inflorescence Diameter (DI), contribute to the variability in the first two components. According to the analyzes carried out and the quantified variables, sufficient variability was found to develop a plant breeding program.

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Salt stress is one of the most severe abiotic stresses affecting plant growth and development. The application of silicon (Si) is an alternative that can increase the tolerance of plants to various types of biotic and abiotic stresses. The objective was to evaluate salt stress's effect in vitro and Si's mitigation potential on Aechmea blanchetiana plants. For this purpose, plants already established in vitro were transferred to a culture medium with 0 or 14 µM of Si (CaSiO3). After growth for 30 days, a stationary liquid medium containing different concentrations of NaCl (0, 100, 200, or 300 µM) was added to the flasks. Anatomical and physiological analyses were performed after growth for 45 days. The plants cultivated with excess NaCl presented reduced root diameter and effective photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) (ΦPSII) and increased non-photochemical dissipation of fluorescence (qN). Plants that grew with the presence of Si also had greater content of photosynthetic pigments and activity of the enzymes of the antioxidant system, as well as higher values of maximum quantum yield of PSII (FV/FM), photochemical dissipation coefficient of fluorescence (qP) and fresh weight bioaccumulation of roots and shoots. The anatomical, physiological and biochemical responses, and growth induced by Si mitigated the effect of salt stress on the A. blanchetiana plants cultivated in vitro, which can be partly explained by the tolerance of this species to grow in sandbank (Restinga) areas.

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The Bromeliaceae family has been used as a model to study adaptive radiation due to its terrestrial, epilithic, and epiphytic habits with wide morpho-physiological variation. Functional groups described by Pittendrigh in 1948 have been an integral part of ecophysiological studies. In the current study, we revisited the functional groups of epiphytic bromeliads using a 204 species trait database sampled throughout the Americas. Our objective was to define epiphytic functional groups within bromeliads based on unsupervised classification, including species from the dry to the wet end of the Neotropics. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis with 16 functional traits and a discriminant analysis, to test for the separation between these groups. Herbarium records were used to map species distributions and to analyze the climate and ecosystems inhabited. The clustering supported five groups, C3 tank and CAM tank bromeliads with deep tanks, while the atmospheric group (according to Pittendrigh) was divided into nebulophytes, bromeliads with shallow tanks, and bromeliads with pseudobulbs. The two former groups showed distinct traits related to resource (water) acquisition, such as fog (nebulophytes) and dew (shallow tanks). We discuss how the functional traits relate to the ecosystems inhabited and the relevance of acknowledging the new functional groups.

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BACKGROUND: Pseudalcantarea grandis (Schltdl.) Pinzón & Barfuss is a tank bromeliad that grows on cliffs in the southernmost portion of the Chihuahuan desert. Phytotelmata are water bodies formed by plants that function as micro-ecosystems where bacteria, algae, protists, insects, fungi, and some vertebrates can develop. We hypothesized that the bacterial diversity contained in the phytotelma formed in a bromeliad from an arid zone would differ in sites with and without surrounding vegetation. Our study aimed to characterize the bacterial composition and putative metabolic functions in P. grandis phytotelmata collected in vegetated and non-vegetated sites. METHODS: Water from 10 individuals was sampled. Five individuals had abundant surrounding vegetation, and five had little or no vegetation. We extracted DNA and amplified seven hypervariable regions of the 16S gene (V2, V4, V8, V3-6, 7-9). Metabarcoding sequencing was performed on the Ion Torrent PGM platform. Taxonomic identity was assigned by the binning reads and coverage between hit and query from the reference database of at least 90%. Putative metabolic functions of the bacterial families were assigned mainly using the FAPROTAX database. The dominance patterns in each site were visualized with rank/abundance curves using the number of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) per family. A percentage similarity analysis (SIMPER) was used to estimate dissimilarity between the sites. Relationships among bacterial families (identified by the dominance analysis and SIMPER), sites, and their respective putative functions were analyzed with shade plots. RESULTS: A total of 1.5 million useful bacterial sequences were obtained. Sequences were clustered into OTUs, and taxonomic assignment was conducted using BLAST in the Greengenes databases. Bacterial diversity was 23 phyla, 52 classes, 98 orders, 218 families, and 297 genera. Proteobacteria (37%), Actinobacteria (19%), and Firmicutes (15%) comprised the highest percentage (71%). There was a 68.3% similarity between the two sites at family level, with 149 families shared. Aerobic chemoheterotrophy and fermentation were the main metabolic functions in both sites, followed by ureolysis, nitrate reduction, aromatic compound degradation, and nitrogen fixation. The dominant bacteria shared most of the metabolic functions between sites. Some functions were recorded for one site only and were related to families with the lowest OTUs richness. Bacterial diversity in the P. grandis tanks included dominant phyla and families present at low percentage that could be considered part of a rare biosphere. A rare biosphere can form genetic reservoirs, the local abundance of which depends on external abiotic and biotic factors, while their interactions could favor micro-ecosystem resilience and resistance.

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We describe a new species of bromeliad-dwelling Pristimantis from primary montane forest (2,225 m a.s.l.) in southern Peru. The type locality is near Thiuni, in the Department of Puno (province of Carabaya) in the upper watershed of a tributary of the Inambari River. Pristimantis achupalla sp. n. is characterized by a snout-vent length of 10.0-12.8 mm in adult males (n = 4), unknown in adult females, and is compared morphologically and genetically with species in the Pristimantis lacrimosus group, and with other similar species of Pristimantis. The new species is characterized by having skin on dorsum and flanks rugose, green brownish color, distinctive scapular folds, subacuminate or acuminate snout profile, upper eyelid bearing two or three subconical tubercles and some rounded tubercles, rostral papilla, flanks light brown to brown, with irregular dark brown marks.

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Biotic and abiotic interactions are important factors that explain community assembly. For example, epiphytic communities are shaped by tree traits that can act as environmental filters, but also by positive and/or negative interactions among coexisting epiphytes on a tree. Here, we studied interactions among three widespread atmospheric bromeliads with overlapping niches (Tillandsia recurvata, T. tricholepis and T. pohliana), using experimental data about facilitation through seed capture, interspecific interaction during seed germination and competition among adult individuals. We aim to understand how species interactions are reflected in the natural coexisting patterns of epiphytes in communities at high and low tree densities. Tillandsia pohliana showed higher facilitation by capturing almost all wind-dispersing seeds, and had the largest reduction in seed germination in the presence of any adult individual, also presenting a relatively high rate of adult mortality in the presence of other individuals. Our results indicate higher colonisation ability for T. pohliana and distinct strategies of rapid exploitation of T. recurvata and T. tricholepis individuals. In natural communities, the coexistence among atmospheric bromeliads may be hampered by dispersal limitations in wind-dispersed epiphytes at high tree density conditions, but a negative effect of T. recurvata on T. pohliana is still reflected in their reduced coexistence. However, competitive patterns observed in the experimental data may be overshadowed by a possible mass effect driving large communities under such conditions. Our results show the joint effect of positive interactions and high dispersal levels on the community patterns of atmospheric bromeliads.

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Abstract: In recent years there has been increasing attention in patterns of β-diversity and mechanisms related to variations in species composition. In this study, we evaluated beta diversity patterns of bromeliads growing on cliffs immersed in Atlantic Forest. We hypothesized that the species composition varies according to the spatial scale, inferring that there is a replacement of species influenced mainly by environmental factors. The study was carried out on sandstone cliffs included in contiguous but distinct vegetation formations: Evergreen and Seasonal forests. Twenty-four vertical rocky outcrops were sampled. The spatial variation in species composition was evaluated by two β-diversity components, turnover and nestedness. Multivariate analysis and variation partitioning were performed to distinguish niche and stochastic processes. We recorded 26 bromeliad species and a significantly higher contribution of turnover explaining beta diversity. Environmental factors affect β-diversity patterns of Bromeliaceae. However, individually, the environmental predictors do not explain the data variation. Environmental variations spatially structured, and spatial variables determinate the dissimilarity in the composition of bromeliads on cliffs. Thus, our results revealed that both environmental and spatial effects can act together to define the floristic composition of rock-dwelling bromeliad communities.

Resumo: Nos últimos anos tem havido uma crescente atenção em relação aos padrões de diversidade β e aos mecanismos relacionados às variações na composição de espécies. Neste estudo, nós avaliamos os padrões de diversidade beta de bromélias crescendo em escarpas rochosas imersas em matriz de Floresta Atlântica. Hipotetizamos que a composição das espécies varia de acordo com a escala espacial, inferindo que há uma substituição de espécies influenciadas principalmente por fatores ambientais. O estudo foi realizado em escarpas areníticas inseridas em formações vegetacionais contíguas, mas distintas: Florestas Ombrófila e Estacional. Vinte e quatro afloramentos rochosos verticais foram amostrados. A variação espacial na composição de espécies foi avaliada por dois componentes de diversidade β, turnover e aninhamento. Análise multivariada e particionamento da variação foram realizados para distinguir processos de nicho e estocásticos. Registramos 26 espécies de bromélias, com uma contribuição significativamente maior do turnover explicando a diversidade beta. Os fatores ambientais afetam os padrões de diversidade β de Bromeliaceae, no entanto, individualmente, esses preditores não explicam a variação dos dados. Assim, variações espaciais e variações ambientais espacialmente estruturadas determinam a dissimilaridade na composição de bromélias nas escarpas avaliadas. Desse modo, tanto os fatores ambientais determinísticos quanto os efeitos espaciais podem atuar em conjunto para definir a composição florística das comunidades de bromélias que se estabelecem sobre rochas.

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Abstract We report for the first time the occurrence of Calodesma collaris (Drury, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) caterpillars on Aechmea winkleri Reitz, 1975 (Bromeliaceae) and describe the damage it causes on these plants. The consumption of leaf tissue, accumulation of excrements and inhibition of inflorescence emission caused by larvae of C. collaris can result in plants of A. winkleri that are not suitable for ornamental or landscaping purposes.

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Environmental distribution of the two most abundant ticks in forest areas in the Brazilian Pantanal was evaluated by CO2 traps methodology in the wet season (peak of adult ticks) of 2012 and 2013. Adults of Amblyomma parvum were concentrated inside agglomerates of Bromelia balansae, in the border of forest patches. Adults of Amblyomma sculptum occurred in similar numbers both in bromeliad clumps and in bromeliad-free areas. Differential distribution of ticks in this habitat could be associated to the frequent use of bromeliad clumps by wild animals (potential hosts) and to the microclimate conditions inside this vegetation in the Pantanal. It is important to verify whether larvae and nymphs of A. parvum have a similar pattern of distribution in the same areas, during the dry season. These stages are more susceptible to desiccation and their principal hosts, non-volant small mammals, also use these bromeliad areas.

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Elpidium ostracods are known by their very particular niche (water accumulated in tank-bromeliads), their relatively low dispersal ability and their dependency on amphibians for dispersal and colonization of new bromeliads. All these characteristics make the genus an interesting group for evolutionary, ecological and even taxonomic studies. However, the diversity of the group remains poorly studied. Here, we describe three new species of Elpidium, Elpidium littlei n. sp., Elpidium heberti n. sp. and Elpidium wolfi n. sp., and re-describe Elpidium laesslei, all from Jamaica. These species are characterized by a copulatory process with separated ejaculatory duct and distal glans, a feature so far unique within the genus. Each species can, in turn, be diagnosed by soft part and carapace morphology, most notably comparing hemipenis, valve ornamentation and degree of sexual dimorphism. The observed morphological diversity of Elpidium is discussed in relation to previous genetic estimates that suggested an even higher diversity in Jamaica. We point to intraspecific variation and lack of complete morphological descriptions as possible explanations. We also reaffirm the need of multidisciplinary studies in order to do more objective and secure taxonomic classifications in future studies.

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Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) are an extremely diverse family of the angiosperms widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and West Africa. They often serve as phytotelmata, accumulating rainwater between leaves. Such water reservoirs can be inhabited by diverse organisms. But to date not much attention is paid to inventory of these organisms, with careful identification of each taxon. We found a microcrustacean Disparalona hamata (Birge, 1879) (Crustacea: Cladocera) in the bromeliad Tillandsia aguascalentensis Gardner, 1984 in Mexico. Investigated population included parthenogenetic females, gamogenetic females and males. Hereby the population apparently can pass the full life cycle under conditions of phytotelmata. Along with ecological observations, we provide additional taxonomic notes on the genus Disparalona Fryer, 1968 itself. Recently a series of morphological revisions was conducted for this genus. It was subdivided into two subgenera: Disparalona s.str. and Mixopleuroxus Hudec, 2010. But, in fact, the second taxon is a junior synonym of Leptorhynchus Daday, 1905. In this regard here we provide an updated list of taxonomic synonyms for the subgenus Leptorhynchus.

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Isolated populations constitute an ideal laboratory to study the consequences of intraspecific divergence, because intrinsic incompatibilities are more likely to accumulate under reduced gene flow. Here, we use a widespread bromeliad with a patchy distribution, Pitcairnia lanuginosa, as a model to infer processes driving Neotropical diversification and, thus, to improve our understanding of the origin and evolutionary dynamics of biodiversity in this highly speciose region. METHODS: We assessed the timing of lineage divergence, genetic structural patterns and historical demography of P. lanuginosa, based on microsatellites, and plastid and nuclear sequence data sets using coalescent analyses and an Approximate Bayesian Computation framework. Additionally, we used species distribution models (SDMs) to independently estimate potential changes in habitat suitability. KEY RESULTS: Despite morphological uniformity, plastid and nuclear DNA data revealed two distinct P. lanuginosa lineages that probably diverged through dispersal from the Cerrado to the Central Andean Yungas, following the final uplift of the Andes, and passed through long-term isolation with no evidence of migration. Microsatellite data indicate low genetic diversity and high levels of inbreeding within populations, and restricted gene flow among populations, which are likely to be a consequence of bottlenecks (or founder events), and high selfing rates promoting population persistence in isolation. SDMs showed a slight expansion of the suitable range for P. lanuginosa lineages during the Last Glacial Maximum, although molecular data revealed a signature of older divergence. Pleistocene climatic oscillations thus seem to have played only a minor role in the diversification of P. lanuginosa, which probably persisted through adverse conditions in riparian forests. CONCLUSIONS: Our results imply drift as a major force shaping the evolution of P. lanuginosa, and suggest that dispersal events have a prominent role in connecting Neotropical open and forest biomes.

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MAIN CONCLUSION: Depending on the N source and plant ontogenetic state, the epiphytic tank-forming bromeliad Vriesea gigantea can modulate aquaporin expression to maximize the absorption of the most available nitrogen source. Epiphytic bromeliads frequently present a structure formed by the overlapping of leaf bases where water and nutrients can be accumulated and absorbed, called tank. However, this structure is not present during the juvenile ontogenetic phase, leading to differences in nutrient acquisition strategies. Recent studies have shown a high capacity of the bromeliad Vriesea gigantea, an epiphytic tank-forming bromeliad, to absorb urea by their leaves. Since plant aquaporins can facilitate the diffusion of urea through the membranes, we cloned three foliar aquaporin genes, VgPIP1;1, VgPIP1;2 and VgTIP2;1 from V. gigantea plants. Through functional studies, we observed that besides water, VgTIP2;1 was capable of transporting urea while VgPIP1;2 may facilitate ammonium/ammonia diffusion. Moreover, aiming at identifying urea and ammonium-induced changes in aquaporin expression in leaves of juvenile and adult-tank plants, we showed that VgPIP1;1 and VgPIP1;2 transcripts were up-regulated in response to either urea or ammonium only in juvenile plants, while VgTIP2;1 was up-regulated in response to urea only in adult-tank plants. Thereby, an ontogenetic shift from juvenile to adult-tank-forming-plant appears to occur with metabolic changes regarding nitrogen metabolism regulation. Investigating urea metabolism in wild species that naturally cope with organic N sources, such as V. gigantea, may provide the knowledge to modify nitrogen use efficiency of crop plants.

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Hybridization is a widespread phenomenon present in numerous lineages across the tree of life. Its evolutionary consequences range from effects on the origin and maintenance, to the loss of biodiversity. We studied genetic diversity and intra- and interspecific gene flow between two sympatric populations of closely-related species, Pitcairnia flammea and P. corcovadensis (Bromeliaceae), which are adapted to naturally fragmented Neotropical inselbergs, based on nuclear and plastidial DNA. Our main results indicate a strong reproductive isolation barrier, although low levels of interspecific gene flow were observed in both sympatric populations. The low rates of intraspecific gene flow observed for both P. corcovadensis and P. flammea populations corroborate the increasing body of evidence that inselberg bromeliad species are maintained as discrete evolutionary units despite the presence of low genetic connectivity. Nuclear patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow revealed that hybridization and introgression might not cause species extinction via genetic assimilation of the rare P. corcovadensis. In the face of reduced intraspecific gene exchange, hybridization and introgression may be important aspects of the Pitcairnia diversification process, with a positive evolutionary impact at the bromeliad community level, and thus contribute to increasing and maintaining genetic diversity in local isolated inselberg populations.

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We performed a scientometry to validate trends in the scientific production on phytotelmata and the importance of these microenvironments in the maintenance of biodiversity. We searched for articles in the Web of Science and looked at publications from 1987 to 2016. We collected years of publication, surveyed organisms, countries where the surveys took place, plants that accumulate phytotelmata, scientific journals that publish more about the topic and their respective IFs (Impact Factor) and the keywords of each article. We built a heatmap using the most frequent keywords in the studies, to investigate the topics studied over the years. We have found 293 publications, increasing over the years. Insects, anurans and crustaceans were the most studied organisms. The most studied plant families were Bromeliaceae, Poaceae and Apiaceae. The published studies analized were carried out mainly in Brazil, Argentina and Peru. The most published journals on the subject are: Zootaxa, Hydrobiologia, Biotropica and Journal of Natural History. Some main global concerns such as climate change, habitat fragmentation has gained the attention of the phytotelmata studies in the recent years. The results contribute to the knowledge about phytotelmata accumulated biodiversity and research trends.(AU)

Realizamos uma cienciometria para demonstrar tendências na produção científica sobre fitotelmata e a importância desses microambientes na manutenção da biodiversidade. Buscamos artigos no Web of Science e analisamos publicações de 1987 até 2016. Coletamos os anos de publicação, organismos estudados, países onde ocorreram as pesquisas, plantas que acumulam fitotelmata, revistas científicas que mais publicam sobre o tema e seus respectivos FIs (Fator de Impacto) e as palavras-chave de cada artigo. Fizemos um heatmap, utilizando as palavras-chave mais frequentes nos estudos, para investigar os tópicos estudados ao longo dos anos. Encontramos 293 publicações, com aumento ao longo dos anos. Os insetos, anuros e crustáceos foram os organismos mais estudados. As famílias de plantas mais estudadas foram Bromeliaceae, Poaceae e Apiaceae. As pesquisas foram realizadas, principalmente, no Brasil, na Argentina e no Peru. Os periódicos que mais publicam sobre o tema são: Zootaxa, Hydrobiologia, Biotropica e Journal of Natural History. Os resultados contribuem para o conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade acumulada em fitotelmata e tendências nas pesquisas.(AU)

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In an inundated Mexican forest, 89 out of 92 myrmecophytic tank bromeliads (Aechmea bracteata) housed an associated ant colony: 13 sheltered Azteca serica, 43 Dolichoderus bispinosus, and 33 Neoponera villosa. Ant presence has a positive impact on the diversity of the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities (n=30 bromeliads studied). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the presence and the species of ant are not correlated to bromeliad size, quantity of water, number of wells, filtered organic matter or incident radiation. The PCA and a generalized linear model showed that the presence of Azteca serica differed from the presence of the other two ant species or no ants in its effects on the aquatic invertebrate community (more predators). Therefore, both ant presence and species of ant affect the composition of the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in the tanks of A. bracteata, likely due to ant deposition of feces and other waste in these tanks.

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Foliar stable isotopic signatures of nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur in mangrove vegetation from the Pacific coast of Panama were insensitive to inputs from watersheds with different area of forest land cover, and to seasonal, inter-annual, and global-scale-driven contrasts in rainfall and upwelling. N, C, and S content of mangrove vegetation were not affected by inputs from watersheds with different degrees of deforestation, but showed some influence of down-estuary transformations. While there was substantial variation that remained un-explained, isotopic signatures and nutrient contents were largely determined by species-specific features, and showed substantial small-scale variation reflecting local differences, within-estuary plant-sediment links. The ability of mangrove estuaries to erase effects of deforestation points out that conservation of these wetland ecosystems is important, because, at least in the sites we studied, transformations within mangrove estuaries were strong enough to protect water quality in receiving coastal waters.

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We performed a scientometry to validate trends in the scientific production on phytotelmata and the importance of these microenvironments in the maintenance of biodiversity. We searched for articles in the Web of Science and looked at publications from 1987 to 2016. We collected years of publication, surveyed organisms, countries where the surveys took place, plants that accumulate phytotelmata, scientific journals that publish more about the topic and their respective IFs (Impact Factor) and the keywords of each article. We built a heatmap using the most frequent keywords in the studies, to investigate the topics studied over the years. We have found 293 publications, increasing over the years. Insects, anurans and crustaceans were the most studied organisms. The most studied plant families were Bromeliaceae, Poaceae and Apiaceae. The published studies analized were carried out mainly in Brazil, Argentina and Peru. The most published journals on the subject are: Zootaxa, Hydrobiologia, Biotropica and Journal of Natural History. Some main global concerns such as climate change, habitat fragmentation has gained the attention of the phytotelmata studies in the recent years. The results contribute to the knowledge about phytotelmata accumulated biodiversity and research trends.

Realizamos uma cienciometria para demonstrar tendências na produção científica sobre fitotelmata e a importância desses microambientes na manutenção da biodiversidade. Buscamos artigos no Web of Science e analisamos publicações de 1987 até 2016. Coletamos os anos de publicação, organismos estudados, países onde ocorreram as pesquisas, plantas que acumulam fitotelmata, revistas científicas que mais publicam sobre o tema e seus respectivos FIs (Fator de Impacto) e as palavras-chave de cada artigo. Fizemos um heatmap, utilizando as palavras-chave mais frequentes nos estudos, para investigar os tópicos estudados ao longo dos anos. Encontramos 293 publicações, com aumento ao longo dos anos. Os insetos, anuros e crustáceos foram os organismos mais estudados. As famílias de plantas mais estudadas foram Bromeliaceae, Poaceae e Apiaceae. As pesquisas foram realizadas, principalmente, no Brasil, na Argentina e no Peru. Os periódicos que mais publicam sobre o tema são: Zootaxa, Hydrobiologia, Biotropica e Journal of Natural History. Os resultados contribuem para o conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade acumulada em fitotelmata e tendências nas pesquisas.

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