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Pitfall traps are commonly used for the collection of terrestrial insects in ecology and biology studies; they are relatively straightforward to manufacture and there is a large variety of models described in the literature. However, they present a few drawbacks: (i) the removal and transport of the collected material are not practical; (ii) they have low resistance and durability; (iii) they fail to correctly protect the attractive bait against adverse weather conditions and scavengers, and (iv) evaporation of the liquid used inside the trap. We proposed an optimized pitfall trap design for terrestrial insect collection made from cheap and easily accessible materials. The new design allows the transfer of the collected material to the lab by removing only that part of the trap where the insects have been captured; the other part remains in its original place. Thus, the proposed trap allows easier operation since there is no need to transport water to replenish the traps after each transfer; in addition, there is less volume and weight to be carried. The trap can remain in the field for months because of the durability of its material. Furthermore, the collected material is better protected against adverse weather conditions and scavengers. Currently, an efficient and rapid sampling strategy in the field is of global interest to understand mechanisms that can contribute to the monitor changes in phenology, succession, and biodiversity.

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The Pacific Equatorial dry forest of Northern Peru is recognised for its unique endemic biodiversity. Although highly threatened the forest provides livelihoods and ecosystem services to local communities. As agro-industrial expansion and climatic variation transform the region, close ecosystem monitoring is essential for viable adaptation strategies. UAVs offer an affordable alternative to satellites in obtaining both colour and near infrared imagery to meet the specific requirements of spatial and temporal resolution of a monitoring system. Combining this with their capacity to produce three dimensional models of the environment provides an invaluable tool for species level monitoring. Here we demonstrate that object-based image analysis of very high resolution UAV images can identify and quantify keystone tree species and their health across wide heterogeneous landscapes. The analysis exposes the state of the vegetation and serves as a baseline for monitoring and adaptive implementation of community based conservation and restoration in the area.

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Squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) are agile, arboreal primates that are seldom captured in the wild due to their small body size (<1 kg) and large, non-cohesive social groups (40-50 individuals). However, long-term studies on these primates often require captures and permanent identification of individuals, in order to monitor their behavior and health. Here we report on a novel trapping method successfully used to capture Saimiri collinsi, in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Our objective was to capture as many individuals as possible from one social group of approximately 50 individuals, ranging over 150 ha of terra firme forest. Captures occurred in November and December 2013. We habituated animals to feed on a large platform located in a 123.5 m(2) area enclosed by a green net (3 m high). Multiple individuals could freely enter and exit the area via four ropes affixed from surrounding trees to the platform. Once individuals were feeding inside the netted area on selected trapping days, the ropes were dropped remotely, eliminating their escape routes. We successfully trapped 21 different individuals of the social group (14 adults and 7 immatures) with this method. We conclude that this is a conceptually simple, effective method for trapping squirrel monkeys in most habitats, and possibly other small arboreal primates that live in large social groups. The present method was more effective than previous methods utilized to capture squirrel monkeys in the field, and has the advantages of: allowing for safe capture of several individuals simultaneously; enabling re-captures; releasing of animals as a group at the site of capture; use of soft netting which facilitates safe capture of the monkeys.

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Ecuadorian frogs of genus Hyloscirtus comprises 16 described species, of which eleven belong to the H. larinopygion group. They are restricted to the flanks of the Andes, both east and west. An assessment of the herpetofauna in the southern part of Cordillera del Condor (montane forests on sandstone plateaus) province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, led to the discovery of a new species for the group, which we describe herein as Hyloscirtus condor sp. nov. We herein analyze the tadpoles and advertisement calls, as well as estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the new and related species, based on new sequences of mitochondrial genes 12S, tRNAVal y16S, until a total of 2508 bp. The results show that the group H. larinopygion comprises two clades: one occurring in the northern and central Andes, and the second in the south. The new species belongs to the southern clade, is sister to H. tapichalaca, and a seemingly undescribed species from Provincia Morona Santiago. The new species differs from all its congeners in color pattern, which consists of dark yellow dots on a tan background. It is the largest species of the H. larinopygion group and shares with H. tapichalaca the presence of a large prepollical curved spine and hypertrophied forearms. The new species inhabits a remote and well-preserved area of Cordillera del Condor. The discovery of new species and others at the site denotes the biological importance of this area and encourages the development of conservation plans.(AU)

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Ecuadorian frogs of genus Hyloscirtus comprises 16 described species, of which eleven belong to the H. larinopygion group. They are restricted to the flanks of the Andes, both east and west. An assessment of the herpetofauna in the southern part of Cordillera del Condor (montane forests on sandstone plateaus) province of Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, led to the discovery of a new species for the group, which we describe herein as Hyloscirtus condor sp. nov. We herein analyze the tadpoles and advertisement calls, as well as estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the new and related species, based on new sequences of mitochondrial genes 12S, tRNAVal y16S, until a total of 2508 bp. The results show that the group H. larinopygion comprises two clades: one occurring in the northern and central Andes, and the second in the south. The new species belongs to the southern clade, is sister to H. tapichalaca, and a seemingly undescribed species from Provincia Morona Santiago. The new species differs from all its congeners in color pattern, which consists of dark yellow dots on a tan background. It is the largest species of the H. larinopygion group and shares with H. tapichalaca the presence of a large prepollical curved spine and hypertrophied forearms. The new species inhabits a remote and well-preserved area of Cordillera del Condor. The discovery of new species and others at the site denotes the biological importance of this area and encourages the development of conservation plans.

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Este artículo de investigación pretende brindar elementos de análisis sobre el complejo tema de la colonización de la naturaleza. En él se hace una argumentación descriptiva basada hallazgos teóricos sobre las relaciones entre el extractivismo, una práctica propia del dispositivo colonial, y lo que aquí denominamos colonización de la naturaleza. El artículo presenta inicialmente un balance del impacto en la configuración de la visión-apropiación ancestral del territorio y su contenido cultural, a raíz de la imposición de una nueva semántica, en referencia al dispositivo de poder colonial. Luego, se analiza la relación del extractivismo con el proceso de colonización de la naturaleza, para finalmente esbozar una reflexión breve vinculando contextos y problemas contemporáneos.

This research paper aims at providing some elements of analysis on the complex issue of the colonization of nature. In it a descriptive argument is carried out based on theoretical findings on the relationships between extractivism, which is a proper practice of the colonial device, and what is here called colonization of nature. The article initially presents an assessment of the impact on the configuration of the ancestral vision and appropriation of the territory and its cultural contents, as a result of the imposition of a new semantics, in reference to the device of the colonial powers. Then, the relationship between extractivism and the process of colonization of nature is analyzed; to finally sketch a brief reflection, by linking contemporary issues and contexts.

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Howlers (genus Alouatta) are widely captured with the use of anesthetic projectiles; however, no capture protocol involving the use of traps has been described to date. In the present study we describe the first efficient capture program for black and gold howlers (Alouatta caraya) using traps, which was implemented on the islands of the upper Paraná River in southern Brazil. We constructed two trap models with either manual or automatic activation (trap A with two entrances and guillotine-type doors; trap B with one entrance and a guillotine-type door). The traps were suspended in the canopy by means of vertical climbing techniques, and were baited regularly and abundantly with bananas and mangoes. We captured 70 howlers (86% using manual activation and 14% using automatic activation) on four different islands. We restrained 41 of these animals and measured their body mass, which averaged 5.30 kg+/-1.79. Given our results, we suggest that the system described in the present study represents an alternative capture program for howlers in areas that have low food diversity and no other mammal species that will compete for the bait, as has been observed in riparian environments, islands, and forest fragments.

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Neste estudo foi analisada a riqueza, a abundância, os sítios de nidificação, o padrão de distribuição espacial, a densidade dos sítios potenciais disponíveis e dos sítios nidificados pelas espécies de abelhas sem ferrão do gênero Partamona e dos termiteiros arbóreos nidificados pelas abelhas, em uma área restrita de caatinga arbórea, em Milagres, Bahia, Brasil. Duas espécies ocorreram em simpatria, Partamona rustica (94,1 por cento) e Partamona cupira (5,9 por cento), ambas nidificando em termiteiros arbóreos da espécie Constrictotermes cyphergaster. Outras três espécies de termiteiros arbóreos ocorreram na área (Nasutitermes corniger, Nasutitermes macrocephalus e Microcerotermes sp.). Os térmitas arbóreos nidificaram principalmente na umburana (Commiphora leptophloeos). As espécies de abelhas do gênero Partamona têm como estratégia de nidificação na caatinga utilizar cavidades pré-existentes que consistem em ocos abertos em termiteiros arbóreos pelo periquito jandaia (Aratinga cactorum), para reprodução. Após o nascimento dos filhotes, o oco é abandonado e em seguida uma colônia de abelhas do gênero Partamona constrói ali o seu ninho, ocupando-o e isolando-o com geoprópolis, sendo freqüente a ocupação destes ocos por outros inquilinos.

The species richness, abundance, nesting sites, spatial distribution pattern, density of available substrates and substrates used for nesting by Partamona species were studied in a restricted area of a tropical dry forest/woodlands ecosystem called "arboreal caatinga" in Milagres, Bahia State, Brazil. Two species of the genus Partamona, occurred in the studied area, Partamona rustica (94.1 percent) and Partamona cupira (5.9 percent), both nested in arboreal termites nests of the Constrictotermes cyphergaster species. Other three species of arboreal termites' nests occurred in the area (Nasutitermes corniger, Nasutitermes macrocephalus and Microcerotermes sp.). The arboreal termites had nested mainly in "umburana" (Commiphora lepthophloeos). The nesting strategy of Partamona species consist in occupying preexisting cavities opened in arboreal termites nested by a parakeet called "jandaia" (Aratinga cactorum), for reproduction. After the birth of the younglings, the cavity is abandoned and after that a colony of Partamona bees occupies it and starts its nest construction, isolating it with mud and resin. Frequently these cavities are occupied by other inquilines.

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Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) can play an important role in the understanding of ecological systems. Although TEK has complemented scientific and managerial programs in a variety of contexts, its formal incorporation into remote sensing exercises has to date been limited. Here, we show that the vegetation classifications of the Ache, an indigenous hunter-gatherer tribe of the Mbaracayu Forest Reserve in Paraguay, are reflected in a supervised classification of satellite imagery of the reserve. Accuracy of classification was toward the low end of the range of published values, but was reasonable given the difficult nature of separating forest classes from satellite images. Comparison of the resultant map with a more traditionally elaborated vegetation map highlights differences between the two approaches and the gain in information obtained by considering TEK classifications. We suggest that integration of TEK and remote sensing may provide alternative insights into the ecology of vegetation communities and land cover, particularly in remote and densely forested areas where ecological field research is often limited by roads and/or trail systems.

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