Browsing by Autor "Luís F. Aguirre"

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A potential turning point for Bolivia’s biodiversity conservation
(Nature Portfolio, 2025) Mónica Moraes R.; Álvaro Fernández‐Llamazares; Luís F. Aguirre; Oswaldo Maillard; Alfredo Romero‐Muñoz
Accounting for detectability improves estimates of species richness in tropical bat surveys
(Wiley, 2011) Christoph F. J. Meyer; Ludmilla Aguiar; Luís F. Aguirre; Júlio Baumgarten; Frank M. Clarke; Jean‐François Cosson; Sergio Estrada Villegas; Jakob Fahr; Deborah Faria; Neil M. Furey
Summary\n\n\n1. Species richness is a state variable of some interest in monitoring programmes but raw species counts are often biased due to imperfect species detectability. Therefore, monitoring programmes should quantify detectability for target taxa to assess whether it varies over temporal or spatial scales. We assessed the potential for tropical bat monitoring programmes to reliably estimate trends in species richness.\n\n\n2. Using data from 25 bat assemblages from the Old and New World tropics, we estimated detectability for all species in an assemblage (mean proportion of species detected per sampling plot) and for individual species (species-specific detectability). We further assessed how these estimates of detectability were affected by external sources of variation relating to time, space, survey effort and biological traits.\n\n\n3. The mean proportion of species detected across 96 sampling plots was estimated at 0·76 (range 0·57–1·00) and was significantly greater for phytophagous than for animalivorous species. Species-averaged detectability for phytophagous species was influenced by the number of surveys and season, whereas the number of surveys and sampling methods [ground- or canopy-level mist nets, harp traps and acoustic sampling (AS)] most strongly affected estimates of detectability for animalivorous bats. Species-specific detectability averaged 0·4 and was highly heterogeneous across 232 species, with estimates ranging from 0·03 to 0·84. Species-level detectability was influenced by a range of external factors such as location, season, or sampling method, suggesting that raw species counts may sometimes be strongly biased.\n\n\n4.Synthesis and applications. Due to generally high species-specific detection probabilities, Neotropical aerial insectivorous bats proved to be well suited for monitoring using AS. However, for species with low detectability, such as most gleaning animalivores or nectarivores, count data obtained in bat monitoring surveys must be corrected for detection bias. Our results indicate that species-averaged detection probabilities will rarely approach 1 unless many surveys are conducted. Consequently, long-term bat monitoring programmes need to adopt an estimation scheme that corrects for variation in detectability when comparing species richness over time and when making regional comparisons. Similar corrections will be needed for other species-rich tropical taxa.
Advances in the Knowledge and Study of Invasive Alien Species in Bolivia
(2021) Wendy L. Tejeda; Adriana Rico‐Cernohorska; Stephan Beck; Alfredo F. Fuentes; Robert B. Wallace; Guido Miranda; Luís F. Aguirre; María del Pilar Fernández Murillo
The value of knowledge about the negative effects of invasive alien species (IAS) on biodiversity, ecosystems, national economies, human health, and climate change mitigation is increasingly important. Bolivia considered the problem of IAS in the Biological Invasions, Invasive Information Network I3N–IABIN workshop, which generated an IAS database for different countries detailing the location of species, their economic and ecological impacts, as well as entry routes, and propagation, although for the most part, only lists of plant and animal IAS can be derived from national scientific collections. Here, we feature several plant and animal species with more detailed information. Finally, due to the consequences of IAS on the country's native biodiversity, human health, and economic activities these systematization initiatives informed national policy. In Bolivia, there are at least 150 species considered as introduced or exotic, including crop species, information that needs to be refined and updated.
An assessment of the suitability of bats as a possible target taxon for long-term monitoring within the framework of Conservation International’s Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring (TEAM) Initiative
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 2009) Christoph F. J. Meyer; Ludmilla Aguiar; Luís F. Aguirre; Júlio Baumgarten; Frank M. Clarke; Jean‐François Cosson; Sergio Estrada Villegas; Jakob Fahr; Deborah Faria; Neil M. Furey
Assessing the geographic dichotomy hypothesis with cacti in South America
(Wiley, 2017) Ariel A. Arzabe; Luís F. Aguirre; M. P. Baldelomar; Marco A. Molina‐Montenegro
The Cactaceae is one of the most conspicuous and ecologically important plant families in the world. Its species may have specialist or generalist pollination systems that show geographic patterns, which are synthesised in the Geographic Dichotomy Hypothesis. Here, we assess this hypothesis in five countries in both tropical and extratropical regions, evaluating the pollinator visitation rate and pollinator identity and abundance. We calculate the Shannon diversity index (H') and evenness (J) and evaluate differences between latitude parameters with a Student t-test. Overall, we found more specialised pollination systems in all tropical sites; the richness, diversity and evenness of pollinators was reduced in comparison to extratropical regions, where the pollination system was generalised. Our results support the geographic dichotomy hypothesis in the cacti of South America, suggesting that environmental factors underlying the latitudinal patterns can help to explain differences in the pollination syndrome between tropical and extratropical regions.
Bats and Buildings: The Conservation of Synanthropic Bats
(2015) Christian C. Voigt; Kendra L. Phelps; Luís F. Aguirre; M. Corrie Schoeman; Juliet Vanitharani; Akbar Zubaid
Humans have shared buildings with bats for thousands of years, probably as early as first humans built primitive huts. Indeed, many bat species can be defined as synanthropic, i.e., they have a strong ecological association with humans. Bats have been observed using buildings as roosting and foraging sites, temporary shelters, for reproduction and hibernation. A synanthropic lifestyle may result in direct fitness benefits owing to energetic advantages in warmer roosts, which may ultimately lead to more rapid gestation and faster development of juveniles, or by being less exposed to natural predators in urban environments. All these benefits may allow bats to use buildings as stepping stones to exploit habitats otherwise devoid of roosting structures and may even lead to the expansion of geographic ranges. Yet, the coexistence with humans also comes with some risks. Bats may be exposed to chemical pollutants, particularly preservation chemicals used on lumber or during pest control measures. Bats may also be at risk of direct persecution or they may die accidently if trapped within buildings. In general, eviction of bats from buildings should follow the general rule of avoidance–mitigation–compensation. When considering conservation measures for synanthropic bats, it is most important to assess the role of the building for different life stages of bats. Construction work at buildings should be conducted in a manner that minimizes disturbance of bats. Artificial roosts can replace lost roosts, yet bats will often not accept alternative roosts. Demographic changes in human populations may lead to the abandonment of buildings, for example, in rural areas and to increased conflicts in urban areas when old buildings are replaced by new buildings or when previously unoccupied space in buildings is renovated. We advocate maintenance and enhancement of roosts for synanthropic bats, in addition to outreach and education campaigns, to improve the tolerance of humans for synanthropic bats.
Bird perches and artificial bat roosts increase seed rain and seedling establishment in tropical bracken‐dominated deforested areas
(Wiley, 2024) César Mayta; Cecilia L. López; Mariana Villegas; Luís F. Aguirre; Isabell Hensen; Silvia C. Gallegos
Tropical forests are being reduced by human activities. The use of fire for agricultural expansion generates areas dominated by the bracken fern Pteridium , where forest regeneration is slow. This may be caused by seed limitation, especially of animal‐dispersed seeds, due to the absence of seed dispersers from the forest in deforested areas, calling for restoration strategies to assist forest regeneration. We installed bird perches and artificial bat roosts to evaluate their effect on the density, species richness, and composition of animal‐dispersed seeds and seedlings of tree and non‐tree species in bracken‐dominated areas in the tropical montane forest of Bolivia. We found that perches and bat roosts increased the density and species richness of animal‐dispersed seeds and established seedlings. The seeds and seedlings dispersed by birds were clumped under the perches, while the seeds and seedlings dispersed by bats were distributed around the roosts. Perches had a higher density and species richness of seeds and seedlings compared to bat roosts, suggesting that the use of perches could be a better option as a restoration tool in bracken‐dominated areas. The increase in seed rain and seedling establishment of animal‐dispersed species in perches and bat roosts supports seed limitation, hindering forest succession in bracken‐dominated areas. The use of bird perches accompanying other restoration techniques is a promising restoration strategy to accelerate forest regeneration in tropical areas dominated by Pteridium , which are widely distributed.
Catalyzing Red List Assessments of Underrepresented Taxa through Partner Networks and Student Engagement
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022) Monika Böhm; David L. Waldien; Gregory P. Setliff; Kristine Abenis; Luís F. Aguirre; Perpetra Akite; Marnelli Alviola; Phillip Alviola; José Luis Aramayo Bejarano; Jade Aster T. Badon
Global biodiversity decline is continuing largely unabated. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (hereafter, Red List) provides us with the gold standard for assessments, but taxonomic coverage, especially for invertebrates and fungi, remains very low. Many players contribute to the Red List knowledge base, especially IUCN Red List partners, IUCN-led assessment projects, and the Specialist Groups and Red List Authorities (RLA) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. However, it is vital that we develop the next generation of contributors and bring in new, diverse voices to build capacity and to sustain the huge assessment effort required to fill data gaps. Here, we discuss a recently established partner network to build additional capacity for species assessments, by linking academia directly into the assessment processes run by Specialist Groups and RLAs. We aim to increase Red List “literacy” amongst potential future conservationists and help students to increase publication output, form professional networks, and develop writing and research skills. Professors can build Red List learning into their teaching and offer Red Listing opportunities to students as assignments or research projects that directly contribute to the Red List. We discuss the opportunities presented by the approach, especially for underrepresented species groups, and the challenges that remain.
Challenges and opportunities for the Bolivian Biodiversity Observation Network
(Taylor & Francis, 2015) Miguel Fernández; Laetitia M. Navarro; Amira Apaza‐Quevedo; Silvia C. Gallegos; Alexandra Marques; Carlos Zambrana‐Torrelio; Florian Wolf; Healy Hamilton; Álvaro J. Aguilar-Kirigin; Luís F. Aguirre
Pragmatic methods to assess the status of biodiversity at multiple scales are required to support conservation decision-making. At the intersection of several major biogeographic zones, Bolivia has extraordinary potential to develop a monitoring strategy aligned with the objectives of the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). Bolivia, a GEO Observer since 2005, is already working on the adequacy of national earth observations towards the objectives of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). However, biodiversity is still an underrepresented component in this initiative. The integration of biodiversity into Bolivia’s GEO framework would confirm the need for a country level biodiversity monitoring strategy, fundamental to assess the progress towards the 2020 Aichi targets. Here we analyse and discuss two aspects of the process of developing such a strategy: (1) identification of taxonomic, temporal and spatial coverage of biodiversity data to detect both availability and gaps; and (2) evaluation of issues related to the acquisition, integration and analyses of multi-scale and multi-temporal biodiversity datasets. Our efforts resulted in the most comprehensive biodiversity database for the country of Bolivia, containing 648,534 records for 27,534 species referenced in time and space that account for 92.5% of the species previously reported for the country. We capitalise this information into recommendations for the implementation of the Bolivian Biodiversity Observation Network that will help ensure that biodiversity is sustained as the country continues on its path of development.
Characterization of caves as bat roosts in the brazilian-paranense biogeographic region of Bolivia
(Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoología A.C., 2020) Dennis Lizarro; Luís F. Aguirre; José Carlos Pérez-Zubieta; Aideé Vargas; M. Isabel Galarza
Bats play vital roles in nature as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural controllers of insect pests. They serve as indicators of habitat disturbance and provide an insight into the health status of an ecosystem. This enormous importance contrasts with the lack of information on the current state of their roosts in Bolivia, particularly as regards caves and caverns. A search for caves and caverns was carried out in the eastern department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, corresponding to the Brazilian-Paranense biogeographic region. Subsequently, an environmental-structural characterization of the caves was conducted to obtain biological information by capturing and identifying bats in eastern Bolivia. Interspecific associations in caves and the relationship between roost characteristics and bat diversity were explored and described based on the variables evaluated. A total of 19 caves were evaluated. A correlation between environmental and structural parameters was investigated, showing a relationship between cave length and humidity. Seven species of cave bats were identified, and two species of threatened Bolivian bats (Lonchorhina aurita and Natalus macrourus) were found in four caves. The caves evaluated are new records of this vital habitat for bats in the country. The presence or absence of bat species was found to depend on the structural characteristics of the cave (length, complexity), but not on temperature, although humidity may play a role in the presence of species. Among the species found, those highly specialized in the selection and use of roosts at caves could be prone to local extinctions. It is suggested that further investigations should be carried out on the ecology of these cave-dwelling bat species to identify the roosting patterns of bats and their distribution range, to elaborate conservation and management programs for caves and the animal communities sheltered.
Comentarios sobre el primer congreso de maztozoología en bolivia
(Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, 2005) Luís F. Aguirre; Teresa Tarifa
Community and species-level responses of phyllostomid bats to a disturbance gradient in the tropical Andes
(Elsevier BV, 2014) Flavia Montaño‐Centellas; M. Isabel Moya; Luís F. Aguirre; Raquel Galeón; Oswaldo Palabral; Rosember Hurtado; I. Sola Galarza; Julieta Tordoya
Consistency and variation in the bat assemblages inhabiting two forest islands within a neotropical savanna in Bolivia
(Cambridge University Press, 2003) Luís F. Aguirre; Luc Lens; Raoul Van Damme; Erik Matthysen
Neotropical bats occupy a large variety of trophic niches, and represent locally abundant, species-rich communities. As such, they are highly suited as a model group for the study of temporal and spatial dynamics of animal communities. However, despite this important research potential, data on the dynamics and turnover rates of Neotropical bat communities are lacking. We here study both aspects for bats inhabiting two natural forests surrounded by savanna in Bolivia. Over a period of 8 y, both bat communities showed high rates of species turnover. As predicted, species relying on fluctuating food resources were more likely to be absent in particular years, whereas species relying on more predictable food supplies were present in all years.
Crisis climática y Una Salud en Iberoamérica
(La Salle University, Colombia, 2023) Natalia Cediel; Daniel Felipe Machado; Jaime Pineda; Andrés Cartín-Rojas; Luís F. Aguirre; Renzo R. Vargas; María Pilar Sánchez; Santiago Vega; Manuela Morais
De esfuerzos locales a una iniciativa regional: La Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe para la Conservación de los Murciélagos (RELCOM)
(2014) Luís F. Aguirre; Jafet M. Nassar; Rubén M. Bárquez; Rodrigo A. Medellín; Laura Navarro; Armando Rodríguez‐Durán; Bernal Rodríguez‐Herrera
Durante mucho tiempo, esfuerzos individuales de conservación han tendido a formar grupos de trabajo para maximizar su alcance a una escala mayor y beneficiarse de las sinergias que provee el poder interactuar con iniciativas similares y que alcancen objetivos en común (Guerrero et al. 2013). El unir esfuerzos en redes de interacción ha sido una estrategia promovida fundamentalmente por el hecho de que las aproximaciones centralizadas de arriba hacia abajo (top-down) han fallado en llegar a los tomadores de decisión y por lo tanto en alcanzar resultados tangibles (Bodin & Prell 2014). Más aún, en Latinoamérica muchas iniciativas globales han tenido precisamente ese enfoque top-down, en que las políticas de conservación eran dictadas por entidades que no viven las realidades locales, promueven poco o nada la comunicación y colaboración sur-sur, con la consecuente pérdida de muchas oportunidades de conservación local y efectiva (Rodríguez et al. 2007). La construcción de redes para la conservación tiene, por lo tanto, varios objetivos (Kingston et al. in prep.), que incluyen la construcción de capital social (acceso a información, recursos, conocimiento), el fortalecimiento de relaciones entre actividades conjuntas para lograr mayor eficiencia y finalmente poder transformar los esfuerzos en acciones de conservación.
Distribución de Vampyrum spectrum en Bolivia y comentarios sobre su estado de conservación
(2004) Aideé Vargas Espinoza; Luís F. Aguirre; Matthew J. Swarner; Louise H. Emmons; Marcos Teran
Ecomorphological analysis of trophic niche partitioning in a tropical savannah bat community
(Royal Society, 2002) Luís F. Aguirre; Anthony Herrel; Raoul Van Damme; Erik Matthysen
The exceptional diversity of neotropical bat communities is sustained by an intricate partitioning of available resources among the member species. Trophical specialization is considered an important evolutionary avenue towards niche partitioning in neotropical phyllostomid bats. From an ancestral insectivorous condition, phyllostomids evolved into highly specialized frugivorous, carnivorous, nectarivorous, piscivorous and even sanguivorous species. Previously, correlations between cranial morphology and trophic ecology within this group have been documented. Here, we examine the evolutionary relationships between bite force and head shape in over 20 species of bats from a single tropical savannah bat community. The results show that bite force increases exponentially with body size across all species examined. Despite the significant differences between large dietary groups using traditional analysis (i.e. non-phylogenetic) and the strong evolutionary correlations between body mass and bite force, phylogenetic analyses indicated no differences in bite performance between insectivorous, omnivorous and frugivorous bats. Comparisons of three species with highly specialized feeding habits (nectarivory, piscivory and sanguivory) with the rest of the species in the community indicate that specialization into these niches comes at the expense of bite performance and, hence, may result in a reduction of the trophic niche breadth.
Efectos de los árboles exóticos y del ambiente materno sobre la producción de semillas, la germinación y el crecimiento inicial de Polylepis subtusalbida (Rosaceae) en el Parque Nacional Tunari, Bolivia
(2018) Edgar E. Gareca; Yvonne Y. Martinez; Claudia Solís; Luís F. Aguirre
Polylepis subtusalbida’s woodlands at the Southern slope of Parque Nacional Tunari (Cochabamba, Bolivia) are key native vegetation remnants between 3200-3900 m; they provide ecosystem services, specially to the city of Cochabamba. However, these woodlands are highly fragmented and coexist with exotic trees (Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus). This work shows the effects of the exotic trees and the maternal environment on seed production, germination and initial growth of Polylepis. Three settings for the exotic trees were studied: Polylepis woodlands a) surrounded by semi-natural grassland, b) surrounded by exotic trees and c) mixed with exotic trees. Fruits from 67 mother trees belonging to seven fragments were used. The percentage of fruits with full seeds was measured as an estimation of seed production. Germination and early growth were evaluated in a common garden with a complete randomized design (germination) and a complete randomized block design (early growth). Variables from the maternal environment were reduced via PCA and backward multiple regression followed by general mixed linear models which were performed to evaluate the effect of the exotic trees, maternal traits and maternal microsite on the seed production, germination and early growth. The percentage of fruits with full seeds diminished as bare soil under the maternal tree increased. Germination was high and it was not affected by the studied factors. Early growth of the progeny was affected by the presence of the exotic trees, bare soil, leaf cover and health of the maternal tree. Seed production was identified as a limiting stage for Polylepis regeneration, and the exotic trees and maternal environment affected early growth of the progeny in a common garden (maternal effects).https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.18.28.1.1.698
ENSAMBLE DE MURCIÉLAGOS EN SITIOS CON DIFERENTE GRADO DE PERTURBACIÓN EN UN BOSQUE MONTANO DEL PARQUE NACIONAL CARRASCO, BOLIVIA
(2008) Aideé Vargas Espinoza; Luís F. Aguirre; M. Isabel Galarza; Edgar E. Gareca
Assemblage of bats in sites with varying degrees of disturbance in montane forests of Carrasco National Park, Bolivia. Montane forests in Bolivia are characterized by sites with high biodiversity and endemism but are also faced by threats due to human activities, mainly agriculture. For a period of 11 months, we evaluated the effect of human disturbance due to traditional agricultural activities on bat communities in a montane forest in the foothills of the Santuario de Vida Silvestre Cavernas de Repechon, Carrasco National Park. We found that the total community contained 36 species based on a sample of 2518 individuals belonging to Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae. The most abundant species in all sites was Carollia perspicillata; in abandoned fields, young forest and mature forest C. brevicauda was the second most abundant species, whereas in agricultural lands Artibeus lituratus was the most common. Fruit-eating bats were the best represented trophic guild in terms of species and abundance. The sites with most similar species composition were abandoned fields and mature forests. Young forests were less similar to abandoned fields, and agricultural lands differed most from all other sites. Be- cause the study sites were small compared with the larger matrix consisting mostly of
From local efforts to a regional initiative: The Latin American and Caribbean Bat Conservation Network (RELCOM)
(2015) Luís F. Aguirre
Durante mucho tiempo, esfuerzos individuales de conservacion han tendido a formar grupos de trabajo para maximizar su alcance a una escala mayor y beneficiarse de las sinergias que provee el poder interactuar con iniciativas similares y que alcancen objetivos en comun (Guerrero et al. 2013). El unir esfuerzos en redes de interaccion ha sido una estrategia promovida fundamentalmente por el hecho de que las aproximaciones centralizadas de arriba hacia abajo (top-down) han fallado en llegar a los tomadores de decision y por lo tanto en alcanzar resultados tangibles (Bodin & Prell 2014). Mas aun, en Latinoamerica muchas iniciativas globales han tenido precisamente ese enfoque top-down, en que las politicas de conservacion eran dictadas por entidades que no viven las realidades locales, promueven poco o nada la comunicacion y colaboracion sur-sur, con la consecuente perdida de muchas oportunidades de conservacion local y efectiva (Rodriguez et al. 2007). La construccion de redes para la conservacion tiene, por lo tanto, varios objetivos (Kingston et al. in prep.), que incluyen la construccion de capital social (acceso a informacion, recursos, conocimiento), el fortalecimiento de relaciones entre actividades conjuntas para lograr mayor eficiencia y finalmente poder transformar los esfuerzos en acciones de conservacion.