Browsing by Autor "Pavel Kindlmann"

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Altitudinal variation of species composition of small non-flying mammals in the Yungas region of Bolivia
(Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoología A.C., 2020) Adriana Rico‐Cernohorska; Jorge Salazar‐Bravo; José E. Martínez; Susana G. Revollo-Cadima; Pavel Kindlmann
The Cotapata National Park and Natural Area for Integrated Management (PN-ANMI) is located on the eastern escarpments of the Eastern Cordillera in Bolivia. It has an altitudinal range between 1,100-5,600 masl, with five altitudinally delimited ecological zones. There is great variability of environments, which generates great animal species diversity, varying according to elevation, and in association with changes in climatic and ecological conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of richness and composition of small non-flying mammals along an altitudinal gradient in the PN-ANMI Cotapata and to evaluate responses of these species to the gradient. We worked at three different elevations: Yungas Forest (1,400 masl), Cloud Forest (2,100 masl) and Yungas Paramo (3,500 masl). Six temporary replicas were conducted. For each sampling period we run three 250 m linear transects were placed, separated by 50 m attitudinally. Each transect contained 25 sampling stations, with two snap traps. With the exception of Yungas Paramo (due to the rocky ground), we also run transects of pitfall barrier traps (five buckets, every 5 m). We captured 460 specimens corresponding to 20 species of rodents and two of marsupials. Although, species richness ( S ) and diversity ( Cinv ) were higher in Cloud Forest (intermediate elevation; S = 11, Cinv = 4.30), followed by Yungas Forest ( S = 9, Cinv = 3.47), and lower in Yungas Paramo (higher elevation; S = 8, Cinv = 2.12), only the diversity was significantly different ( H = 7.0, n = 17, P = 0.03). Species composition varied between places, showing the greatest turnover between Cloud Forest and Yungas Paramo, with a similarity of only 2 %. Yungas Paramo had the highest number of exclusive species (seven of the eight registered). The diversity was higher at medium altitude, giving a positive monoclinal hump-shaped pattern. This variation, responds to climatic influences associated with changes in vegetation, where Cloud Forest provides a greater diversity of ecological niches. The lower diversity in Yungas Paramo, and the almost total species turnover responds to inhospitable and stress conditions and to the physiological adaptations of these species to these elevations.
Exotic plants along roads near La Paz, Bolivia
(Wiley, 2015) María del Pilar Fernández Murillo; Adriana Rico‐Cernohorska; Pavel Kindlmann
Summary Distributions of invasive alien species ( IAS ) are well documented all over the world, and roads are considered one of the main means by which IAS spread. Bolivia is one of a few countries for which there are no such studies. For this reason, we determined the number of exotic plant species in the vicinity of roads near the city of La Paz, Bolivia. We distinguish two types of roads, paved and gravel roads, and in their vicinity, we studied the floristic composition in three regions, differing mainly in altitude: high Andes, puna grassland and dry valley. We found three exotic species in the vicinity of roads in the high Andes, five in puna grassland and 10 in the dry valley. We found 13 exotic species along gravel roads and nine along paved roads, whilst there was a trend for such species to be more abundant close to the roads than further away. Pennisetum clandestinum was the most frequently recorded exotic species in all regions and associated with both types of roads. The results indicate that exotic species are quite frequent along roads in Bolivia and present a potential threat as invasive species. Therefore, it may be necessary to take measures to prevent IAS from spreading further.
How uniform is species diversity in tropical forests?
(Lankester Botanical Garden, 2011) Pavel Kindlmann; Carlos Vergara Cassas
Las preguntas acerca de la diversidad de especies ha atraído a los ecologistas desde hace más de un siglo. Uno de los factores que genera preguntas es la distribución de las especies, misma que se podría ser un resultado del llamado “efecto de los botánicos” o efecto del esfuerzo de colección, así por ejemplo una zona donde existan muchos orquideólogos, con seguridad tiene una gran diversidad, pero al mismo tiempo gran esfuerzo de colección. Otro fenómeno común asociado al esfuerzo de colección de encuentra en la distribución de especies endémicas, que aparecen como más diversas al borde de los carreteros, y que declinan su diversidad hacia el interior del bosque. En este estudio probamos esta hipótesis utilizando datos de especies de orquídeas bolivianas. Se encontró diferencias entre especies terrestres y epífitas. En el caso de las terrestres, tanto la diversidad como el número de individuos disminuyó hacia el interior del bosque. Sin embargo, las especies epífitas incrementaron su abundancia y diversidad hacia el interior del bosque. Las razones que explican los patrones observados son evidentes, ya que hacia el interior del bosque hay mayor densidad de árboles por lo tanto hay menor cantidad de luz que llega al suelo, por lo cual la diversidad de las especies terrestres declina. Así, los hábitats cercanos a claros de bosque son más propicios para especies terrestres, mientras que los que se encuentran al interior del bosque son apropiados par alas especies epífitas debido a una mayor disponibilidad de árboles hospederos.