Animal pollination mediates both reproduction and gene flow for the majority of plant species across the globe. However, past functional studies have focused largely on seed production; although useful, this focus on seed set does not provide information regarding species-specific contributions to pollen-mediated gene flow. Here we quantify pollen dispersal for individual pollinator species across more than 690 ha of tropical forest. Specifically, we examine visitation, seed production, and pollen-dispersal ability for the entire pollinator community of a common tropical tree using a series of individual-based pollinator-exclusion experiments followed by molecular-based fractional paternity analyses. We investigate the effects of pollinator body size, plant size (as a proxy of floral display), local plant density, and local plant kinship on seed production and pollen-dispersal distance. Our results show that while large-bodied pollinators set more seeds per visit, small-bodied bees visited flowers more frequently and were responsible for more than 49% of all long-distance (beyond 1 km) pollen-dispersal events. Thus, despite their size, small-bodied bees play a critical role in facilitating long-distance pollen-mediated gene flow. We also found that both plant size and local plant kinship negatively impact pollen dispersal and seed production. By incorporating genetic and trait-based data into the quantification of pollination services, we highlight the diversity in ecological function mediated by pollinators, the influential role that plant and population attributes play in driving service provision, and the unexpected importance of small-bodied pollinators in the recruitment of plant genetic diversity.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar larvas urticantes de Lepidoptera encontradas en parcelas con cultivos hortícolas en Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panamá y confirmar los posibles síntomas causados por erucismo y lepidopterismo. Se realizaron 16 muestreos aleatorios durante 14 meses y medio, en parcelas con cultivos, vegetación aledaña e infraestructuras. Se tomaron fotografías y se recolectaron muestras para su procesamiento en el laboratorio. Se consultó literatura especializada para la identificación. Se levantó una encuesta a 33 personas afectadas por erucismo o lepidopterismo. De acuerdo con los resultados, las larvas encontradas en los cultivos correspondieron a Leucanella hosmera (Schaus, 1941) (Saturniidae), Halysidota tessellaris (Smith, 1797) (Erebidae), Acharia stimulea (Clemens, 1860) (Limacodidae) y se encontró un espécimen adulto de Megalopyge opercularis (Smith, 1797) (Megalopygidae) en una pared. En vegetación silvestre, se encontraron larvas de L. hosmera y posiblemente Automeris pallidior Draudt, 1929 (Saturniidae), alimentándose de Faramea occidentalis (L.) A. Rich (Rubiaceae). La encuesta reflejó como síntomas frecuentes por erucismo o lepidopterismo ardor, dolor e inflamación en un 93,9%, requiriéndose atención médica en 18,18% de los casos. En conclusión, se identificaron cinco especies de larvas urticantes asociadas a cultivos hortícolas en Cerro Punta, las cuales representan un riesgo potencial para la salud.

Aurpegiaren morfologia ezinbestekoa da banakoak euren artean ezberdindu ahal izateko. Lan honetan, aurpegiko ezaugarrietan eragina duten SNPak aztertu ditugu. Populazioen historia demografikoak aurpegiaren morfologiaren aldakortasunaren proportzio handia azaltzen duela aurkitzen dugu. Hala ere, aurpegiaren aldakortasunean hautespen sexuala bezalako beste faktore batzuek ere eragina izan dezakete, nahiz eta maila txikiagoan. Sudurraren morfologian arreta jarriz, Asia ekialdeko eta Afrikako populazioek sudur zabalagoa dute orokorrean eta Europarrek, ordea, estuagoa. Emaitza hauek klimarekiko moldapen gisa azaldu ohi dira. Bestalde, aurpegiaren ezaugarriei loturiko SNPen azterketa, zientzia forentseetan ere erabilgarria izan daiteke, nahiz eta gaur egun, DNAtik abiatuta banako baten identifikazio fenotipikoa konplexua den arren.

The preparation of specimens is a crucial aspect of zoological studies. Some specific study techniques or certain taxonomic groups require staining processes. However, an excessive exposure to the staining agents can turn a specimen improper for morphological studies. Here, we report that an excess of chlorazol black, one of the most used stains in biology, can be easily removed from crustacean specimens with a solution of methanol and Extran® detergent or, less effectively, with a solution of methanol and commercial dishwashing soap.