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Throughout the breeding season, changing environmental and biological conditions can lead to variation in the reproductive landscape of many species. In alpine environments temperature is a key driver of behaviour for small ectotherms such as insects, but variable biotic factors such as mate quality and availability can also influence behaviour. Kosicuscola tristis is a small semelparous grasshopper of the Australian alpine region. In a rare behaviour among grasshoppers, K. tristis males engage in vigorous fights over access to females, involving mandible displays, kicking, biting and grappling. In this study we describe the variation in fighting behaviour of K. tristis throughout the breeding season and test several hypotheses related to temperature, body size, mating behaviour, and female quality. We show that K. tristis males are more aggressive toward each other at the end of the breeding season than at the beginning. This increased aggression is associated with decreased daily average temperatures (from ~20°C to ~9°C), decreased mating activity, increased female fecundity, and an unexpected trend toward an increase in female-to-male aggression. These results suggest that K. tristis is likely under increased selective pressure to time key life cycle events with favourable biological and climatic conditions. The stochastic nature of alpine environments combined with a relatively short life span and breeding season, as well as limited mating opportunities toward the end of the season may have contributed to the evolution of this extraordinary mating system.

11 12The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is threatened throughout its 13 distribution, and is categorized as vulnerable by IUCN (Lefebvre 2001, IUCN 2007).14 The number of mature individuals is currently estimated at less than 10,000 and is 15 expected to decline at a rate of at least 10% over the next 20 years as a result of both 16 habitat loss and anthropogenic factors (Deutsch et al. 2008). While the West Indian 17 manatee is the most widespread of all existing sirenians, some populations are 18 estimated at fewer than 10 individuals (Deutsch et al. 2008, Quintana-Rizzo and 19 Reynolds 2010). In addition, in most Central American countries reliable information on 20 manatee distribution and conservation status is missing and there is need to assess 21 these remnant populations to guide future management strategies. 23In Panama, there has been little recent manatee research (Muschett et al. 2009, 24Lefebvre 2001). There are two known resident manatee populations in the country, one in Bocas del Toro, on the Northern Caribbean Coast, and the other in Lake Gatun, in 26 the Panama Canal Watershed (Fig. 1) (Mou-Sue et al. 1990, Lefebvre 2001). The origin 27 of this second population is unclear, and whether manatees in the Chagres River 28 survived the construction of the Panama Canal remains unknown (Mou-Sue et al. 1990, 29 MacLaren 1967). However, in 1964 one Amazonian manatee T. inunguis from Peru and 30 nine West Indian manatees T. manatus from Bocas del Toro were introduced into an 31 enclosure in Lake Gatun as part of an aquatic vegetation control program for the 32 Panama Canal. Some years later these manatees either escaped or were released into 33 the lake (MacLaren 1967). Since then manatee sightings have been common, as have 34 vessel collisions and deaths from underwater detonations for dredging (Schad et al. 35 1981, Hernández 1982). However, an aerial survey carried out years later spotted only 36 one manatee in the lake (Mou-Sue et al. 1990). To date the actual number of manatee 37 in Lake Gatun remains undetermined. The annual number of deaths is also unknown 38 and there are unconfirmed reports of hunting by local people (Lefebvre et al. 2001). 40The net result of these circumstances is that there is a pressing need to gather 41 information on the current state of this population. In this study we provide preliminary 42 information on the number of the West Indian manatees in Lake Gatun and document 43 possible human threats to manatees in the main body of water within the Panama 44 Canal. Located in central Panama (09º09'N 75º51'W) and covering 430km 2 (Fig. 2), 45Gatun is an artificial freshwater lake created in 1906 when the Chagres River was 46 impounded to build the Panama Canal. The typical vegetation in the lake includes 47 Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Pontederia rotundifolia and Hydrilla verticillata, 48 all of which are part of the manatee's diet (Jimenez-Perez 2000, TLBG et al. 2002). We conducted interviews with local people in order to determine their perce...

In the last decades, pollinators have drastically declined as a consequence of anthropogenic activities that have local and global impacts. The food industry has been expanding intensive agriculture crops, many of them dependent on animal pollination, but simultaneously reducing native pollinator habitats. Chile is a good example of this situation. Chile is becoming an agro-alimentary powerhouse in Latin America, where intensive agriculture expansion is performed at the expense of natural lands, posing a major threat to biodiversity. Here, we discussed the drivers responsible for the decline of pollinators (including habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and climate change) and its synergistic effects. This is particularly critical considering that Chile is a hotspot of endemic bee species locally adapted to specific habitats (e.g., Mediterranean-type ecosystems). However, there is a lack of data and monitoring programs that can provide evidence of their conservation status and contribution to crop yields. Based on our analysis, we identified information gaps to be filled and key threats to be addressed to reconcile crop production and biodiversity conservation. Addressing the local context is fundamental to undertake management and conservation actions with global impact.

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