Studies have documented biodiversity losses due to intensification of coffee management (reduc-tionPalabras Clave: agroecosistema, biodiversidad, café con sombra, café sin sombra, característico del sitio, meta análisis, producción de café

We used a distance-sampling survey method and multivariate statistics to obtain a unique estimate of bird species density and seasonal variation in shade-coffee plantations. Our aim was to determine which cultivation practices among plantations contribute most to bird abundance. We conducted avian species counts at 200 points distributed across 10 shade-coffee plantations bordering the lower slopes of the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve, in western Nicaragua. We measured vegetation structure (coffee plants and overstory). We used principal components analysis (PCA) among 14 habitat variables to derive a single phyto-geoclimate summary measure (PGSM). We also used PCA to derive an avian abundance summary measure (AASM) from three bird survey variables, which proved to be a good predictor of bird density. We found higher bird species densities (AASM) in organic and traditional polyculture shade coffee plantations whose structurally complex and diverse overstory could be verified by PGSM. However, this finding was true only for birds that were habitat specialists. Our results provide further evidence for promoting organic coffee cultivation practices that maintain a structurally diverse overstory and help retain avian species richness and abundance in coffee plantations.

Nicaragua, in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), agreed to establish a "Representative system of protected areas that adequately conserve biodiversity and terrestrial, marine and inland water ecosystems". Pursuant to the above, we conducted a Gap Analysis of Biodiversity Conservation for the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) of Nicaragua, focused on terrestrial and inland water ecosystems as well as on terrestrial species. This paper presents the results of the analysis of the conservation status of the endemic species in the national system of protected areas of Nicaragua. The groups considered for analysis were plants, mollusks, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Data presented came from reviewing books, scientific papers, management plans of protected areas and unpublished reports by the authors, and nearly 140 websites. Of the 75 plant species and 31 animal species considered in the analysis, 25 species have some distribution points within the SINAP (ten of them have only one point). There are 81 species apparently absent from the SINAP. Nicaraguan endemic species are severely unprotected. KEY WORDSEndemism, conservation, protected areas, Nicaragua, mollusks, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants RESUMEN Nicaragua, en el marco de la Convención de Diversidad Biológica (CDB), se comprometió a establecer un "Sistema representativo de áreas protegidas que conserve de forma adecuada la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas terrestres, marinos y de aguas intercontinentales". En cumplimiento de lo anterior, se realizó un Análisis de Vacíos de Conservación de la Biodiversidad para el Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SINAP), de Nicaragua, enfocado en ecosistemas terrestres y de aguas continentales, así como especies terrestres. En el presente trabajo se presentan los resultados sobre el análisis del estado de conservación de los endemismos en el sistema nacional de áreas protegidas de Nicaragua. Los grupos considerados para el análisis fueron plantas, moluscos, anfibios, reptiles y mamíferos. Los datos presentados procedieron de la revisión de libros, artículos científicos, planes de manejo de áreas protegidas e informes inéditos de los autores, así como unas 140 páginas webs revisadas. De las 75 especies de flora y las 31 especies de fauna consideradas en el análisis, 25 especies tienen alguno de sus puntos de distribución dentro del SINAP (diez de ellas tienen un solo punto). Hay 81 especies aparentemente ausentes dentro del SINAP. Especies endémicas de Nicaragua se encuentran gravemente desprotegidas.