Forest fragmentation and the resulting spatial isolation of tree species can modify the activity of pollinators and may have important implications for the reproductive success and mating systems of the plants they pollinate. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the effect of forest fragmentation on pollinator activity in bat‐pollinated bombacaceous trees and (2) determine the effects of forest fragmentation on reproductive success and mating systems of bombacaceous trees. We studied these parameters in three bombacaceous tree species in tropical seasonal forest of Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico, and Osa and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. For Ceiba aesculifolia, more visits were observed in fragments by both Glossophaga soricina and Leptonycteris curasoae. For Ceiba grandiflora, Musonycteris harrisoni visited flowers exclusively in forest and G. soricina visited more flowers in forest than in fragments; no difference was shown by L. curasoae. For Ceiba pentandra in Chamela, no differences were found in visitation by G. soricina between forest and fragments; L. curasoae visited significantly more flowers in forest. Ceiba pentandra received more visits by Phyllostomus discolor than G. soricina in Guanacaste, whereas no bat visitors were observed in Osa. Total mean flower production was greater in fragments than forest for C. aesculifolia, whereas no difference was observed for C. grandiflora. Fruit set was greater in forest than in fragments for C. grandiflora, whereas no difference was observed for C. aesculifolia. Outcrossing rates were high for C. aesculifolia and C. grandiflora in Chamela, and for C. pentandra in Guanacaste, independent of tree habitat, while C. pentandra in Osa showed a mixed‐mating system. The effects of forest fragmentation on bat pollinators, plant reproductive success, and mating patterns varied depending upon the bombacaceous species. This variability was associated with the effects that forest fragmentation may have on differences in flowering patterns, bat foraging behavior, and plant self‐incompatibility systems. RESUMEN La fragmentatión de bosques y el aislamiento espacial, producto de este fenómeno, pueden modificar la actividad de los polinizadores y pueden tener implicaciones importantes sobre el éxito reproductivo y los sistemas de apareamiento de las plantas que polinizan. Los objetivos de este estudio consisten en: (1) evaluar los efectos de la fragmentatión de bosque sobre la actividad de los polinizadores de árboles de Bombacaceas, y (2) determinar los efectos de la fragmentación sobre el éxito reproductivo y el sistema de apareamiento de árboles de Bombacaceas. Evaluamos estos parámetros en 3 especies de árboles de esta familia en bosques estacionales en Jalisco, México y Guanacaste y Osa, Costa Rica. Las flores de Ceiba aesculifolia fueron mas visitadas en fragmentos por Glossophaga soricina y Leptonycteris curasoae. En Ceiba grandiflora, Musonycteris harrisoni visitó flores exclusivamente en el bosque y G. soricina visitó mas flores en el bosque que en los fragment...

In the mutualistic relationship between the squid Euprymna tasmanica and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, several host factors, including immune-related proteins, are known to interact and respond specifically and exclusively to the presence of the symbiont. In squid and octopus, the white body is considered to be an immune organ mainly due to the fact that blood cells, or hemocytes, are known to be present in high numbers and in different developmental stages. Hence, the white body has been described as the site of hematopoiesis in cephalopods. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies showing any molecular evidence of such functions. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of white body tissue of the Southern dumpling squid, E. tasmanica. Our primary goal was to gain insights into the functions of this tissue and to test for the presence of gene transcripts associated with hematopoietic and immune processes. Several hematopoiesis genes including CPSF1, GATA 2, TFIID, and FGFR2 were found to be expressed in the white body. In addition, transcripts associated with immune-related signal transduction pathways, such as the toll-like receptor/NF-κβ, and MAPK pathways were also found, as well as other immune genes previously identified in E. tasmanica’s sister species, E. scolopes. This study is the first to analyze an immune organ within cephalopods, and to provide gene expression data supporting the white body as a hematopoietic tissue.

Cephalopods are a diverse group of marine molluscs that have proven their worth in a vast array of ways, ranging from their importance within ecological settings and increasing commercial value, to their recent use as model organisms in biological research. However, despite their acknowledged importance, our understanding of basic cephalopod biology does not equate their ecological, societal, and scientific significance. Among these undeveloped research areas, cephalopod immunology stands out because it encompasses a wide variety of scientific fields including many within the biological and chemical sciences, and because of its potential biomedical and commercial relevance. This review aims to address the current knowledge on the topic of cephalopod immunity, focusing on components and functions already established as part of the animals' internal defense mechanisms, as well as identifying gaps that would benefit from future research. More specifically, the present review details both cellular and humoral defenses, and organizes them into sensor, signaling, and effector components. Molluscan, and particularly cephalopod immunology has lagged behind many other areas of study, but thanks to the efforts of many dedicated researchers and the assistance of modern technology, this gap is steadily decreasing. A better understanding of cephalopod immunity will have a positive impact on the health and survival of one of the most intriguing and unique animal groups on the planet, and will certainly influence many other areas of human interest such as ecology, evolution, physiology, symbiosis, and aquaculture.

Forest fragmentation and the resulting spatial isolation of tree species can modifj the activity of pollinators and may have important implications for the reproductive success and mating systems of the plants they pollinate. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the effect of forest fragmentation on pollinator activity in bat-pollinated bombacaceous trees and (2) determine the effects of forest fragmentation on reproductive success and mating systems of bombacaceous trees. We studied these parameters in three bombacaceous tree species in tropical seasonal forest of Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico, and Osa and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. For Ceiba aesrulifolia, more visits were observed in fragments by both Glossopbaga soricina and Leptonycteris rurasoae. For Ceiba grandzfira, Musonyctmis barrijoni visited flowers exclusively in forest and G. soricina visited more flowers in forest than in fragments; no difference was shown by L. rurasoae. For Ceiba pentandra in Chamela, no differences were found in visitation by G. soricina between forest and fragments; L. curasoae visited significantly more flowers in forest. Ceiba pentandra received more visits by Pbyllostomus discolor than G. soricina in Guanacaste, whereas no bat visitors were observed in Osa. Total mean flower production was greater in fragments than forest for C. aesculifolia, whereas no difference was observed for C. grandzjora. Fruit set was greater in forest than in fragments for C. grandzfira, whereas no difference was observed for C. aesrulzfilia.Outcrossing rates were high for C. aesrulzjlia and C. grandzfira in Chamela, and for C. pentandra in Guanacaste, independent of tree habitat, while C. pentandra in Osa showed a mixed-mating system. The effects of forest fragmentation on bat pollinators, plant reproductive success, and mating patterns varied depending upon the bombacaceous species. This variability was associated with the effects that forest fragmentation may have on differences in v) '0 rn 0 5 v) 0 flowering patterns, bat foraging behavior, and plant self-incompatibility systems.rn RESUMEN La fragmentaci6n de bosques y el aislamiento spacial, product0 de este fenomeno, pueden modificar la actividad de 10s polinizadores y pueden tener implicaciones importantes sobre el txito reproductivo y 10s sistemas de apareamiento de las plantas que polinizan. Los objetivos de este estudio consisten en: (1) evaluar 10s efectos de la fragmentaci6n de bosque sobre la actividad de 10s polinizadores de drboles de Bombacaceas, y (2) determinar 10s efectos de la fragmen-taci6n sobre el txito reproductivo y el sistema de apareamiento de irboles de Bombacaceas. Evaluamos estos parhetros en 3 especies de irboles de esta familia en bosques estacionales en Jalisco, Mtxico y Guanacaste y Osa, Costa Ria. Las flores de Ceiba aesculzjdia fueron mas visitadas en fragmentos por Glossopbaga soricina y Leptonycteris rurasoae. En Ceiba grandzjlora, Musonycteris barrijoni visit6 flores exclusivamente en el bosque y G. soricina visit6 mas flores en el bosque que en 10s fragmen...

En México, diversas instituciones gubernamentales, académicas y asociaciones civiles, han impulsado el manejo del fuego como una estrategia para minimizar los impactos negativos de los incendios forestales y maximizar sus efectos positivos. Entre sus propósitos están mantener la ocurrencia de estos eventos en el intervalo de variación de los regímenes naturales de fuego para cada ecosistema. Para realizar manejo del fuego se pueden llevar a cabo quemas prescritas y quemas controladas, que consisten en la aplicación intencional del fuego con objetivos concretos. En México se ha dado impulso recientemente a estas prácticas, pero a la fecha se cuenta con poca información sobre la coordinación entre las instituciones involucradas en su ejecución. Sin embargo, su generación es fundamental para mejorar el éxito de las mismas, a partir del principio del manejo adaptativo. En este trabajo se describe la heterogeneidad institucional involucrada en el desarrollo de cinco quemas controladas y prescritas, y se contrasta con la atención a un incendio forestal. En diferentes regiones del país se identificaron brigadistas de Conafor, brigadistas locales, académicos e integrantes de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil que desempeñan papeles distintos durante las quemas. Por ello, es necesario considerar la diversidad institucional existente en el país y la importancia de que dichas instituciones logren acuerdos que permitan a diferentes actores participar en la ejecución tanto de quemas prescritas, como controladas.