Gayana

Obituary: Jorge Narciso Artigas Coch

Viviane Jerez — 2022-12-31

El Dr. Jorge Artigas Coch Profesor Emérito de la Universidad de Concepción y destacado académico del Departamento de Zoología de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, falleció en la ciudad de Concepción el 13 de diciembre de 2022 a la edad de 93 años. Su partida para toda la comunidad universitaria, colegas, discípulos y amigos, nos ha afectado profundamente y lo recordaremos como una gran persona, un destacado profesor y también como un riguroso y pragmático entomólogo.

Obituary: Francisco Bozinovic

Grisel Cavieres — 2023-03-06

Dr. Francisco “Pancho” Bozinovic Kuscevic nació en Punta Arenas el 6 de junio de 1959 y falleció en Santiago el 1 de enero del 2023. Fue un distinguido científico chileno - croata que formó una escuela de pensamiento caracterizada por la integración de distintas áreas del conocimiento como la fisiología, ecología, y evolución para dilucidar los fenómenos naturales.

Natural history of Liolaemus lorenzmuelleri (Hellmich 1950), a poorly known species from the highlands of central north Chile, with description of the accompanying reptile community

Gabriel Lobos — 2022-12-31

Liolaemus lorenzmuelleri is a poorly known species from the high Andes of central Chile. In order to contribute to the knowledge of this reptile, a study on aspects related to its distribution, density and diet was carried out. The reptile community was composed of nine species, of which L. lorenzmuelleri and L. robertoi occupied the higher altitude environments, the relative densities were low for the high-altitude species and high for those from the lowlands. Liolaemus lorenzmuelleri predominated in low-altitude scrub environments (2.990 to 3.430 masl). Its relative density was low, reaching a maximum of 0.15 individuals in 100 m², it does not generally overlap with other species and it was only recorded in the summer season. The species presented sexual dimorphism in size and weight in favor of the males, its activity was maximum at the hottest hours and the diet presented an important vegetable component. Its restricted distribution and the important mining activity in its distribution area, are in line with its category of threatened species.

PIT-tag as permanent marking method on Myotis chiloensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and Tadarida brasiliensis (Chiroptera: Molossidae) in central Chile

Martín A. H. Escobar — 2022-12-31

Tracking and monitoring of bat populations have frequently involved the use of inappropriate marking methods. Due to their small size, passive integrated transponders (PIT-tag) provide a permanent mark for small vertebrate species through their sub-dermal implantation. However, few studies assess their effects on bats. Here we present the first study on the effect of PIT-tags on bats in Latin America. We evaluated the effect of the use of PIT-tag as a permanent mark on the recapture rate and body condition in Myotis chiloensis and Tadarida brasiliensis in central Chile. For both species, we marked a group of individuals with PIT-tag and left an equivalent group without a mark. In six surveys, between January and March 2019, we captured a total of 262 individuals, 176 corresponding to the species M. chiloensis and 86 to T. brasiliensis, with a total of 43 and 33 recaptures, respectively. The use of PIT-tag had no effect neither on the recapture rate nor body condition for both bat species. Although more investigations are required, our results suggested that the use of PIT-tag as a marking method is adequate and safe for this bat species and it could be implemented in long-term studies.

Social interactions of wild granivorous birds towards experimental feeders in the semi-arid scrub of northern Chile

Matías Portflitt-Toro — 2022-12-31

We studied aggressive behaviors of birds influenced by artificial feeders with seeds in a semi-arid region of Chile. In eight experimental feeders we recorded 1,118 social interaction events, which included 366 aggressive behaviors (32.74 %). This resource caused social instability in some species, suggesting comparative differences in the expression of agonistic behaviors. In addition, the 34.78 % of the granivorous birds described for the study area used the feeders, which indicate that they are not suitable to assessing species richness.

The distress sound of the mother of the snake male Acanthinodera cumingii (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

Nicolás González-Véliz — 2022-12-31

We report the first description and analysis of a distress stridulation emitted by a male Acanthinodera cumingii (Hope 1833), produced under the context of an indirect disturbance. We evaluated the temporal and spectral properties of the stridulation using digital processing software. The results of the variables studied indicate that the sound is in audible ranges for conspecifics and potential predators. We discuss the potential ecological significance of the use of this distress call and how it might relate to its environment.

First finding of the tick Amblyomma tigrinum parasitizing a Molina’s hog-nosed skunk, Conepatus chinga (Molina 1782), in South America

Jonatan Manqui — 2022-12-31

Adult individuals of Amblyomma tigrinum were collected for the first time from a Molina´s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga), captured in a rural area of north-central Chile, which were described and identified morphologically. There are scarce studies that address the role of the skunk as ectoparasite host; however, the great plasticity of A. tigrinum to inhabit different environments and its strict to moderate specificity for Carnivora order suggest this mephitid as a potentially suitable host for this tick species.