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Brouard, O.; Le Jeune, A.H.; Leroy, C.; Cereghino, R.; Roux, O.; Pelozuelo, L.; Dejean, A.; Corbara, B.; Carrias, J.F. |
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Title |
Are Algae Relevant to the Detritus-Based Food Web in Tank-Bromeliads? |
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Journal Article |
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2011 |
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PLoS One |
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PLoS One |
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6 |
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5 |
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e20129 |
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We assessed the occurrence of algae in five species of tank-bromeliads found in contrasting environmental sites in a Neotropical, primary rainforest around the Nouragues Research Station, French Guiana. The distributions of both algal abundance and biomass were examined based on physical parameters, the morphological characteristics of bromeliad species and with regard to the structure of other aquatic microbial communities held in the tanks. Algae were retrieved in all of the bromeliad species with mean densities ranging from similar to 10(2) to 10(4) cells/mL. Their biomass was positively correlated to light exposure and bacterial biomass. Algae represented a tiny component of the detrital food web in shaded bromeliads but accounted for up to 30 percent of the living microbial carbon in the tanks of Catopsis berteroniana, located in a highly exposed area. Thus, while nutrient supplies are believed to originate from wind-borne particles and trapped insects (i.e., allochtonous organic matter), our results indicate that primary producers (i.e., autochtonous organic matter) are present in this insectivorous bromeliad. Using a 24-h incubation of size-fractionated and manipulated samples from this plant, we evaluated the impact of mosquito foraging on algae, other microorganisms and rotifers. The prey assemblages were greatly altered by the predation of mosquito larvae. Grazing losses indicated that the dominant algal taxon, Bumilleriopsis sp., like protozoa and rotifers, is a significant part of the diet of mosquito larvae. We conclude that algae are a relevant functional community of the aquatic food web in C. berteroniana and might form the basis of a complementary non-detrital food web. |
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[Brouard, Olivier; Le Jeune, Anne-Helene; Corbara, Bruno; Carrias, Jean-Francois] Univ Clermont Ferrand, CNRS, Lab Microorganismes Genome & Environm, LMGE,UMR 6023, Aubiere, France, Email: j-francois.carrias@univ-bpclermont.fr |
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ISI:000290720200066 |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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319 |
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Roux, O.; Cereghino, R.; Solano, P.J.; Dejean, A. |
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Title |
Caterpillars and Fungal Pathogens: Two Co-Occurring Parasites of an Ant-Plant Mutualism |
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2011 |
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PLoS One |
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PLoS One |
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6 |
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5 |
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e20538 |
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In mutualisms, each interacting species obtains resources from its partner that it would obtain less efficiently if alone, and so derives a net fitness benefit. In exchange for shelter (domatia) and food, mutualistic plant-ants protect their host myrmecophytes from herbivores, encroaching vines and fungal pathogens. Although selective filters enable myrmecophytes to host those ant species most favorable to their fitness, some insects can by-pass these filters, exploiting the rewards supplied whilst providing nothing in return. This is the case in French Guiana for Cecropia obtusa (Cecropiaceae) as Pseudocabima guianalis caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) can colonize saplings before the installation of their mutualistic Azteca ants. The caterpillars shelter in the domatia and feed on food bodies (FBs) whose production increases as a result. They delay colonization by ants by weaving a silk shield above the youngest trichilium, where the FBs are produced, blocking access to them. This probable temporal priority effect also allows female moths to lay new eggs on trees that already shelter caterpillars, and so to occupy the niche longer and exploit Cecropia resources before colonization by ants. However, once incipient ant colonies are able to develop, they prevent further colonization by the caterpillars. Although no higher herbivory rates were noted, these caterpillars are ineffective in protecting their host trees from a pathogenic fungus, Fusarium moniliforme (Deuteromycetes), that develops on the trichilium in the absence of mutualistic ants. Therefore, the Cecropia treelets can be parasitized by two often overlooked species: the caterpillars that shelter in the domatia and feed on FBs, delaying colonization by mutualistic ants, and the fungal pathogen that develops on old trichilia. The cost of greater FB production plus the presence of the pathogenic fungus likely affect tree growth. |
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[Roux, Olivier; Dejean, Alain] CNRS, Ecol Forets Guyane UMR 8172, Kourou, France, Email: olivier.roux@ird.fr |
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ISI:000291097600091 |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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322 |
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Hibert, F.; Sabatier, D.; Andrivot, J.; Scotti-Saintagne, C.; Gonzalez, S.; Prévost, M.-F.; Grenand, P.; Chave, J.; Caron, H.; Richard-Hansen, C. |
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Botany, genetics and ethnobotany: A crossed investigation on the elusive tapir's diet in French guiana |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2011 |
Publication |
PLoS One |
Abbreviated Journal |
PLoS ONE |
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6 |
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10 |
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e25850 |
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While the populations of large herbivores are being depleted in many tropical rainforests, the importance of their trophic role in the ecological functioning and biodiversity of these ecosystems is still not well evaluated. This is due to the outstanding plant diversity that they feed upon and the inherent difficulties involved in observing their elusive behaviour. Classically, the diet of elusive tropical herbivores is studied through the observation of browsing signs and macroscopic analysis of faeces or stomach contents. In this study, we illustrate that the original coupling of classic methods with genetic and ethnobotanical approaches yields information both about the diet diversity, the foraging modalities and the potential impact on vegetation of the largest terrestrial mammal of Amazonia, the lowland tapir. The study was conducted in the Guianan shield, where the ecology of tapirs has been less investigated. We identified 92 new species, 51 new genera and 13 new families of plants eaten by tapirs. We discuss the relative contribution of our different approaches, notably the contribution of genetic barcoding, used for the first time to investigate the diet of a large tropical mammal, and how local traditional ecological knowledge is accredited and valuable for research on the ecology of elusive animals. © 2011 Hibert et al. |
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INRA, Université de Bordeaux, UMR1202 BIOGECO, Cestas, France |
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Export Date: 21 October 2011; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e25850; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025850; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Hibert, F.; Direction Etudes et Recherches Guyane, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Kourou, French Guiana, France; email: fabricenz@gmail.com |
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343 |
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Dejean, A.; Cereghino, R.; Carpenter, J.M.; Corbara, B.; Herault, B.; Rossi, V.; Leponce, M.; Orivel, J.; Bonal, D. |
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Climate change impact on neotropical social wasps |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2011 |
Publication |
PLoS One |
Abbreviated Journal |
PLoS ONE |
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Volume |
6 |
Issue |
11 |
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e27004 |
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Establishing a direct link between climate change and fluctuations in animal populations through long-term monitoring is difficult given the paucity of baseline data. We hypothesized that social wasps are sensitive to climatic variations, and thus studied the impact of ENSO events on social wasp populations in French Guiana. We noted that during the 2000 La Niña year there was a 77.1% decrease in their nest abundance along ca. 5 km of forest edges, and that 70.5% of the species were no longer present. Two simultaneous 13-year surveys (1997-2009) confirmed the decrease in social wasps during La Niña years (2000 and 2006), while an increase occurred during the 2009 El Niño year. A 30-year weather survey showed that these phenomena corresponded to particularly high levels of rainfall, and that temperature, humidity and global solar radiation were correlated with rainfall. Using the Self-Organizing Map algorithm, we show that heavy rainfall during an entire rainy season has a negative impact on social wasps. Strong contrasts in rainfall between the dry season and the short rainy season exacerbate this effect. Social wasp populations never recovered to their pre-2000 levels. This is probably because these conditions occurred over four years; heavy rainfall during the major rainy seasons during four other years also had a detrimental effect. On the contrary, low levels of rainfall during the major rainy season in 2009 spurred an increase in social wasp populations. We conclude that recent climatic changes have likely resulted in fewer social wasp colonies because they have lowered the wasps' resistance to parasitoids and pathogens. These results imply that Neotropical social wasps can be regarded as bio-indicators because they highlight the impact of climatic changes not yet perceptible in plants and other animals. © 2011 Dejean et al. |
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INRA – Nancy, UMR EEF, Champenou, Nancy, France |
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Export Date: 29 November 2011; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e27004; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027004; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.; CNRS – UMR 8172, Écologie des Forêts de Guyane (Ecofog), Campus Agronomique, BP 709, Kourou, France; email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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372 |
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Rifflet, A.; Tene, N.; Orivel, J.; Treilhou, M.; Dejean, A.; Vetillard, A. |
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Paralyzing Action from a Distance in an Arboreal African Ant Species |
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Journal Article |
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2011 |
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PLoS One |
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PLoS ONE |
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Volume |
6 |
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12 |
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e28571 |
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Due to their prowess in interspecific competition and ability to catch a wide range of arthropod prey (mostly termites with which they are engaged in an evolutionary arms race), ants are recognized as a good model for studying the chemicals involved in defensive and predatory behaviors. Ants' wide diversity of nesting habits and relationships with plants and prey types implies that these chemicals are also very diverse. Using the African myrmicine ant Crematogaster striatula as our focal species, we adopted a three-pronged research approach. We studied the aggressive and predatory behaviors of the ant workers, conducted bioassays on the effect of their Dufour gland contents on termites, and analyzed these contents. (1) The workers defend themselves or eliminate termites by orienting their abdominal tip toward the opponent, stinger protruded. The chemicals emitted, apparently volatile, trigger the recruitment of nestmates situated in the vicinity and act without the stinger having to come into direct contact with the opponent. Whereas alien ants competing with C. striatula for sugary food sources are repelled by this behavior and retreat further and further away, termites defend their nest whatever the danger. They face down C. striatula workers and end up by rolling onto their backs, their legs batting the air. (2) The bioassays showed that the toxicity of the Dufour gland contents acts in a time-dependent manner, leading to the irreversible paralysis, and, ultimately, death of the termites. (3) Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that the Dufour gland contains a mixture of mono- or polyunsaturated long-chain derivatives, bearing functional groups like oxo-alcohols or oxo-acetates. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry showed the presence of a molecule of 1584 Da that might be a large, acetylated alkaloid capable of splitting into smaller molecules that could be responsible for the final degree of venom toxicity. |
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376 |
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Wagner, F.; Rossi, V.; Stahl, C.; Bonal, D.; Herault, B. |
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Water availability is the main climate driver of neotropical tree growth |
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Journal Article |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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PLoS ONE |
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Volume |
7 |
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4 |
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e34074 |
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Climate models for the coming century predict rainfall reduction in the Amazonian region, including change in water availability for tropical rainforests. Here, we test the extent to which climate variables related to water regime, temperature and irradiance shape the growth trajectories of neotropical trees. We developed a diameter growth model explicitly designed to work with asynchronous climate and growth data. Growth trajectories of 205 individual trees from 54 neotropical species censused every 2 months over a 4-year period were used to rank 9 climate variables and find the best predictive model. About 9% of the individual variation in tree growth was imputable to the seasonal variation of climate. Relative extractable water was the main predictor and alone explained more than 60% of the climate effect on tree growth, i.e. 5.4% of the individual variation in tree growth. Furthermore, the global annual tree growth was more dependent on the diameter increment at the onset of the rain season than on the duration of dry season. The best predictive model included 3 climate variables: relative extractable water, minimum temperature and irradiance. The root mean squared error of prediction (0.035 mm.d -1) was slightly above the mean value of the growth (0.026 mm.d -1). Amongst climate variables, we highlight the predominant role of water availability in determining seasonal variation in tree growth of neotropical forest trees and the need to include these relationships in forest simulators to test, in silico, the impact of different climate scenarios on the future dynamics of the rainforest. © 2012 Wagner et al. |
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INRA, UMR 'Ecologie et Ecophysiologie Forestière', Champenoux, France |
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19326203 (Issn) |
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Export Date: 24 April 2012; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e34074; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034074; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Wagner, F.; Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, UMR 'Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane', BP 709, Kourou, France; email: fabien.wagner@ecofog.gf |
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394 |
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Barthe, S.; Gugerli, F.; Barkley, N.A.; Maggia, L.; Cardi, C.; Scotti, I. |
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Always look on both sides: Phylogenetic information conveyed by simple sequence repeat allele sequences |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
Abbreviated Journal |
PLoS ONE |
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7 |
Issue |
7 |
Pages |
e40699 |
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Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are widely used tools for inferences about genetic diversity, phylogeography and spatial genetic structure. Their applications assume that variation among alleles is essentially caused by an expansion or contraction of the number of repeats and that, accessorily, mutations in the target sequences follow the stepwise mutation model (SMM). Generally speaking, PCR amplicon sizes are used as direct indicators of the number of SSR repeats composing an allele with the data analysis either ignoring the extent of allele size differences or assuming that there is a direct correlation between differences in amplicon size and evolutionary distance. However, without precisely knowing the kind and distribution of polymorphism within an allele (SSR and the associated flanking region (FR) sequences), it is hard to say what kind of evolutionary message is conveyed by such a synthetic descriptor of polymorphism as DNA amplicon size. In this study, we sequenced several SSR alleles in multiple populations of three divergent tree genera and disentangled the types of polymorphisms contained in each portion of the DNA amplicon containing an SSR. The patterns of diversity provided by amplicon size variation, SSR variation itself, insertions/deletions (indels), and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) observed in the FRs were compared. Amplicon size variation largely reflected SSR repeat number. The amount of variation was as large in FRs as in the SSR itself. The former contributed significantly to the phylogenetic information and sometimes was the main source of differentiation among individuals and populations contained by FR and SSR regions of SSR markers. The presence of mutations occurring at different rates within a marker's sequence offers the opportunity to analyse evolutionary events occurring on various timescales, but at the same time calls for caution in the interpretation of SSR marker data when the distribution of within-locus polymorphism is not known. |
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Unité Mixte de Recherche Ecologie des forêts de Guyane, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Kourou, French Guiana |
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Export Date: 30 July 2012; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e40699; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040699; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Scotti, I.; Unité Mixte de Recherche Ecologie des forêts de Guyane, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Kourou, French Guiana; email: ivan.scotti@ecofog.gf |
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Thevenin, J.-M.; Rossi, V.; Ducamp, M.; Doare, F.; Condina, V.; Lachenaud, P. |
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Numerous clones resistant to Phytophthora palmivora in the “Guiana” genetic group of Theobroma cacao L |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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PLoS ONE |
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7 |
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7 |
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e40915 |
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Cocoa black pod rot, a disease caused by Stramenopiles of the genus Phytophthora, and particularly by the pan-tropical species P. palmivora, causes serious production losses worldwide. In order to reduce the impact of these pests and diseases, preference is given to genetic control using resistant varieties and, to that end, breeders seek sources of resistance in wild cocoa trees. For instance, surveys of spontaneous cocoa trees in French Guiana between 1985 and 1995 led to the collection of abundant plant material forming a particular genetic group (the “Guiana” group). Following numerous one-off studies demonstrating the merits of this group as a source of resistance to Phytophthora, this article presents the results of a comprehensive study assessing the resistance of 186 “Guiana” clones in relation to the Guianan strain (GY 27) of P. palmivora. This study, undertaken in French Guiana, using an efficient methodology (ten series of tests and a statistical test adapted to the ordinal nature of the data) confirmed that the “Guiana” genetic group does indeed constitute an important source of resistance to P. palmivora, though with some variations depending on the demes of origin. Numerous clones (59) proved to be as resistant as the SCAVINA 6 resistance control, whilst nine were statistically more resistant. The “Resistant” and “Moderately Resistant” Guianan clones totalled 108 (58% of the total tested). Some of the clones more resistant than SCAVINA 6 could be incorporated into numerous cocoa breeding programmes, particularly those that also display other notable qualities. The same applies for numerous other clones equivalent to SCAVINA 6, especially the “elite”' clones GU 134-B, GU 139-A and GU 285-A. © 2012 Thevenin et al. |
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CIRAD, UMR BGPI, Montpellier, France |
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Export Date: 16 August 2012; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e40915; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040915; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Thevenin, J.-M.; CIRAD, UPR Bioagresseurs: Analyse et Maîtrise du Risque, Kourou, Guyane, France; email: jean-marc.thevenin@cirad.fr |
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Zalamea, P.-C.; Heuret, P.; Sarmiento, C.; Rodríguez, M.; Berthouly, A.; Guitet, S.; Nicolini, E.; Delnatte, C.; Barthélémy, D.; Stevenson, P.R. |
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The genus Cecropia: A biological clock to estimate the age of recently disturbed areas in the neotropics |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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PLoS ONE |
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7 |
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8 |
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e42643 |
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Forest successional processes following disturbance take decades to play out, even in tropical forests. Nonetheless, records of vegetation change in this ecosystem are scarce, increasing the importance of the chronosequence approach to study forest recovery. However, this approach requires accurate dating of secondary forests, which until now was a difficult and/or expensive task. Cecropia is a widespread and abundant pioneer tree genus of the Neotropics. Here we propose and validate a rapid and straightforward method to estimate the age of secondary forest patches based on morphological observations of Cecropia trees. We found that Cecropia-inferred ages were highly correlated with known ages of the forest. We also demonstrate that Cecropia can be used to accurately date disturbances and propose twenty-one species distributed all over the geographical range of the genus as potential secondary forest chronometer species. Our method is limited in applicability by the maximal longevity of Cecropia individuals. Although the oldest chronosequence used in this study was 20 years old, we argue that at least for the first four decades after disturbance, the method described in this study provides very accurate estimations of secondary forest ages. The age of pioneer trees provides not only information needed to calculate the recovery of carbon stocks that would help to improve forest management, but also provides information needed to characterize the initial floristic composition and the rates of species remigration into secondary forest. Our contribution shows how successional studies can be reliably and inexpensively extended without the need to obtain forest ages based on expensive or potentially inaccurate data across the Neotropics. © 2012 Zalamea et al. |
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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, Panama |
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Export Date: 29 August 2012; Source: Scopus; Art. No.: e42643; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042643; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Zalamea, P.-C.; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancón, Panama; email: camilozalamea@gmail.com |
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EcoFoG @ webmaster @ |
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424 |
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Dejean, A.; Delabie, J.H.; Corbara, B.; Azémar, F.; Groc, S.; Orivel, J.; Leponce, M. |
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The ecology and feeding habits of the arboreal trap-jawed ant Daceton armigerum |
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2012 |
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PLoS ONE |
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7 |
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e37683 |
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animal; ant; article; ecology; feeding behavior; Hemiptera; physiology; predation; Animals; Ants; Ecology; Feeding Behavior; Hemiptera; Predatory Behavior |
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Here we show that Daceton armigerum, an arboreal myrmicine ant whose workers are equipped with hypertrophied trap-jaw mandibles, is characterized by a set of unexpected biological traits including colony size, aggressiveness, trophobiosis and hunting behavior. The size of one colony has been evaluated at ca. 952,000 individuals. Intra- and interspecific aggressiveness were tested and an equiprobable null model used to show how D. armigerum colonies react vis-à-vis other arboreal ant species with large colonies; it happens that D. armigerum can share trees with certain of these species. As they hunt by sight, workers occupy their hunting areas only during the daytime, but stay on chemical trails between nests at night so that the center of their home range is occupied 24 hours a day. Workers tend different Hemiptera taxa (i.e., Coccidae, Pseudococcidae, Membracidae and Aethalionidae). Through group-hunting, short-range recruitment and spread-eagling prey, workers can capture a wide range of prey (up to 94.12 times the mean weight of foraging workers). |
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Écologie des Forêts de Guyane, Campus Agronomique, Kourou, France. |
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Export Date: 2 November 2012; Source: Scopus; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037683; PubMed ID: 22737205; Language of Original Document: English; Correspondence Address: Dejean, A.email: alain.dejean@wanadoo.fr |
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