Changes in species richness and diversity of cryptogrammic communities in páramo ecosystems

Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja

Gradients in the number of species at reef-seagrass ecotones explained by gradients in abundance

[EN] Gradients in the composition and diversity (e.g. number of species) of faunal assemblages are common at ecotones between juxtaposed habitats. Patterns in the number of species, however, can be confounded by patterns in abundance of individuals, because more species tend to be found wherever there are more individuals. We tested whether proximity to reefs influenced patterns in the composition and diversity (‘species density’ = number of species per area and ‘species richness’ = number of species per number of individuals) of prosobranch gastropods in meadows of two seagrasses with different physiognomy: Posidonia and Amphibolis. A change in the species composition was observed from reef-seagrass edges towards the interiors of Amphibolis, but not in Posidonia meadows. Similarly, the abundance of gastropods and species density was higher at edges relative to interiors of Amphibolis meadows, but not in Posidonia meadows. However, species richness was not affected by proximity to reefs in either type of seagrass meadow. The higher number of species at the reef-Amphibolis edge was therefore a consequence of higher abundance, rather than species richness per se. These results suggest that patterns in the composition and diversity of fauna with proximity to adjacent habitats, and the underlying processes that they reflect, likely depend on the physiognomy of the habitat.

Análisis de la diversidad genética de poblaciones naturales de especies vegetales amenazadas (Silene nocteolens (Caryophyllaceae) y Sorbus aria (Rosaceae)

[ES]La riqueza genética que nos ofrecen las poblaciones naturales de la flora en Canarias puede estar bajo riesgo. Con esto en mente, se desarrollaron marcadores moleculares (SSR) específicos para el análisis genético de Silene nocteolens, una planta herbácea que solo crece en el Teide; y Sorbus aria, 50 árboles que en Canarias están restringidos a Tenerife y La Palma. En S. nocteolens se encontró una gran variabilidad genética, poca diferenciación genética entre sus dos poblaciones y un bajo porcentaje autofecundación. En S. aria se reporta un carácter triploide, menor variabilidad genética en las muestras canarias que en las peninsulares y una diferenciación genética considerablemente alta.