Observational evidences on the modulation of the South American Low Level Jet east of the Andes according the ENSO variability

The differences on the phase and wavelength of the quasi-stationary waves over the South America generated by El Nino (EN) and La Nina (LN) events seem to affect the daily evolution of the South American Low Level Jet east of the Andes (SALLJ). For the austral summer period of 1977 2004 the SALLJ episodes detected according to Bonner criterion 1 show normal to above-normal frequency in EN years, and in LN years the episodes show normal to below-normal frequency. During EN and LN years the SALLJ episodes were associated with positive rainfall anomalies over the La Plata Basin, but more intense during LN years. During EN years the increase in the SALLJ cases were associated to intensification of the Subtropical Jet (SJ) around 30 degrees S and positive Sea Level Pressure (SLP) anomalies over the western equatorial Atlantic and tropical South America, particularly over central Brazil. This favored the intensification of the northeasterly trade winds over the northern continent and it channeled by the Andes mountain to the La Plata Basin region where negative SLP are found. The SALLJ cases identified during the LN events were weaker and less frequent when compared to those for EN years. In this case the SJ was weaker than in EN years and the negative SLP anomalies over the tropical continent contributed to the inversion of the northeasterly trade winds. Also a southerly flow anomaly was generated by the geostrophic balance due to the anomalous blocking over southeast Pacific and the intense cyclonic transient over the southern tip of South America. As result the warm tropical air brought by the SALLJ encounters the cold extratropical air from the southerly winds over the La Plata basin. This configuration can increase the conditional instability over the La Plata basin and may explain the more intense positive rainfall anomalies in SALLJ cases during LN years than in EN years.

Out of the Andes: patterns of diversification in clearwing butterflies

Global biodiversity peaks in the tropical forests of the Andes, a striking geological feature that has likely been instrumental in generating biodiversity by providing opportunities for both vicariant and ecological speciation. However, the role of these mountains in the diversification of insects, which dominate biodiversity, has been poorly explored using phylogenetic methods. Here we study the role of the Andes in the evolution of a diverse Neotropical insect group, the clearwing butterflies. We used dated species-level phylogenies to investigate the time course of speciation and to infer ancestral elevation ranges for two diverse genera. We show that both genera likely originated at middle elevations in the Andes in the Middle Miocene, contrasting with most published results in vertebrates that point to a lowland origin. Although we detected a signature of vicariance caused by the uplift of the Andes at the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, most sister species were parapatric without any obvious vicariant barrier. Combined with an overall decelerating speciation rate, these results suggest an important role for ecological speciation and adaptive radiation, rather than simple vicariance.

Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis in an HIV-negative patient from the Peruvian Andes

We report a case of an immunocompetent Peruvian patient from the Andes with a one-month history of meningoencephalitis. Cryptococcus gattii was identified from a cerebrospinal fluid culture through assimilation of D-proline and D-tryptophan as the single nitrogen source. Initially, the patient received intravenous antifungal therapy with amphotericin B. The patient was discharged 29 days after hospitalization and continued with oral fluconazole treatment for ten weeks. During this period, the patient showed clinical improvement with slight right-side residual weakness. Through this case report, we confirm the existence of this microorganism as an infectious agent in Peru.

Plantes e��quinoxiales recueillies au Mexique : dans l'i��le de Cuba, dans les provinces de Caracas, de Cumana et de Barcelone, aux Andes de la Nouvelle Grenade, de Quito et du Pe��rou, et sur les bords du rio-Negro de Ore��noque et de la rivie��re des Amazones.

vol. 1

Plantes e��quinoxiales recueillies au Mexique : dans l'i��le de Cuba, dans les provinces de Caracas, de Cumana et de Barcelone, aux Andes de la Nouvelle Grenade, de Quito et du Pe��rou, et sur les bords du rio-Negro de Ore��noque et de la rivie��re des Amazones.

vol. 2

Andes ardientes. Etnia, conflicto y tramado institucional en Bolivia, Per�� y Ecuador

La vuelta de la democracia ha permitido visibilizar a numerosos grupos ��tnicos que se encontraban oprimidos por las ��lites en el poder. ��stas, que han tradicionalmente cooptado el concepto de naci��n, mantienen un enfrentamiento con los grupos ind��genas, con recientes accesos al poder. Este conflicto se ha manifestado en diferentes grados a lo largo de los a��os, yendo desde huelgas hasta conatos de guerra civil. Desde esta perspectiva, el presente proyecto se abocar�� a discernir las relaciones existentes entre identidad, emergencia ��tnica y conflicto en la regi��n andina

Three new snakes from the Peruvian Andes, by Karl P. Schmidt and Warren F. Walker.

v.24:no.28(1943)

Cuatro especies nuevas del grupo de especies Drosophila mesophragmatica (Diptera, Drosophilidae) de los Andes ecuatorianos

Se describen cuatro especies nuevas del grupo Drosophila mesophragmatica. Las nuevas especies fueron descubiertas en los p��ramos y remanentes de bosque andino de los Andes ecuatorianos. Las capturas fueron realizadas desde los 2200 hasta los 4000 m de altitud. Las especies nuevas son: D. cashapamba sp. nov., D. chorlavi sp. nov., D. rucux sp. nov. y D. yanayuyu sp. nov. Con las cuatro especies nuevas descubiertas, el n��mero de especies dentro del grupo D. mesophragmatica se incrementa a 17. Los miembros del grupo est��n distribuidos principalmente en los Andes sudamericanos.

A molecular contribution to the controversial taxonomical status of some freshwater snails (Caenogastropoda: Rissooidea, Cochliopidae) from the Central Andes desert to Patagonia

For over 40 years malacologists have been discussing the taxonomical status of Heleobia species, an enigmatic genus from Cochliopidae family (Caenogastropoda: Rissooidea). As with other rissooidean families, the considerable character convergence and the paucity of anatomical synapomorphies has proved to be a problem in resolving cochliopid phylogenetic relations and establishing the validity of several nominal cochliopid species. Here we present a molecular contribution to solve the taxonomical status of one of the most abundant Southern South America cochliopid genera which has many endemic species. We report molecular evidence that supports three of the four Heleobia groups described for this region, the "australis", "parchappii" and "piscium" groups. The fourth, the "hatcheri" group, belongs not to Heleobia but to a different genus which itself should not be considered as part of the family Cochliopidae but closely related to genus Potamolithus Pilsbry & Rush, 1896.

Poblaci�� i fam��lia als Andes en el temps de la col��nia: parroquia de Toacazo, Cotopaxi, Equador (s. XVIII-XIX )

Estudi elaborat a partir d���una estada a la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, durant l��� octubre del 2006. L���estudi de les haciendas creades a partir de la colonitzaci�� espanyola als territoris americans no pot ser mai complet si no es pot entrar en la vida quotidiana de les persones que les constitueixen. La millor manera de fer-ho ��s a trav��s d���assolir d���un exhaustiu estudi dels comportaments demogr��fics ���natalitat, nupcialitat, mortalitat, migracions���i familiars. L���objectiu d���aquest estudi ha estat localitzar una tipologia documental que permeti aquest treball a la parr��quia de Toacazo a Cotopaxi (Equador) i, un cop assolida aquesta fita, fotografiar exhaustivament els registres parroquials, altrament dits registre civil antic. El per��ode treballat va des de l��� 1720, any de fundaci�� de la parr��quia fins a 1857, any on s���acaba el tributo de indios o r��gim que regulava les normes de segregaci�� racial de les poblacions.

De l'economia a les mentalitats: reforma agr��ria, desenvolupament rural i identitat ��tnica als Andes

Estudi elaborat a partir d���una estada a la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Ecuador, entre setembre i desembre del 2006. El projecte t�� l'objectiu general d'elaborar una monografia, entre el treball d���arxiu i el de camp, capa�� d���exemplificar els processos de consolidaci�� dels sectors dirigents ind��genes i de vincular-los amb les transformacions de la societat rural andina contempor��nia. L���estudi de cas ��s el d���una organitzaci�� de segon grau molt representativa (la UNOCANC, parr��quia de Toacazo, prov��ncia de Cotopaxi, Equador), analitzant el que han significat aquest canvis des de la descomposici�� del r��gim d���hisenda fins a l���ascens d���una part de l�����lite camperola local a les altes inst��ncies de la CONAIE (Confederaci��n de Nacionalidades Ind��genas del Ecuador).

Ensayos metodologicos para la investigacion de reservorios de Leishmania spp en los Andes venezolanos

Se describen dos t��cnicas, presuntiva y confirmativa, para la investigaci��n de mam��feros que pudieran ser reservorios de Leishmania que parasitan al hombre. Se investigan los cambios en los t��tulos de inmovilizaci��n y aglutinaci��n de promastigotos de cultivo por los sueros de animales normales y expuestos una o varias veces a la inoculaci��n intrad��rmica de peque��as dosis de promastigotos vivos. Se registra una ca��da de los t��tulos de aglutinaci��n en los sueros de hamsteres, de Holochilus venezuelae y de Didelphis marsupialis despu��s de la inoculaci��n con L. mexicana mexicana de Panam�� y de L. gamhami de la regi��n de los Andes venezolanos. Se discute la natureza de estos fen��menos. Se han hecho xenodiagn��sticos con Lutzomyia townsendi en Holochilus venezuelae y Sigmodon hispidus infectados experimentalmente com L. mexicana mexicana, L. mexicana amazonensis, L. braziliensis y L. garnhami. Las pruebas fueron leidas mediante el examen microsc��pico de las gotitas de heces excretadas entre las 108 y 132 horas despu��s de la ingesta infectante, tras colorearlas con Giemsa. Se obtuvieron resultados positivos en 23% de los experimentos usando mam��feros con lesiones localizadas, dejando a los fleb��tomos ingurgitarse libremente sobre animales anestesiados que poseian una hasta varias lesiones localizadas.