Examinando por Autor "Molina-Burgos, B.E."

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    Distributional ecology of Andes hantavirus: A macroecological approach
    (BioMed Central, 2018-06) Astorga, F.; Escobar, L.E.; Poo-Muñoz, D.; Escobar-Dodero, J.; Rojas-Hucks, S.; Alvarado-Rybak, M.; Duclos, M.; Romero-Alvarez, D.; Molina-Burgos, B.E.; Peñafiel-Ricaurte, A.; Toro, F.; Peña-Gómez, F.T.; Peterson, A.T.
    Background: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an infection endemic in Chile and Argentina, caused by Andes hantavirus (ANDV). The rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus is suggested as the main reservoir, although several other species of Sigmodontinae are known hosts of ANDV. Here, we explore potential ANDV transmission risk to humans in southern South America, based on eco-epidemiological associations among: six rodent host species, seropositive rodents, and human HPS cases. Methods: We used ecological niche modeling and macroecological approaches to determine potential geographic distributions and assess environmental similarity among rodents and human HPS cases. Results: Highest numbers of rodent species (five) were in Chile between 35° and 41°S latitude. Background similarity tests showed niche similarity in 14 of the 56 possible comparisons: similarity between human HPS cases and the background of all species and seropositive rodents was supported (except for Abrothrix sanborni). Of interest among the results is the likely role of O. longicaudatus, Loxodontomys micropus, Abrothrix olivaceus, and Abrothrix longipilis in HPS transmission to humans. Conclusions: Our results support a role of rodent species' distributions as a risk factor for human HPS at coarse scales, and suggest that the role of the main reservoir (O. longicaudatus) may be supported by the broader rodent host community in some areas. © 2018 The Author(s).
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    Hábitos alimentarios del besugo Epigonus crassicaudus combinando contenido estomacal e isótopos estables
    (Universidad de Valparaiso, 2018) Sepúlveda, F.; Gálvez, P.; Molina-Burgos, B.E.; Meléndez, R.; Klarian, S.A.
    El besugo, Epigonus crassicaudus, es una especie de importancia económica para la actividad pesquera que opera en el centro-sur de Chile. A pesar de ello, poco es lo que se conoce respecto a su biología. En este sentido, este trabajo estudió los hábitos alimentarios combinando análisis estomacales y de estabilidad isotópica. Los resultados del análisis dan cuenta de la importancia de los peces mesopelágicos (Myctophidae, Stomiidae) en la dieta con un aporte del 80%, seguido por crustáceos (Sergestes arcticus) alcanzando un 10%. No se detectaron diferencias en la dieta en peces con distinto grado de madurez sexual. En tanto, los valores de los isótopos de nitrógeno y carbono mostraron valores de promedio de 17,12 ± 1,1 δ15N y de -17,51 ± 0,7 δ13C, respectivamente. La constitución de valores de δ13C fue proporcional al tamaño corporal de los besugos: individuos de mayor tamaño habitan en ambientes más demersales que ejemplares de menor tamaño. De acuerdo a estos resultados, el besugo se sitúa como consumidor secundario.
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    Trophic ecology of the Endangered Darwin's frog inferred by stable isotopes
    (Inter-Research, 2018) Molina-Burgos, B.E.; Valenzuela-Sánchez, A.; Alvarado-Rybak, M.; Klarian, S.; Soto-Azat, C.
    Darwin's frogs Rhinoderma spp. are the only known mouth-brooding frogs on Earth. The southern Darwin's frog, R. darwinii, is found in the temperate forests of southern South America, is listed as Endangered and could be the only extant representative of this genus. Based on stomach contents, invertebrate prey availability and stable isotope analysis, we determined for the first time trophic ecological parameters for this species. Our results showed that R. darwinii is a generalist sit-and-wait predator and a secondary consumer, with a trophic position of 2.9. Carbon and nitrogen isotope composition indicated that herbivore invertebrates are their main prey, detected in 68.1% of their assimilated food. The most consumed prey included mosquitoes, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and ants. Detritivore and carnivore invertebrates were also ingested, but in lower proportions. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the feeding habits of this fully terrestrial amphibian and provide the first insight into their role linking low forest trophic positions with intermediate predators. We provide valuable biological information for in situ and ex situ conservation which can be used when developing habitat protection, reintroduction and captive breeding programmes. As revealed here, stable isotope analysis is a valuable tool to study the trophic ecology of highly endangered and cryptic species. © The authors 2018.