DOCSLIB.ORG

Vizcacha's Influence on Vegetation and Soil in a Wetland of Argentina

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vizcacha's Influence on Vegetation and Soil in a Wetland of Argentina Rangeland Ecol Manage 58:51–57 | January 2005 Vizcacha’s Influence on Vegetation and Soil in a Wetland of Argentina Santiago M. Arias, Rube´n D. Quintana, and Marcela Cagnoni Authors are researchers in the Laboratorio de Ecologı´a Ambiental y Regional, Departamento de Ecologı´a, Gene´tica y Evolucio´n, FCEyN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabello´n II, C1428 EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina. Abstract We examined the influence of the plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) on the vegetation structure and the characteristics of soil in a wet grassland area of Argentina. This rodent lives in social groups that share a communal burrow system that is occupied for several generations. The areas in which the vizcacha live and feed are strongly affected by grazing, trampling, and soil removal, exhibiting extensive biopedturbation. To evaluate these effects, we carried out a vegetation survey, along areas extending outward from active vizcacheras, analyzing abundance, plant diversity, vegetation cover, and biomass. We also established soil properties, analyzing physical and chemical variables from the center of the colonies to the grassland matrix. Our results show that vizcachas have indeed affected vegetation, diminishing plant cover and grass biomass in their grazing areas. Vegetation in both areas without animal activity and those of intense grazing was dominated by a few characteristic species. We verified the hypothesis of greatest diversity in areas of moderate disturbance. Perturbed areas had higher cation exchange capacity and electric conductivity and higher clay and sodium contents than the other areas. The rodents’ activity introduces a recurrent disturbance factor to the landscape of this region, the outcome of which is the alteration of both the composition and structure of the botanical communities, and some soil properties, scaled in gradients of decreasing effect from the center of a colony to the periphery. Resumen Evaluamos la influencia de la vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) en la estructura de la vegetacio´ n y las caracterı´sticas del suelo en un pastizal hu´ medo de Argentina. Este roedor vive en grupos sociales compartiendo sistemas de cuevas que pueden estar ocupados durante varias generaciones. Las a´reas bajo influencia directa de las vizcachas son intensamente afectadas por el pastoreo, el pisoteo y la remocio´ n del suelo, exhibiendo una gran biopedopertubacio´ n. A fin de evaluar este efecto, se llevo´ a cabo una caracterizacio´ n de la vegetacio´ n en un gradiente de actividad decreciente, a trave´s del ana´lisis de la abundancia, diversidad especı´fica de la vegetacio´n, cobertura y biomasa vegetal. Al mismo tiempo, las propiedades de los suelos fueron determinadas a trave´s del ana´lisis de variables fı´sicas y quı´micas desde el centro de las colonias hasta la matriz de pastizal. Los resultados muestran que las vizcachas afectaron la vegetacio´ n, produciendo una disminucio´n en la cobertura vegetal y en la biomasa de gramı´neas en el a´rea de alta actividad de pastoreo. Adema´s, tanto la vegetacio´ n de las a´reas sin actividad como las de alta actividad estuvieron dominadas por unas pocas especies caracterı´sticas. Verificamos la hipo´tesis de ma´xima diversidad en las a´reas de disturbio intermedio. Las zonas donde existe biopedoperturbacio´n presentaron una mayor capacidad de intercambio catio´ nico y conductividad ele´ctrica, mayor contenido de Naþ y arcilla respecto a las otras. La actividad de este roedor introduce un factor de disturbio recurrente al paisaje de esta regio´ n, cuyo resultado es la alteracio´ n de tanto la composicio´ n y estructura de las comunidades vegetales y de algunas propiedades del suelo en un gradiente de impacto decreciente desde el centro de las colonias a la periferia. Key Words: biopedturbation, burrowing mammals, disturbance, Parana´ River delta, plant–animal interactions INTRODUCTION species composition of the botanical communities, controlling the flow of nutrients and provoking physical changes in the Disturbance within an ecosystem can modify its functional and environment (Jones et al. 1994; Chapin et al. 1997). The structural properties, producing recognizable patches in the outcome of this interaction is a function of the duration and landscape (White and Picket 1985). Herbivores play a key role intensity of the herbivore activity, the existing species of plants in shaping landscape structure and function by altering the and herbivores, the soil nutrient status, and weather variations (Huntly 1991). Burrowing mammals can cause long-term changes when This research project was financed by grants PICT 4503 from the Agencia Nacional para la Promocio´n Cientı´fica y Tecnolo´gica and TX-904 from Universidad de Buenos Aires they have high population density and occupy the same site for Ciencia y Te´cnica. generations (Lawton 1994; Branch et al. 1999; Whitford and Correspondence: Dr. Santiago Arias, Laboratorio de Ecologı´a Regional. Facultad de Kay 1999), either through direct plant clipping or by burrowing Ciencias Exactas y Waturales, PAB2 Ciudad Universitaria, C1428 EHA, Buenos Aires, (biopedturbation: soil disturbance by animals). Burrowing Argentina. Email: [email protected] causes soil removal and mixing and the addition of feces and Manuscript received 28 February 2003; manuscript accepted 20 August 2004. plant matter, leading to changes in the nutrient availability, RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT 58(1) January 2005 51 chemical composition, and structure of the soil (Inouye et al. sodic horizon close to the surface (Baumann 1999). The sodic 1987; Malizia et al. 2000), and hydrology (Coppock et al. clays hamper water penetration because they swell when wet, 1983). Because biopedturbation affects different processes in creating a layer that effectively is impermeable (Buol et al. the ecosystem (Coppock et al. 1983; Whicker and Detling 1989). 1988), it must be considered a key factor when analyzing Extensive cattle ranching, hunting of wildlife species for ecosystem function (Whitford and Kay 1999). food and trade, and exploitation of black mesquite trees for As a consequence of soil disturbance, both plant species lumber are the main human activities in this region. abundance and spaciotemporal aspects of the vegetation To assess the effect of vizcachas on vegetation structure and succession are affected (Archer et al. 1987; Inouye et al. soil, we selected 6 active vizcacha colonies, surveying their 1987). Thus, burrowing mammals play a substantial role in activities either by direct observation or by means of their spoors shaping landscape structure (Whicker and Detling 1988; (feces and footprints). To avoid overlap with areas frequented Branch et al. 1996). by vizcachas from other colonies, the studied vizcacheras were The plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus) is a rodent located farther than 200 m from each other. This distance herbivore endemic to South America, dwelling primarily in the effectively eliminated overlapping because preliminary obser- semiarid scrub and grasslands from Bolivia and Paraguay to the vations indicated that the individuals of any one colony seldom center of Argentina. Similar in ecology and social behavior to wandered . 50 m from the burrows. At each vizcachera, we black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; Branch et al. identified 4 concentric areas defined according to their radial 1996), these rodents live in communal burrow systems called distance to the center as a measure for the grazing activities of ‘‘vizcacheras’’ (;10–30 individuals), which are occupied by the rodent: a central area (C), occupied by the vizcachera; several generations (Llanos and Crespo 1952). Each vizcachera a high-activity area (HA, 1–10 m); a medium- to low-activity comprises numerous burrows spaced a few centimeters to area (MLA, 10–50 m); and a no-activity area (NA, . 50 m). several meters apart (Jackson et al. 1996) and typically covering This partitioning was made on the basis of signs observed in an average area of 30 m2. Intensive selective grazing of the the field, such as evidence of digging and dust baths (HA), feces vizcachas in the area surrounding the colonies affects the and footprints (HA and MLA), or lack these signs (NA). Areas botanical communities, resulting in a species change and an showing no activity were considered control plots. increase of bare ground (Giulietti and Jackson 1986; Puig et al. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, 1998; Branch et al. 1999). 6 blocks represented by each vizcachera, and treatments were Although vizcachas are distributed about central and north- the distance to the center of the vizcachera, represented by the ern Argentina, most descriptions of their effects are restricted to 4 areas (C, HA, MLA NA). On each of these areas, we de- arid and semiarid environments (Kufner and Chambouleyron termined plant composition, species abundance, and plant 1993; Branch et al. 1996; Branch et al. 2002). Until now, little cover in 4 quadrats (1 3 1 m), which is the recommended information has been collected on these effects in wet grasslands, area for herbaceous plants (Mueller-Dombois and Ellemberg where agriculture and cattle are the main economic activities. 1974). Each quadrat was randomly placed in each area with the Because of their effect on the environment, vizcacha populations use of the modified Braun–Blanquet abundance–cover scale often come into conflict with these economic activities. (Mueller-Dombois and Ellemberg 1974). Then we harvested The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that 1) vegetal biomass within a quadrat (0.60 3 0.60 m) in each of the vizcacha activities increase spatial heterogeneity at the landscape chosen plots. This plot size was determined from previous level by promoting changes in the soil and vegetation structure, sampling in a similar area (R. Vicari, personal communication). leading to higher diversity; 2) disturbance at moderate levels This biomass was oven dried at 608C to a constant weight and results in greater diversity of vegetation species; and 3) bio- then weighed. For the vegetation sampling, we avoided the area pedturbation by vizcachas alters soil properties.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The South American Plains Vizcacha, Lagostomus Maximus, As a Valuable Animal Model for Reproductive Studies
    Central JSM Anatomy & Physiology Bringing Excellence in Open Access Editorial *Corresponding author Verónica Berta Dorfman, Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y The South American Plains Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 6to piso, C1405BCK, Ciudad Autónoma Vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus, de Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel: 54 11 49051100; Email: Submitted: 08 October 2016 as a Valuable Animal Model for Accepted: 11 October 2016 Published: 12 October 2016 Copyright Reproductive Studies © 2016 Dorfman et al. Verónica Berta Dorfman1,2*, Pablo Ignacio Felipe Inserra1,2, OPEN ACCESS Noelia Paola Leopardo1,2, Julia Halperin1,2, and Alfredo Daniel Vitullo1,2 1Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico, Universidad Maimónides, Argentina 2Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina INTRODUCTION anti-apoptotic BCL-2 over the pro-apoptotic BAX protein which leads to a down-regulation of apoptotic pathways and promotes The vast majority of our understanding of the mammalian a continuous oocyte production [6,7]. Moreover, the inversion reproductive biology comes from investigations mainly in the BAX/BCL-2 balance is expressed in embryonic ovaries performed in mice, rats and humans. However, evidence throughout development, pinpointing this physiological aspect gathered from non-conventional laboratory models, farm and as a constitutive feature of the vizcacha´s ovary, which precludes wild animals strongly suggests that reproductive mechanisms show a plethora of different strategies among species. For massive intra-ovarian germ cell elimination. Massive intra- instance, studies developed in unconventional rodents such ovarian germ cell elimination through apoptosis during fetal life as guinea pigs and hamsters, that share with humans some accounts for 66 to 85% loss at birth as recorded for human, mouse endocrine and reproductive characters, have contributed to a and rat [8].
    [Show full text]
  • Cell Populations in the Pineal Gland of the Viscacha (Lagostomus Maximus)
    Histol Histopathol (2003) 18: 827-836 Histology and http://www.hh.um.es Histopathology Cellular and Molecular Biology Cell populations in the pineal gland of the viscacha (Lagostomus maximus). Seasonal variations R. Cernuda-Cernuda1, R.S. Piezzi2, S. Domínguez2 and M. Alvarez-Uría1 1Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain 2Instituto de Histología y Embriología, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo/CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina and 3Cátedra de Histología, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Argentina Summary. Pineal samples of the viscacha, which were Introduction taken in winter and in summer, were analysed using both light and electron microscopy. The differences found The pineal gland is mainly involved in the between the two seasons were few in number but integration of information about environmental significant. The parenchyma showed two main cell conditions (light, temperature, etc.), and in the populations. Type I cells occupied the largest volume of measurement of photoperiod length (Pévet, 2000). This the pineal and showed the characteristics of typical gland probably signals the enviromental conditions thus pinealocytes. Many processes, some of which were filled making mammals seasonal breeders (Reiter, 1981). The with vesicles, could be seen in intimate contact with the pineal has been thoroughly investigated; however, the neighbouring cells. The presence in the winter samples number of species in which its ultrastructure have been of “synaptic” ribbons and spherules, which were almost studied is a meager 1.5-2% of all mammalians absent in the summer pineals, suggests a seasonal (Bhatnagar, 1992). Previous studies have focused on rhythm. These synaptic-like structures, as well as the domestic and laboratory animals housed in artificially abundant subsurface cisterns present in type I cells, controlled conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • (Lagostomus Maximus) Jane A
    Milk composition in the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) Jane A. Goode, M. Peaker and Barbara J. Weir A.R.C. Institute ofAnimal Physiology, Cambridge CB2 4AT and ^Department ofAnatomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, U.K. Summary. Milk samples were taken from 10 plains viscacha between 9 and 64 days post partum. Mean concentrations (\m=+-\s.e.)were 17 \m=+-\1\m=.\1mM-Na; 32 \m=+-\1\m=.\6mM-K; 35 \m=+-\2.2 mM-Cl; 116 \m=+-\3\m=.\3mM-lactose (total reducing sugar) (all in 8 samples); < 10\p=n-\220mg citrate/1 (range of 4 samples); 15\m=.\7\m=+-\0\m=.\64g total nitrogen/1 (3 samples). The Na:K ratio was 1:1\m=.\95\m=+-\0\m=.\17.It was estimated that the fat concentration was between 116 and 182 g/1. Introduction A systematic study of milk composition has been made in very few non-domestic animals; in fewer still have studies been made on the composition of the aqueous phase. Such data are important because they permit examination of whether mechanisms proposed to account for milk secretion can apply to all species with but relatively minor quantitative differences (see Peaker, 1977). The present study was therefore undertaken on the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus), which although indigenous to Argentina has bred successfully in captivity (Weir, 1970). In this caviomorph rodent two relatively precocious young are born (>90% of litters) after a gestation of approximately 154 days. There are two pairs of mammary glands situated laterally on the thorax but suckling appears to be confined to the anterior pair.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet of the Mountain Vizcacha {Lagidium Viscacia Molina, 1782
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Mammalian Biology (früher Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde) Jahr/Year: 1998 Band/Volume: 63 Autor(en)/Author(s): Puig Silvia, Videla Fernando, Cona Mónica I., Monge Susana, Roig Virgilio G. Artikel/Article: Diet of the Mountain vizcacha {Lagidium viscacia Molina, 1782) and food availability in northern Patagonia, Argentina ​ 228-238 © Biodiversity Heritage Library, http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Z. Säugetierkunde 63 (1998) 228-238 ZEITSCHRIFT l|P%ÜR © 1998 Gustav Fischer SAUGETIERKUNDE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAM MALI AN BIOLOGY Diet of the Mountain vizcacha {Lagidium viscacia Molina, 1782) and food availability in northern Patagonia, Argentina By Silvia Puig, F. Videla, Mönica Cona, Susana Monge, and V. Roig Unidad de Ecologia Animal, Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas (IADIZA-CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina Receipt of Ms. 18. 08. 1997 Acceptance ofMs. 21. 11. 1997 Abstract Diet of Lagidium viscacia and food availability were seasonally determined in La Payunia Protected Area through faecal analysis and point quadrat transects, respectively, in rocky elevations (shelter of mountain vizcachas) and adjacent plains. There were several evidences of selective feeding behaviour, besides the little similarity between diet and availability. The diet included only 33% of the plant gen- era occurring in the environment, the main dietary elements being three grasses (Poa, Hordeum, and Stipa) and one camephyte (Acantholippia). The proportion of grasses was significantly higher in the diet than in the environment, especially in the shrubby rocky elevations. The main food, Poa, was scarce to absent in rocky elevations, where L. viscacia lives, representing evidence of L.
    [Show full text]
  • Lagidium Viscacia) in the PATAGONIAN STEPPE
    EFFECTS OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF MOUNTAIN VIZCACHA (Lagidium viscacia) IN THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE By REBECCA SUSAN WALKER A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UMVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2001 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As this research spanned several years, several disciplines, and two continents, I have many, many people to thank. There are so many that I am quite sure I will inadvertently leave someone out, and I apologize for that. In Gainesville First of all, 1 would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Lyn Branch, for her untiring and inspiring mentoring, and her many, many hours of thoughtful reading and editing of numerous proposals and this dissertation. I also thank her for the financial support she provided in various forms during my Ph.D. program. Finally, I thank her for her incessant demand for rigorous science and clear writing. Dr. Brian Bowen got me started in molecular ecology and helped me to never lose faith that it would all work out. He also provided important input into several proposals and the data analysis. Dr. Bill Farmerie deciphered many molecular mysteries for me and helped make my dream of Lagidium microsatellite primers a reality. I thank him for his crucial guidance in developing the microsatellite primers, for the use of his lab, and for his eternal good humor. ii I thank the other members of my original committee, Dr. George Tanner, Dr. John Eisenberg, and Dr. Colin Chapman, for their guidance and input into various stages of the research over the years.
    [Show full text]
  • Macroecology and Sociobiology of Humans and Other Mammals Joseph Robert Burger
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Biology ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 7-1-2015 Macroecology and Sociobiology of Humans and other Mammals Joseph Robert Burger Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds Recommended Citation Burger, Joseph Robert. "Macroecology and Sociobiology of Humans and other Mammals." (2015). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds/11 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Joseph Robert Burger Candidate Biology Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: James H. Brown, Ph.D., Chairperson Felisa A. Smith Ph.D., Co-Chairperson Melanie E. Moses, Ph.D. Bruce T. Milne, Ph.D. MACROECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY OF HUMANS AND OTHER MAMMALS By Joseph R Burger B.A. Economics and International Studies, Francis Marion University 2006 M.S. Biology, University of Louisiana at Monroe 2010 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biology The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico July 2015 DEDICATION To my family: Mom, Dad, Ryan, Lily Ann, and Rachel. For always supporting me in all of my adventures in life, big and small. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am tremendously grateful for the mentorship of my Ph.D. advisor, James H. Brown, for his thoughtful comments, criticisms, and inspiring discussions. My interactions with Jim have fundamentally changed how I approach science.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity and Endemism in Tidal-Marsh Vertebrates
    Studies in Avian Biology No. 32:32-53 DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM IN TIDAL-MARSH VERTEBRATES RUSSELL GREENBERG AND JESúS E. MALDONADO Abstract. Tidal marshes are distributed patcliily, predominantly along the mid- to high-latitude coasts of the major continents. The greatest extensions of non-arctic tidal marshes are found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, but local concentrations can be found in Great Britain, northern Europe, northern Japan, northern China, and northern Korea, Argentina-Uruguay-Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. We tallied the number of terrestrial vertebrate species that regularly occupy tidal marshes in each of these regions, as well as species or subspecies that are largely restricted to tidal marshes. In each of the major coastal areas we found 8-21 species of breeding birds and 13-25 species of terrestrial mammals. The diversity of tidal-marsh birds and mammals is highly inter-correlated, as is the diversity of species restricted to saltmarshes. These values are, in turn, correlated with tidal-marsh area along a coastline. We estimate approximately seven species of turtles occur in brackish or saltmarshes worldwide, but only one species is endemic and it is found in eastern North America. A large number of frogs and snakes occur opportunistically in tidal marshes, primarily in southeastern United States, particularly Florida. Three endemic snake taxa are restricted to tidal marshes of eastern North America as well. Overall, only in North America were we able to find documentation for multiple taxa of terrestrial vertebrates associated with tidal marshes. These include one species of mammal and two species of birds, one species of snake, and one species of turtle.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Taxa for Which MIL Has Images
    LIST OF 27 ORDERS, 163 FAMILIES, 887 GENERA, AND 2064 SPECIES IN MAMMAL IMAGES LIBRARY 31 JULY 2021 AFROSORICIDA (9 genera, 12 species) CHRYSOCHLORIDAE - golden moles 1. Amblysomus hottentotus - Hottentot Golden Mole 2. Chrysospalax villosus - Rough-haired Golden Mole 3. Eremitalpa granti - Grant’s Golden Mole TENRECIDAE - tenrecs 1. Echinops telfairi - Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec 2. Hemicentetes semispinosus - Lowland Streaked Tenrec 3. Microgale cf. longicaudata - Lesser Long-tailed Shrew Tenrec 4. Microgale cowani - Cowan’s Shrew Tenrec 5. Microgale mergulus - Web-footed Tenrec 6. Nesogale cf. talazaci - Talazac’s Shrew Tenrec 7. Nesogale dobsoni - Dobson’s Shrew Tenrec 8. Setifer setosus - Greater Hedgehog Tenrec 9. Tenrec ecaudatus - Tailless Tenrec ARTIODACTYLA (127 genera, 308 species) ANTILOCAPRIDAE - pronghorns Antilocapra americana - Pronghorn BALAENIDAE - bowheads and right whales 1. Balaena mysticetus – Bowhead Whale 2. Eubalaena australis - Southern Right Whale 3. Eubalaena glacialis – North Atlantic Right Whale 4. Eubalaena japonica - North Pacific Right Whale BALAENOPTERIDAE -rorqual whales 1. Balaenoptera acutorostrata – Common Minke Whale 2. Balaenoptera borealis - Sei Whale 3. Balaenoptera brydei – Bryde’s Whale 4. Balaenoptera musculus - Blue Whale 5. Balaenoptera physalus - Fin Whale 6. Balaenoptera ricei - Rice’s Whale 7. Eschrichtius robustus - Gray Whale 8. Megaptera novaeangliae - Humpback Whale BOVIDAE (54 genera) - cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes 1. Addax nasomaculatus - Addax 2. Aepyceros melampus - Common Impala 3. Aepyceros petersi - Black-faced Impala 4. Alcelaphus caama - Red Hartebeest 5. Alcelaphus cokii - Kongoni (Coke’s Hartebeest) 6. Alcelaphus lelwel - Lelwel Hartebeest 7. Alcelaphus swaynei - Swayne’s Hartebeest 8. Ammelaphus australis - Southern Lesser Kudu 9. Ammelaphus imberbis - Northern Lesser Kudu 10. Ammodorcas clarkei - Dibatag 11. Ammotragus lervia - Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) 12.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Record of a Giant Neoepiblemid Rodent from Peruvian Amazonia and an Overview of Lower Tooth Dental Homologies Among Chinchilloids
    A new record of a giant neoepiblemid rodent from Peruvian Amazonia and an overview of lower tooth dental homologies among chinchilloids MYRIAM BOIVIN, PIERRE-OLIVIER ANTOINE, ALDO BENITES-PALOMINO, LAURENT MARIVAUX, and RODOLFO SALAS-GISMONDI Boivin, M., Pierre-Olivier, A., Benites-Palomino, A., Marivaux, L., and Salas-Gismondi, R. 2019. A new record of a giant neoepiblemid rodent from Peruvian Amazonia and an overview of lower tooth dental homologies among chinchilloids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 64 (3): 627–642. We report here a new record of the giant caviomorph Phoberomys corresponding to a fragmentary mandible from the Monte Salvado area, Peruvian Amazonia (Madre de Dios Department). We describe this specimen and compare it with the material previously attributed to Phoberomys. The mandibular fragment is referred to as Phoberomys sp. Found as float on a bank of the Río Las Piedras, it has been hypothetically assigned a late Miocene age, due to the local/regional stratigraphic and lithologic context. This specimen constitutes the second record of Phoberomys in Peru. For the first time, the pattern of p4s and lower molars in Phoberomys was analyzed and compared to a large taxonomic sample (in- cluding Paleogene–Recent chinchilloids and other caviomorphs) in order to progress the understanding of the homology of dental structures in this genus. For p4s and lower molars, the position of the protoconid in Phoberomys and other chinchilloids (Drytomomys sp., Potamarchus, Eumegamys, Gyriabrus, Isostylomys, and Tetrastylus) is ambiguous, and as a result we propose two alternative homology hypotheses for these taxa: protoconid within the first and second laminae or within the third lamina on juvenile specimens.
    [Show full text]
  • Lagostomus Maximus): Histochemical Evidence of an Abrupt Change in the Glycosylation Pattern of Goblet Cells
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual Received: 16 March 2017 | Revised: 26 June 2017 | Accepted: 4 July 2017 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20735 RESEARCH ARTICLE The colonic groove of the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus): Histochemical evidence of an abrupt change in the glycosylation pattern of goblet cells María Florencia Tano de la Hoz1,2 | Mirta Alicia Flamini3 | Carolina Natalia Zanuzzi2,3,4 | Alcira Ofelia Díaz1 1Departamento de Biología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Abstract Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, The ascending colon of most rodent species shows a longitudinal colonic groove that works as a CONICET, FCEyN, Funes 3250 38 piso, Mar retrograde transport pathway for a mixture of bacteria and mucus toward the cecum. We describe del Plata 7600, Argentina the morphology and glycosylation pattern of the colonic groove of Lagostomus maximus to analyze 2Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones the role of mucins in this anatomical feature. We also studied the distribution pattern of the inter- Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Argentina stitial cells of Cajal (ICC) to evaluate their regulatory influence on gut motility. The groove 3Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada, originated near the cecocolic junction and extended along the mesenteric side of the ascending Departamento de Ciencias Basicas, Facultad colon, limited at both ends by nonpapillated ridges. These ridges divided the lumen of the ascend- de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad ing colon into two compartments: a narrow channel and a large channel, called the groove lumen Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina and the main lumen, respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Grassland Biomes GREENWOOD GUIDES to BIOMES of the WORLD
    Grassland Biomes GREENWOOD GUIDES TO BIOMES OF THE WORLD Introduction to Biomes Susan L. Woodward Tropical Forest Biomes Barbara A. Holzman Temperate Forest Biomes Bernd H. Kuennecke Grassland Biomes Susan L. Woodward Desert Biomes Joyce A. Quinn Arctic and Alpine Biomes Joyce A. Quinn Freshwater Aquatic Biomes Richard A. Roth Marine Biomes Susan L. Woodward Grassland BIOMES Susan L. Woodward Greenwood Guides to Biomes of the World Susan L. Woodward, General Editor GREENWOOD PRESS Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Woodward, Susan L., 1944 Jan. 20– Grassland biomes / Susan L. Woodward. p. cm. — (Greenwood guides to biomes of the world) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-313-33840-3 (set : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0- 313-33999-8 (vol. : alk. paper) 1. Grassland ecology. 2. Grasslands. I. Title. QH541.5.P7W66 2008 577.4—dc22 2008027508 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright C 2008 by Susan L. Woodward All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008027508 ISBN: 978-0-313-33999-8 (vol.) 978-0-313-33840-3 (set) First published in 2008 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984). 10987654321 Contents Preface vii How to Use This Book xi The Use of Scientific Names xiii Chapter 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Chorioallantoic and Yolk Sac Placentation in the Plains Viscacha (Lagostomus Maximus) E a Caviomorph Rodent with Natural Polyovulation
    Placenta 32 (2011) 963e968 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Placenta journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/placenta Chorioallantoic and yolk sac placentation in the plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus) e A caviomorph rodent with natural polyovulation M.A. Flaminia, E.L. Portianskya, P.O. Favaronb, D.S. Martinsc, C.E. Ambrósioc, A.M. Messb,*, M.A. Miglinob, C.G. Barbeitoa a School of Veterinary Science, National University of La Plata, Argentina b School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil c Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil article info abstract Article history: Objectives: Reproduction in the plains viscacha is characterized by the polyovulation of hundreds of Accepted 4 September 2011 oocytes, the loss of implantation and the development of 1e3 offspring. Our goal was to determine whether placental development was affected by these specializations. Keywords: Study design: Thirteen placentas from early pregnancy to near-term pregnancy were analyzed using Placental development histological, immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopy. Barrier Results: An inverted, villous yolk sac was present. Placentas were formed by the trophospongium, Trophoblast invasion labyrinth and subplacenta. A lobulated structure with a hemomonochorial barrier was established early Yolk sac in pregnancy. Proliferating trophoblast that was clustered at the outer border and inside the labyrinth was responsible for placental growth. Trophoblast invasion resulted from the cellular trophoblast and syncytial streamers derived from the subplacenta. Different from other caviomorphs, numerous giant cells were observed. Conclusions: The principle processes of placentation in caviomorphs follow an extraordinarily stable pattern that is independent of specializations, such as polyovulation.
    [Show full text]