BatFly: A database of Neotropical bat-fly interactions.

Global changes have increased the risk of emerging infectious diseases, which can be prevented or mitigated by studying host-parasite interactions, among other measures. Bats and their ectoparasitic flies of the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are an excellent study model but, so far, our knowledge has been restricted to fragmented records at a local scale. To help boost research, we assembled a data set of bat-fly interactions from 174 studies published between 1904 and 2022 plus three original data sets. Altogether, these studies were carried out at 650 sites in the Neotropics, mainly distributed in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, southern USA, and Colombia, among other countries. In total, our data set contains 3984 interaction records between 237 bat species and 255 fly species. The bat species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Carollia perspicillata (357), Artibeus jamaicensis (263), and Artibeus lituratus (228). The fly species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Trichobius joblingi (256), Megistopoda aranea (235), and Megistopoda proxima (215). The interaction data were extracted, filtered, taxonomically harmonized, and made available in a tidy format together with linked data on bat population, fly population, study reference, sampling methods and geographic information from the study sites. This interconnected structure enables the expansion of information for each interaction record, encompassing where and how each interaction occurred, as well as the number of bats and flies involved. We expect BatFly to open new avenues for research focused on different levels of ecological organization and spatial scales. It will help consolidate knowledge about ecological specialization, resource distribution, pathogen transmission, and the drivers of parasite prevalence over a broad spatial range. It may also help to answer key questions such as: Are there differences in fly prevalence or mean infestation across Neotropical ecoregions? What ecological drivers explain those differences? How do specialization patterns vary among fly species in the Neotropics? Furthermore, we expect BatFly to inspire research aimed at understanding how climate and land-use changes may impact host-parasite interactions and disease outbreaks. This kind of research may help us reach Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, outlined by the United Nations. The data are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Trypanosoma cruzi in domestic and wild mammals in the northeast region of Colombia.

Trypanosoma cruzi hosts can serve as a source of infection for animals, vectors, and humans, contributing to the establishment of Chagas disease (CD) in a given area. Traditionally, the Department of Córdoba has not been considered a transmission area for CD; however, the report of several acute cases of Chagas disease highlights the importance of studying the dynamics of disease transmission in this region. This study aimed to detect T. cruzi in domestic and wild mammals in the department of Córdoba. In 2017, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in six villages in two municipalities in the department of Córdoba. Blood samples from dogs living in the zones were collected in EDTA vacutainer tubes for domestic mammals. Wild mammals were collected using Sherman and Tomahawk traps and mist nets in crops and peridomiciles. T. cruzi DNA was detected using the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) variable region and the tandem repeat satellite region of T. cruzi as molecular targets. We sampled 168 dogs and 146 wild mammals. The detected prevalence of T. cruzi was 6.37%; the TcI lineage was found in D. marsupialis, H. anomalus, and one canine. A specimen of D. marsupialis with TcI and TcII lineages was also identified. T. cruzi DNA was detected in domestic and wild animals in the study area, indicating the circulation of the parasite in peridomestic environments. D. marsupialis may represent an important host in maintaining this region's wild and domestic cycle.

Diversidad de aves en fragmentos de bosque seco tropical en paisajes ganaderos del Departamento de Córdoba, Colombia / Bird diversity in tropical dry forest fragments in cattle landscapes of the Department of Córdoba, Colombia

Resumen En Colombia el bosque seco tropical es una de los ecosistemas más amenazados y menos conocidos del país. Se desconoce mucho cómo los procesos de transformación y fragmentación de hábitat han afectado las condiciones y supervivencia de la avifauna del bosque seco. Este trabajo evaluó la influencia de los elementos del paisaje (bosques y potreros de producción ganadera con diferentes densidades de árboles) en la diversidad de aves en la región del bosque seco tropical del Departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. El trabajo se desarrolló caracterizando la avifauna en cuatro localidades conformadas por fragmentos de bosque secundario dentro de un paisaje dominado por áreas de ganadería extensiva. Se identificaron cuatro tipos de hábitats en el paisaje según la densidad de cobertura arbórea: fragmentos de bosque secundario, potreros con alta cobertura de árboles, potreros con baja cobertura árboles y potreros sin árboles. Con el fin de evaluar la influencia de la cobertura arbórea en la diversidad de aves, se realizaron muestreos en transectos de observación durante los meses de septiembre 2011 a mayo 2012 con muestreos mensuales. Los transecto tuvieron 200 m de longitud para el conteo de aves en cada hábitat, las observaciones se hicieron en la mañana (6:00 - 9:00) y en la tarde (15:00 - 18:00). Se registraron 6 667 individuos pertenecientes a 180 especies y 48 familias de aves. Las especies más abundantes fueron: Columbina talpacoti (5.37 %), Brotogeris jugularis (5.14 %), Tyrannus melancholicus (4.81 %) y Bubulcus ibis (4.80 %). La familia con mayor abundancia fue Tyrannidae (16.4 %), seguida de Psitacidae (9.0 %) y Columbidae (8.2 %). La familia que presentó mayor número de especies fue: Tyrannidae con 28 especies, seguida de Accipitridae e Icteridae con 10 especies cada una. La mayor riqueza de especies se presentó en el hábitat de bosque secundario, seguido de los potreros con alta cobertura de árboles y potreros con baja cobertura de árboles; la menor abundancia y riqueza de especies se encontró en los potreros sin árboles, presentándose diferencias significativas entre los hábitats (Fisher, p<0.05). La diversidad de aves fue mayor en los bosques secundarios según el índice de Shannon, en contraste, la menor diversidad se encontró en los potreros sin árboles. La mayor riqueza de especies se presentó en octubre y noviembre; en el resto del período de muestreo hubo estabilidad en el número de especies e individuos registrados. Se evidenció la importancia de la presencia de árboles en áreas de ganadería extensiva, debido a que ayudan a contener una importante diversidad de especies, así como a generar conectividad con los fragmentos de bosques secundarios presentes en el paisaje ganadero.

Abstract In Colombia the tropical dry forest is one of the most threatened and least known ecosystems; these have been impacted by different transformation processes and habitat fragmentation, which have affected bird conditions and survival. This research evaluated the influence of landscape elements (forest and pastures with different tree covers) on bird diversity in the tropical dry forest of Córdoba, Colombia. The study was developed within an extensive livestock landscape to characterize the avifauna in four habitat types formed by fragments of secondary forests with different tree cover: secondary forest, pastures with high tree cover, pastures with low tree cover and only pastures. The influence of tree cover on bird diversity was evaluated with monthly samplings in 200 m long transects (per habitat), with two observation intervals (6:00 - 9:00 and 15:00-18:00), from September 2011 to May 2012. A total of 6 667 individuals belonging to 180 species and 48 families of birds were registered. The most abundant species were Columbina talpacoti (5.37 %), Brotogeris jugularis (5.14 %), Tyrannus melancholicus (4.81 %) and Bubulcus ibis (4.80 %). The most abundant family was Tyrannidae (16.4 %), followed by Psitacidae (9.0 %) and Columbidae (8.2 %). The family with the highest number of species was Tyrannidae with 28 species, followed by Accipitridae and Icteridae with 10 species each. The greatest species richness was present in the secondary forest habitat, followed by the pastures with high tree cover, and pastures with low cover. The lowest abundance and species richness was found in pastures without tree cover with significant differences between the habitats (Fisher, p <0.05). According to the Shannon index, the diversity of birds was higher in the secondary forests. In contrast, the lowest diversity was found in pastures without tree cover. The greatest species richness occurred in the months of October and November. In the rest of the sampling period, the number of recorded species and individuals showed some stability. The importance of trees presence in extensive livestock areas was evidenced because they help to contain an important diversity of bird species, and they also generate connectivity among fragments of secondary forests in the cattle landscape.

Crustáceos decápodos de la cuenca del río sinú, córdoba, colombia / Decapod Crustaceans of the Sinu River Basin, Cordoba, Colombia

Para evaluar la composición, abundancia y distribución de los crustáceos decápodos en la cuenca del río Sinú, departamento de Córdoba (Colombia), se estudiaron ocho localidades: cuatro en el río Sinú y cuatro en el complejo cenagoso del bajo Sinú. Para ello, se realizaron seis muestreos entre abril de 2005 y mayo de 2006. En total se registraron 458 crustáceos decápodos distribuidos en tres familias, seis géneros y ocho especies. La familia mejor representada fue Trichodactylidae con cuatro géneros y cuatro especies, seguida de Palaemonidae con un género y tres especies, mientras que de la familia Atyidae solo registró una especie. Especies como Macrobrachium carcinus y M. acanthurus, presentaron el rango más amplio de distribución, siendo características tanto para el río Sinú como para el CCBS. Entre las especies identificadas, Atya crassa en el río Sinú y Trichodactylus quinquedentatus en el CCBS son nuevos registros para el departamento de Córdoba.

To review the composition, abundance and distribution of decapod crustaceans in the Sinu river basin, Department of Cordoba (Colombia) eight locations were studied: four on the Sinu River and four in the Low Complex Swampy Sinu. For that, six samplings between April 2005 and May 2006 were made. In total 458 decapod crustaceans were recorded distributed into three families, six genus and eight species. The family best represented was Trichodactylidae with four genus and four species, followed by Palaemonidae with one genus and three species, while family Atyidae recorded only one species. Species such as Macrobrachium carcinus and M. acanthurus presented the wider range of distribution for both the Sinu River as the Low Complex Swampy Sinu. Among the identified species Atya crassa in the Sinu River and Trichodactylus quinquedentatus in the Low Complex Swampy Sinu are new records for the Department of Cordoba.