Pierid Butterflies, Legume Hostplants, and Parasitoids in Urban Areas of Southern Florida.

Are parasitoids less likely to find their Lepidoptera hosts on non-native hostplants than native hostplants? We predicted that with longer periods of coevolution between herbivores and the plants they consume, the parasitoids that provide top-down control would be more attuned to finding their hosts on native plants. To test this hypothesis, we collected immature stages of sulfur butterflies (the cloudless sulfur (Phoebis sennae) and the orange-barred sulfur (Phoebis agarithe) over a three-year period (2008-2011) from native and ornamental hostplants in the genus Senna in three different parts of the urban landscape of Miami, Florida, USA. We reared the immature specimens to pupation and either eclosion of adults or emergence of parasitoids and compared the levels of parasitization among the three areas, and among native vs. exotic hostplants. We found, contrary to our prediction, that caterpillars feeding on non-native leguminous hostplant species were more likely to be parasitized than those feeding on native hostplants. We discuss this surprising finding in the light of recent findings in other plant/herbivore/parasitoid systems.

ATLANTIC POLLINATION: a data set of flowers and interaction with nectar-feeding vertebrates from the Atlantic Forest.

Flowering plant species and their nectar-feeding vertebrates exemplify some of the most remarkable biotic interactions in the Neotropics. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, several species of birds (especially hummingbirds), bats, and non-flying mammals, as well as one lizard feed on nectar, often act as pollinators and contribute to seed output of flowering plants. We present a dataset containing information on flowering plants visited by nectar-feeding vertebrates and sampled at 166 localities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. This dataset provides information on 1902 unique interactions among 515 species of flowering plants and 129 species of potential vertebrate pollinators and the patterns of species diversity across latitudes. All plant-vertebrate interactions compiled were recorded through direct observations of visits, and no inferences of pollinators based on floral syndromes were included. We also provide information on the most common plant traits used to understand the interactions between flowers and nectar-feeding vertebrates: plant growth form, corolla length, rate of nectar production per hour in bagged flowers, nectar concentration, flower color and shape, time of anthesis, presence or absence of perceptible fragrance by human, and flowering phenology as well as the plant's threat status by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification. For the vertebrates, status of threat by IUCN classification, body mass, bill or rostrum size are provided. Information on the frequency of visits and pollen deposition on the vertebrate's body is provided from the original source when available. The highest number of unique interactions is recorded for birds (1771) followed by bats (110). For plants, Bromeliaceae contains the highest number of unique interactions (606), followed by Fabaceae (242) and Gesneriaceae (104). It is evident that there was geographical bias of the studies throughout the southeast of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and that most effort was directed to flower-hummingbird interactions. However, it reflects a worldwide tendency of more plants interacting with birds compared with other vertebrate species. The lack of similar protocols among studies to collect basic data limits the comparisons among areas and generalizations. Nevertheless, this dataset represents a notable effort to organize and highlight the importance of vertebrate pollinators in this hotspot of biodiversity on Earth and represents the data currently available. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications or scientific events.

Beetle pollination and flowering rhythm of Annona coriacea Mart. (Annonaceae) in Brazilian cerrado: Behavioral features of its principal pollinators.

The conservation and sustainable management of Annona coriacea requires knowledge of its floral and reproductive biology, and of its main pollinators and their life cycles. In this work, we analyzed these aspects in detail. Floral biology was assessed by observing flowers from the beginning of anthesis to senescence. The visiting hours and behavior of floral visitors in the floral chamber were recorded, as were the sites of oviposition. Excavations were undertaken around specimens of A. coriacea to determine the location of immature pollinators. Anthesis was nocturnal, starting at sunset, and lasted for 52-56 h. The flowers were bisexual, protogynous and emitted a strong scent similar to the plant´s own ripe fruit. There was pronounced synchrony among all floral events (the period and duration of stigmatic receptivity, release of odor, pollen release and drooping flowers) in different individuals, but no synchrony in the same individuals. All of the flowers monitored were visited by beetle species of the genera Cyclocephala and Arriguttia. Beetles arrived at the flowers with their bodies covered in pollen and these pollen grains were transferred to the stigmata while foraging on nutritious tissues at the base of the petals. With dehiscence of the stamens and retention within the floral chamber, the bodies of the floral visitors were again covered with pollen which they carried to newly opened flowers, thus promoting the cycle of pollination. After leaving the flowers, female beetles often excavated holes in the soil to lay eggs. Larvae were found between the leaf litter and the first layer of soil under specimens of A. coriacea. Cyclocephala beetles were the main pollinators of A. coriacea, but Arriguttia brevissima was also considered a pollinator and is the first species of this genus to be observed in Annonaceae flowers. Annona coriacea was found to be self-compatible with a low reproductive efficiency in the area studied. The results of this investigation provide ecological data that should contribute to the conservation and economic exploitation of A. coriacea.

Análise quantitativa sobre gravidez na adolescência em um município mineiro / Quantitative analysis regarding pregnancy in adolescence in a municipality in Minas Gerais / Análisis cuantitativo sobre gravidez en la adolescencia en un municipio de Minas Gerais

Estudo quantitativo e descritivo, que objetivou verificar frequência, causas e consequências da gravidez na adolescência. Foram entrevistadas 104 adolescentes cadastradas no Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos em 2010, que se encontravam na faixa etária dos 15 aos 21 anos; a maioria apresentava baixa escolaridade; 60% não trabalhavam; todas realizaram pré-natal; foram observadas alterações no estado conjugal após a gestação e aumento no conhecimento e uso dos métodos contraceptivos; 74% não planejaram a gravidez; relataram mudanças após a gravidez como maior responsabilidade (26%) e perda da liberdade (23%). Concluiu-se ser necessária a aproximação com as adolescentes para esclarecer dúvidas, desprender-se de preconceitos, realizar assistência holística com orientações objetivas, corretas e claras, respeitando crenças e individualidades.

This quantitative and descriptive study aimed to assess the frequency, causes, and consequences of pregnancy in adolescence. Interviews were held with 104 adolescents registered on the Live Births Information System in 2010, who were in the age range of 15 - 21 years old; the majority had low educational levels; 60% were not working; all attended prenatal care; changes were observed in their conjugal status after the pregnancy, as was increase in their knowledge and use of methods of contraception; 74% did not plan the pregnancy; and they reported changes following the pregnancy such as greater responsibility (26%) and loss of freedom (23%). It is concluded that it is necessary to become closer to the adolescents so as to clarify doubts, to break away from one's own prejudices, and to provide holistic care with objective, correct and clear guidance, respecting beliefs and individuality.

Estudio cuantitativo y descriptivo cuya finalidad fue verificar frecuencia, causas y consecuencias de la gravidez en la adolescencia. Fueron entrevistadas 104 adolescentes registradas en el Sistema de Informaciones sobre Nacidos Vivos en 2010, que se encontraban en la franja etaria de los 15 a los 21 años; la mayoría presentava baja escolaridad; 60% no trabajaban; todas realizaron prenatal; fueron observadas alteraciones en el estado conyugal después de la gestación y aumento en el conocimiento y uso de los métodos anticonceptivos; 74% no planeaban la gravidez; relataron cambios después de la gravidez como mayor responsabilidad (26%) y pérdida de libertad (23%). Se concluye que es necesaria una aproximación con las adolescentes para aclarar dudas, libertarse de prejuicios, realizar asistencia holística con orientaciones objetivas, correctas y claras, respetando creencias y individualidades.