Boletín del Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas

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Teresa Martínez Leones — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Physicochemical and microbiological characterization of shrimp meal Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Shrimp head meal has become one of the main products for export in Ecuador for its applicable use in aquaculture, fish farming and poultry farming given its high protein value. In this study, the physicochemical and microbiological quality of shrimp Penaeus vannamei head meal was determined. Samples collected between 2015 and 2019 from an Ecuadorian company were analyzed. The average results of humidity (8.4 ± 1.5%), total fat (9.4 ± 1.1%), ash (22.4 ± 0.89%) and protein (50.9 ± 2.4%), showed no significant differences between years. The microbiological parameters, dyes and heavy metals showed values within the internationally required quality levels for this product.

Preference of fruits in birds that visit a feeder in the city of Caracas.

Bárbara Santana, Cristina Sainz-Borgo — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Feeders for birds are increasingly common in cities, although very little is known about their food preferences. The objectives of this study consisted in identifying the preferences of the fruits consumed by birds that frequented an urban feeder; as well as determine the time spent eating and social interactions. The observations were made in a feeder located in a window about 15 meters high, where portions of three species of fruit were placed (banana, papaya and plantain). The following variables were recorded: species of bird, duration of the visit, fruit consumed, number of times the fruit was eaten, whether they came alone or accompanied, interactions, and fruit transportation. Recordings of the feeder were made during three continuous days, from November 11 to 13, 2022, during periods of 12 hours. During the sampling, six species were recorded visiting the feeder (Coereba flaveola, Columbina talpacoti, Melanerpes rubricapillus, Melanospiza bicolor, Pitangus sulphuratus and Thraupis episcopus). A total of 140 visits were recorded. The species that visited the feeder the most was M. bicolor, followed by T. episcopus and P. sulphuratus. The banana was the most consumed fruit, followed by the platain. The morning was the moment of greatest influx of visits. The species that spent the longest time at the feeder were C. flaveola and M. bicolor, while the largest birds, M. rubricapillus, P. sulphuratus and T. episcopus, stayed on shorter visits.

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation in high tropical mountains: Venezuelan paramos

Ernesto Medina — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper reviews the available information on atmospheric nitrogen (N₂)-fixing angiosperm species in Andean localities of Venezuela, at elevations near or above the tree-line. In addition, I discuss the results of an exploratory survey on biological N₂ fixation (BNF) based on the natural abundance of ¹⁵N and N concentration in soils and leaf tissues of species collected at contrasting elevations (2500 and 4000 m elevation) in sites located between Santo Domingo and the paramo of Piedras Blancas in the Mérida State, Venezuela. The paper aims to a) compare the BNF in tropical high mountains and temperate alpine regions and b) highlight research opportunities on the N cycle in tropical mountain environments.

Plants of the Botanical Garden of the Orinoco, ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state, Venezuela

Wilmer A. Díaz-Pérez, Luis Chacón, Magdalena Ochoa — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The results of the floristic inventory carried out in the Botanical Garden of the Orinoco, Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state, Venezuela, is presented. The eight zones resulting of the garden´s master plan were floristically inventoried:1) Morichal San Isidro, 2) Raúl y Menca de Leoni square, 3) Palmetum, 4) Crassuletum, 5) Mixed flooded area, 6) Deciduous forest, 7) Riparian forest and savanna zone, 8) Horticultural center and Administrative area. 580 species belonging to 417 genera and 115 families were encountered. Of them, 471 are natives; of the 110 not native species, 84 are cultivated and 26 grow spontaneously. The most important families, according to the number of species were Fabaceae (109), Areacaceae (42), Malvaceae (28), Poaceae (26), Euphorbiaceae (24), Orchidaceae (18), Moraceae (13), Cyperaceae (12), Convolvulaceae (11) and Rubiaceae (10), representing the 56,4% of the total. The trees are the predominant growing habit (235 species), followed by herbs (178) and climbers (45). The localities with more species were the Mixed flooded area (264), the Riparian forest and savanna zone (132), the Horticultural center (129) and the Palmetum (113), Morichal San Isidro (33) was the area with the lower number of species. About the conservation status, 59 species were in the following categories: Critical endangered (1), Endangered (2), Vulnerable (18), Nearly threaten (11), Less concern (19), Deficient data (8). A list of the inventoried species is presented.

Revision of the burrowing beetle genus Llanoterus García and Camacho, 2018 (Coleoptera: Noteridae: Noterini). Part I

Mauricio García, Alfredo Briceño — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The genus Llanoterus García and Camacho, 2018 is reviewed, with a description of two subgenera determined by the inclination of the labrum: Subgenus Subgnathus as the main characteristic of labrum retroflectum or retracted backwards and subgenus Llanoterus with labrum protactum or directed forward. The subgenus Subgnathus has 36 species grouped into two groups of species: Group Miguelarchangelskyi, species that present deflection in the head, and group Caputcliperectus species that present a hypognathous head. Llanoterus (Subgnathus) subg. nov., is described, with the following combination of characters: -labrum retroflectum-, deflexed to hypognathous head and strongly arched body shape in lateral view and Llanoterus (Llanoterus) subg. nov. (including the type species L. shorti García, Benetti and Camacho, 2012 are detailed in part 2 of the research) is described with the following combination of characters: -labrum protactum- and prognathous head, body shape with the head surface, pronotum or elytra variably arched in lateral view. All the taxa come from two ecological settings in the states Apure and Guárico. The genus Llanoterus is redescribed based on a large set of new characters. All species were captured in light traps at different times. Habitus, differential diagnostic characters of the head, legs and abdominal ventricles, as well as the genital organs of the male, and their geographical distribution in the country are illustrated.

Índice acumulado desde 1967 al 2023. Boletín del Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas. 56 Aniversario.

Teresa Martínez Leones — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Instrucciones a los autores

Teresa Martínez Leones — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Instructions for Contributors

Teresa Martínez Leones — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000