Revista de Biología Tropical Revista de Biología Tropical / International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation, is a full open access journal from the University of Costa Rica focused on tropical biology and conservation. All issues, from 1953 to the present, are available for free download here.
OUR SCOPE (Objective)
Our journal publishes scientific articles that increase our understanding of biology, conservation, and biomedical life sciences in the tropics.
Selection criteria are the quantity and quality of new information and its potential interest to the general audience as well as to specialists. The studied ecosystems, or at least the organisms, must be tropical.
THEMATIC COVERAGE
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We give preference to feature articles that include testable study questions —for example, studies with an experimental design to evaluate factors that influence biological variables, or studies that explain the mechanisms underlying biological or biomedical phenomena such as, for example, behavior or physiology. Field studies should be extensive enough to identify temporal or spatial patterns. We also welcome systematic or phylogenetic studies above the species level, meta-analyses, and bibliometric studies that critically examine what is known and what remains to be done in any field of tropical biology.
Review articles are mostly published by invitation of the Editorial Board to recognized authorities. Other specialists interested in submitting a review must first send a titled outline to biologia.tropical@ucr.ac.cr. Accepted proposals receive the same evaluation as regular manuscripts.
All reviews and meta-analyses need to identify and fill gaps in knowledge, present methodological advances, and propose future research directions.
Note about old data: We encourage authors to compare old results with more recent data or to use the data within a meta-analysis. Studies based on data collected over six years ago must include a justification of why they are still of interest, and in the case of field studies, they need to present spatial patterns or temporal trends of historical significance. The Editorial Board evaluates the validity of methods and the relevance of results before sending the manuscript to reviewers.
The journal now has one issue per year (continuous publication from January 1st to December 31st) and publishes articles the same week that an edited version becomes available. Until 2021, it published four regular issues per year: issue 1 (January – March), issue 2 (April – June), issue 3 (July – September), and issue 4 (October – December).
We do not publish notes; short communications; species lists; single new species; range extensions; new records and other preliminary or short studies; or highly specialized technical reports based on protocols (e.g. agricultural, forestry, biochemical, microbiological, aquaculture, fishery or similar studies that only apply well known techniques to particular cases of local interest).
SPECIAL ISSUES
Special issues financed by research organizations are accepted after approval by the Editorial Board. They may contain a diversity of report types, including short papers, new records, new species descriptions, checklists, technical reports, etc. To publish a special issue, contact biologia.tropical@ucr.ac.cr for a cost estimate.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Researchers with an interest in studying all fields of tropical biology.
WHY PUBLISH IN REVISTA DE BIOLOGÍA TROPICAL?
- Fully indexed: Revista de Biología Tropical is included in Science Citation Index Expanded, REDIB Journals Ranking, Current Contents, Google Scholar, Biological Abstracts, and about 50 other international indices.
- Rapid decision and publication (7 days for first decision, 4-8 months from submission to publication).
- Fair: We use a double-blind system for a fair evaluation of manuscripts.
- High impact, not only because of its citation rate but also because it is widely read in countries with the highest tropical biodiversity, ensuring your article will have the most impact on the conservation of tropical biodiversity. Web of Science Impact Factor of 0.6. SJR Impact Factor of 0.28 (Q2).
- A personalized treatment by our dedicated staff.
- World Class Editorial and Scientific Boards.
- Open Access: All articles, since the first issue in 1953 to the present are freely available online (Archives) so they are more likely to be cited than articles behind pay-walls.
- FREE PUBLICATION: Each article receives 10 free pages of space in PDF format, which is enough for most scientific papers. Additional pages can be published in page layout format of the pdf at a cost of $50 each. Complementary material such as additional texts, figures, tables, graphics, and databases at a cost of $60. Contact tropical@ucr.ac.cr for more information.
OAI-PMH: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/RBT/oai
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- Methanogenesis in sediments of a tropical coastal wetland: a culture-dependent methodpor María del Rocío Torres-Alvarado el abril 16, 2024 a las 6:00 am
Introduction: Methanogenic archaea (MA), participate in the anaerobic mineralization of organic matter in mangrove sediments, their activity is related to atmospheric warming due to the production of methane; several environmental variables can influence the presence of MA and methane production in these sediments. Objective: To analyze, through culture-dependent techniques, viable methanogenic archaea (VMA) in the sediments, and the production of methane from acetate in different climatic periods in the mangrove El Morro-La Mancha, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico. Methods: From May to November 2019, following a salinity transect, sediment samples from El Morro-La Mancha mangrove were collected at three locations, in three different climatic seasons, dry (May), rainy (October) and northern (November) (N = 9). VMA in the sediments was quantified using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique with acetate and methanol as substrates. The influence of sulfate on methane production was analyzed from acetate in microcosm by gas chromatography and the chemical variables of salinity, pH, Eh, carbohydrates, organic content, and carbonates in the sediments were evaluated. Results: The abundance of VMA was 102 to 108 MPN/g of wet sediment, higher than that reported in other studies, this abundance was higher when methanol (104-108 MPN/g sediment) was used as substrate, compared to acetate (102-105 MPN/g sediment); methane production in the microcosms increased in sulfate-free conditions (29.78-929.75 nmol CH4/month) and in the sediments of the rainy season. Conclusion: The influence of the chemical conditions of the mangrove sediments on the methanogenic dynamics is highlighted, determining that in the rainy season, the decrease in salinity, more electronegative Eh, and the increase in organic fractions favored the methanogenesis. Objetive: To analyze, through culture-dependent techniques, the abundance of MA and the production of methane in different climatic periods in the mangrove El Morro-La Mancha, Veracruz, Gulf of Mexico. Methods: From May to November 2019, following a salinity transect, sediment samples from El Morro-La Mancha mangrove were collected at three sampling locations, in three different climatic seasons, dry (May), rainy (October) and northern (November) (n=9). The methanogenic abundance in the sediments was quantified using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique with acetate and methanol as substrates; methane production was analyzed from acetate by gas chromatography and the chemical variables of salinity, pH, Eh, carbohydrates, organic content and carbonates in the sediments were evaluated. Results: The abundance of MA was 102 to 108 cells/g of wet sediment, higher to that reported in other studies, this abundance was higher when methanol (104 - 108 cells/g sediment) was used as substrate, compared to acetate (102 - 105 cells/sediment); methane production increased in rains with 13% compared to dry. Conclusion: Highlighted the influence of the chemical conditions of the mangrove sediments on the methanogenic dynamics, determining that in the rainy season, the decrease in salinity, Eh more electronegative and the increase in organic fractions favored both methanogenic abundance as methane production.
- Production and germination of acorns from the Andean oak Quercus humboldtii (Fagaceae) affected by recurrent firespor Maurico Aguilar-Garavito el abril 16, 2024 a las 6:00 am
In recent decades, changes in use and increased wildfires have led to the disappearance of 60% of the surface area of Colombia's Andean forests and their increasing fragmentation. Among these forests are Quercus humboldtii oak forests, the only South American Fagaceae species of high socioeconomic and biodiversity interest. The reproductive response of this species will condition its regeneration capacity and the persistence of the oak forests. However, our knowledge of the effect of fire on the production and germination of acorns in Q. humboldtii is incipient. Objective: To evaluate the production and germination of Q. humboldtii acorns in oak forests affected by recurrent wildfires. Methods: We monitored acorn production and germination in Q. humboldtii trees from fire and non-fire-affected forests (central Colombia Andes, Boyacá, Iguaque massif) for fourteen months. We also evaluated fire incidence, tree size, precipitation, temperature and other site characteristics. Results: Acorn production began 34 months after the fire. In burned oaks, the production of incompletely developed acorns (abortions) was almost nine times higher than that of mature acorns. In addition, Oaks with larger scar areas or many scars were more likely to produce aborts. Conversely, oaks of larger size, especially in the crown, tend to produce more acorns. The few mature acorns from burned trees had smaller sizes and lower germination rates than unburned trees and the literature. The unburned trees in this study did not produce mature acorns, but abortion production is ten times lower than in the burned trees. Therefore, it is feasible that Q. humboldtii presents masting, and the unburned trees are in a low production cycle. Conclusions: Fire, tree size, and masting control acorn production in Iguaque oak forests, , which could affect the recruitment of the species due to a possible limitation in the source.
- Spatial and temporal dynamics of the primate community in a regenerating forest of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Perupor Jackeline Aida Mendoza-Soto el abril 16, 2024 a las 6:00 am
Introduction: Amazonian forests with varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance in the process of natural regeneration harbour many sympatric primate species. However, studies on their usage by primates are still lacking. Objective: To comprehensively study the spatial and temporal dynamics within the primate community in a regenerating forest within the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Methods: Two sets of historical data from Crees Foundation for Manu were analyzed, comprising records from January 2011 to February 2023 and corresponding to data obtained through incidental data and Terrestrial In-line Transects in three types of forest with different degrees of historical disturbance. Results: Lagothrix lagothricha and Ateles chamek showed a preference for less disturbed forests; Plecturocebus toppini, for more disturbed forests; and the other species did not show a clear preference. Regarding vertical stratification, A. chamek, L. lagothricha and Alouatta sara showed a preference for the upper stratum, P. toppini, Saimiri boliviensis and Sapajus macrocephalus showed a preference for the middle and upper strata and Leontocebus weddelli and Aotus nigriceps, for the middle stratum. According to the temporal activity of each species, seven species (A. chamek, S. macrocephalus, S. boliviensis, P. toppini, L. lagothricha, L. weddelli, and A. sara) were observed during the day, four were similar. Conclusions: The primate community varies according to disturbance gradient due to the preferences of some species. The recorded primates make a differentiated use of the vertical strata and most of them show diurnal activity.
- Sustainability of dual exploitation (fry and adults) of the fish Semaprochilodus laticeps (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) in Colombiapor Joan Stiven Bocanegra-Mora el abril 16, 2024 a las 6:00 am
Introduction: Semaprochilodus laticeps is a freshwater fish species native to the Orinoco Basin that is exploited in Colombia at two different stages of its life cycle: fry (for the ornamental trade) and adults (for the consumer market). This double exploitation of juveniles and adults raises concerns about the population stability of the species. Objective: To evaluate the sustainability of the exploitation of the species in these two life stages. Methods: 1 277 specimens of S. laticeps were sampled between June and December 2017. Population parameters were estimated from length-frequency data using ELEFAN 1 routine of the FISAT II package. Length at first maturity (Lm) and length at maximum yield (Lopt) were determined using the Froese and Binohlan equations. Virtual population analysis was performed based on Jones length cohort analysis. Results: Population parameters were as follows: K = 0.75, L∞ = 53.1 cm LE, Z = 2.92 yr-1, M = 1.24 yr-1 and F = 1.68. Lm was estimated to be 29.6 cm SL and Lopt at 33.4 cm SL. Of note, 96.3 % of the fish caught in the consumer fishery exceeded Lm and 80 % exceeded Lopt. The results of the virtual population analysis suggested that a very low proportion (0.85 %) of the population was caught as fry, possibly due to natural mortality. Conclusions: Based on the results, as no indicators of overexploitation were identified, it is recommended to continue with the dual use of S. laticeps. It is recommended to maintain the existing conservation measures, such as the closed season during the reproductive period, to ensure sustainable fishery exploitation. The results obtained can serve as a reference to analyze the situation of other species currently fished for both the ornamental (fry) and food (adult) markets.
- Digestive proteases of Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) in three life stagespor Manuel Alejandro Castillo-Rodríguez el abril 16, 2024 a las 6:00 am
Introduction: Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) is a species distributed in the Mexican southeast and threatened due to multiple pressures. Objective: To characterize the digestive proteases in the acid phase (stomach) and alkaline phase (intestine) of three life stages of C. moreletii in captivity (hatchling, juvenile, and adult). Methods: Total alkaline and acid protease activities were quantified using casein and haemoglobin as substrates. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and elastase activities were quantified using synthetic substrates. Protease profiles were analysed by SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE. Results: The specific activity of acid and alkaline proteases showed differences between the three stages, finding the highest activity in the juveniles. Trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and elastase activities were higher in hatchlings. There were differences in optimum pH and temperature of acid and alkaline proteases, trypsin, and leucine aminopeptidase between the three stages, demonstrating the diversification of the enzymes according to different stages, as well as the presence of specific isoforms in each stage of C. moreletii. The acid phase zymogram showed four bands with pepsin-like acid activity in the hatchling and juvenile crocodile, while in the adult only two of the four bands were detected. The alkaline zymogram showed that the hatchling had the highest number of activity bands compared to the other stages, corresponding to the high specific activity reported in the alkaline phase. Conclusions: Digestive proteases of Morelet’s crocodile differ in their biochemical characteristics and the number of proteases between hatchling, juvenile, and adult. This could help in the future design of balanced diets as well to the sustainable management and production of this species.