Instituto de Ecología

Mechanical isolation emerges from individual-level morphological covariation under reinforcement

Mechanical isolation is often viewed as a discrete species-level premating barrier arising from divergence in reproductive morphology. However, whether such isolation reflects discrete species-level incompatibility or emerges from continuous variation in morphological matching am...

Spatial prioritization for conserving hummingbird–plant interaction roles across Mexico

Global biodiversity goals acknowledge that conserving species alone is insufficient to maintain ecosystem functioning. Yet, spatial conservation planning rarely incorporates ecological interactions, limiting efforts to protect both species' persistence and the ecological processe...

The first annotated checklist of the bees of Colombia reveals an overlooked diversity and areas with major data deficiencies

Background Most existing knowledge about bee biodiversity comes from temperate regions, where diversity is presumed highest—yet substantial data gaps across the tropics confound this pattern. Checklists are critical for documenting species presence, identifying knowledge gaps, an...

Antifungal activity of Burkholderia sensu lato metabolites against coffee phytopathogens: evidence of chemical diversity

Abstract The environmental and health concerns associated with the widespread use of synthetic pesticides have intensified the search for sustainable alternatives to control phytopathogenic fungi. In this context, members of the Burkholderia sensu lato group have been recognized...

Long-term diatom response to anthropogenic stressors in a Neotropical lake

Understanding tropical lake ecosystem responses to anthropogenic disturbance over long timescales is critical for assessing resistance, resilience, and regime shifts; however, such perspectives are rare in the Neotropics. We combined paleolimnological, limnological, and remote-se...

Multiple drivers and long-term patterns of the ecology of segregation in Latin America

Segregation is a multidimensional phenomenon deeply entwined with historical, social, and ecological contexts. The ecology of segregation framework explores how social norms institutionalize racism, classism, and power dynamics to drive inequitable patterns of environmental benef...

Ultra-processed food increases mortality in the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea

Abstract Ultra-processed food products make up more than half of the total calories consumed by people in some nations, and their sales keep growing. Eating these foods is correlated with human health issues, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity, and also damages...

Synthesis of Spiro-Bridged 3,4-Dihydrocoumarins Through an Organocatalytic Cascade Sequence Diels–Alder/Nucleophilic Ring Closing

3,4-dihydrocoumarins and spiro compounds constitute an important class of privileged frameworks present in a wide variety of natural and synthetic molecules with diverse applications. In this study, we developed an organocatalytic methodology for the construction of complex and d...

Untargeted Metabolomics of Xylem Sap Exudates in Two Common Bean Genotypes with Contrasting Growth Rates Under Water Deficit During Pod Filling

Background/Objectives: Water deficit during the pod filling stage severely limits the productivity of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Although the effects of water scarcity have been extensively studied in leaves and roots, the contribution of xylem sap to systemic metabolic a...

Riding the Storm: Microeukaryote Community Responses to Hurricane Disturbance

Sandy beaches are dynamic ecosystems where terrestrial and marine organisms coexist, resulting in diverse communities where microeukaryotes (protists, microalgae, and meiofauna) are key drivers. Understanding their diversity patterns and responses to stressors is essential for el...