Diversity response of necrophagous dipteran communities and their functional groups to an anthropization gradient.

The anthropization process exerts a profound effect on ecosystems, causing alterations in biodiversity, habitat structure, and species composition, ultimately disrupting the delicate balance of natural environments. The aim of the present study was to explore the ecological dynamics of necrophagous Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae flies along an anthropization gradient. This research investigated alpha and beta diversity patterns to unravel the impact of human-induced environmental changes on these insect communities and also assesses the dynamics of functional groups in relation to their impact on medical and forensic fields.

Dung removal increases under higher dung beetle functional diversity regardless of grazing intensification.

Dung removal by macrofauna such as dung beetles is an important process for nutrient cycling in pasturelands. Intensification of farming practices generally reduces species and functional diversity of terrestrial invertebrates, which may negatively affect ecosystem services. Here, we investigate the effects of cattle-grazing intensification on dung removal by dung beetles in field experiments replicated in 38 pastures around the world.

[Diversity of the order Lepidoptera (Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) from Corrientes city, Argentina].

Urbanization is one of the most important threats for biodiversity. Among many different organisms, butterflies are useful indicators of environment diversity and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the Lepidoptera from Corrientes city.

[Epidemiology of American trypanosomiasis in the North of Corrientes province, Argentina].

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate triatomine colonization in domestic and extradomestic ecotopes, to determine triatomines infection index and to assess human prevalence of anti Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies at Berón de Astrada and Mburucuyá Departments, Corrientes, Argentina. Samplings were performed in 2007 and 2008 in randomly selected households at rural areas. Diagnosis of Chagas infection in volunteer residents was performed using indirect hemagglutination, indirect immunofluorescence and indirect immunoen-zimatic assay.

Triatomines involved in domestic and wild Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Concepción, Corrientes, Argentina.

An entomological and serological survey was performed in three localities of the Department of Concepción, Province of Corrientes, Argentina in 1998 and 1999, to identify triatomines species involved in domestic and wild transmission of Chagas disease. Triatomines were collected by man/hour capture in 32 houses randomly selected and 44 nearby outdoor ecotopes. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in triatomines was assessed by direct microscopic observation (400x) of feces and polymerase chain reaction.