Elisa Bonaccorso

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Verified

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• PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito

We investigated parasitism of the Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) by diptera in the genus Philornis through analysis of post-fledging nests in rice fields and flooded areas of western Ecuador in 2020 and 2021. Morphological and molecular data led to the identification of two species of Philornis flies (Diptera: Muscidae) within the nest material...

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a genetic region in jawed vertebrates that contains key genes involved in the immune response. Associations between the MHC and avian malaria infections in wild birds have been observed and mainly explored in the Northern Hemisphere, while a general lack of information remains in the Southern Hemisphere...

We present the complete genome sequences of 37 Ecuadorian bird species widespread throughout the tropical Andes.

We examined phylogeographic patterns and cryptic diversity within the royal flycatcher, Onychorhynchus coronatus (Aves: Onychorhynchidae), a widespread Neotropical lowland forest tyrant flycatcher. A phylogeny of the six recognized subspecies was constructed from mtDNA sequence data of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit two gene, using Bayesian Inferen...

The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) was a key biogeographic event in the history of the Americas. The rising of the Panamanian land bridge ended the isolation of South America and ushered in a period of dispersal, mass extinction, and new community assemblages, which sparked competition, adaptation, and speciation. Diversification across m...

The Blue-throated Hillstar Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus is a recently described hummingbird endemic to the southern Andes of Ecuador. This "Critically Endangered" species faces multiple conservation problems; thus, acquiring basic ecological information is a key step for guiding sound and integral conservation actions. We performed a series of expedit...

New World crakes are intriguing, poorly known birds with cursorial cryptic habits; they belong to two unrelated tribes: Laterallini and Pardirallini. Recent genetic studies contributed to the phylogenetic knowledge of these tribes, but a complete phylogenetic reconstruction is still missing. Here, we present the most taxonomically complete dated ge...

Presentamos las memorias de la VII Reunión Ecuatoriana de Ornitología (VII REO), desarrollada en Cuenca, en 27–31 de julio de 2022. La VII REO contó con cuatro charlas magistrales, un simposio sobre áreas clave para la biodiversidad en Ecuador, 54 presentaciones orales y pósters, un conversatorio sobre anillamiento de aves en el país y seis tallere...

A major barrier to advancing ornithology is the systemic exclusion of professionals from the Global South. A recent special feature, Advances in Neotropical Ornithology, and a shortfalls analysis therein, unintentionally followed a long-standing pattern of highlighting individuals, knowledge, and views from the Global North, while largely omitting...

Global-scope scientific journals have played an important role in upholding a colonial legacy of north-south inequities in ornithology, and they now have a key role to play in increasing equity in scientific publishing. We explore common barriers faced by ornithologists in the Neotropics (Latin America and the Caribbean) and suggest priority action...

Forest loss and fragmentation drive widespread declines in biodiversity. However, hummingbirds seem to exhibit relative resilience to disturbance, characterized by increasing abundance alongside declining species richness and evenness. Yet, how widespread this pattern may be, and the mechanisms by which it may occur, remain unclear. To fill in this...

Protected area (PA) extent has increased significantly over the last 150 years globally, but it is yet unclear whether progress in expanding coverage has been accompanied by improved performance in ecological representation. Here, we explore temporal trends in the performance of PA networks in representing > 16,000 vertebrate and plant species in t...

Myiasis by Philornis is a usual phenomenon in Neotropical birds. Philornis larvae are hematophagous and are known to affect both nestlings and adults. Still, parasitism in adults seems opportunistic and has been poorly studied compared to parasitism in nestlings. Here, we inspected 1,429 adult and juvenile birds of 41 species from an Andean dry for...

Haemosporidian genera Plasmodium , Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon , responsible for avian malarial infections, are highly diverse and have a wide range of health effects and predictors, depending on the host and its environmental context. Here, we present, for the first time, detailed information on the identity, prevalence and parasitaemia of haem...

Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as “fieldwork.” Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, interacting with local communities at field sites, and collaborative research led by one or a few of t...

Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as “fieldwork.” Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, interacting with local communities at field sites, and collaborative research led by one or a few of t...

Disentangling the factors underlying the diversification of geographically variable species with a wide geographical range is essential to understanding the initial stages and drivers of the speciation process. The Amazilia Hummingbird, Amazilis amazilia, is found along the Pacific coast from northern Ecuador down to the Nazca Valley of Peru, and i...

A major barrier to advancing ornithology is the systemic exclusion of professionals from the Global South. A recent special dossier, Advances in Neotropical Ornithology, and a shortfalls analysis therein, unintentionally followed a long-standing pattern of highlighting individuals, knowledge, and views from the Global North, while largely omitting...

Chlorospingus flavopectus, a widely distributed member of the New World sparrows and finches (Passerellidae), is among the most variable and complex Neotropical bird species. With up to 28 subspecies that inhabit montane forest from Mexico south to Argentina, it presents a recurring leapfrog pattern, with many genetically differentiated lineages, b...

This is the Supplementary Material for Sánchez-Nivicela et al (2021) A taxonomic assessment of Chlorospingus flavopectus phaeocephalus and Chlorospingus semifuscus (Passeriformes: Passerellidae), including the description of a new subspecies. It includes: - Molecular Methods (SM: A1) - Dawn song’s spectrograms per every population (SM: A2) - PCA o...

Chlorospingus flavopectus, a widely distributed member of the New World sparrows and finches (Passerellidae), is among the most variable and complex Neotropical bird species. With up to 28 subspecies that inhabit montane forest from Mexico south to Argentina, it resents a recurring leapfrog pattern, with many genetically differentiated lineages, bu...

This is the Supplementary Material for Sánchez-Nivicela et al (2021) A taxonomic assessment of Chlorospingus flavopectus phaeocephalus and Chlorospingus semifuscus (Passeriformes: Passerellidae), including the description of a new subspecies. It includes: - Molecular Methods (SM: A1) - Dawn song’s spectrograms per every population (SM: A2) - PCA of...

Shark fishing, driven by the fin trade, is the primary cause of global shark population declines. Here, we present a case study that exemplifies how industrial fisheries are likely depleting shark populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. In August 2017, the vessel Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999, of Chinese flag, was detained while crossing through t...

Here we report the first record of the Masked Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis wetmorei) for the Eastern Andes of Colombia, which represents the discovery of the most northern and isolated population (c. 450 km from the nearest locality) of this rare species. The Masked Mountain-Tanager inhabits locally the ecotone between humid elfin Andean forests an...

Studying processes acting on differentiated populations upon secondary contact, such as hybridization, is important to comprehensively understand how species are formed and maintained over time. However, avian speciation studies in the tropical Andes have largely focused on the role of topographic and ecological barriers promoting divergence in all...

Studying the genetic signatures of evolutionary diversification in young lineages is among the most promising approaches for unveiling the processes behind speciation. Here, we focus on Oreotrochilus chimborazo, a high Andean species of hummingbird that might have experienced rapid diversification in the recent past. To understand the evolution of...

We explored how climate change during the last ~ 21,000 years may have affected the distribution and demography of the Plumbeous Sierra-finch (Geospizopsis unicolor) across the Ecuadorian paramos. Also, given the current island-like configuration of this ecosystem, we attempted to identify areas that may hold genetically isolated populations, as we...

Alexander von Humboldt conducted his best‑known work on the slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. He did this by applying his own characteristic brand of multidisciplinary scientific approach. This consisted of thorough data collection while synthesizing and visualizing the data in innovative formats. Also important for his scientific success in South Am...

Alexander von Humboldt is often regarded as the "Father of Biogeography". Although the very concept that any discipline has a founder may be disputed, von Humboldt´s contributions are, without a doubt, enormous, integrative and global. His lucid writing was widely read, he built up a huge network of correspondents, he assisted many young researcher...

The western Amazon needs to expand its protected-area system to ensure the conservation of its immense and threatened biodiversity. However, potential expansions often meet with resistance because of scarce government resources and competing social priorities. Here, we proposed an expansion of the protected-area system for the western Amazon that i...

The outbreak and transmission of disease-causing pathogens are contributing to the unprecedented rate of biodiversity decline. Recent advances in genomics have coalesced into powerful tools to monitor, detect, and reconstruct the role of pathogens impacting wildlife populations. Wildlife researchers are thus uniquely positioned to merge ecological...

The outbreak and transmission of disease-causing pathogens are contributing to the unprecedented rate of biodiversity decline. Recent advances in genomics have coalesced into powerful tools to monitor, detect, and reconstruct the role of pathogens impacting wildlife populations. Wildlife researchers are thus uniquely positioned to merge ecological...

Neotropical seasonally dry forests (NSDF) are widely distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean. They possess important levels of species richness and endemism but few studies have assessed the diversity patterns and ecological relationships between the entire avifauna of these threatened forests. Thus, in order to analyse the macro-ecologi...

The outbreak and transmission of disease-causing pathogens are contributing to the unprecedented rate of biodiversity decline. Recent advances in genomics have coalesced into powerful tools to monitor, detect, and reconstruct the role of pathogens impacting wildlife populations. Wildlife researchers are thus uniquely positioned to merge ecological...

The avifauna of the Pantepui is an extraordinary assemblage characterized by high endemism, which likely originated through complex ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we provide a brief summary of ornithological expeditions to the Guiana Highlands and then review different hypotheses that explain bird distribution patterns in the Pantepui...

Laboratories that perform PCR on a routine basis need to count on reliable DNA isolation methods. In locations where supply of DNA extraction kits depends on importation, having an in-house protocol is desirable. This is also important for laboratories limited by budget constraints. We present a low-cost DNA isolation protocol that incorporates wel...

Despite intensive research during the last few decades, understanding of ecological and physiological factors related to haemosporidian infections in birds is still fragmentary. Since more model organisms are needed in order to understand these infections in the wild, we analysed avian haemosporidian infections in the rufous-collared sparrow ( Zono...

Neotropical seasonally dry forests (NSDFs) are widely distributed and possess high levels of species richness and endemism; however, their biogeography remains only partially understood. Using species distribution modelling and parsimony analysis of endemicity, we analysed the distributional patterns of the NSDF avifauna in order to identify their...

Habitat loss has the potential to alter vertebrate host populations and their interactions with parasites. Theory predicts a decrease in parasite diversity due to the loss of hosts in such contexts. However, habitat loss could also increase parasite infections as a result of the arrival of new parasites or by decreasing host immune defenses. We inv...

Geographic areas and families of other molecular lineages. (DOCX)

Model averaging of the associations of habitat loss and ecological variables on infection status. (DOCX)

Principal component analysis (PCA) of habitat type. (DOCX)

Model averaging of the associations among forest characteristics and vector abundance. (DOCX)

We describe a new species of the genus Oreotrochilus from the southwestern Andes of Ecuador. The new species is most similar in adult male plumage to O. stolzmanni and O. chimborazo. However, male and female show unique combinations of plumage characters that are likely to act as social signals. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA indi...

http://web.ecologia.unam.mx/oikos3.0/index.php/todos-los-numeros/articulos-anteriores/389-aves-bosques-secos

The Streaked Saltator, Saltator striatipectus, is an uncommon to common resident of open areas, cultivated land, gardens, and forest edges, with ten subspecies recognized from west Costa Rica through west Peru (Brewer 2016). Patterns of plumage variation, especially mantle color and streaking pattern below, are complex across subspecies and age cla...

We studied the phylogeography and plumage variation of the Russet-crowned Warbler (Myiothlypis coronata), from Venezuela to Bolivia, with focus on populations from Ecuador and northern Peru. We analyzed sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, geographic distributions, as well as photographs of specimens deposited at museum collections. Phylog...

Samples included in the phylogenetic and plumage analyses of Myiothlypis coronata. COP, Colección Ornitológica Phelps; IAvH, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt; ICN, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales; ANDES, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de Los Andes; QCAZ, Museo de Zoología, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; MZUTI, Museo de Zoologí...

Migrants per generation. Posterior probability distribution of the number of migrants per generation between adjacent lineages of Myiothlypis coronata. (PDF)

Plumage variation of Myiothlypis coronata across Ecuador and northern Peru. M. c. elata: A. QCAZ 2298 (Carchi); B. QCAZ 4507 (Pichincha); C. QCAZ 4244 (Molleturo, Azuay); D. QCAZ 4111 (Cruspampa, Azuay). M. c. orientalis: E. QCAZ 3302 (Sumaco volcano, Napo); F. MECN 6556 (Mirador, Napo); G. MECN 4577 (Cordillera de los Huacamayos, Napo); H. MECN 45...

The Ecuadorian Hillstar Oreotrochilus chimborazo is a high Andean hummingbird that inhabits paramo ecosystems from extreme southern Colombia to southern Ecuador. The species is currently divided into three subspecies that differ in morphology and geographic distribution but no molecular differences have been found between them using mitochondrial m...

Elevation has been proposed as a dominant ecological variable shaping life history traits and subsequently their underlying hormonal mechanisms. In an earlier meta-analysis of tropical birds, elevation was positively related to testosterone levels. Furthermore, parasitism by avian haemosporidians should vary with elevation as environmental conditio...

Appendix S1. Extended methods.

Appendix S3. Oil block importance index.

Appendix S2. List of biodiversity indicators.

Understanding how parasites fill their ecological niches requires information on the processes involved in the colonization and exploitation of unique host species. Switching to hosts with atypical attributes may favour generalists broadening their niches or may promote specialization and parasite diversification as the consequence. We analysed whi...

Background: Glucocorticoids are adrenal steroid hormones essential to homeostatic maintenance. Their daily variation at low concentrations regulates physiology and behavior to sustain proper immunological and metabolic function. Glucocorticoids rise well above these baseline levels during stress to elicit emergency-state responses that increase sh...

Many factors could influence repertoire size and function. Here, we provide a review of the descriptions of vocal repertoires of New World jays and a unifying terminology for function of their vocalizations. We summarized 19 different functional types of vocal behavior shared by at least two species, for review purposes. Comparing the 14 studied sp...

Geographic isolation has been proposed as the factor driving subspecific diversity of the Ecuadorian hillstar (Oreotrochilus chimborazo), a highland species restricted to the naturally fragmented paramos of Ecuador and southern Colombia. Current taxonomy recognizes three subspecies: O. c. chimborazo (from the Chimborazo volcano), O. c. soderstromi...

Ecuador will experience a significant expansion of the oil industry in its Ama-zonian region, one of the most biodiverse areas of the world. In view of thechanges that are about to come, we explore the conflicts between oil extractioninterests and biodiversity protection and apply systematic conservation planningto identify priority areas that shou...

The Ecuadorian inter-Andean dry valleys are highly affected by human intervention. Currently, less than 5% of the original vegetation cover of these valleys remains on creeks and hillsides. Bosque Protector Jerusalem (1,110 ha), in the upper Guayllabamba River valley, protects the largest remnants of inter-Andean dry forest in Ecuador. Here, we pre...

La malaria es causada por protozoarios de los géneros Plasmodium y Haemoproteus. Estos infectan la sangre y otros órganos dentro de hospedadores vertebrados y son transmitidos por insectos. Los impactos de estos protozoos en las poblaciones aviares silvestres son poco entendidos, aún en zonas templadas, donde han sido mayormente estudiados. Los efe...

The biodiversity of the Andean Chocó in western Ecuador and Colombia is threatened by anthropogenic changes in land cover. The main goal of this study was to contribute to conservation of 12 threatened species of amphibians at a cloud forest site in northwestern Ecuador, by identifying and proposing protection of critical areas. We used Geographic...

The Black-breasted Puffleg Eriocnemis nigrivestis is a hummingbird endemic to Ecuador and considered Critically Endangered, given its limited distribution, low population numbers, and ongoing habitat degradation. We investigated habitat use patterns using landscape and microhabitat variables. In addition, we explored a previously postulated competi...

Conservation planning is crucial for megadiverse countries where biodiversity is coupled with incomplete reserve systems and limited resources to invest in conservation. Using Peru as an example of a megadiverse country, we asked whether the national system of protected areas satisfies biodiversity conservation needs. Further, to complement the exi...

We report patterns of infection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in a cloud forest amphibian community in the Andean Western Cordillera of Ecuador (Reserva Las Gralarias). Data were obtained during the rainy seasons of two consecutive years, using qPCR (year 2012) and end-­ point PCR (year 2013). We show that average Bd prevalence in this amp...

We report two high altitude sightings of Boat-billed Heron in the Andes of Ecuador. Based on identification and the localities were the sightings were reported, we suggest that both individuals belong to the Amazonian population of this species.

Ecuador has the largest number of species by area worldwide, but also a low representation of species within its protected areas. Here, we applied systematic conservation planning to identify potential areas for conservation in continental Ecuador, with the aim of increasing the representation of terrestrial species diversity in the protected area...

Appendix S1. List of species used.

Appendix S2. Extended Methods.

A level playing field is key for global participation in science and scholarship, particularly with regard to how scientific publications are financed and subsequently accessed. However, there are potential pitfalls of the so-called “Gold” open-access (OA) route, in which author-paid publication charges cover the costs of production and publication...

The remote Nangaritza Valley of southeast Ecuador has high bird diversity, combining Amazonian birds with species typical of eastern Andean slopes and foothills, a small number of taxa endemic to the Cordillera del Cóndor region of southern Ecuador and northern Peru, as well as a few forms from the dry Marañón valley region. Here, we update and rev...

Two hundred years of Neotropical ornithology have resulted in comprehensive monographic guides and thousands of scientific papers. Nonetheless, information is not evenly distributed across the region. Replicating previous assessments of Neotropical ornithology, we performed searches at Zoological Record of publications on birds of Neotropical count...

[RUS] Авторы статьи провели опрос ученых и исследователей из разных стран мира на тему Gold Open Access, отношения к такой публикационной системе и перспективах ее развития. Результаты исследования представлены в статье. - [ENG] The authors conducted a survey of scientists and researchers from around the world on the subject of Gold Open Access, re...

To understand the origin of Pantepui montane biotas, we studied the biogeography of toucanets in the genus Aulacorhynchus. These birds are ideal for analyzing historical relationships among Neotropical montane regions, given their geographic distribution from Mexico south to Bolivia, including northern Venezuela (Cordillera de la Costa), and the Pa...

List of tissue samples and GenBank accession numbers for sequences of species included in the present study. (PDF)