The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of microbial cellulose films (MCFs) in culture media based on green tea and different carbon sources, using two microbial consortia (COr and CFr). During the fermentation process, there was a reduction in the total soluble solids (TSS) content and pH, as well as an increase in the acidity in all treatments. Furthermore, fluctuations in the total sugar content and proteins during the fermentation process were associated with the consumption of carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as the production of MCFs. In the color analysis, a decrease in the L* value was observed while the rest of the parameters remained stable. Production of films was observed between days 6 and 9 of fermentation; the preferred substrate for COr was glucose (wet base yields = 603.61% and dry base yields = 22.37%), whereas for CFr was dextrose (wet base yields = 601.49% and dry base yields = 28.14%). Finally, the MCFs produced by COr and CFr showed a homogeneous, thick appearance, slight flexibility, and the characteristic brown color of the fermentation medium.

Bacterial symbionts play an important role in insect survival by contributing to key metabolic and defensive functions. While stingless bees are known to harbor diverse microbial communities, their core bacterial symbionts remain poorly characterized. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of sixteen stingless bee species collected from different regions of Mexico using 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina^® MiSeq™ platform. Our results revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria are the most abundant bacterial phyla across species. Among the dominant genera, lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium, and Fructobacillus spp., were the most prevalent. These bacteria are responsible for developing biochemical functions in metabolic processes like lactic fermentation and the biotransformation of complex organic compounds into molecules that are more easily assimilated by bees. This study offers a novel perspective on the diversity and predicted composition of gut microbiota in Mexican stingless bees. By highlighting differences in microbial communities among species with different feeding habits, our results emphasize the importance of preserving microbial biodiversity in these pollinators.

Bacterial symbionts in insects constitute a key factor for the survival of the host due to the benefits they provide. Parasitoid wasps are closely associated with viruses, bacteria, and fungi. However, the primary symbionts and their functions are not yet known. This study was undertaken to determine the gut microbiota of six species of the Telenomus genus: T. alecto (Crawford), T. sulculus Johnson, T. fariai Costa Lima, T. remus Nixon, T. podisi Ashmead, and T. lobatus Johnson & Bin. Wasp parasitoids were collected from their hosts in different locations in Mexico. DNA was extracted from gut collection, and sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA was carried out in Illumina^® MiSeq™. Among the six species of wasps, results showed that the most abundant phylum were Proteobacteria (82.3%), Actinobacteria (8.1%), and Firmicutes (7.8%). The most important genera were Delftia and Enterobacter. Seventeen bacteria species were found to be shared among the six species of wasps. The associate microbiota will help to understand the physiology of Telenomus to promote the use of these wasp parasitoids in the management of insect pests and as potential biomarkers to target new strategies to control pests.

The long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) is a species of international conservation concern. Effective long-term conservation measures for a species require knowledge of all aspects of the species' ecology within its range. We analyzed 210 pellets regurgitated by long-billed curlews that were collected at two sites in the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico. From these pellets, we identified 34 prey items corresponding to three classes of invertebrates (10 orders, 18 families, and 9 morphospecies), one class of reptiles (one order and one family), one class of plants (one order, one family, and four morphospecies), as well as gastroliths. We selected three habitat types used by the curlews and conducted a prey availability analysis with pitfall traps and a sweep net; we estimated a biomass of 20.78 g of ground-dwelling invertebrates and 64.73 g of flying and foliage invertebrates for every 10 m2 during the winter season. Our results demonstrate that the long-billed curlew has high dietary flexibility and uses different habitats during its wintering stay in the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico. One main threat was detected on wintering grounds: exposure to pesticides, which can lead to both physiological problems and the reduction of its main prey.

Nest-site selection in birds is a hierarchical process shaped by environmental filters operating across multiple spatial scales. In species that depend on burrows excavated by ecosystem engineers, understanding how these filters interact is essential for effective conservation. We evaluated nest-site selection by the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) within colonies of the Mexican prairie dog (Cynomys mexicanus) in the southern Chihuahuan Desert using a multiscale analytical framework spanning burrow, site, colony, and landscape levels. During the 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons, we located 56 successful nests and paired each with an inactive non-nest burrow within the same colony. Eighteen structural and environmental variables were measured and analyzed using binary logistic regression models, with model selection based on an information-theoretic approach (AICc) and prior screening for predictor collinearity. Nest-site selection was associated with greater internal burrow development and reduced external exposure at the burrow scale, proximity to satellite burrows and low-to-moderate vegetation structure at the site scale, higher densities of active prairie dog burrows at the colony scale, and reduced predation risk and agricultural disturbance at the landscape scale. The integrated multiscale model showed substantially greater support and discriminatory power than single-scale models, indicating that nest-site selection emerges from interactions among spatial scales rather than from isolated factors. These findings support hierarchical habitat-selection theory and underscore the importance of conserving functional Mexican prairie dog colonies and low-disturbance grassland landscapes to maintain suitable breeding habitats for Burrowing owls in the southern Chihuahuan Desert.

Introduction: The search for sustainable agricultural strategies has highlighted the importance of plant-microbe interactions within soil ecosystems. In particular, extracellular metabolites produced by soil bacteria represent a promising, yet underexplored, source of bioactive compounds capable of modulating plant germination and early development. Methods: This study evaluated the biostimulant potential of extracellular metabolites present in bacterial cell-free supernatants on the germination and early growth of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Prosopis juliflora under controlled laboratory conditions. Two native bacterial strains isolated from soils of Nuevo León, Mexico, were identified as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Bacillus cereus using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Supernatants obtained after cultivation in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium were applied directly to seeds, and germination and growth parameters were recorded. Phytochemical screening of the supernatants was also performed. Results: The L. xylanilyticus supernatant significantly enhanced seed germination (96.66 ± 5.77%; p < 0.0001) and promoted early growth in both plant species, increasing shoot length, leaf width, and fresh biomass. In contrast, the B. cereus supernatant inhibited H. sabdariffa germination (30 ± 10%; p = 0.0146) and showed limited effects on P. juliflora . Notably, a 50:50 mixture of both supernatants completely inhibited H. sabdariffa germination while significantly stimulating P. juliflora germination (90 ± 10%; p = 0.0130). Phytochemical analysis revealed low concentrations of carbohydrates and coumarins, suggesting that the observed effects were likely mediated by other, unidentified bioactive metabolites. Discussion: These findings demonstrate that extracellular metabolites produced by soil-derived bacteria exert species-specific and measurable biological effects on seed germination and early plant growth. The contrasting responses observed between plant species and supernatant combinations underscore the complexity of plant–microbe chemical interactions. Overall, this study highlights the potential of bacterial extracellular metabolites as microbiome-based tools for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration.