Browsing by Author "Flores-Prado, Luis"
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Item Demographic and performance effects of alternative host use in a Neotropical treehopper (Hemiptera: Membracidae)(2019) Pinto, Carlos F.; Torrico-Bazoberry, Daniel; Flores-Prado, Luis; Bustamante, Ramiro O.; Niemeyer, Hermann M.The mechanisms which promote divergence in populations of phytophagous insects using alternative hosts depend on the characterization of hosts as different selective scenarios and the modeling of the demographic dynamics of the insect on those hosts. In the Bolivian Yungas forests, the treehopper Alchisme grossa (Hemiptera: Membracidae) utilizes two sympatric Solanaceae hosts, Brugmansia suaveolens and Solanum ursinum. On both hosts, females take care of nymphs during their development and adults use almost exclusively their natal host species. We characterized: 1) the performance of families (mother and nymphs) on both hosts, 2) maternal care across families and hosts, 3) biotic (herbivory, predators and parasites) and abiotic (temperature, relative humidity and luminosity) conditions across hosts and 4) demographic parameters of cohorts living under natural conditions on both hosts using matrix population modelling. The life cycle was longer on B. suaveolens than on S. ursinum. Microenvironmental abiotic and biotic traits differed between hosts. Nevertheless, performance did not differ between hosts and no differences between hosts were found in demographic parameters. None of the environmental variables explained the demographic parameters. Females performed maternal care with the same intensity on both hosts. Taken together with published data on the system, these results suggest that individuals of A. grossa in this study belong to a single population. Colonization of one of these hosts might be a recent event and evolutionary processes that promote ecological adaptation and hence demographic or performance differences have not yet become noticeable.Publication Quantitative evaluation of a theoretical-conceptual model based on affective and socio-behavioral dimensions to explain the academic performance of mathematics students(2024) Marín-Álvarez, Felipe; Flores-Prado, Luis; Figueroa, Oriana; Polo Rodrigo, Pablo; Varela, Jorge; Muñoz Reyes, José AntonioObjective: There is evidence that suggests that affective dimensions, personality traits, as well as students’ cooperative interpersonal interactions, are an important element in the students learning process. In this work we propose a theoretical model, based on evidence, that shows the direct and indirect relationships between these factors and academic performance in mathematics courses, in undergraduate and school students. Methods: To understand the type of relationships between these variables, the PANAS psychometric test of positive and negative affect, the BIG FIVE personality test and the economic decision game DUPLES GAME were applied. The study sample was 130 students between 17 and 22 years of age from undergraduate and school (M ± SD = 20.1 ± 3.99). Results: From a path analysis, statistically significant relationships were found, for example, a direct relationship between neuroticism and positive affect, which in turn is related to academic performance. We also found a direct relationship between neuroticism and negative affect, extraversion and positive affect. This allows us to propose that some of the independent variables of the model directly and indirectly influence the academic performance of students in the subject of mathematics. Conclusion: Positive affect and negative affect directly affect academic performance in mathematics, neuroticism has a direct impact on negative affect and extraversion direct impact on positive affect. Consequently, there are direct and indirect relationships between personality traits and affective dimensions, which affect the academic performance of mathematics students.