Frugivory in cotingas of the Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil

In this paper we present a list of plant species whose fruits are eaten by eight cotinga species (Carpornis cucullatus, C. melanocephalus, Laniisoma elegans, Lipaugus lanioides, Oxyruncus cristatus, Phibalura flavirostris, Procnias nudicollis, and Pyroderus scutatus) at Parque Estadual Intervales (PEI), an Atlantic Forest reserve in southeast Brazil. Besides providing a list of fruits eaten by cotingas, our goal is to allow insights into fruit use by these birds whose ecology is poorly known. From 1990 to 2001 four sites located within PEI were regularly visited. These sites form an altitudinal gradient (70-800 m a.s.l.) and also a gradient of forest disturbance (second-growth to old-growth vegetation). Feeding records were made along several trails and dirt roads that crossed the study sites. Cotingas ate a variety of fruits (99 species in 34 families) that ranged from small (< 5 mm diameter) to large (up to 37 mm) and included some non-ornithochorous ones. With the exception of P. nudicollis, cotingas exploited not only fruits typical of the forest interior but also fruits of secondary vegetation, suggesting that concerning fruit exploitation early successional vegetation does not represent a barrier for the survival of these cotingas.

Inter and intraspecific variation on reproductive phenology of the Brazilian Atlantic forest Rubiaceae: Ecology and phylogenetic constraints

The reproductive phenology of seven species of Rubiaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest was compared to evaluate the occurrence of phylogenetic constraints on flowering and fruiting phenologies. Since phenological patterns can be affected by phylogenetic constraints, we expected that reproductive phenology would be similar among plants within a family or genus, occurring during the same time (or season) of the year. Observations on flowering and fruiting phenology were carried out monthly, from December 1996 to January 1998, at Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Nine phenological variables were calculated to characterize, quantify and compare the reproductive phenology of the Rubiaceae species. The flowering patterns were different among the seven species studied, and the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant differences in flowering duration, first flowering, peak flowering and flowering synchrony. The peaks and patterns of fruiting intensity were different among the Rubiaceae species studied and they differed significantly from conspecifics in the phenological variables fruiting duration, fruiting peak date, and fruiting synchrony (Kruskal-Wallis test). Therefore, we found no evidence supporting the phylogenetic hypotheses, and climate does not seem to constrain flowering and fruiting patterns of the Rubiaceae species in the understory of the Atlantic forest.

Relationship between Constrictotermes cyphergaster and Inquiline Termites in the Cerrado (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Constrictotermes cyphergaster builds arboreal nests in Cerrado sensu stricto of Brazil; inquiline termites and termitophiles frequently inhabit their nests. Measurements of the nests and the support trees (nest width and diameter; tree trunk circumference and inclination), colony size of C. cyphergaster and of Inquilinitermes and number of termitophiles were studied at the Parque Estadual da Serra de Caldas Novas. These variables were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis, producing four principal components. The first principal component refers to a multidimensional axis of nest size, encompassing variables related to nest and colony size, such as abundance per caste of C. cyphergaster and I. microcerus, number of termitophile species and the measurements of the nest. The number of soldiers and workers of C. cyphergaster and soldiers of Inquilinitermes increased proportionally to the axis of nest size, while the number of Inquilinitermes workers increased more quickly then the increase in the nest size. Both Inquilinitermes occurred mainly in larger nests. Almost half of the nests (47,5%) were inhabited by I. microcerus and 10% by I. fur.

Pollination ecology of the Cerrado species Eschweilera nana (Lecythidaceae subfam. Lecythidoideae)

Eschweilera nana is pollinated by a guild of pollinators consisting of mostly bees. Effective pollinators are large bees able to force their way into the closed androecium to access nectar. The morphology of the flowers diminishes self pollination and promotes cross-pollination. Although many pollinators make diurnal visits to the flowers, fruit set was very low in comparison with the number of flowers produced. Breeding system tests yielded only two fruits, one produced by xenogamy and another one in the control test. The results of this study are consistent with studies of other Cerrado plants pollinated by guilds of insects and support the conclusion of other pollination studies of Lecythidaceae that fruit set is low in comparison with the high numbers of flowers produced. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden.

Comportamento de milho (Zea Mays L.) e propriedades físicas do solo, no sistema plantio direto, em resposta a aplicação de fertilizante organomineral

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Processos ecológicos e filogenéticos na estruturação de comunidades de girinos

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Ecologia da polinização de Eschweilera nana Miers, uma Lecythidaceae do cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Floração e frutificação de Myrtaceae de floresta atlântica: limitações ecológicas e filogenéticas

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Desenvolvimento de um protópipo de atlas eletrônico de Unidades de Conservação para educação ambiental

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Estudo do uso de lodo de estações de tratamento de água e de esgoto urbano nas propriedades químicas do solo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anatomia do lenho de caule e raiz de plantas jovens de Enterolobium contortisiliquum (VELL.) Morong (Fabaceae-mimosoideae) crescendo em diferentes condições edáficas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Formação continuada em educação física escolar: concepções e perspectivas de professores

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

PCN de história na escola: caminho e descaminhos para a construção da cidadania

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ecologia populacional de Talitroides topitotum (Crustacea: Amphipoda) em uma reserva de floresta atlântica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O tipo de mesohabitat (corredeira e remanso) e a complexidade do substrato afetam a fauna de macroinvertebrados aquáticos de riacho

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)