A new species of Miogryllus Saussure, 1877 from Andean Venezuela with bizarre cephalic morphology (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Gryllinae, Modicogryllini)

Miogryllus muranyi n. sp. is described from the Andean Acacia-Cactaceae semi-desert bush in the Chama Valley of Venezuela. The species is characterized by the unusual shape of the male head, which makes it readily distinguishable from any other congener known to date.

A macro- and micromorphological survey of floral and extrafloral nectaries in the epiphytic cactus Rhipsalis teres (Cactoideae: Rhipsalideae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diet of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Mammalia : Canidae), during wet and dry seasons at Ibitipoca State Park, Brazil

Analysis of 141 seats of maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus collected in a region of upland forest and meadows of south-eastern Brazil yielded 351 food items in the wet season (60 seats) and 407 in the dry season (81 seats). Scarabaeidae and rodents were the most frequent animal food in both seasons, complemented by birds in the wet season and unidentified mammals in the dry season. Seeds revealed Solanum lycocarpum to be the most frequent plant food in the dry season and an Annonaceae and a Cactaceae the most frequent in the wet season. A total of 33 seed morphospecies were retrieved. Although our results reveal some shared and some divergent trends from dietary studies undertaken in savanna ('cerrado') areas, we found a very high frequency of potentially harmful tourists' garbage. This highlights the necessity for better environmental education and confirms that the maned wolf is a generalist and opportunist omnivore.

Specialized Seed Dispersal in Epiphytic Cacti and Convergence with Mistletoes

Mistletoes represent the best example of specialization in seed dispersal, with a reduced assemblage of dispersal agents. Specific dispersal requirements mediated by the specificity of seed deposition site have apparently led to the evolution of such close relationships between mistletoes and certain frugivores. Here, we provide evidences for another case of specialization involving epiphytic cacti in the genus Rhipsalis, and small Neotropical passerines Euphonia spp., which also act as the main seed dispersers of mistletoes in the family Viscaceae. With field observations, literature search, and observations on captive birds, we demonstrated that Rhipsalis have specific establishment requirements, and euphonias are the most effective dispersers of Rhipsalis seeds in both quantitative and qualitative aspects, potentially depositing seeds onto branches of host plants. We interpret the similar dispersal systems of Rhipsalis and Viscaceae mistletoes, which involve the same dispersal agents, similar fruit morphologies, and fruit chemistry as convergent adaptive strategies that enable seeds of both groups to reach adequate microsites for establishment in host branches. © 2013 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.

Interações entre frugívoros voadores e plantas em um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecidual, Botucatu, SP

Plant-frugivore interactions are essential elements in ecosystem and their knowledge can becomes an important tool for the biodiversity maintenance. This study focused on analyzing the trophic structure of volant frugivore community and its implications for conservation. Bats and birds interactions events with plants were taken from three studies realized in Mata da Bica, a fragment of semideciduous seasonal forest in Botucatu- SP, and arranged in a matrix. A total of 40 interactions with 14% of connectance were found and only one dietary overlap between birds and bats was registrated. Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) bat showed the highest importance index (I=0,33) among the animals and Pereskia aculeata (Cactaceae) was the most important plant species (I=0,42). Birds and bats complemented each other in a possible dispersal process emphasizing different classes of animals’ role in an unique ecological process

Seedling structure in Asteraceae weedy species: considerations on the vasculature system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudos fitoquímicos e avaliação do potencial anti-helmíntico da opuntia ficus-indica

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS