Fruits as unusual food items of the carnivorous bat Chrotopterus auritus (Mammalia, Phyllostomidae) from southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Allometry and morphological integration in the skull of Tupinambis merianae (Lacertilia: Teiidae)

The morphogenetic processes acting in the skull of the lizard Tupinambis merianae were investigated by geometric morphometric techniques. The observed ontogenetic shape change involved a widening of the anterior extremity, stretching and narrowing of the midface, narrowing of the braincase, orbital reduction and elongation of the temporal region (origin of jaw adductor muscles). This change occurred mostly in a localized way in certain cranial regions. The major components identified were: rostrum, midface, dermal elements of braincase (functionally influenced) and endochondral elements of braincase (embryologically influenced). The growth patterns lead to an increased robustness of the skull (particularly the anterior extremity) and a reduction of cranial kinesis. These changes, together with the ontogenetic variation in dentition aid in the ontogenetic variation observed in the diet of these animals, which shift from carnivory to omnivory.

The role of multiple partners in a digestive mutualism with a protocarnivorous plant

Background and aimsThe protocarnivorous plant Paepalanthus bromelioides (Eriocaulaceae) is similar to bromeliads in that this plant has a rosette-like structure that allows rainwater to accumulate in leaf axils (i.e. phytotelmata). Although the rosettes of P. bromelioides are commonly inhabited by predators (e.g. spiders), their roots are wrapped by a cylindrical termite mound that grows beneath the rosette. In this study it is predicted that these plants can derive nutrients from recycling processes carried out by termites and from predation events that take place inside the rosette. It is also predicted that bacteria living in phytotelmata can accelerate nutrient cycling derived from predators.MethodsThe predictions were tested by surveying plants and animals, and also by performing field experiments in rocky fields from Serra do Cipó, Brazil, using natural abundance and enriched isotopes of 15N. Laboratory bioassays were also conducted to test proteolytic activities of bacteria from P. bromelioides rosettes.Key ResultsAnalyses of 15N in natural nitrogen abundances showed that the isotopic signature of P. bromelioides is similar to that of carnivorous plants and higher than that of non-carnivorous plants in the study area. Linear mixing models showed that predatory activities on the rosettes (i.e. spider faeces and prey carcass) resulted in overall nitrogen contributions of 26·5 % (a top-down flux). Although nitrogen flux was not detected from termites to plants via decomposition of labelled cardboard, the data on 15N in natural nitrogen abundance indicated that 67 % of nitrogen from P. bromelioides is derived from termites (a bottom-up flux). Bacteria did not affect nutrient cycling or nitrogen uptake from prey carcasses and spider faeces.ConclusionsThe results suggest that P. bromelioides derive nitrogen from associated predators and termites, despite differences in nitrogen cycling velocities, which seem to have been higher in nitrogen derived from predators (leaves) than from termites (roots). This is the first study that demonstrates partitioning effects from multiple partners in a digestion-based mutualism. Despite most of the nitrogen being absorbed through their roots (via termites), P. bromelioides has all the attributes necessary to be considered as a carnivorous plant in the context of digestive mutualism. © 2012 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.

Flexible feeding kinematics of a tropical carnivorous anuran tadpole

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Intraspecific, interspecific, and seasonal differences in the diet of three mid-sized carnivores in a large neotropical wetland

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)