Influence of carrion smell and rebaiting time on the efficiency of pitfall traps to dung beetle sampling

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are very useful insects, as they improve the chemo-physical properties of soil, clean pastures from dung pads, and help control symbovine flies associated with bovine cattle. Their importance makes it fundamental to sample and survey them adequately. The objectives of the present study were to determine the influence of decaying insects trapped in pitfalls on the attractiveness of Moura pig Sus scrofa L. (Suidae) and collared peccary Tayassu tajacu (L.) (Tayassuidae) dung used as baits to lure dung beetles, and to establish how long these baits remain attractive to dung beetles when used in these traps. Some dung beetle species seemed to be able to discriminate against foul smell from decaying insects within the first 24 h, hence decreasing trap efficiency. This was more evident in peccary dung-baited traps, which proved to be the least attractive bait. Attractiveness lasted only 24 h for peccary dung, after which it became unattractive, whereas the pig dung bait was highly attractive for 48 h, after which its attractiveness diminished but was not completely lost.

Aspectos macroscópicos e morfométricos dos testículos em catetos e queixadas

Aspectos macroscópicos e morfométricos dos testículos em catetos e queixadas. Este trabalho objetiva fornecer dados macroscópicos e morfométricos dos testículos dos catetos e queixadas. O material utilizado consistiu de catetos e queixadas oriundos da Fazenda Devaneio Pró-Fauna, Iguape, SP (Reg.1/3593/08480). em 33 queixadas e 20 catetos, após o abate, os testículos foram colhidos e tomados dados morfométricos como: comprimento, largura e espessura (com o auxílio de um paquímetro). Os testículos são ovalados, localizados na região pélvica, inclinados dorso-caudalmente e possuem posição intermediária. O mediastino testicular esta no centro do testículo, ligeiramente desviado para a margem epididimária deste, e termina na extremidade capitata. Os queixadas adultos possuem em média 30,92 ± 3,82 kg de peso corporal e 78,89 ± 4,77 cm de comprimento corporal, enquanto os jovens apresentam 22,93 ± 2,07 kg e 71,57 ± 3,95 cm de comprimento. Os resultados demonstram que no grupo de queixadas adultos estudado o testículo direito teve comprimento, largura e espessura médios de 5,36 ± 0,64cm; 3,64 ± 0,64cm e 3,30 ± 0,52cm respectivamente, enquanto que o esquerdo teve 5,45 ± 0,77cm; 3,68 ± 0,59cm e 3,32 ± 0,54cm. Nos queixadas jovens os valores encontrados foram de 3,20 ± 0,44cm, 2,12 ± 0,26cm e 2,11 ± 0,40cm, e de 3,23 ± 0,47cm; 2,21 ± 0,39cm e 1,99 ± 0,36cm, para a largura, comprimento e espessura dos testículos direito e esquerdo respectivamente. Já para os catetos o testículo direito teve comprimento, largura e espessura de 4,36 ± 0,38cm; 2,74 ± 0,27cm e 2,33 0,46cm respectivamente, enquanto que o esquerdo teve 4,19 ± 0,36cm; 2,68 ± 0,31cm e 2,34 ± 0,28cm. Os dados analisados não tiveram diferenças significativas (p<0,05) entre os valores encontrados para os testículos direito e esquerdo pelo testes de Qui-dradado.

Morfologia dos ovários, tubas uterinas e útero em catetos (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758) e queixadas (Tayassu pecari, Link, 1795)

Estudaram-se a morfologia externa, a sintopia e os dados métricos dos ovários, tubas uterinas e útero em 14 fêmeas adultas de cateto (12 adultas, uma prenhe e uma jovem) e em sete fêmeas de queixada (três jovens e quatro adultas), e o material, após fixação em solução aquosa de formol a 10%, foi dissecado. O material foi obtido na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) - Campus Palotina e na Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus de Ilha Solteira. Os ovários apresentaram-se ovalados e de superfície irregular, quando havia corpo lúteo ou folículo. As tubas uterinas mostraram-se longas, finas e enoveladas e terminando numa extremidade ovárica com fímbrias; a comunicação com o útero ocorreu de maneira contínua. Uma bolsa ovárica parcial, com um largo orifício, contém o ovário. O útero, bicórneo, apresentou um corpo curto e uma cérvix longa, com projeções anulares para o canal cervical, conferindo-lhe luz espiralada. Os cornos uterinos mostraram-se curtos, voltados ventralmente e em forma de hélice.

Vascularização dos ovários, tubas uterinas e útero em catetos (Tayassu tajacu, Linnaeus, 1758) e queixadas (Tayassu pecari, Link, 1795)

Estudou-se a vascularização arterial em nove fêmeas adultas de cateto, incluindo uma jovem e uma gestante, e em seis fêmeas de queixada (três jovens e três adultas). Para este estudo as artérias foram injetadas com solução de látex Neoprene 650 corado e após fixação de formol foram dissecadas. O material foi obtido na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) - Campus Palotina e na Universidade Estadual Paulista - Campus de Ilha Solteira. As artérias responsáveis pela irrigação sangüínea dos ovários, tubas uterinas e útero são as artérias útero-ováricas, que emitem as artérias uterinas e ováricas, e as artérias vaginais, estando presentes em todas as amostras, porém variando suas origens. As artérias ováricas emitiram ramos para os ovários, tubas uterinas (ramos tubáricos) e extremidades craniais dos cornos uterinos (ramos tubo-uterinos) e as artérias uterinas enviaram ramos para os cornos uterinos, corpos uterinos e porções craniais da cérvix uterina. As artérias vaginais enviaram ramos para a cérvix e a vagina.

Diet overlap and foraging activity between feral pigs and native peccaries in the pantanal

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

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) and cross-amplification in collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu)

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

Seasonal changes in fecal testosterone concentrations and their relationship to the reproductive behavior, antler cycle and grouping patterns in free-ranging male Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus bezoarticus)

The purpose of this study was to validate noninvasive endocrine monitoring techniques for Pampas deer and to evaluate seasonal changes in testicular steroidogenic activity and their correlation to reproductive behavior, antler cycle and group size. Thus, fecal samples, behavioral data and observations of antler status were collected at monthly intervals during 1 year from free-ranging Pampas deer stags (three radio-collared individuals and 15 random individuals) living in Emas National Park, Brazil (18 degrees S latitude). Fecal steroids were extracted using 80% methanol and steroid concentrations were quantified by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Fecal testosterone concentrations peaked in December-January (summer), March (early autumn) and in August-September (winter-spring), with minimal values from April-July. Reproductive behavior had two peaks, the first in December-January, characterized by predominately anogenital sniffing, flehmen, urine sniffing, chasing and mounting behavior, and the second peak in July-September (behavior primarily related to gland marking). There were significant correlations between fecal testosterone and reproductive behavior (r = 0.490), and between fecal testosterone and antler phases (r = 0.239). Antler casting and regrowth occurred under low testosterone concentrations, whereas velvet shedding was associated with high concentrations of testosterone. We inferred that Pampas deer stags exhibited a seasonal cycle that modulated sexual behavior and the antler cycle, and we concluded that fecal steroid analysis was a practical and reliable non-invasive method for the evaluation of the endocrine status of free-ranging Pampas deer. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Activity, movement and secretive behavior of a threatened arboreal folivore, the thin-spined porcupine, in the Atlantic forest of southern Bahia, Brazil

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

Frugivory on Margaritaria nobilis L.f. (Euphorbiaceae): poor investment and mimetism.

Dehiscent fruits of Euphorbiaceae usually have two stages of seed dispersal, autochory followed by myrmecochory. Two stages of Margaritaria nobilis seed dispersal were described, the first stage autochoric followed by ornithocoric. Their dehiscent fruits are green and after they detached from the tree crown and fall on the ground, they open and expose blue metallic cocas. We studied the seed dispersal system of Margaritaria nobilis in a semi-deciduous forest in Brazil. In 80 h of focal observations, we recorded only 12 visits of frugivores, however the thrush Turdus leucomelas was the only frugivore that swallowed the fruits on the tree crown. Pitylus fuliginosus (Fringilidae) and Pionus maximiliani (Psittacidae) were mainly pulp eaters, dropping the seeds below the tree. on the forest floor, after fruits dehiscence, jays (Cyanocorax chrysops), guans (Penelope superciliaris), doves (Geotrygon montana) and collared-peccaries (Pecari tajacu) were observed eating the blue diaspores of M. nobilis. Experiments in captivity showed that scaly-headed parrots (Pionus maximiliani), toco toucans (Ramphastos toco), jays (Cyanochorax chrysops), and guans (Penelope superciliaris) consumed the fruits and did not prey on the seeds before consumption. The seeds collected from the feces did not germinate in spite of the high viability. The two stages of seed dispersal in M. nobilis resembles the dispersal strategies of some mimetic species. However M. nobilis seeds are associated with an endocarp, it showed low investment in nutrients, and consistent with this hypothesis, M. nobilis shared important characteristics with mimetic fruits, such as bright color display, long seed dormancy and protection by secondary compounds.

Jaguar (Panthera onca) food habits in Atlantic rain forest of southeastern Brazil

Between January and December 1996, the food habits of a relict population of jaguars were studied in 220 km(2) Linhares Forest Preserve, which comprises much of the remaining old-growth Atlantic Forest of Espirito Santo, Brazil. Fecal analysis indicated opportunistic feeding on 24 prey species (N = 101 scats). Mammals represented 87 percent of the total items, followed by reptiles (9.8%) and birds (2.8%). Considering prey weight, 23.4 percent of the items weighed 1-3 kg, 40.5 percent were 3-10 kg, and 27.7 percent weighed more than 10 kg. Analysis of relative prey frequency and biomass indicated that the diet was concentrated in two prey types: long-nosed armadillo and white-lipped peccary. Literature data suggest that forest jaguars rely on the same mammal prey over their entire geographic range.

Plastic debris collars on juvenile carcharhinid sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) in southwest Atlantic

Three juvenile Brazilian sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) caught in gillnets in southeast Brazil, southwest Atlantic, were found with plastic debris rings around their gill or mouth region. The rings caused severe abrasion on the sharks' tissues as the animal grew, the collars probably hampering normal feeding and/or ventilation since two of the collared individuals were emaciated. The rings were identified as detachable lid parts from plastic bottles, likely thrown overboard by fishery and/or recreation boats. As several carcharhinid shark species dwells and reproduce in shallow waters, the impact of discarded plastic debris likely is greater on this shark type. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physical, epidemiological, and molecular evaluation of infection by Cryptosporidium galli in Passeriformes

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

Osteologia craniana de Micrastur semitorquatus Vieillot, 1817 (Falconiformes: Falconidae)

Micrastur semitorquatus, popularly known as Collared Forest-Falcon is an inhabitant of the rainforests of the Neotropical Region. Studies on the cranial osteology are scarce in the literature. To increase the knowledge about the anatomy of this species its cranial osteology was described and compared with other species of birds of prey. Three specimens of M. semitorquatus were examined at the Bird Division of the osteological collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USNM), Washington, DC (USNM: 245788, USNM 013493 and USNM 289773). Although the relationship between the form of a structure and its function is not fully established, many of the adaptations of the skull of M. semitorquatus may be related to this lifestyle and behavior, such as narrowing of the interorbital width, the robustness of pila supranasalis coupled with the prokinesis of the skull, a process developed post-orbital, and palatine expansion. In addition, the cranial osteology of M. semitorquatus can provide useful characters for cladistic analysis, sustaining the hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships with other species of the same genus or the same family.

Mammal defaunation as surrogate of trophic cascades in a biodiversity hotspot

Preserving large tracts of natural habitats is essential to maintain biodiversity. Nevertheless, even large areas may still suffer from less visible impacts such as loss of ecological processes. Because mapping ecological processes over large scales is not practical, an alternative is to map surrogate species that are key for those processes. In this study, we chose four species of Neotropical large mammals (the largest apex predator: jaguar - Panthera onca; the largest herbivore: tapir - Tapirus terrestris; the largest seed predator: white-lipped peccary - Tayassu pecari; and the largest arboreal seed disperser: muriqui - Brachyteles spp.) in an ecosystem with an old history of human impact (the Atlantic Forest) to test whether areas with native forest still harbor ecological processes that may guarantee long-term ecosystem maintenance. We gathered 94 locations with recent presence of the four species to map current ranges and model suitable areas. Our results reveal that 96% of the remaining Atlantic Forest is depleted of at least one of the four surrogate species and 88% is completely depleted of all four surrogate species. We also found that only 16% is still environmentally suitable for all four, and 55% is completely unsuitable to all four of them. Our study highlights the importance of looking beyond land cover to fully depict intactness of natural areas, and suggests that ecosystems with a long history of human impact (such as the Atlantic Forest) may be suffering from ecological impacts not seen at a first glance. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Avaliação física, epidemiológica e molecular da infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. em passeriformes

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