Composição elementar corporal, desbalanço alimentar e reciclagem de nutrientes em peixes de um riacho costeiro de Mata Atlântica

No presente estudo foi avaliada a variação na dieta e na composição elementar corporal (C:N:P) de oito espécies de peixes que coocorrem em dois trechos de um riacho. Além disso, foram investigadas as diferenças na demanda e excreção de nutrientes por duas espécies de Loricariidae, sendo uma nativa (Hypostomus punctatus) e a outra não nativa (Parotocinclus maculicauda). As coletas foram realizadas no rio Ubatiba, através de pesca elétrica em diferentes meses entre os anos de 2010 e 2012. A partir da análise alimentar, observamos que as espécies apresentaram variação na dieta entre as localidades, com exceção das duas espécies de Characidium. Apesar destas variações, o presente estudo corroborou a hipótese de homeostase estequiométrica corporal. A exceção foi a espécie Hoplias malabaricus que apresentou variação na concentração elementar corporal e alto desbalanço alimentar entre as localidades, sendo as diferenças mais acentuadas na área aberta. Analisando as diferenças na demanda nutricional dos Loricariidae verificamos uma maior concentração corporal de carbono e nitrogênio para a espécie nativa e maior de fósforo na espécie não nativa, sendo essa diferença confirmada por um maior consumo de fósforo pela espécie não nativa. A análise da excreção revelou que a espécie nativa excreta mais nitrogênio e fósforo que a não nativa. Sendo assim, os resultados sugerem que a espécie não nativa apresenta uma requisição de fósforo maior do que a nativa. Logo, ambientes com altas concentrações de nutrientes, tal como o riacho estudado, podem favorecer o estabelecimento desta espécie

Food habits and consumption rates of common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in the eastern Pacific Ocean

An ecosystem approach to fisheries management requires an understanding of the impact of predatory fishes on the underlying prey resources. Defining trophic connections and measuring rates of food consumption by apex predators lays the groundwork for gaining insight into the role of predators and commercial fisheries in influencing food web structure and ecosystem dynamics.We analyzed the stomach contents of 545 common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) sampled from 74 sets of tuna purse-seine vessels fishing in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) over a 22-month period. Stomach fullness of these dolphinfish and digestion state of the prey indicated that diel feeding periodicity varied by area and may be related to the digestibility and energy content of the prey. Common dolphinfish in the EPO appear to feed at night, as well as during the daytime. We analyzed prey importance by weight, numbers, and frequency of occurrence for five regions of the EPO. Prey importance varied by area. Flyingfishes, epipelagic cephalopods, tetraodontiform fishes, several mesopelagic fishes, Auxis spp., and gempylid fishes predominated in the diet. Ratios of prey length to predator length ranged from 0.014 to 0.720. Consumption-rate estimates averaged 5.6% of body weight per day. Stratified by sex, area, and length class, daily rations ranged up to 9.6% for large males and up to 19.8% for small dolphinfish in the east area (0–15°N, 111°W–coastline). Because common dolphinfish exert substantial predation pressure on several important prey groups, we concluded that their feeding ecology provides important clues to the pelagic food web and ecosystem structure in the EPO.

塔城黑白仰鼻猴（Rhinopithecus bieti）的觅食生态学和社会

从 1999 年4 月至2002 年六月间，对黑白仰鼻猴种群(Rhinopithecus bieti ) 的分布和生境状况进行了调查。与十年前的调查结果相比，本次调查新发现了4 个亚种群（指存在生境走廊的若干群体），但有5 个以前存在的群已经消失，现 存猴群数量为13 群，总体数量约为1200-1700 只。从西藏的芒康到云龙的龙马 山，随着海拔的降低，猴群可利用的植被类型也随之多样化。但由于砍伐、放牧、 开矿等因素的影响，猴群生境破碎化程度较高，连接猴群的生境走廊状况极差， 多数猴群孤立分布，并且存在小种群问题，生境走廊的维护和恢复已成为该物种 保护成功与否的关键。种群的总体数量下降了32%（不含4 个新发现的亚种群）， 其中4 群数量下降，4 群持平，1 群有所增长，5 群消失，这不容乐观的状况给 我们保护敲响了警钟。此外，基于以前的研究结果，暗针叶林、针阔混交林和栎 树林均为其适宜生境，夏季高山牧场则是由当地居民为放牧而砍伐、焚烧高海拔 带的暗针叶林而形成的林间空地。我们使用了1997 年的卫星影像和1958 年的航 拍地图来估算适宜生境和夏季高山牧场的面积。结果表明；1）在1997 年，黑白 仰鼻猴的适宜生境面积为4169 km2，夏季高山牧场的面积为1923 km2。2）在近 40 年中，黑白仰鼻猴的适宜生境面积下降了31％（约1887 km2），而夏季高山牧 场的面积则增加了204％（约1291 km2）。3）森林斑块的平均面积从15.6 km2 下降到5.4 km2。此外，夏季高山牧场的面积与当地居民的人口数量增长之间呈 正相关关系 (R2 ≥ 0.53，p < 0.05)。除非当地居民的人口数量增长模式或者传统 的生产生活方式发生改变，这种破碎化趋势将继续下去。 从1999 年三月至2000 年十二月对云南塔城(99o18’E, 27 o36’N, 活动范围在 2,700 – 3700 m asl)的一群黑白仰鼻猴收集了食性和时间预算的数据。通过状态 行为扫描的方式，主要记录了树冠中单雄组食用植物种类—部位。同时用显微镜对每个月的粪便样本进行了显微分析，以此作为食性的补充数据。仰鼻猴食用属 于28 科、42 属的59 种植物，共计90 个食用的植物种类—部位，其中冬季利用 21 个植物种类—部位，春季38 个，夏季39 个，秋季47 个。另一方面，该群年 平均花费日活动时间的35％进食，33％休息，15％移动，13％社会行为。日活 动时间预算分配、摄食不同食物类别的时间、粪便中食物残留物及食用植物种 类―部位的数目存在着季节性变化。食物种类与时间分配之间和之内的相关显然 是为了最大化觅食效率与最小化能量消耗。考虑到来自北面与南面的群的相关报 道，这个种对生境的适应性似乎与其他疣猴没什么区别，并无特化之处。因此， 这个种的最终生存预期要比以前乐观。 我们利用整个塔城猴群沿地面通过开阔地或喝水的机会，使我们能记录野外 种群的大小和组成（如性比等）以及通过分析依次经过个体间的时间间隔以量化 反映社会组织单元之间和之内的空间距离，用统计分析的方式来量化描述社会组 织的模式，发现塔城猴群由9 个单雄单元（OMUs）、5 个多雄单元（MMUs）和2 个全雄单元（AMUs）组成， 单雄单元、多雄单元和全雄单元内的个体分别约占 总数的58％、34％和8％，无论在开阔峡谷地域或水潭旁，单元内的时间间隔显 著短于单元间的时间间隔（开阔峡谷地域：非配对 t 检验，df = 49; p < 0.01， 水潭：非配对t 检验，df = 35; p < 0.01）。 在单雄单元的成年不等性比和成 年雌性与婴猴的比例显著大于多雄单元（开阔峡谷地域：非配对t 检验，df = 40; p < 0.05，水潭：非配对t 检验，df = 16; p < 0.05）。在全雄单元中有大量的 性别不明的未成年个体。此外，加之某些个案描述，论述了多雄单元存在的可能 性及与全雄单元和单雄单元之间的关系。

海洋桡足类摄食生态及其对浮游植物的摄食压力

该文利用肠道色素法,对中国近海(渤海、黄海、东海、莱州湾、潍河口)和南大洋(普里兹湾及邻近海域)浮游桡足类在自然海区的摄食状况及其对浮游植物及初级生产力的摄食压力进行了研究.主要内容包括:近海:桡足类肠道色素含量随个体的增大而增加,但是肠道排空率与个体大小没有相关性.桡足类通常存在着一定的昼夜摄食节律,摄食高峰出现在夜间,另外河口海区桡足类的摄食节律与潮汐有关.南大洋:南极夏季边缘浮冰区微型浮游动物是浮游植物的主要摄食者,纽鳃樽在形成一定的种群密度时也对浮游植物起到重要的控制作用,而桡足类对浮游植物生物量的变化影响相对较小.

Intake, digestibility, and passage of a commercially designed diet by two Propithecus species.

The digestibility and passage of an experimental diet was used to compare the digestive physiology of two Propithecus species: P. verreauxi and P. tattersalli. Though both animals have a similar feeding ecology, the captive status of P. verreauxi is considered more stable than that of P. tattersalli. The test diet included a local tree species, Rhus copallina, at 15% of dry matter intake (DMI) and Mazuri Leafeater Primate Diet at 85% of DMI. The chemical composition of the diet (dry matter basis) was 25% crude protein, 34% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 22% acid detergent fiber (ADF) with a gross energy of 4.52 kcal/g. After a 6 week acclimation to the experimental diet, animals were placed in research caging. After a 7 day adjustment period, animals were dosed with chromium mordant and Co-EDTA as markers for digesta passage and all feed refusals and feces were collected at timed intervals for 7 days. Digestibility values, similar for both species, were approximately 65% for dry matter, crude protein, and energy, and 40% and 35% respectively, for NDF and ADF. Transit times (17-18.5 hr) and mean retention times (31-34 hr) were not significantly different between species, and there was no difference between the chromium mordant and Co-EDTA. Serum values for glucose, urea, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were obtained during four different time periods to monitor nutritional status. While there was no change in serum glucose, serum urea increased over time. The NEFAs increased across all four time periods for P. verreauxi and increased for the first three periods then decreased in the last period for P. tattersalli. Results obtained indicate no difference in digestibility nor digesta passage between species, and that both Propithecus species were similar to other post-gastric folivores.

Ecologia alimentar e biometria de duas espécies de raias de espinho dos Açores : uma análise ecológica e perspetiva para turismo subaquático

Dissertação de Mestrado em Gestão e Conservação da Natureza.

Influence of dietary nutrients on life history-related traits of black flies and mosquitoes

The sugar-feeding ecology of dipteran vectors has recently been targeted because it presents opportunities to inoculate common food sources for these dipterans with entomopathogenic bacteria as a means of controlling the population of host-seeking adult dipteran vectors. Whereas this approach to vector control holds some promise, differences in the nutrient composition and concentration in sugary food sources can influence the food selection pattern of dipteran vectors and potentially confound the outcomes of field trials on the efficacy of entomopathogenic bacteria as vector control agents. Further, nutrient components of bacteria-inoculated artificial diets may present unintended effects of extending the survivorship or fecundity of the target population and potentially render the whole approach counterproductive. The present study investigated the diet-specific factors that influence the foraging decisions of female Simulium venustum/verecundum (Diptera: Simuliidae) and female Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae) on artificial nectar and honeydew. Paired choice experiments showed that the black flies forage more frequently from high calorie diets, which contained melezitose, or those diets that contained amino acids, compared to low calorie melezitose-free diets or amino acid-free diets. The mosquitoes however displayed a more random diet selection pattern. The effects of sugary diets on certain life-history traits considered to be important to the ecological fitness of the black flies and mosquitoes were also investigated. Sugary diets had no significant effect on the survivorship and fecundity of the black flies, but they influenced the resistance of Leucocytozoon-infected flies to the parasite. Amino acid-containing diets appeared to extend the survival of mosquitoes, and also allowed them to take more vertebrate blood when they blood fed.

BIRD FORAGING IN ANACARDIUM PATCHES IN CENTRAL BRAZILIAN FIRE BREAKS: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FLOCK SIZE AND PATCH SIZE

Fire management ran increase the biomass of some plant species at fire breaks in reserves of the Cerrado. For example, numerous and large patches of monkey-nuts (Anacardium humile, Anacardiaceae) provide abundant food resources for wildlife in the lower strata of savanna woodlands managed by fire. The objective of this study was to examine the exploitation of A. humile patches by birds in managed savanna woodlands (fire breaks) at Emas National Park, southwest Brazil. The relationship between flock size and the size of Anacardium patches were also investigated. Fire breaks were sampled in September and October 2006, when fruits and flowers were abundant. Ara ararauna was often recorded exploiting resources of Anacardium patches. This species and other psittacids (Amazona aestiva, Alipiopsittaca xanthops, and Diopsittaca nobilis) consumed seeds usually on the ground around fruiting patches. Members of Aratinga aurea flocks and Ramphastos toco consumed pseudo-fruits. Larger flocks detected were those of A. aurea and A. ararauna. Groups of A. ararauna that exploited larger patches tended to be larger than flocks that exploited smaller patches. This study suggests that intra- and interspecific interactions and characteristics of Anacardium patches and of the surrounding vegetation are involved in the feeding ecology of birds in the lower stratum of managed woodlands. Fruiting Anacardium patches attract numerous frugivorous birds to fire breaks at Emas National Park. Further research is needed to a better understanding of the influence of fire management on birds in the Cerrado. Accepted 31 July 2009.

Contribution to the chemoreception capacity of juvenile Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta, L.)

Loggerhead sea turtle juveniles (Caretta caretta), pelagic stage, are found in waters of Madeira archipelago. Pelagic turtles are in the main growth phase of their life cycle and consequently higher energy needs. However, knowledge about the ecology of pelagic loggerhead sea turtles is still quite rudimentary, mainly about the mechanisms that lead them to find food in the vast ocean. Studies with other pelagic species, such as procellariiform birds, revealed that the olfactory system play an important role for the detection of feeding areas, through the detection of concentration peaks of DMS (dimethylsulfide), a scent compound that naturally exists in the marine environment and it is related to areas of high productivity. Based on the assumption that loggerhead sea turtles use a similar mechanism, behavioural experiments were conducted in order to analyze the chemoreception capacity to DMS (airborne chemoreception - theoretically responsible for the long distance detection of areas with food patches; and aquatic chemoreception - theoretically responsible for the short distance detection of preys). The first step was to observe if pelagic loggerheads demonstrate sensitivity to DMS and the second was to verify if they really use the DMS, in natural conditions, as an airborne cue to find areas where food patches might be available. Four juveniles of loggerhead sea turtles were tested in captivity and three wild turtles in the open ocean. The results of airborne chemoreception experiments in captivity revealed that one turtle clearly demonstrated sensitivity to DMS and the sea experiments confirmed this result. However, the experiments were not conclusive on the question whether the pelagic turtles actually use the DMS as an airborne cue to detect long distance food patches. In aquatic chemoreception experiments was not observed sensitivity to DMS by the three sea turtles tested. In the classical conditioning experiment, where DMS and food were given nearly at the same time revealed that after a certain period of time, the sea turtle tested did not associated the DMS stimulus with a possible food reward. The main cause of mortality of loggerhead sea turtles in Madeira waters is due to the accidental capture (bycatch) by deep pelagic longlines fishery which the target species is the black-scabbard (Aphanopus carbo) fish. Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is one of the baits used in this fishery. Aquatic chemoreception experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the attractiveness of the chub mackerel for sea turtles. For the three sea turtles tested, the results showed that in 90% of the cases the sea turtles were extremely attracted by the underwater smell of this fish.

Ecologia alimentar e comportamento de forrageamento de Ameivula aff. ocellifera (Squamata: Teiidae) em área de caatinga do nordeste do Brasil

This study investigated the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the feeding ecology and foraging behavior of the whiptail lizard Ameivula aff. ocellifera, a new species widely distributed in the Brazilian Caatinga, and that is in process of description. In attendance to the objectives, the Dissertation was structured in two chapters, which correspond to scientific articles, one already published and the other to be submitted for publication. In Chapter 1 were analyzed the general diet composition, the relationship between lizard size and prey size, and the occurrence of sexual and ontogenetic differences in the diet. Chapter 2 contemplates a seasonal analysis of diet composition during two rainy seasons interspersed with a dry season, and the quantitative analysis of foraging behavior during two distinct periods. The diet composition was determined through stomach analysis of lizards (N = 111) collected monthly by active search, between September 2008 and August 2010, in the Estação Ecológica do Seridó (ESEC Seridó), state of Rio Grande do Norte. Foraging behavior was investigated during a rainy and a dry month of 2012 also in ESEC Seridó, by determining percent of time moving (PTM), number of movements per minute (MPM) and prey capture rate by the lizards (N = 28) during foraging. The main prey category in the diet of Ameivula aff. ocellifera was Insect larvae, followed by Orthoptera, Coleoptera and Araneae. Termites (Isoptera) were important only in numeric terms, having negligible volumetric contribution (<2%) and low frequency of occurrence, an uncommon feature among whiptail lizards. Males and females did not differ neither in diet composition nor in foraging behavior. Adults and juveniles ingested similar prey types, but differed in prey size. Maximum and minimum prey sizes were positively correlated with lizard body size, suggesting that in this population individuals experience an ontogenetic change in diet, eating larger prey items while growing, and at the same time excluding smaller ones. The diet showed significant seasonal differences; during the two rainy seasons (2009 and 2010), the predominant prey in diet were Insect larvae, Coleoptera and Orthoptera, while in the dry season the predominant prey were Insect larvae, Hemiptera, Araneae and Orthoptera. The degree of mobility of consumed prey during the rainy seasons was lower, mainly due to a greater consumption of larvae (highly sedentary prey) during these periods. Population niche breadth was higher in the dry season, confirming the theoretical prediction that when food is scarce, the diets tend to be more generalized. Considering the entire sample, Ameivula aff. ocellifera showed 61,0 ± 15,0% PTM, 2,03 ± 0,30 MPM, and captured 0,13 ± 0,14 per minute. Foraging mode was similar to that found for other whiptail lizards regarding PTM, but MPM was relatively superior. Seasonal differences were verified for PTM, which was significantly higher in the rainy season (66,4 ± 12,1) than in the dry season (51,5 ± 15,6). It is possible that this difference represents a behavioral adjustment in response to seasonal variation in the abundance and types of prey available in the environment in each season

Diet of buffy tufted-eared marmosets (Callithrix aurita) in a forest fragment in southeastern Brazil

The feeding ecology of the Atlantic forest marmosets (Callithrix spp.) in southeastern Brazil is poorly known, and few studies have focused on buffy tufted-eared marmosets, Callithrix aurita. We determined the food items and investigated the seasonal variation in the diet of a group of four Callithrix aurita in a 17-ha semideciduous forest fragment in southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. We recorded daily feeding activities between October 1994 and September 1995 using scan sampling at 5-min intervals. The marmosets devoted feeding rime to gums (50.5%), fruits (11%), and animal prey (38.5%) in a fetal of 499 records. Plant resources comprised 27 species from 16 families. They used Acacia paniculata (Mimosoideae, Leguminosae), the main gum source (82%), year-round Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae) was the fruit species that they consumed most (22%). The marmosets preyed on caterpillars (33%), katydids (5%), and homopterans (4%). Feeding on fruits varied seasonally and was inversely related to gum feeding. Consumption of animal prey remained constant over the year. The wide and year-round dependence on gum suggests that Acacia may play a critical role in marmoset persistence in forest fragments.

The dietary regime of detritivorous fish from the River Jacaré Pepira, Brazil

The diet of detritivorous fish was analysed at four distinct habitats in a tropical river during the wet and dry seasons. Two methodologies were used to determine the diet of the fish: (1) the direct analysis of the stomach contents; and (2) the use of stable carbon isotopes. Both methods indicated food partitioning among the fish. The stomach contents showed what the fish had ingested when captured and the 13C isotope indicated what it had assimilated over a long period of time. The 13C isotope suggested the existence of sectional differences in the feeding of the detritivorous fish along the river. Plants employing the C4 photosynthesis pathways seem to have little influence on the diet of these fish. This method proved to be more appropriate for the detection of the main food sources of the captured fish.

Mudanças ontogenéticas na dieta de Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia rendalli da represa de Barra Bonita (rio Tietê, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil)

The Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, and the Congo Tilapia, Tilapia rendalli, are important members of the African cichlids, and have been introduced to many Brazilian lakes and reservoirs. These species exhibit a large feeding flexibility and may modify their habits during their growth. In the Barra Bonita reservoir, these species are well adapted, representing more than 80% of fish. This study aimed to analyze ontogenetic variation with regard to the diet of these species in this important reservoir. Samples were taken monthly, from March 2007 to February 2008, in Anhembi, São Paulo State. Both species were analyzed by grouping individuals according to size classes. The coexistence of these species was observed in this environment, to which fish were introduced, as well as discreet differences in diet, being that Oreochromis niloticus was considered as an detritivorous, since the detritus was constant in the diet of almost all size classes, and presents some changes in its diet according to the different size classes. While T. rendalli may was defined as herbivorous, and the contribution of food resources to the diet of T. rendalli seems to be different from that of O. niloticus along the size classes.

Padrão de atividades, ecologia alimentar e área de vida em um grupo de Callithrix penicillata (Humboldt, 1812)

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Ecologia alimentar das quatro espécies dominantes da anurofauna de serapilheira em um gradiente altitudinal na ilha de São Sebastião, SP

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)