First record of Cephalotes pusillus Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nesting in a Sceliphron sp. (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) nest

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the economic style of Kabupaten Bangli, where the population depends on their livelihood as farmers mostly. The tourist attraction of the tourism sector in agriculture is the magnetism of Arabica Coffee agro-tourism. The area of Arabica coffee plantations in Kabupaten Bangli in Bali which covers more than 1883.92 hectares as a whole. One of the districts (kecamatan) in Kabupaten Bangli that has the largest area of Arabica coffee plantations is Kecamatan Kintamani, which is around 1,836 hectares with 2017 production amounting to 2,112 tons per hectare per year. This is the area of coffee plantations which is the largest and with the highest amount of production among other districts in Kabupaten Bangli. This has the potential to support agro-tourism based on Arabica coffee plantations. The method used in this study is qualitative using mathematical operations. In this study, data analysis using AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) data analysis techniques with the help of expert choice 11 software. The purpose of this study is to examine agro-tourism development strategies which are based on actors, factors, objectives, and alternative strategies for developing Arabica Coffee agro-tourism in Kabupaten Bangli, Bali.

Unequal sex ratios lead to the loss of genetic variability, decreasing the viability of populations in the long term. Anthropogenic activities often disturb the natural habitats and can cause alterations in sex ratio and morphological characteristics of several species. Forest fragmentation is a major conservation concern, so that understanding its effects in natural populations is essential. In this study, we evaluated the sex ratio and the morphological characteristics of Rufous Gnateaters (Conopophaga lineata (Wied, 1831)) in small and large forest fragments in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Birds (n = 89) were sexed by plumage characteristics and molecular markers. The molecular analysis showed that plumage is not a totally reliable method for sexing Rufous Gnateaters. We observed that sex ratio did not differ between large and small forest fragments, but birds in small fragments had larger wings and tarsus. Wing and tarsus changes may affect the movement ability of individuals within and among forest fragments. In conclusion, Rufous Gnateaters have been able to survive in both small and large Atlantic rain forest fragments without altering their sex ratio, but morphological changes can be prejudicial to their long term survival.

Coffee is one of the plantation commodities with a high economic value among other plantation crops and plays an important role as a source of foreign exchange. Indonesian coffee is classified into two types of coffee, namely arabica coffee and robusta coffee. According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics of Aceh Province (2019), the area of coffee plantations in Aceh reached 123,749 ha with a production of 68,493 tons. About 85% of the land area is planted with arabica coffee, while the rest is planted with robusta coffee. This study analyzes the morphological relationships of various Arabica and Robusta coffee plant varieties at the Gayo Experimental Garden, Pondok Gajah District, Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh Province. Samples of coffee varieties were selected by purposive sampling method. The morphological characters observed were 25 on stem organs, leaves, flowers, fruits, and beans. Data analysis was conducted using the NTSYS program and presented as a dendrogram. The results showed that eleven coffee varieties were grouped into four groups. The variety that has the furthest kinship is Mocca Yaman, with a coefficient value of 0.58. The varieties with the closest kinship are C 48 and C 49, with a coefficient value of 0.84. These two varieties have similarities in the 19 observed morphological characters.

This study aims to analyze: (1) the effect of producer coffee prices, cocoa producer prices, coffee plantation area, export prices, and Indonesia’s coffee exports on Indonesian coffee production; and (2) the effect of consumer coffee prices, tea prices, granulated sugar prices, real GDP per capita, and imported coffee prices on Indonesian coffee consumption. The research model employs a multiple linear regression model using data from 2010–2023. The findings indicate that simultaneously, producer coffee prices, cocoa producer prices, coffee plantation area, export prices, and coffee exports significantly affect Indonesian coffee production. Individually, producer coffee prices and plantation area have a significant positive effect, while cocoa producer prices and export prices have a significant negative effect on coffee production. However, coffee exports have a negative but insignificant effect. Indonesian coffee production is responsive to changes in plantation area but not responsive to changes in producer coffee prices, cocoa prices, export prices, or export volume. Simultaneously, consumer coffee prices, tea prices, sugar prices, real GDP per capita, and import coffee prices significantly affect Indonesian coffee consumption. Individually, only real GDP per capita has a significant positive effect on coffee consumption. Consumer coffee prices and sugar prices have a negative but insignificant effect, while tea prices and import coffee prices have a positive but insignificant effect. Indonesian coffee consumption is responsive to changes in real GDP per capita but not responsive to price changes

Knowledge of the patterns in the spatial distribution of species provides valuable information about the factors (resources and environment) that regulate the use of space by animals. Typically, the distribution of litter-dwelling scorpions in Atlantic forests is correlated with the structure of their microhabitats, although to better understand their natural history more studies on the patterns in their use of space are required. Therefore, we investigated the effect of rainfall on the patterns in the spatial distributions and population densities of two sympatric species of scorpion, Tityus (Archaeotityus) pusillus Pocock 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço 1982 in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The study was carried out during the dry (September) and rainy (June) months. We collected 501 individuals (268 T. (A.) pusillus and 233 A. mauryi) by actively searching at night using UV lanterns. We found that the spatial distribution and population density of T. (A.) pusillus, but not A. mauryi, were significantly affected by rainfall, with T. (A.) pusillus individuals showing a clumped pattern during the rainy month and random distribution in the dry month. We also found a different response in the population densities of the two species, with T. (A.) pusillus but not A. mauryi being affected by rainfall. Our results indicate that, although co-habiting in leaf litter, these species respond differently to rainfall, which affects their spatial distribution and abundance in this habitat.

Drivers of tree demographic processes in forest fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic forest

We investigated if there are aspects of perches that are more attractive for hummingbirds, such as perch height, diameter, and distance from a food patch. The study was conducted in a fragment of Atlantic Forest of the Itacolomi State Park, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with artificial feeders simulating a rich food patch. Characteristics of perches used by the recorded hummingbirds, such as height, diameter and distance from the food patch, were measured. From the six hummingbird species recorded visiting the artificial feeders, two preferentially used perches with certain characteristics: Thalurania glaucopis used more perches at a height of 0.51–1.0 m (intermediary high), and Leucochloris albicollis used more perches located 1.1–2.0 m distance from the food patch. T. glaucopis was territorial and defended the food patch; L. albicollis was subordinate and did not defend the food patch. The other species seemed to use perches randomly. Our results suggest that hummingbirds used perches according to t...

Faunal inventories are essential for biota management and conservation, especially in areas with potential for the creation of conservation units. Inventories of insect taxa such as dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata), which perform several environmental services in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, are of great importance. In view of the above, this study aimed to update and expand the list of Odonata species in the Barroso region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This study was carried out in three areas of forest fragments in Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes in October 2020, December 2020, January 2021, and March 2021. The sampling effort was 8 hours per day during 20 days, totaling 140 sampling hours. A total of 43 Odonata species were recorded, which increased the richness of the study area from 57 to 76 species. The studied areas harbor rare and endangered species. However, since the last sampling in 2009, there has been a significant reduction in diversity in the Atlantic Forest fragment. In view of the changes that forest fragments are undergoing, we underscore the need to create a conservation unit, especially in Baú Forest.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar duas metodologias multivariadas no estudo de similaridade entre fragmentos de Mata Atlântica. Foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico, e a partir de 11 fragmentos de Floresta Atlântica, localizados nos Estados de Pernambuco, do Rio Grande do Norte, de Minas Gerais, de São Paulo e do Rio de Janeiro, montaram-se os bancos de dados para a realização do estudo da similaridade florística empregando duas metodologias de técnicas de análise multivariada. Na metodologia usual foi utilizada uma matriz binária (presença/ausência) de 236 espécies arbóreas ocorrentes nos 11 fragmentos, bem como se realizou uma análise de agrupamento, utilizando o método da ligação simples e o coeficiente de Jaccard. Na metodologia proposta foi empregada a análise de componentes principais para redução da dimensão da matriz de densidades e dominâncias absolutas das 236 espécies arbóreas, utilizando-se os escores desses componentes principais para aplicar a análise de agrupamento, por meio do método de ligação simples e da distância euclidiana. Foram identificados dois agrupamentos: um com fragmentos da Região Nordeste (Pernambuco) e outro com fragmentos da Região Sudeste (Minas Gerais). Na metodologia proposta foi identificado apenas um grupo com fragmentos da região nordestina (Pernambuco), ressaltando-se que as variáveis quantitativas são de suma importância para a associação das matas em diferentes regiões. A metodologia proposta apresentou potencial para utilização no estudo de similaridade de fragmentos florestais.

Records to nesting between associated social wasp Polybia rejecta(Fabricius, 1798) and the ant Azteca chartifex Forel, 1896 in the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, are reported. This association is reported for the first time in this biome. Twelve colonies of P. rejecta founded close to nests of A. chartifex were observed. The wasp colonies were founded at a distance of about 10-20 cm from the ant nest and they did not overlap. The nests of wasps were smaller compared to ant, but the coloring was similar protective casing, making it difficult to differentiate between the wasp nest and the ant.

Machine learning: Modeling increment in diameter of individual trees on Atlantic Forest fragments

Indonesia is one of the largest coffee producing and exporting countries in the world, where coffee crops also contribute to the Indonesian economy. In general there are two types of coffee grown on Indonesian coffee plantations namely Robusta and Arabica Coffee. Robusta coffee is a coffee that has a higher production when compared with arabica coffee. Until now, the total area, production and productivity of coffee plantations in Indonesia, both from Robusta coffee and arabica coffee are still dominated by public plantation (PR) with 95.37% of coffee area. The area of coffee production in Indonesia is estimated to be about 1.3 million hectares, spread across North Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. Robusta coffee is commonly planted by farmers in South Sumatra, Lampung and East Java, whereas arabica coffee is commonly planted by farmers in Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Bali and Flores.

Mixed-species bird flocks from Brazilian Atlantic forest: the effects of forest fragmentation and seasonality on their size, richness and stability

Small mammals can be used as environmental indicators and have been intensively studied in fragmented landscapes of Atlantic Forest, with a wide range of field methods. Our aim in this study was two-fold: we tested for the effects of methods and for the effects of the main environmental variables on observed small mammal richness in fragments of Atlantic Forest. We gathered information on small mammal richness, methods and environmental variables from 122 fragments of Atlantic Forest through literature review. These data were analysed using linear models and model selection based on AIC values along with a regression tree analysis. We found that studies will record more species with bigger trapping effort, using pitfall traps and sampling all forest strata. We also confirmed two important ecological assumptions: fragments at lower latitudes and bigger fragments were the ones with higher species richness. Methodological and environmental variables were analysed together on a regression tree, where trapping effort was the most important variable, surpassing any environmental effect. Considering that a significant number of the studies on Atlantic Forest fragments did not use pitfall traps or sample all forest strata, their results on forest fragmentation were affected by sampling bias.

Habitat fragmentation causes a sharp increase in the forested area affected by edge effects (Murcia 1995). Compared with the core of the forest, edges present higher litterfall rates, air and soil humidity reduction, higher temperature and increased wind incidence (Bierregaard et al. 1992, Didham & Lawton 1999, Laurance et al. 1998, Matlack 1993). These features of edges may increase the probability of fire occurrence, especially if the surrounding vegetation is composed of grasses (D'Antonio & Vitousek 1992, Freifelder et al. 1998). After a fire, the damaged edge will grow substantial amounts of herbaceous vegetation, extending the inflammable area into the forest, and thereby creating a positive feedback system of fire susceptibility and intensity (Cochrane & Schulze 1999, Cochrane et al. 1999). Fires may affect the structure and composition of the vegetation (Cochrane & Schulze 1999, Didham & Lawton 1999, Sanaiotti & Magnusson 1995), favouring, in the long-term, the dominance of the community by species characteristic of disturbed habitats and making the habitat unsuitable to primary forest species (Malcolm 1994, Possingham et al. 1994). Unfortunately, there are few studies on the effects of fires on neotropical small-mammal populations (Borchert & Hansen 1983, Ojeda 1989, Vieira & Marinho-Filho 1998). The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of a fire on populations of two rodent species, Akodon cursor (Winge) and Oecomys concolor (Wagner) in two fragments of Atlantic Forest in Brazil.