Siphonaptera of small rodents and marsupials in the Pedra Branca State Park, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Heloiza H Oliveira,Adilson B Almeida,Raimundo W Carvalho,Nicolau M Serra-Freire,Acácio G Carvalho,Valmir Gomes,Igor Quinelato

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612010000100010

Heloiza H Oliveira, Adilson B Almeida + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612010000100010

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Abstract

In an region of Atlantic Rainforest corresponding to the geopolitical area of the Pedra Branca State Park, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, 160 small mammals were captured, of which 64 rodents and 96 marsupials from October 2005 to October 2007. There were collected in these hosts six flea species from three families (Ctenophthalmidae, Rhopalopsyllidae and Pulicidae), totalizing 162 specimens. Adoratopsylla (Tritopsylla) intermedia intermedia was the most common species found, followed by Polygenis (Polygenis) occidentalis occidentalis. Philander frenatus and Micoureus paraguayanus were reported as new hosts to Adoratopsylla (Tritopsylla) intermedia intermedia and P. o. occidentalis was reported for the first time in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Highlights

The Pedra Branca State Park (PBSP) was legally established in 1974 and is an important reference for the preservation of the remaining rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro
The fauna of small mammals found in the PBSP consisted of 12 species (H = 0.8), and its diversity was influenced by richness (r2 = 0.75, p < 0.05), the linear tendency of these ecological parameters showed an inverse correlation, i.e., as diversity decreased richness increased (Figure 1 and 2)
The study findings suggest it is a successful program and the local fauna of small mammals can be used as a parameter to indicate good environmental quality, as described by Zanzini (2001), and provide valuable information in landscape epidemiology studies (CORTES, 1993), With regard to fleas, studies conducted in different Atlantic rainforest areas showed a rate of abundance that varied between 0.30 among rodents in Guaraqueçaba, in the State of Paraná (BICHO et al, 1999), and 3.06 among rodents and marsupials in Angra dos Reis, State of Rio de Janeiro (GUITTON et al, 1986)

Summary

Introduction

The Pedra Branca State Park (PBSP) was legally established in 1974 and is an important reference for the preservation of the remaining rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is characterized by natural forest regrowth that occurred after intense exploration with coffee and citrus cultivation between the mid-nineteenth. The Brazilian Atlantic forest is considered one of the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity and levels of endemism in the planet (FONSECA, 1985; BROOKS; BALMFORD, 1996; MYER et al, 2000). There is a remarkable variation in local diversity of areas along its extension.

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