Atlantic Forest Research Articles

The Invisible Species: Big Data Unveil Coverage Gaps in the Atlantic Forest Hotspot

ABSTRACTAimRapid technological advancements and the biodiversity crisis have motivated efforts to document species before their extinction. However, taxonomic coverage gaps, where certain species are underrepresented in biodiversity databases, can distort our understanding of ecosystems. Here, we quantified how many of the plant species found in a hotspot are invisible, i.e. they would be excluded from studies due to insufficient occurrence data. Additionally, we identified factors influencing the invisibility of species.LocationAtlantic Forest hotspot, Brazil.MethodsWe downloaded and filtered occurrence data from 15,010 plant species from online biodiversity databases. We utilized multiple thresholds, each representing a minimum required number of records, to classify species as “invisible” if their record count fell below these thresholds. We fitted logistic models to estimate how factors such as life form, presence of a vernacular name, geographical distribution, endemism, and year of taxonomic publication influence the odds of species exclusion.ResultsThe proportion of invisible species ranged from 14% when employing simple tools requiring just three records to as high as 64% with more demanding tools requiring at least 60 records. Species with specific characteristics are more prone to invisibility, including non‐tree species, species without vernacular names, species with restricted distributions within Atlantic Forest, endemic species, and species with names published more recently. A significant portion of these invisible species are distributed along the coastline. In contrast, the continental portion of the biome exhibits fewer taxonomic coverage gaps of known species, most likely due to lower rates of new species descriptions.Main ConclusionsCoverage gaps are shaped by the interaction of biological traits, societal preferences, limited technical support, and human activities. Studies relying on distributional data must balance the rigour of filters and thresholds to achieve both geographical reliability and taxonomic coverage, adjusting them to align with each study's specific data and goals.

Impact of urban disturbance on soil insect communities in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest biological station

Urbanization constitutes a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding its effects on insect communities is relevant because they are key elements of trophic interactions, and indicators and targets of conservation. Herein, we investigated the influence of meteorological and habitat factors on the soil entomofauna in three areas with distinct levels of urbanization at the Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca, Brazil. We investigated whether community structure differs among areas with different levels of urbanization, and how changes in the environment affect soil insect community composition and distribution. We systematically monitored communities for 12 months in three areas along a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance, representing preserved secondary forest, disturbed forest and peridomicile areas. The results revealed that the degree of urbanization affects insect communities, with a strong effect of habitat factors, such as canopy cover, presence of flooded areas, quantity of fallen trunks and mean temperature. Insect abundance did not show significant differences among areas, while biomass was higher in disturbed forest than in preserved forest and peridomicile areas. Additionally, insect richness and diversity were higher in preserved and disturbed forests than in peridomicile areas, with no significant difference between preserved and disturbed forests. Our results can be used to enhance the understanding of the effects of urbanization on taxonomically and functionally diverse groups of insects, and to advise residents and urban planners about the consequences of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban-sylvatic interface areas.

A New Species of Heligmonellidae (Nematoda) in Euryoryzomys russatus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil.

The genus Stilestrongylus (Freitas, Lent, and Almeida, 1937) is defined by having 24 or more subequal cuticular ridges, an asymmetrical caudal bursa, and a hypertrophied genital cone. It comprises 25 recognized species, mainly parasitizing cricetids, and shows significant diversification linked to the evolution of its hosts. Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. is a newly described nematode species identified in the small intestine of the rodent Euryoryzomys russatus (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) from the Atlantic Forest of Northeast Brazil. This study aims to characterize the new species and its prevalence in host populations. A total of 43 Euryoryzomys russatus individuals were collected and analyzed for parasitic infections. Morphological features of Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. were examined, focusing on the number of ridges, synlophe characteristics, caudal bursa type, lobe hypertrophy, and the spicule length to body length ratio. The new species exhibited a prevalence of 21% among the sampled hosts. Distinctive morphological features were observed, including:the synlophe structure exhibited specific ridge patterns that differentiate it from other species within the genus; the caudal bursa was identified as a type 2-2-1; hypertrophy of the right lobe was observed, indicating notable morphological adaptation; rays 4 and 5 were found to be equivalent in size and diverged at the distal end; the spicule length to body length ratio (SpL/BL) was measured at 30-36%, representing the largest ratio recorded for the genus. In comparison, other Stilestrongylus species displayed the following ratios: S. rolandoi (21-33%), S. lanfrediae (25-29%), S. kaaguyporai (20-24%), S. inexpectatus (20-23%), and S. stilesi (26-28%). This report presents Stilestrongylus magnumspiculum n. sp. as a new species of nematode, contributing to the diversity of the genus Stilestrongylus. The findings underscore the importance of studying host-parasite interactions within the Atlantic Forest ecosystem and provide a basis for future ecological and parasitological research.

Integrated targeted and untargeted metabolomics profiling of Vanilla species from the Atlantic Forest: Unveiling the bioeconomic potential of Vanilla cribbiana

In this study, we employ both targeted and untargeted approaches to explore the metabolomic profiles of Vanilla spp., with a particular focus on V. cribbiana (VCR) and its comparison with V. planifolia (VP). We also examine V. bahiana and V. chamissonis using targeted approaches. Through advanced analytical techniques, our untargeted LC-HRMS approach led to the annotation of 60 metabolites, revealing a complex chemical composition with 34 novel compounds in the Vanilla genus in VCR and VP. These findings highlight significant flavoring compounds and lay the foundation for a subsequent quantitative estimation approach. Our targeted analysis, which measured key molecules, underscores VCR's potential in producing vanillin and acetovanillone at levels comparable to the commercially valuable VP and even higher levels of vanillic acid. This research enriches our understanding of flavor composition in vanilla species and emphasizes the importance of exploring wild relatives of vanilla crop for sustainable production and biodiversity conservation.

An overview of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest species of Pachythone Bates (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), with the description of a new species and an updated checklist of Pachythonina

The taxonomy of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic species belonging to the Neotropical metalmark genus Pachythone Bates, 1868 is revised. A new endemic species is described, Pachythone gagarini Dolibaina & Dias, sp. nov., based on historical specimens from a single locality in Rio de Janeiro state. Adults and genitalia of the new species are illustrated and described in detail. Pachythone palades Hewitson, (1873) and P. pasicles Hewitson, (1873), described from females and males, respectively, and regarded as two distinct species since their descriptions, are here recognized as a single species, the former being considered a junior subjective synonym of the latter (syn. nov.). Lectotypes are designated for both P. palades and P. pasicles. Pachythone sumare Callaghan, 1999, so far known from its type locality in Rio de Janeiro state, is here reported from Joinville, Santa Catarina, which extends its occurrence 700 km southwards. Lastly, an updated checklist for the recently proposed subtribe Pachythonina is given.

Anurans in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado in the Campos das Vertentes, southeast Brazil

Knowing the biodiversity of anurans in poorly studied regions, especially those in biomes declining in areaas a result of human activities, such as the Campos das Vertentes in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is essential for developing andimplementing management and conservation strategies for the biota and for monitoring environmental quality. Ourobjective was to inventory the anurans of forest remnants in an ecotonal area between Atlantic Forest and Cerrado inBarroso and Prados Municipalities, Minas Gerais, Brazil. From October 2020 to March 2021, four researchers sampledanurans during three nighttime hours over 24 days for a total of 168 person-hours. We recorded 26 anuran species (16in the Family Hylidae) in 13 genera and seven families. Forest fragments, such as those sampled, are important for theprotection of anurans but are disappearing rapidly, mostly due to conversion to agricultural activities. Reduction oreven local extinctions of anuran populations renders conservation actions urgent.

Updating the prey menu of the ophiophagous snake Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Linnaeus, 1758) with two heterospecific snakes from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest

The Aesculapian false coral snake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii, is reported here preying on two heterospecific snake species. An individual of E. aesculapii was observed preying an adult Atractus cf. major in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil, and another on an adult Tropidodryas striaceps in the municipality of Divino de São Lourenço, state of Espírito Santo, also in Brazil. Both observations detail the predatory behavior of E. aesculapii, from chasing to immobilizing and ingesting the prey snakes. These findings expand knowledge of the predatory interactions of E. aesculapii, including the addition of two new prey species, reinforcing the ophiophagous nature of its feeding behavior.

Fragmentation of native forest surrounding protected areas in Brazil: the case of the Mata do Pau-Ferro State Park in Brejo Paraibano

The creation of protected areas is the main mechanism for biodiversity conservation in Brazil. The Mata do Pau-Ferro State Park, located in the Brejo Paraibano region, protects an important fragment of the Atlantic Forest and in its surroundings there are activities that damage ecosystems, such as livestock farming. The aim was therefore to assess forest fragmentation in the park’s buffer zone and analyse its influence on the park. We found 516 fragments, totalling 2102.20 ha, of which 98.64% are smaller than 50 ha. There is a predominance of rounded shapes and expressive areas affected by edge effects. Finally, the Distance to the Nearest Neighbour was an average of 39.43 m. In the context observed integration systems between livestock and forest can reduce impacts on biodiversity. Similar results have been found for arbitrary delimitations, but have not yet been reported for a buffer zone delimited through the Management Plan in Brazil.

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus velezensis endophytically isolated from roots of Polygala paniculata.

Polygala paniculata is a medicinal plant that harbors a remaining unknown microbiome. Those plants are known for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and are widely found in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Herein, we report the isolation of the endophyte Bacillus velezensis GPP30 with a draft genome estimated at 4.0 Mpb.

Fruit and seed of Eriotheca dolichopoda (Malvaceae) revealed after 45 years: Emended description, typification, new records, and conservation status of a poorly known Atlantic Forest species

Eriotheca dolichopoda (Malvaceae) is a tree species endemic to Atlantic Forest in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Its fruit and seed were unknown and had not been illustrated. Herein we describe and illustrate for the first time the fruit and seed of E. dolichopoda, provide an emended morphological description, designate a lectotype, and designate an epitype to permit a precise application of the name. We also discuss morphological variation in E. dolichopoda and its affinities with similar species. Finally, we use fieldwork and herbarium data to provide a distribution map and an updated conservation assessment of E. dolichopoda based on IUCN criteria.

A New Species of Nealiolus Mason, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Traditional Cocoa Agroforestry and Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest.

The genus Nealiolus Mason, 1974 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Brachistinae) is recorded for the first time in the Atlantic forest remnants and traditional cocoa agroforests, Theobroma cacao (Malvaceae) in the northeastern Brazilian region. A new species Nealiolus seb Silva, Shimbori & Fernandes sp. n. is described and named in honor of the "Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil - SEB", on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary (golden jubilee). Digital images, map and an identification key for all Brazilian species of Nealiolus are provided.

Does the presence of Ethanol and Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol®) influence the attractiveness of scavenger insects to carcasses? A pilot study in an Atlantic Forest fragment

Does the presence of Ethanol and Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol®) influence the attractiveness of scavenger insects to carcasses? A pilot study in an Atlantic Forest fragment

Rural children know cavity-nesting birds of the Atlantic Forest but may underappreciate their critical habitat

Abstract Cavity-nesting birds are a diverse and charismatic community, with a common need for tree cavities that makes them vulnerable to land management by humans. However, little research has formally integrated human social aspects into management recommendations for the conservation of cavity-nesting birds. In agroecosystems, people's management decisions modify and define the habitat availability for native cavity-nesting species. These behaviors during adulthood are related to people's worldviews and are shaped, in part, by childhood experiences. On-going forest loss may reduce opportunities for children to interact with and learn from cavity-nesting birds and their habitats. We used a social-ecological framework to assess rural children's knowledge and representations of native cavity-nesting birds and their habitats in agroecosystems of the threatened Atlantic Forest of Argentina. We employed “freelists” and “draw-and-explain” strategies with 235 children from 19 rural schools, and then compared results with a 4-yr dataset of trees (n = 328) and tree-cavity nests (n = 164) in the same study area. Children listed a high diversity (93 taxa) of native cavity-nesting birds, especially parrots (Psittacidae), toucans (Ramphastidae), and woodpeckers (Picidae), which they mostly recognized as cavity-nesters. However, children drew agricultural landscapes with few of the habitat features that these birds require (e.g., tree cavities, native forest). Exotic trees were overrepresented in drawings (40% of mentions) compared to our field dataset of nests (10%) and trees on farms (15%). Although children mentioned and depicted a high diversity of native cavity-nesting birds, our results may reveal a problematic extinction of experience regarding how these birds interact with their habitat. To strengthen children's contextualized knowledge and promote their long-term commitment to the conservation of cavity-nesting species, we recommend fostering meaningful experiences for children to interact with native cavity-nesting birds and recognize their habitat needs. A version of this article translated into Spanish is available in the Supplementary Material 1.

Espécies vegetais descritas em área de reserva da biosfera da Mata Atlântica como fonte para novos compostos bioativos

This work consists of a systematic review of the literature related to the plant species cataloged in Parque das Dunas, Salvador-BA, a region acclaimed by the title of Atlantic Forest biosphere reserve by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). We included studies containing data on pharmacological activity, phytochemical and toxic profile of the species, from PUBMED, SCIELO and SCIENCE DIRECT databases, in Portuguese and English, without a delimited period. The scientific names of the thirty cataloged species were used as descriptors. The physicochemical parameters and prediction in silico toxicity were evaluated for the isolated and active compounds. As a result, it was verified that of the thirty species, twelve were investigated for pharmacological activity and/or phytochemical and toxic profile, and 33% of the studies involving Chrysobalanus icaco L. (Chrysobalanaceae). Twenty-five bioactive compounds isolated predominantly of the terpene and flavonoid classes, and in eighteen studies the safety of seven species was evaluated. The in silico analysis showed ten compounds did not violate the Lipinski and Veber rules, and only three with high toxic potential. This review gathers data that point to the use of natural products from Brazilian territory in research that may culminate in development of innovative drugs.

Floristic patterns of Atlantic Forest's coastal remnants: insights to guide conservation and management

The coastal remnants of the Atlantic Forest are important sources of plant biodiversity and are a significant part of this endangered biome. Despite this, in some areas the flora is still little known, such as the Serra da Tiririca State Park (PESET), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here we used information from scientific studies and data from the REFLORA virtual herbarium to synthesize the floristic parameters relating to the taxonomic classification of species, origin, life form, substrate, endemism and threat. For PESET, a total of 1519 species have been recorded 1360 of which are native to Brazil. Four hundred and eighty-one species are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and six are endemic to PESET. The Fabaceae family and the Eugenia genus had the highest number of records (160 and 33 species, respectively). Approximately 32% of documented plant species comprise trees, while 85.78% are associated with terrestrial habitats. Seventy-nine species are threatened (CR, EN and VU), while 868 have Not Evaluated or have Deficient Data (NE and DD). When compared with other Atlantic Forest remnants, PESET surprisingly showed greater species similarity with the Serra de São José (ISs = 0.91) in the Brazilian Cerrado and less similarity with the Costa do Sol State Park (ISs = 0.59), which is geographically closer. Our approach, used at PESET, can be applied to other coastal remnants and increase the knowledge about the patterns of flora richness in the Atlantic Forest's coastal remnants and provide support for the conservation and management strategies in this biome.

Investigating the distribution of a unique crustacean microendemic to tree hollows.

Water-filled tree hollows constitute phytotelmata that harbor specialized organisms. One striking example of extreme adaptation to these microhabitats is the case of the microcrustacean Micromoina arboricola, which has been found inhabiting the hollow of a single tree individual in the Atlantic Forest. We investigated the spatial distribution and influence of microhabitat characteristics such as hollow volume and height from the ground in the occurrence of M. arboricola. We surveyed all the trunks present in ca. 5000 m2 of an Atlantic old-growth forest area. We found M. arboricola individuals in 75% of the hollows, thus expanding the known distribution of the species. Spatial analysis suggested a clustered pattern of population densities across hollows, indicating that the dispersal capacity to new microhabitat patches may vary in space. Although we did not find an effect of hollow volume, population density was negatively related to hollow height. This suggests that more restrictive abiotic conditions at greater heights limit the occurrence of the species, emphasizing its vulnerability to environmental changes. Hollow-mediated ecosystem engineering depends on the occasional formation of cavities that require time and ancient trees. Preserving old forests with hollows under varying conditions tends to maintain ecosystem functionality and the conservation of this unique microendemic species.

Exploring environmental and climate features associated with yellow fever across space and time in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome.

The Atlantic Forest Biome (AFB) creates an ideal environment for the proliferation of vector mosquitoes, such as Haemagogus and Sabethes species, which transmit the Yellow Fever virus (YFV) to both human and non-human primates (NHP) (particularly Alouatta sp. and Callithrix sp.). From 2016 to 2020, 748 fatal cases of YF in humans and 1,763 in NHPs were reported in this biome, following several years free from the disease. This underscores the imminent risk posed by the YFV. In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of YF cases in both NHPs and humans across the entire AFB during the outbreak period, using a generalized linear mixed regression model (GLMM) at the municipal level. Our analysis examined factors associated with the spread of YFV, including environmental characteristics, climate conditions, human vaccination coverage, and the presence of two additional YFV-affected NHP species. The occurrence of epizootics has been directly associated with natural forest formations and the presence of species within the Callithrix genus. Additionally, epizootics have been shown to be directly associated with human prevalence. Furthermore, human prevalence showed an inverse correlation with urban areas, temporary croplands, and savannah and grassland areas. Further analyses using Moran's Index to incorporate the neighborhoods of municipalities with cases in each studied host revealed additional variables, such as altitude, which showed a positive correlation. Additionally, the occurrence of the disease in both hosts exhibited a spatio-temporal distribution pattern. To effectively mitigate the spread of the virus, it is necessary to proactively expand vaccination coverage, refine NHP surveillance strategies, and enhance entomological surveillance in both natural and modified environments.

Cultivation of a Wild Strain of Wood Ear Auricularia cornea from Brazil.

Auricularia cornea has become one of the most important cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Although not remarkably flavorful, Auricularia species are very versatile and rehydrate easily after drying, adding a unique and pleasing texture to the dishes. In this study, we collected, identified, and domesticated a wild strain of A. cornea from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The wild strain was evaluated for mycelial growth at different temperatures and substrates, biological efficiency, and nutritional composition. The temperature that best favored the A. cornea mycelium growth was 30°C, and the substrate was sterile Eucalyptus sawdust. The highest biological efficiency value obtained was 106.90 ± 13.28%. Nutritional analysis showed that the produced wood ears contained 71.02% carbohydrates, 19.63% crude fiber, 11.59% crude protein, 10.19% crude fat, and 4.24% ash on dry matter basis. For the mineral content profile, the elements K and P were the most abundant. This is the first report on cultivation of a wild strain of A. cornea from Brazil.

Phylogeography of the Red‐Headed Manakin Supports the River‐Refuge Hypothesis

ABSTRACTAimThe Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse regions on earth, but our understanding of the processes that have shaped its patterns of diversity remains incomplete. One hypothesis for Amazonian speciation is the river‐refuge hypothesis, which suggests that retraction of forests away from the periphery of Amazonia, where rivers are narrow, facilitated divergence of populations separated by wide rivers. Later re‐expansion of forests would have allowed secondary contact between these populations, and co‐occurring hybrid zones may reveal the location where expanding forests first reconnected. Here, we test whether a widespread Amazonian songbird species shows evidence of population contact zones in the eastern headwaters of the Tapajós river, hypothesised to be an area of secondary contact under the river‐refuge hypothesis.LocationAmazon and Atlantic forests of South America.TaxonCeratopipra rubrocapilla (Pipridae, Passeriformes).MethodsWe sampled 147 C. rubrocapilla (Red‐headed Manakin) across its vast range, with 70 samples sequenced using reduced‐representation genomic sequencing and 139 sequenced at the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. We use population genetic and phylogenetic analyses to investigate patterns of gene flow and population structure across the range, with a particular focus on samples from the headwaters of the Tapajós River to evaluate the potential role of the river‐refuge hypothesis.ResultsWe observe shallow population structure and evidence for widespread gene flow across the range of C. rubrocapilla. Patterns in the Tapajós headwaters match predictions of the river‐refuge hypothesis, with eastern headwater samples most similar to samples farther west on the opposite bank of the Tapajós River.Main ConclusionsThe close co‐occurrence between population contact zones within C. rubrocapilla and other previously studied hybrid zones reinforces the hypothesis that the eastern Tapajós headwaters is where rainforest populations reconnected in the past, following predictions of the river‐refuge hypothesis of Amazonian speciation.

Conservation gaps for Brazilian bats, limited protection across conservation units and the importance of the indigenous lands.

In Brazil, there is 13% of the world's bat diversity, is the second most diverse group of mammals, playing a crucial role in providing ecosystem services that benefit humans. However, anthropogenic disturbances exacerbate processes of species extinction, shifts in geographic distributions, and phenological changes, despite efforts to safeguard biodiversity through the creation of Conservation Units and Indigenous Lands. Moreover, gaps in taxonomic knowledge and challenges related to species distribution hinder the effective implementation of conservation strategies in protected areas. This study assesses the contribution of Brazilian Conservation Units (both Full Protection and Sustainable Use) and Indigenous Lands to the conservation of bat species and their ecosystem services. It also presents maps illustrating species richness by trophic guilds and threat classification according to IUCN, including species listed as Data Deficient. The findings reveal low percentages of potential bat distribution areas within these protected regions, especially for insectivorous, nectarivorous, and frugivorous bats in the Cerrado biome, which are classified as Near Threatened. Additionally, the highest bat species richness was observed in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes.