Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome Research Articles

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.

Forest firefighting technology: Strategic water reservoir placement for terrestrial and aerial vehicles

Forest fires pose significant environmental, economic, and social threats to protected areas. Understanding their destructive potential is crucial for effective risk management. Two key factors in firefighting are water availability and emergency response networks. This study aimed to determine optimal locations for water reservoirs, supporting terrestrial and/or aerial firefighting in the Caparaó National Park within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Geotechnological tools (fuzzy logic, Euclidean distance, network analysis) were employed to identify strategic reservoir locations, considering land use, slope, proximity to roads, watercourses, and fire risk. The application of these methodologies revealed that terrestrial firefighting alone fell short of meeting the specified demand, capable of addressing at most 92.13 % of demand within the longest available timeframe (20 min). Additionally, the number of reservoirs required for this method was significantly higher (724 reservoirs) compared to aerial firefighting (42 reservoirs). Analyzing the investment needed for reservoir construction relative to the covered area in each evaluated scenario, it is evident that the terrestrial approach incurs a significantly higher cost ($40,664.35.km−2) than the aerial approach ($2358.98.km−2). From these results, it was concluded that the use of geotechnological tools is efficient in identifying strategic water reservoir locations for replenishing firefighting vehicles, and all methodologies support the creation of priority measures and plans for firefighting, proving to be viable, applicable, replicable, and adaptable to any other protected areas and economically significant regions.

Native peccaries activity patterns and temporal overlap with wild boar in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest

ABSTRACT We analyzed long-term camera-trap data from Protected Areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to study activity patterns of coexisting peccary species (Tayassu pecari and Dicotyles tajacu) and the exotic wild boar (Sus scrofa). The highest pattern overlap was between D. tajacu and S. scrofa (Δ1 = 0.78), followed by T. pecari and S. scrofa (Δ1 = 0.64), and the lowest between D. tajacu and T. pecari (Δ1 = 0.61). In the presence of feral pigs, collared peccary activity exhibited two distinct peaks, occurring in the late evening and early morning. When coexisting with white-lipped peccaries, their activity peaks early in the evening and again in the mid-morning, potentially enabling them to avoid overlapping with the activity peaks of white-lipped peccaries, which are distributed throughout the day. Our findings suggest a potential interference of wild boars in the temporal niche dynamics of native peccaries across various areas within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Nonetheless, we emphasize the imperative for more focused investigations at both regional micro and macro scales throughout the Atlantic Forest, specifically delving into other dimensions of the niche, such as food and habitat utilization among the three species.

Land-use patterns and fungal bioaerosols in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome

Whilst the importance of fungal primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) has been recognised, few studies have empirically assessed how land-use patterns influence them. Here, we show the impacts of different land-use patterns on fungal PBAPs within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. Spanning a distance of ca. 600 km within this biome, we collected fungal bioaerosols in the following land-use patterns: a 25-year-old coffee plantation, a 2.5-year-old Eucalyptus plantation, a 3-months-old maize crop, a 2-year-old and another 7-year-old native forest reforestation area, and a native forest fragment. Using the portable Burkard air sampler, a total of 14 morphotype-species were found. Cladosporium sp. comprised as much as about 95% of all fungal spores collected, being present in all samples (frequency of 100%). Forest systems had as much as 5-to-19-fold more fungal spores in the air than maize crops. Sampling height and time (morning vs. afternoon) did not influence fungal concentration and number of species. In addition, using data derived from an eddy covariance tower in the Eucalyptus site, we estimated the emission rate to be 6649 spores m−2 s−1. Our study confirms that land-use patterns affect fungal PBAPs, and that replacing large areas of native Atlantic Forest by monospecific stands, a homogenisation of airborne fungi is occurring, with unknown consequences for climate regulation.

O Impacto de Pagamentos de Serviços Ambientais na Mata Atlântica: Um Estudo Geoespacial

ABSTRACT Objective: this study aimed at understanding the impact of payment for environmental services (PES) programs in relation to environmental indicators in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Theoretical approach: the literary framework included three topics of discussion: payment for environmental services, program evaluation, and theory of change. In a broader way, the theme of evaluating programs in the agricultural area was articulated, considering the precepts of the theory of change. Method: geospatial data on land use, between 2016 and 2021, and amounts paid under the PES program with rural producers were collected to evaluate the impact on the increase or decrease in degraded and recovered areas. Data analysis included multivariate statistics, more specifically the comparison between groups and the relationship between variables through multiple linear regression. Results: the empirical results highlight that there is a significant difference in the increase in areas under recovery between producers who received PES values and producers not participating in this program. As for the types of PES, the one that pays for improvements in land use contributed most to the increase in the area under recovery. Conclusions: the study shows that evaluation methods for PES must be increasingly complex and measurable, as there are several possibilities for impacts depending on the objective of the program. The results are relevant to the theoretical, practical, and social spheres, in addition to helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Novo Índice Integrado de Qualidade da Água (IWQI) e sua aplicação com poluentes emergentes na bacia do bioma Mata Atlântica no sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT The presence of emerging contaminants in surface water is a growing concern, as these substances are not typically monitored by environmental quality systems, potentially leading to the consumption of contaminated water. In this study, the presence of caffeine, an emerging contaminant that is ingested solely by humans and is present in surface water due to its chemical characteristics, was investigated as a potential indicator of anthropogenic contamination in the Itajaí-Açu River in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Additionally, twelve other emerging pollutants were examined in the Itajaí-Açu River, including estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), estriol (E3), prednisone (PD), hexestrol (HEX), acetaminophen (ACM), Oxytetracicline (OC). Surface water samples were collected over five months and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results revealed that caffeine was present in 84% of the analyzed samples, and emerging pollutants were present in all monitored municipalities. The study also investigated the relationship between an integrated water quality index, the magnitudes and occurrences of caffeine, and land use. The emerging pollutants Estrone, Ethinylestradiol, Hexestrol, Naproxen and Oxytetracycline were not detected in the analyzed samples. However, Ibuprofen, Tetracycline, Prednisone, and Acetaminophen were present in 44% and 36% of the samples, respectively, with Estriol, Ketoprofen, and Estradiol having a lower occurrence. The mean concentrations of Estradiol, Estriol, Ketoprofen, Acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen were 0.08 µg L-1, 0.23 µg L-1, 0.15 µg L-1, 0.42 µg L-1, and 0.44 µg L-1, respectively, and were higher than previously reported. The concentration range of caffeine during the study was <0.10 to 1.48 µg L-1, with the mean concentration being 0.30 µg L-1. These findings highlight the presence of emerging pollutants in the Itajaí-Açu River and the need for continued monitoring and regulatory legislation to protect surface water quality in Brazil.

Unprecedentedly high soil carbon stocks and their spatial variability in a seasonally dry Atlantic Forest in Brazil

There is a significant gap in the literature concerning the potential of tropical soils to stock carbon in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Furthermore, the key drivers responsible for the variability in carbon storage in tropical soils remain unknown. Therefore, experimental studies are crucial to highlight the importance of Atlantic Forests in storing organic matter, considering that forest soils are one of the most important carbon reservoirs on Earth. This study aimed: (i) to determine soil carbon stocks at the depths of 0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm, 30–40 cm, 40–60 cm, and 60–100 cm in a forest fragment located in the Atlantic Forest hotspot; (ii) to describe the temporal variability of soil carbon stocks; and (iii) to identify the main biotic and abiotic drivers that influence their temporal and spatial variations. Soil carbon stocks at a 1-meter depth ranged from 201 to 396 Mg C/ha, with a spatial variability of 22.3 %. The highest accumulation of soil carbon in the 1-meter depth was in December (290.8 Mg C/ha), while the lowest was in August (246.1 Mg C/ha), highlighting the soil carbon stocks’ seasonality in the Atlantic Forest. Concerning the vertical distribution, ∼50 % of the soil carbon stocks were found in the 0–30 cm layer. The main drivers of carbon spatial distribution varied across different soil layers: (i) litterfall and long-term spatiotemporal patterns of throughfall were the primary drivers in the shallower layers (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm), while (ii) variability in tree sizes and long-term temporal dynamics of soil moisture were the main drivers in the deeper layers. Oxisols’ characteristics were crucial for the unprecedently high carbon stocks observed in the deep layers (67.7 Mg C/ha). Thus, the Atlantic Forest-Oxisol association is a prominent strategy to improve carbon stocks in Brazilian tropical soils.

Physical, Chemical, and Microbiological Attributes as Discriminators of Coffee-Growing and Forest Sites in Different Soils in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome

Physical, Chemical, and Microbiological Attributes as Discriminators of Coffee-Growing and Forest Sites in Different Soils in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome

Registro de libélulas (Odonata) predadas por aranhas (Araneae) na Mata Atlântica, no Sul do Brasil

Dragonflies are insects that act as predators and prey, both in freshwater and associated terrestrial ecosystems, which makes the understanding of trophic relationships established by these insects important. In this sense, the present study aimed to report the predation of Odonata by Araneae in areas of seasonal semideciduous forest, phytophysiognomy of the Atlantic Forest at the Iguaçu National Park (PARNA Iguaçu), and in the Bela Vista Biological Refuge (RBBV). The records occurred at random in 2021 from December 13 to 21, and in 2022 from January 4 to April 22. Five individuals of three species and two morphospecies of Odonata preyed upon by three morphospecies of spiders were recorded. Predation of Odonata by spiders seems to be frequent in different ecosystems, but further studies are required to understand the impact of this predation on the size of dragonfly communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome.

Conservation of tree phylogenetic diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Dry habitats matter

Conservation assessments that aim to represent the pool of lineages that exist within a region are challenging due to incomplete knowledge of the spatial distribution and environmental preferences of distinct lineages. In this context, community-level models represent a powerful tool that can be used to predict spatial variation in phylogenetic composition. If lineages composition and habitat loss present a non-random spatial pattern within a region, we can expect that some lineages are more threatened by habitat loss than others. To test this hypothesis we combined multivariate analysis and a modelling approach to predict the phylogenetic composition of angiosperm tree/shrub communities in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, which is regarded as a plant endemism center within the Brazilian Atlantic forest biome. Then we correlated the resulting models with maps of vegetation cover and protected areas, to identify lineages subjected to higher habitat loss and clades that receive less protection. We found that angiosperm tree/shrub lineages are highly structured across distinct vegetation types and that a gradient of deforestation and land protection parallels the phylogenetic gradient formed by the distinct vegetation types. Consequently, some vegetation types and its associated angiosperm lineages are much more threatened by habitat loss and are less protected than others. Specifically, Ericales (asterids), Caryophyllales and Santalales are the most threatened clades in this region, along with their preferred habitats, seasonal forests and coastal white-sand forests (restingas). Protecting and restoring these dry habitats is critical for the conservation of tree and shrub phylogenetic diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

A new species of Zercoseius (Acari: Mesostigmata: Blattisociidae) from Brazil

Zercoseius luizdequeirozi n. sp. is described based on adult females collected from soil/litter samples taken from disturbed areas of the natural vegetation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. This new species differs from Zercoseius spathuliger (Leonardi, 1899), presently the only species included in this genus, reported so far from Europe, northern Africa and northwestern USA, more obviously by the shape of the dorsal shield setae and by having seta s1.

Toward a forest transition across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome

The world has entered the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), yet many regions of the world still face environmental degradation. In this context a question arises: under what conditions may a given region shift from a trajectory of environmental degradation to environmental recovery? Answering this question constitutes an important endeavor for the scientific community, policymakers, and organizations leading the planning and implementation of restoration projects. This study examines some of the human-environment conditions underpinning the net gains in natural forest cover in a region that has experienced environmental degradation: the Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil. Using land-use/cover (LULC) data, we assessed the loss and successive gain in forest cover during the 1987–2001 and 2001–2015 periods. Municipality-level statistics on agriculture and economy, together with LULC and biophysical data, were used to develop models for assessing forest cover trajectories. Of the 1,972 municipalities experiencing net forest loss during the 1987–2001 period, 59% shifted their trajectory to a net gain during the 2001–2015 period. This shift, known as forest transition, followed a complex socio-economic pathway characterized by (i) the stagnation of traditional agricultural activities favoring the replacement of pasturelands by mechanized agriculture, and (ii) the emergence of non-agricultural rural activities together with multifunctional landscapes. Furthermore, a trend of decrease in precipitation seems to be associated with land abandonment, thus, favoring the return of natural vegetation. Our findings suggest that forest transition at the biome level is possible if environmental and land regulations take advantage of specific context-dependent situations that foster net forest gains.

Cytotoxic screening of plants from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has led to the identification of Casearia arborea and Sorocea hilarii as sources of antitumor compounds

In the present study, we have evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 282 extracts from 72 native plant species of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. As a result, Casearia arborea and Sorocea hilarii leaves extracts showed cytotoxic activity against three tumour cell lines tested (B16F10, SW480 and Jurkat). After bioassay-guided fractionation, the bioactive fractions were submitted to the dereplication study via High-performance Liquid Chromatography, connected to High-resolution Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS) analysis, combined with a Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) tool. A combination of bioactivity-guided and dereplication approaches resulted in the putative annotation of 27 clerodane diterpenes and 9 flavonoids as main compounds present in the cytotoxic fractions of C. arborea. Regarding the active fraction of S. hilarii, 10 megastigmans, 17 spirostane steroids derivatives and 2 lignans were putatively identified. In conclusion, Casearia arborea and Sorocea hilarii are potential sources of antitumor compounds.

Assessment of Ecosystem Services Provided by a Green Urban Infrastructure in Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome Areas – Dourados, Mato Grosso Do Sul

Urban infrastructure is a challenge for municipal managers in Brazil, given the rapid urbanization that has occurred in the country and the population growth in these locations. The inclusion of green characteristics in the urban space has contributed to the human needs of residents in this space, areas that allow the filtering of pollutants in the air and water, greater absorption of rainwater, noise reduction, scenic beauty, among other characteristics that are related to ecosystem services. In this context, the objective of the study is to identify the opportunity cost for the existence of urban green areas. This was done using the methodological resources available in environmental economics, which employs the opportunity cost based on the assessment of the net benefit of conservation. Primary and secondary data were used, the sources being literature and satellite images. Considering the analysis period from 2018 to 2020. The results indicate that the opportunity cost is greater than the amounts that can be collected through the commercialization of ecosystem services, implying that the landowners of the Urban Ecological Corridor projected in the municipality of Dourados - Mato Grosso do Sul, should be financially supported to maintain these services in green areas, given their importance to people's quality of life.

Landscape factors and allochthonous congeneric species influence Callithrix aurita occurrence in Brazilian Atlantic Forest remnants.

The buffy-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix aurita) is a small primate endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, and one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world, due to fragmentation, loss of habitat, and invasion by allochthonous Callithrix species. Using occurrence data for C. aurita from published data papers, we employed model selection using Akaike Information Criterion corrected for small samples and cumulative AICc weight (w +) to evaluate whether fragment size, distance to fragments with allochthonous species, altitude, connectivity, and surrounding matrices influence the occurrence of C. aurita within its distributional range. Distance to fragments with C. jacchus (w + = 0.94) and nonvegetated areas (w + = 0.59) correlated negatively with C. aurita occurrence. Conversely, the percentage of agriculture and pasture mosaic (w + = 0.61) and the percentage of savanna formation (w + = 0.59) in the surrounding matrix correlated positively with C. aurita occurrence. The findings indicate that C. aurita is isolated in forest fragments surrounded by potentially inhospitable matrices, along with proximity of a more generalist and invasive species, thereby increasing the possibility of introgressive hybridization. The findings also highlighted the importance of landscape elements and allochthonous congeneric species for C. aurita conservation, besides indicating urgency for allochthonous species management. Finally, the approach used here can be applied to improve conservation studies of other endangered species, such as C. flaviceps, which is also endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and faces the same challenges.

Pilea bradei (Urticaceae), a new species from the Atlantic Forest Biome in Southeastern Brazil

Pilea bradei is described as a new species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome, with records in Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra da Bocaina, Southeastern Brazil. Of the species of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome that do not have trichomes and that present punctiform, linear, or fusiform cystoliths (and not cystoliths of other shapes), P. bradei is the only one that has fusiform cystoliths over the veins and other parts of the abaxial surface (vs. linear or fusiform cystoliths absent or only over the veins). The description is accompanied by a preliminary extinction threat assessment according to IUCN Red List categories and criteria, which classifies Pilea bradei as Endangered (EN). We also provide an updated checklist and a key for Pilea species from the Atlantic Forest Biome circumscribed to Southeastern Brazil.

Cover Image

The cover image relates to the Research Article https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13610 “Climate drives anuran breeding phenology in a continental perspective as revealed by citizen-collected data” by Forti et al. A male green treefrog (Aplastodiscus arildae) calling during the reproductive period in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Image Credit: Fabio Hepp.

Greenhouse gas balance and mitigation of pasture-based dairy production systems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome.

Brazilian cattle production is mostly carried out in pastures, and the need to mitigate the livestock's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its environmental footprint has become an important requirement. The adoption of well-suited breeds and the intensification of pasture-based livestock production systems are alternatives to optimize the sector's land use. However, further research on tropical systems is necessary. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of Holstein (HO) and Jersey–Holstein (JE x HO) crossbred cows in different levels of pasture intensification (continuous grazing system with low stocking rate–CLS; irrigated rotational grazing system with high stocking rate–RHS), and the interaction between these two factors on GHG mitigation. Twenty-four HO and 24 JE x HO crossbred dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of two grazing systems on milk production and composition, soil GHG emissions, methane (CH4) emission, and soil carbon accumulation (0–100 cm). These variables were used to calculate carbon balance (CB), GHG emission intensity, the number of trees required to mitigate GHG emission, and the land-saving effect. The number of trees necessary to mitigate GHG emission was calculated, considering the C balance within the farm gate. The mitigation of GHG emissions comes from the annual growth rate and accumulation of C in eucalyptus trees' trunks. The CB of all systems and genotypes presented a deficit in carbon (C); there was no difference for genotypes, but RHS was more deficient than CLS (-4.99 to CLS and −28.72 to RHS ton CO2e..ha−1.year−1). The deficit of C on GHG emission intensity was similar between genotypes and higher for RHS (−0.480 to RHS and −0.299 to CLS kg CO2e..kg FCPCmilk−1). Lower GHG removals (0.14 to CLS higher than 0.02 to RHS kg CO2e..kg FCPCmilk−1) had the greatest influence on the GHG emission intensity of milk production. The deficit number of trees to abatement emissions was higher to HO (−46.06 to HO and −38.37 trees/cow to JE x HO) and to RHS (−51.9 to RHS and −33.05 trees/cow to CLS). However, when the results are expressed per ton of FCPCmilk, there was a difference only between pasture management, requiring −6.34 tree. ton FCPCmilk−1 for the RHS and −3.99 tree. ton FCPCmilk−1 for the CLS system. The intensification of pastures resulted in higher milk production and land-saving effect of 2.7 ha. Due to the reservation of the pasture-based dairy systems in increasing soil C sequestration to offset the GHG emissions, especially enteric CH4, planting trees can be used as a mitigation strategy. Also, the land-save effect of intensification can contribute to the issue, since the area spared through the intensification in pasture management becomes available for reforestation with commercial trees.

Essential Oils from Different Myrtaceae Species from Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biome - Chemical Dereplication and Evaluation of Antitrypanosomal Activity.

Chagas Disease (CD), caused by flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that affect approximately seven million people worldwide with a restrict therapeutical arsenal. In the present study, the essential oils from 18 Myrtaceae species were extracted, chemically dereplicated, and evaluated in vitro against T. cruzi. From these, eight essential oils were considered promising (IC50 <10 μg/mL and SI>10) against the protozoan: Eugenia florida, E. acutata, E. widgrenii, Calyptranthes brasilienses, C. widgreniana, Plinia cauliflora, Campomanesia xanthocarpa, and Psidium guajava. Multivariate data analysis pointed out (E)-caryophyllene, α-humulene, limonene, caryophyllene oxide, and α-copaene playing an important role in the anti-T. cruzi activity. The obtained results demonstrated the potential of essential oils of Myrtaceae species as valuable sources of bioactive compounds against T. cruzi.

Altitude and temperature drive anuran community assembly in a Neotropical mountain region

AbstractUnderstanding the spatial variation in species richness and the mechanisms that limit species range sizes along geographical gradients belong to the central research issues in macroecology. Here, we aim to test the topographic and climatic effects on anuran species richness and community composition in mountainous regions in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. We used Individual‐Based Rarefaction Curve (interpolation and extrapolation), Generalized Additive Model (GAM), Midpoint method and Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) to analyze the topographic and climatic effects on anuran community composition, richness, and range sizes in a global biodiversity hotspot. Our results showed that altitude and annual mean temperature and temperature seasonality were the main drivers of species altitudinal range sizes and community assembly in mountainous regions. In conclusion, Anuran community richness peaked at intermediate altitudes following thus a hump‐shaped pattern and corroborated the Rapoport's altitudinal rule as range sizes increased with altitude in mountainous regions from the Atlantic Forest biome. This study revealed new insights into the patterns and drivers of Neotropical anuran communities.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.