Brazilian Biome Research Articles

Feeding ecology, reproductive biology, and sexual dimorphism of <i>Boana raniceps</i> (Anura: Hylidae) in an area of Caatinga, northeastern Brazil

The number of studies on the ecology of the genus Boana is vast in Brazilian biomes. Among the different species of this genus, B. raniceps is considered a common and widely distributed species. Despite this, only a few studies have explored the ecology of this species in the Caatinga biome. In this study we present information on the diet composition, reproduction, and sexual dimorphism of B. raniceps in the Caatinga biome, northeastern Brazil, providing additional information about the natural history of the species. We observed that B. raniceps has a generalist diet, consuming a great diversity of prey categories, but with a numerical and volumetric prevalence of Coleoptera. Interestingly, there was an ontogenetic and sexual variation in the diet, with the Relative Importance Index (RII) for each prey category differed between males, females, and juveniles. Females were found bearing mature eggs in both the rainy and dry seasons. The number of eggs carried by each female ranged from 153 to 3904. There was sexual dimorphism in body size, with females larger than males. However, size was not a limiting factor in fecundity. Here, we present new information on the natural history of B. raniceps and reinforce the need for further studies with widely distributed and known species. This is the first study to demonstrate ontogenetic and sexual variation in the diet of anurans of the genus Boana.

Teunomyces gombertii f.a., sp. nov., Teunomyces landelliae f.a., sp. nov., Teunomyces ledahaglerae f.a., sp. nov. and Teunomyces paulamoraisiae f.a., sp. nov., four yeast species isolated from mushrooms and drosophilids in a Brazilian Amazonian rainforest biome.

Ten yeast isolates representing four candidate novel species of the genus Teunomyces were obtained from different species of mushrooms and drosophilids collected in an Amazonian Forest biome in Brazil. Sequence analyses of the ITS 5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that four isolates were phylogenetically related to Teunomyces stri, two isolates related to Teunomyces atbi, two isolates related to Teunomyces aglyptinius, and another two isolates related to Teunomyces aglyptinius, Teunomyces barrocoloradensis, Teunomyces gatunensis and Teunomyces stri. The four novel species differ by 3 % or more of sequence divergence in D1/D2 domains from their closest relatives. These species were isolated from basidiocarps of the mushrooms Marasmiellus volvatus, Tricholomopsis aurea, Hydropus sp. and Favolus tenuiculus, or drosophilids feeding on these substrates. The names Teunomyces gombertii f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16168T; Mycobank MB849065), Teunomyces landelliae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype =CBS 16169T; Mycobank MB 849066), Teunomyces ledahaglerae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16170T; Mycobank MB 849067) and Teunomyces paulamoraisiae f.a., sp. nov. (holotype CBS 16120T; Mycobank MB 849068) are proposed for these species.

Bridging the Gap: Combining Genomics and Transcriptomics Approaches to Understand Stylosanthes scabra, an Orphan Legume from the Brazilian Caatinga.

Stylosanthes scabra is a scientifically orphaned legume found in the Brazilian Caatinga biome (a semi-arid environment). This work utilized omics approaches to investigate some ecophysiological aspects of stress tolerance/resistance in S. scabra, study its genomic landscape, and predict potential metabolic pathways. Considering its high-confidence conceptual proteome, 1694 (~2.6%) proteins were associated with resistance proteins, some of which were found in soybean QTL regions that confer resistance to Asian soybean rust. S. scabra was also found to be a potential source of terpenes, as biosynthetic gene clusters associated with terpene biosynthesis were identified in its genome. The analysis revealed that mobile elements comprised approximately 59% of the sequenced genome. In the remaining 41% of the sections, some of the 22,681 protein-coding gene families were categorized into two informational groups: those that were specific to S. scabra and those that expanded significantly compared to their immediate ancestor. Biological process enrichment analyses indicated that these gene families play fundamental roles in the adaptation of S. scabra to extreme environments. Additionally, phylogenomic analysis indicated a close evolutionary relationship between the genera Stylosanthes and Arachis. Finally, this study found a high number (57) of aquaporin-encoding loci in the S. scabra genome. RNA-Seq and qPCR data suggested that the PIP subfamily may play a key role in the species' adaptation to water deficit conditions. Overall, these results provide valuable insights into S. scabra biology and a wealth of gene/transcript information for future legume omics studies.

The influence of climate parameters on fires in the Paraíba do Sul River valley, southeast Brazil

Brazilian biomes have been experiencing an increase in fires during the whole year, but fires increase substantially during drier periods. Several indexes might be good indicators of the severity of the droughts, such as The Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). This study therefore aimed to understand the dynamics of climate, using some indexes and fires in Paraíba do Sul River Valley, Paulista portion, to verify whether fire is more likely to spread in hotter and drier years. We hypothesized that fire events are more frequent and burned areas are larger in hotter and drier years in the region. By conducting a cross-correlation analysis and separating the monthly data into dry and rainy seasons, it was possible to establish a correlation between climate parameters and fire. A significant correlation was found between RAI and fires in both seasons. Additionally, we observed that high occurrences of fire events and burning areas were more explained by RAI, VHI and SPI-3 in dry and wet seasons than by temperature and SPI-1, SPI-6 and SPI-12. We noticed a complex dynamic between fire events, burned area, the environment, and climatic variables. However, the studied indexes proved to be effective tools for detecting drought conditions in the region and their relationship to fire.
 Keywords: burning, climatic indexes, Paraíba do Sul River Valley.

TEMPERATURE AND WIND SPEED DRIVE BIRD SPECIES RICHNESS IN BRAZILIAN ARID HIGHLAND SCRUB

Due to timely and financial hampering in developing nations, field research has been encouraged to use rapid and cost-effective methods without compromising the acquisition of good-quality data. Species richness is a widely used component in ecological studies, especially of birds, which are conspicuous, diurnal, and excellent bioindicators. Birds are also a proper taxonomic group for leading conservation planning. Therefore, conducting efficient bird censuses is of paramount importance worldwide. The aim of this research was to determine abiotic environmental factors that drive the record of species richness and further suggest climatic conditions to improve bird survey efficiency. Species lists were used to census bird communities in four localities in central Bahia, northeastern Brazil, within the Caatinga, an exclusive Brazilian biome. During the beginning of mornings, temperature and atmospheric pressure increased hourly, but wind speed showed no temporal pattern. Species richness was higher when temperatures and atmospheric pressure were lower, but there was no evident tendency between the number of species and wind speed. However, the additive interaction of temperature and wind speed accounted for the most plausible competing model. This suggests that in this Brazilian arid non-forested open-canopy and wind-susceptible habitats, censusing birds will record more species when temperatures are low (~20º C), but wind blows below speeds of ~10 m/s.

A hidden gem from Northeastern Brazil: A new species of Metaphotina Piza, 1964 (Mantodea, Acontistidae) ecologically linked to the Caatinga.

A new species of praying mantis, Metaphotina austri sp. n., is described from the Caatinga biome in Brazil. The species can be easily distinguished from its congeners by its small body size and diagnostic characters found on the head, wings, and male genitalia. Distributional data compiled from specimen labels, historical literature, and the citizen science platform iNaturalist showed that M. austri sp. n. is mainly associated with the northernmost and driest region of the Caatinga, known as the Depresso Sertaneja Setentrional. Ecological and geographical data about the new species, as well as comments on the diversity of Mantodea in the Caatinga, are provided, highlighting the importance of crowdsourced data for a more comprehensive understanding of praying mantis species distribution and their natural history.

Detection of Groundnut ringspot virus carried by Frankliniella sp. on watermelon fields in Brazilian Cerrado

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) is an important crop in Brazil and affected by relevant insect vectors, including thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The present work was focused on evaluating the presence of Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) associated with Frankliniella sp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in watermelon, C. lanatus , cultivated in the Brazilian Cerrado biome. Several species of thrips were collected from four commercial crops located in Gurupi, Lagoa da Confusao, Formoso do Araguaia and Porto Nacional counties, all of them belonging to the Brazilian state of Tocantins). The total viral RNA obtained from the thrips was enriched and used to perform ugh RT-PCR. Using specific primers, a 644 bp fragment of the GRSV nucleocapsid was identified in all insect samples, which allowed us to perform a phylogenetic analysis with GRSV sequences described for other geographical regions. The findings demonstrate the wide distribution of the GRSV virus in commercial watermelon crops in the Brazilian Cerrado Biome. The association with Frankliniella sp. is highlighted as one of the most relevant vector pathways in this region of high intensity and advanced agriculture. In addition, phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship between GRSV sequences from South Africa and Brazil. These findings may contribute to the understanding of GRSV distribution in watermelon crops in different localities of Brazilian Cerrado 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.

Remarks on Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood, 1837), an invasive species of Embioptera in Brazil

There are five families of Embioptera recorded in Brazil, namely: Anisembiidae, Archembiidae, Clothodidae, Teratembiidae, and Oligotomidae, the latter represented by Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood, 1837), an invasive species with worldwide distribution. In this work, we provide an update on O. saundersii distribution for three Brazilian states and the first record for Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Additionally, we provide photographs of both sexes, a differential diagnosis for other families, and a distribution map with all records of O. saundersii for the country.

Molecular evidence of Bartonella spp. in wild lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris), the largest land mammals in Brazil

The genus Bartonella (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) encompasses facultative intracellular α-proteobacteria that parasite erythrocytes and endothelial cells from a wide range of vertebrate hosts and can cause disease in animals and humans. Considering the large diversity of vertebrate species that may act as reservoirs and arthropod species that may be associated with Bartonella transmission, the exposure of animals and humans to these microorganisms is likely underestimated. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Bartonella sp. in wild tapirs (Tapirus terrestris; Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) from two biomes in Brazil: Pantanal and Cerrado. Ninety-nine GPS-monitored wild tapirs were sampled in Pantanal (n = 61/99) and Cerrado (n = 38/99). A qPCR (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction) assay targeting the nuoG gene was used for the screening for Bartonella spp. DNA. Positive samples were additionally subjected to conventional PCR assays targeting five molecular markers (ribC, gltA, rpoB, groEL, ITS). Eight (8/99; 08,08%) animals were positive in the qPCR assay for Bartonella spp.: 7 from Cerrado (7/8; 87.5%) and 1 from Pantanal (1/8; 12.5%). The 5 Bartonella ribC sequences obtained from tapirs’ blood samples grouped together with Bartonella henselae obtained from cats, humans, wild felids and Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) fleas. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of Bartonella sp. in Tapirus terrestris. This finding contributes to the understanding of the occurrence of B henselae in wild mammals from Brazil as well as expands the knowledge regarding the potential vector-borne pathogens that may affect wild tapis from Cerrado and Pantanal biomes.

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.

Carbon dioxide and methane emissions across tropical and subtropical inland water ecosystems in Brazil: meta-analysis of general patterns and potential drivers

Investigations on CO2 and CH4 emissions from aquatic systems have increased in the last decades, but most studies focus on high-latitude water bodies, with limited information available for tropical and subtropical zones. Here, we compiled CO2 and CH4 emissions by lentic, lotic, and other types of aquatic ecosystems (e.g., floodplains, estuaries, and mangroves) in different biomes in Brazil. We used a literature search of papers published in the last ~ 30 years to analyze reported emission rates, if they were from the diffusive (DF) and/or ebullitive (EB) pathways, and the most used methods. Most studies were carried out in two biomes (Amazon and Atlantic rainforest). The highest emissions were reported in lentic ecosystems (from 0.05 to 4568 mmol CO2 m-2 day-1, and from 0.19 to 348 mmol CH4 m-2 day-1). The DF pathway was more frequently analyzed, and the floating chamber was the most used measurement method. Our analyses indicated the EB pathway can be significant, especially for CH4 in shallow waters. There were many missing data for either DF or EB so we used studies that measured both and system depth to estimate the missing values and then used total emissions (DF+EB) to run predictive models. For the CO2 emissions, pH, water depth, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature were important predictors, whereas the potential drivers for the CH4 emissions were electrical conductivity and the CO2 emissions. More data are necessary to more clearly characterize the drivers of the emissions of such gases, further understand the dynamics of their emissions, as well as refine emission inventories on both regional and global scales in tropical regions.

Transformation of Brazil's biomes: The dynamics and fate of agriculture and pasture expansion into native vegetation

Land use and cover change (LUCC) in Brazil encompass a complex interplay of diverse factors across different biomes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for informed decision-making and sustainable land management. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed LUCC patterns and drivers using 30 m resolution MapBiomas Collection 6.0 data (1985–2020). By mapping deforestation of primary and secondary natural vegetation, natural vegetation regeneration, and transitions between pasture, soybean, agriculture, and irrigation, we shed light on the intricate nature of LUCC in Brazil. Our findings highlight significant and increasing trends of deforestation in primary vegetation in the country. Simultaneously, the Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Pampa, and other regions of the Cerrado have experienced intensification processes. Notably, the pasture area in Brazil reached its peak in 2006 and has since witnessed a gradual replacement by soybean and other crops. While pasture-driven deforestation persists in most biomes, the net pasture area has only increased in the Amazon and Pantanal, decreasing in other biomes due to the conversion of pasturelands to intensive cropping in other regions. Our analysis further reveals that primary and secondary vegetation deforestation accounts for a substantial portion of overall forest loss, with 72 % and 17 %, respectively. Of the cleared areas, 48 % were in pasture, 9 % in soybean cultivation, and 16 % in other agricultural uses in 2020. Additionally, we observed a lower rate of deforestation in the Atlantic Forest, a biome that has been significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities since 1986. This holistic quantification of LUCC dynamics provides a solid foundation for understanding the impacts of these changes on local to continental-scale land-atmosphere interactions. By unraveling the complex nature of LUCC in Brazil, this study aims to contribute to the development of effective strategies for sustainable land management and decision-making processes.

Quantifying Fire-Induced Surface Climate Changes in the Savanna and Rainforest Biomes of Brazil

This study uses a combined research approach based on remote-sensing and numerical modeling to quantify the effects of burned areas on the surface climate in the two Brazilian biomes most affected by fires: the tropical savanna and the Amazon rainforest. Our estimates indicate that between 2007 and 2020, approximately 6% of the savanna and 2% of the rainforest were burned on average. Non-parametric regressions based on 14-year climate model simulations indicate that latent heat flux decreases on average by approximately 0.17 W m−2 in the savanna and 0.60 W m−2 in the rainforest per each 1 km2 burned, with most of the impacts registered during the onset of the wet season. Sensible and ground heat fluxes are also impacted but at less intensity. Surface air is also warmer and drier, especially over rainforest burned sites. On average, fire reduced gross primary production in the savanna and rainforest by 12% and 10%, respectively, in our experiments.

Spatial analysis of deforestation factors in the Atlantic Forest Biome/Brazil

Deforestation is a phenomenon that generates social, environmental, and economic impacts and endangers the sustainability of natural resources. The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse and threatened biomes in the world. Despite its enormous importance, the Atlantic Forest is the most deforested region in Brazil since its European colonization. Therefore, given the relevance of identifying the drivers of deforestation in Brazilian biomes, the objective of this paper is to analyze the factors that conditioned deforestation in the Atlantic Forest Biome in Brazil between the years 2010 and 2020. Land use and land cover data and socioeconomic data processed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment were used, through correlation analysis and Geographic Weighted Regression (GWR). The covariates that presented the highest correlation values were the average number of cattle, area of temporary crops, and agricultural credit, with 0.708, 0.516, and 0.418 respectively. The GWR model presented an adjusted R² of 0.94, confirming the model's capability to explain 94% of the variations in deforestation. The variable ranching was the one that displayed the highest correlation with deforestation. In addition, the area under temporary crops and agricultural credit also had a significant influence on the occurrence of deforestation.

Natural Denudation Versus Anthropogenically Accelerated Erosion in Central Brazil: A Confrontation of Time and Space Scales

AbstractLand degradation resulting from increased continental surface erosion is a worldwide and systemic phenomenon due to unsustainable human activities. Already fragile, the intertropical zone is likely to be further affected by climate change like increased aridity, an aggravating factor of soil erosion and land degradation. A major challenge is thus to provide the necessary knowledge to not only deepen our understanding of the Earth's system and its critical thresholds but also to help achieving sustainability. Understanding the factors that control the properties and processes of the critical zone, and especially what will be its responses to ongoing climate and land use changes, requires multidisciplinary efforts to tackle time scales that are compatible with morphogenesis and soil development as well as environmental disturbances of anthropogenic origin. Due to its prominent ecological importance, the Brazilian Cerrado biome is an ideal natural laboratory were to gauge the consequences of recent and intense agricultural activities on continental surface erosion. We focused on the region of Brasília where our approach allows confronting the temporal scales of long‐lived and stable cosmogenic nuclides with that of short‐lived radioactive isotopes, through a comparison of natural and anthropogenically disturbed land surfaces. Our results indicate that long‐term, background denudation rates are lower than 10 mm Kyr−1 whereas recent erosion rates due to human activities may reach rates at least 160 times higher, exceeding by far the sustainability of the soil resource.

Genetic diversity of Syagrus coronata and principal component analysis of phenotypic traits: a palm from the brazilian semiarid biome

Genetic diversity of Syagrus coronata and principal component analysis of phenotypic traits: a palm from the brazilian semiarid biome

Anidación del ave Tolmomyias sulfurescens (Spix, 1825) (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) asociada a la hormiga Camponotus senex (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en el Cerrado, Brasil

The nesting of birds associated with social insects has already been documented in different Brazilian biomes, including in the Cerrado, but information about this association in this biome is still scarce. Thus, our objective is to report the nesting association between bird and ants in the Cerrado. In April 2023, in the Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, a colony of the weaver ant Camponotus senex (Smith, 1858) was reported as being 10 cm from an active nest, with eggs, of a Tolmomyias sulphurescens (Spix, 1825), a yellow-olive flatbill, 5 meters from the ground, in a plant substrate. The report brings new information about the nesting behavior of T. sulphurescens and the C. senex ant within the Cerrado, but it is not possible to define whether this association is recurrent or accidental, and further studies are needed to better elucidate this ecological relationship, as well as the advantages for both, especially for the ant.

Anidación del ave Tolmomyias sulfurescens (Spix, 1825) (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) asociada a la hormiga Camponotus senex (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en el Cerrado, Brasil

The nesting of birds associated with social insects has already been documented in different Brazilian biomes, including in the Cerrado, but information about this association in this biome is still scarce. Thus, our objective is to report the nesting association between bird and ants in the Cerrado. In April 2023, in the Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, a colony of the weaver ant Camponotus senex (Smith, 1858) was reported as being 10 cm from an active nest, with eggs, of a Tolmomyias sulphurescens (Spix, 1825), a yellow-olive flatbill, 5 meters from the ground, in a plant substrate. The report brings new information about the nesting behavior of T. sulphurescens and the C. senex ant within the Cerrado, but it is not possible to define whether this association is recurrent or accidental, and further studies are needed to better elucidate this ecological relationship, as well as the advantages for both, especially for the ant.

Essential oil from leaves of Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential.

Myrciaria floribunda is a plant that is distributed across different Brazilian biomes such as the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest, and it possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the essential oil from M. floribunda leaves (MfEO) were examined in this study using mouse models. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to describe the oil, and the results revealed that δ-cadinene, bicyclogermacrene, α-cadinol, and epi-α-muurolol predominated in the chemical profile. The oil stimulated a decrease in nociception in the chemical and thermal models used to evaluate acute antinociceptive activity. Findings from the use of pain pathway blockers to study the presumed underlying mechanism indicated opioid pathway activity. The anti-edematogenic effect, decreased cell migration, and generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines provided evidence of the anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oil from M. floribunda. According to this research, the essential oil from M. floribunda can effectively alleviate acute pain and inflammation.