Central Bahia Research Articles

Wind power density in areas of Northeastern Brazil from Regional Climate Models for a recent past.

Investments in renewable energy sources are increasing in several countries, especially in wind energy, as a response to global climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation. Thus, it is important to evaluate the Regional Climate Models that simulate wind speed and wind power density in promising areas for this type of energy generation with the least uncertainty in recent past, which is essential for the implementation of wind farms. Therefore, this research aims to calculate the wind power density from Regional Climate Models in areas at Northeast of Brazil from 1986 to 2005. Initially, the ECMWF-ERA5 reanalysis data was validated against observed data obtained from Xavier. The results were satisfactory, showing a strong correlation in areas of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte (except during the SON season), and some differences in relation to the wind intensity registered by observed data, particularly during the JJA season. Then, the Regional Climate Models RegCM4.7, RCA4 and Remo2009 were validated against the ECMWF-ERA5 reanalysis data, with all models successfully representing the wind speed pattern, especially from December to May. Four specific areas in Northeast of Brazil were selected for further study. In these areas, the RCMs simulations were evaluated to identify the RCM with the best statistical indices and consequently the lowest associated uncertainty for each area. The selected RCMs were: RegCM4.7_HadGEM2 (northern coastal of Ceará and northern coastal of Rio Grande do Norte) and RCA4_Miroc (Borborema and Central Bahia). Finally, the wind power density was calculated from the selected RCM for each area. The northern regions of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará exhibited the highest wind power density.

Two new species of <i>Mimosa</i> from northeastern Brazil

Two new species of Mimosa sect. Batocaulon ser. Leiocarpae are described from northeastern Brazil. Mimosa cardosoi occurs in the seasonally dry woodlands known as Caatinga from the upland areas of central Bahia state. It is close to M. mensicola from which differs by leaves with smaller and more numerous leaflets and by the shape of the leaflets, calyx, and corolla. Mimosa simonii is known only from the Araripe plateau along the Ceará-Pernambuco states border. It is similar to M. verrucosa from which it differs by spiculate leaves, larger leaflets, and corolla stellate-pubescent over its entire length.

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.

Simulation of air temperature and their influence on the potential distribution of Myracrodruon urundeuva, Copernicia prunifera and Cereus jamacaru in the Caatinga

Areas in the process of aridification in Caatinga phytogeographic domain in northeastern Brazil increase every year due to human intervention and increase in air temperature. The identification of long-term patterns and air temperature trends in the phytogeographic domain can express climate variability as well as a new phase of adaptation to some plant species. The temperature series from 1951 to 2018 obtained from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction data sets in four conservation areas with native vegetation, located in the North (A1), East (A2), South (A3) and West (A4) regions of this phytogeographic domain, show an increase in temperature between 0.5 and 1.4 °C over the 68-year period with the highest warming occurring in the months of March, April and May. The Maxent model is used to identify the influence of this increase on the presence potential of three species in the Caatinga, Myracrodruon urundeuva (aroeira), Copernicia prunifera (palmeira) and Cereus jamacaru DC (cactus) in the future time interval of 2041 to 2060, considering IPCC projected climate changes. The results show that climate change can lead to a reduction as well as redistribution of the potential areas of occurrence of the three species. Notable changes are: in the case of Carnauba, the high potential area reduces from 25.3% in the present state to 19.6% in 2050, and potential area for Aroeira diminishes in central Bahia and increases in Rio Grande do Norte. The projected changes for all three species are discussed.

A New Rupicolous Species of the Pristimantis conspicillatus Group (Anura: Brachycephaloidea: Craugastoridae) from Central Bahia, Brazil

We describe a new frog species of the megadiverse genus Pristimantis from the Chapada Diamantina, a regional designation of the Espinhaco mountain range in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We assign the new species to the genus Pristimantis, P. conspicillatus group, based on its phylogenetic position. This is the second rupicolous species of Pristimantis and the fourth species inhabiting northeastern Brazil. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: 1) dorsum background color light brown to yellowish-brown, maculated with blackish-brown marks, resembling a granite rock surface; 2) dorsum granular; 3) venter areolate; 4) dentigerous process of the vomer ovoid; 5) snout rounded or truncate in dorsal view; 6) snout rounded in profile; 7) dorsolateral folds absent; 8) finger fringes absent; 9) toe fringes weakly developed; 10) double, poorly developed nuptial pads; 11) vocal slits present in the male; 12) advertisement call composed of one note; 13) call duration 0.011–0.086 s; 14) dominant frequency varying from 2.41 to 3.49 kHz; and 15) decreasing amplitude modulation from the beginning to the end of call. We recovered the new species outside the clade containing the other three nominal species of Pristimantis from northeastern Brazil, as the sister species of P. gaigei, a species from Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. The new species seems to be restricted to the high-elevation areas (870–1,800 m a.s.l.) of the Chapada Diamantina, Central Bahia, Brazil. Both the genus Pristimantis and the P. conspicillatus group still lack morphological synapomorphies, and a thorough systematic review based on a stringent phylogenetic hypothesis is necessary for a better understanding of the evolution of these important lineages of Neotropical frogs.

A new species and putative hybrids of Manihot (Euphorbiaceae) from Brazil

This work describes and illustrates the new species Manihot reflexifolia, sp. nov. and compares its leaf anatomy to Manihot reniformis and probable hybrids between the two species. Manihot reflexifolia is also compared to Manihot jacobinensis from which it can be distinguished by its cylindrical petioles, elliptical to short lanceolate, reflexed leaf lobes and staminate flowers restricted to the terminal portion of the inflorescence (upper half), while M. jacobinensis has dorsiventrally flattened petioles, suborbicular to obovate leaf lobes, and staminate flowers along the entire inflorescence axis. The new species is restricted to rocky outcrops of the Chapada Diamantina in central Bahia State, Brazil. An identification key to Manihot species from rocky outcrops of Chapada Diamantina is provided. The leaf anatomy of M. reflexifolia, M. reniformis and the putative hybrids was analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Leaf anatomy was sufficient to characterize M. reflexifolia, M. reniformis and the putative hybrids, as well as to identify the first two wild taxa as potential progenitors of the hybrids (M. reflexifolia × M. reniformis). The most useful anatomical characteristics were the morphology of the petiole and midrib, bundle sheath extension, organization and quantity of vascular bundles, organization and composition of the mesophyll, and the presence of epidermal papillae.

Linking natural fractures to karst cave development: a case study combining drone imagery, a natural cave network and numerical modelling

In carbonate rocks, channelized fluid flow through fracture conduits can result in the development of large and connected karst networks. These cavity systems have been found in multiple hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs, and are often associated with high-permeability zones, but also pose significant challenges in drilling and reservoir management. Here, we expand on the observed interplay between fractures, fluid flow and large cave systems, using outcrop analysis, drone imagery and fluid-flow modelling. The studied carbonate rocks are heavily fractured and are part of the Salitre Formation (750–650 Ma), located in central Bahia (NE Brazil). Firstly, the fracture and cave network data show a similar geometry, and both systems depict three main orientations, namely; NNE–SSW, NW–SE and ESE–WNW. Moreover, the two datasets are dominated by the longer NNE–SSW features. These observed similarities suggest that the fractures and caves are related. The presented numerical results further acknowledge this observed correlation. These results show that open fractures act as the main fluid-flow conduits, with the aperture model defining the fracture-controlled flow contribution. Furthermore, the performed modelling highlights that geometrical features such as length, orientation and connectivity play an important role in the preferred flow orientations. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Naturally Fractured Reservoirs collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/naturally-fractured-reservoirs

New insights into the phylogeographic distribution of the 3FTx/PLA2 venom dichotomy across genus Micrurus in South America

Micrurus is a monophyletic genus of venomous coral snakes of the family Elapidae. The ~80 recognized species within this genus are endemic to the Americas, and are distributed from southeastern United States to northern Argentina. Although relatively few bites are recorded due to their reclusive nature, semi-fossorial habits, and their occurrence in sparsely populated areas, coral snakes possess powerful venoms that target the cholinergic system and, if early treatment is missed, can cause neuromuscular paralysis, respiratory failure, and death by asphyxiation within hours of envenoming. The to-date proteomically characterized 18 micrurine venoms exhibit a puzzling phenotypic dichotomy, characterized by the toxin arsenal being dominated either by pre-synaptically acting PLA2s or post-synaptic 3FTxs, and a general, but imperfect, distributional pattern of these venom phenotypes along the North-South axis of the American continent. The lack of perfect phylogenetic clustering suggests that phylogeny may not be the sole factor driving the evolution of the divergent venom phenotypes across Micrurus venoms. To shed new light on the origin and expression pattern of the 3FTx/PLA2 venom dichotomy, we have conducted a comparative proteomics analysis of venoms from the Brazilian ribbon coral snake, Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi, sourced from different localities in the Brazilian states of São Paulo; the Caatinga coral snake, M. ibiboboca, from central Bahia state (Brazil); two Micrurus specimens of uncertain taxonomy collected in the Brazilian states of Alagoas and Rio de Janeiro; and the Western ribbon coral snake, M. l. helleri, from Leticia, the southernmost town of the Colombian Department of Amazonas. Venoms from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro showed 3FTx-predominant phenotypes, while in venoms from Leticia, Alagoas and Bahia PLA2s represented the major toxin family. Comparative venom proteomics suggests that both Micrurus venom phenotypes exhibit a high degree of toxin evolvability. Mapping the 3FTx/PLA2 dichotomy across the Americas points to a phylogeographic pattern for venom phenotypes consistent with, but more complex than, the North-South distribution hypothesis anticipated in previous investigations. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: New World coral snakes (Micrurus: Elapidae) produce potent venoms that target pre- and post-synaptically cholinergic nerve terminals resulting in neuromuscular paralysis, and in severe envenomings, may lead to death from asphyxiation by respiratory arrest. Presynaptic β-neurotoxins of group IA PLA2 protein subfamily and postsynaptic α-neurotoxins with 3FTx fold are the major components (>80%) of coral snake venoms. Micrurine venoms exhibit a puzzling phenotypic venom dichotomy, characterized by the dominant expression of either α- or β-neurotoxins. The distribution of these alternative compositional profiles has been fragmentarily studied both across Micrurus phylogeny and along the North-South axis of the genus radiation in the American continent, from southern United States to Northern Argentina. The unpredictability of the neurotoxin profile across the distribution range of the coral snakes represents a difficulty for applying the most appropriate treatment upon a coral snakebite. A deep knowledge of the phylogeographic distribution and the evolution of dichotomic Micrurus venoms would be useful for tracing the evolutionary path to their present day phenotypes, rationalizing the patchy cross-reactivity of current Micrurus antivenoms, and improving the efficacy of antivenoms to neutralize coral snake envenomings.

Anthurium harleyi (Araceae) — a new rupicolous species of section Urospadix from the northern Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

Anthurium harleyi T.A.Pontes & Mayo, a new rupicolous species of Anthurium sect. Urospadix, is described from the rupestrian grassland (campo rupestre) vegetation of the northern region of the Chapada Diamantina, in central Bahia state, Brazil. The new species is endemic to this region, but closely related to A. erskinei Mayo from the central and southern regions of the same highland. A multivariate morphometric analysis of twelve quantitative morphological variables is presented which shows the two species to be distinct. A taxonomic description, line drawings, photographs, distribution map and conservation status based on a spatial analysis are provided.

Phylogeny and divergence time estimation of Chamaecrista ser. Rigidulae (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

Chamaecrista is a monophyletic genus, but most of its infrageneric categories have been shown to be paraphyletic, including series Rigidulae which currently comprises 30 species, all endemic to Brazil and most occurring in the cerrado vegetation of the central highlands of the country. This molecular phylogenetic study tests the monophyly of C. ser. Rigidulae based on a broad sampling, considers its relationship with members of C. sect. Absus subsect. Absus, and estimates its divergence time in relation to the age of the genus. For that, individual and combined analyses were performed by the parsimony and Bayesian methods using chloroplast (trnL‐F) and nuclear (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2) markers and a matrix containing 75 taxa of Chamaecrista (29 belonging to series Rigidulae), 6 of Senna and 1 of Cassia. The analyses showed that series Rigidulae, as traditionally circumscribed, is polyphyletic. When C. brachyblepharis and C. ciliolata are excluded and C. botryoides and C. sincorana included, the series is resolved as monophyletic, comprising 30 species here designated as the Rigidulae clade. This clade is further subdivided into two geographically and genetically structured subclades, the first containing 23 species, mostly from the highlands of Goiás State, and the second with 6 species from the Espinhaço Range, running north to south through central Bahia and Minas Gerais States. Divergence time analyses suggest that the Rigidulae clade originated about 5 million years ago. The recent radiation of the series repeats that seen in other species‐rich genera in the Cerrado Biome, thus corroborating previous hypotheses about the recent age of the biome. The Rigidulae clade, as here circumscribed, has the following morphological synapomorphies: asymmetric flowers with their posterior petals similar to a typical papilionoid standard petal, and leaflets divaricate along the leaf rachis.

Centrosema sericiflorum (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae), a New Species Endemic to the Caatinga of Bahia, Brazil, and a Key to the Bahian Species of the Genus

Centrosema is a genus of the papilionoid legume tribe Phaseoleae (subtribe Clitoriinae) including about 35 species from the Neotropical region, characterized by the resupinate flowers and the standard petal provided with a spur on the outer surface. During a survey of the species from eastern Brazil, in the state of Bahia, a new species was found and is here described and illustrated. Centrosema sericiflorum differs from other species of the genus mainly by the sericeous indumentum of the outer surface of the calyx and the standard petal (vs. puberulous, pubescent, or villous). The new species occurs in semideciduous forests of the Chapada Diamantina mountain range and is only known from a restricted area in Central Bahia. It was informally assessed as Endangered following IUCN criteria because of its restricted range and occurrence in areas cleared for coffee plantation.

Expansion of the known range of Myiornis auricularis (Aves: Passeriformes) in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil

We report the expansion of the known range of the eared pygmy-tyrant Myiornis auricularis , which had not been previously recorded in the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. The present records expand the known distribution of the species to the northeast, by at least 400 km from central Bahia to Sergipe, and approximately 700 km further northeast to Pernambuco. We discuss the possible existence of a new subspecies, or even a new species, due to the isolation of this population by major rivers. Keywords: New records, digital databases, photographic database, vocalization database.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DOS EXTREMOS DE PRECIPITAÇÃO DIÁRIA NO NORDESTE DO BRASIL - DOI 10.5216/bgg.v36i3.44557

A intensificação das mudanças climáticas tornou os eventos extremos mais frequentes. No Nordeste do Brasil (NEB) estes eventos estão associados às secas ou enchentes. Neste trabalho utilizaram-se as distribuições generalizadas de valores extremos (GEV) e de Pareto (GPD), com o objetivo de caracterizar os máximos de precipitação no NEB e avaliar os níveis e períodos de retorno para 30, 50 e 100 anos, baseado nos meses de fevereiro a julho do período de 1979-2011. Os resultados do parâmetro de localização e de escala apontaram que ambas as distribuições apresentaram padrões espaciais similares, os máximos de precipitação localizados na costa leste do NEB, no norte do Maranhão e do Ceará; e um núcleo no extremo oeste de Pernambuco (influenciado pela topografia do planalto da Borborema e da chapada do Araripe). O parâmetro de forma mostrou que as regiões selecionadas se ajustaram pelas distribuições de Weibull negativa e beta ( < 0) para GEV e GPD, respectivamente. As estimativas dos níveis e períodos de retorno da GEV (GPD) mostraram que na região norte do Maranhão (região central da Bahia) ocorrerá pelo menos um evento extremo de precipitação no nível igual ou superior a 160,9 mm/dia (192,3 mm/dia) em 30 anos, e de 182,1mm/dia (307,8mm/dia) em 100 anos.Palavras-chave: planalto da borborema, norte do Maranhão, distribuição GEV.

Ernst Ule’s collecting localities in the Serra do Sincorá, Bahia, Brazil and the lectotypification of Anthurium petrophilum (Araceae)

The itinerary of the German botanist and explorer Ernst Heinrich Georg Ule (1854–1915) in central Bahia state, Brazil, is reconstructed from published records, specimen label data and unpublished correspondence. Emphasis is given to his collecting localities in November 1906 in the campo rupestre of the Serra do Sincorá, Chapada Diamantina, where he collected type specimens of species from many genera and families. The available information suggests that his collections were made over a wide area along the western side of the Serra, from Camulengo in the south to near Mucugê in the north. Among them is one of the syntypes of Anthurium petrophilum (Araceae), recently re-discovered at the Herbarium Hamburgense (HBG). Ule also collected the other syntype in September 1906 at Maracás, a distinct inselberg highland to the east. Since recent morphological and molecular studies have shown populations from the two areas to be taxonomically distinct, the duplicate at the Berlin Botanical Museum (B) of the Maracás collection is here proposed as the lectotype, since it is the only surviving syntype known to have been seen by K. Krause, the author of the name.

Checklist of the Cerambycidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from central Bahia State (Brazil), with the description of two new species and new geographic records

A list of Cerambycidae species from three municipalities of central Bahia (Milagres, Maracás and Iaçu) is presented. A total of 108 species are registered, 17 of which are new geographical records for the state, are listed, including two new species of Aerenicini (Lamiinae), Suipinima flavumtuberculata sp. nov. and Aereniphaula bandana sp. nov. which are described and illustrated. A key to the species of Suipinima and taxonomic notes on Suipinima eccentrica (Galileo & Martins, 1992) are provided.

A New Species of the Scinax ruber Clade (Anura, Hylidae) from the Espinhaço Range, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: A new species belonging to the Scinax ruber clade, morphologically similar to S. cabralensis and S. rupestris, is described from the Municipality of Miguel Calmon, State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. This locality belongs to the northern portion of the Espinhaco Range known as Chapada Diamantina, a semiarid region in central Bahia State. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners of the S. ruber clade by a combination of adult (size, morphology, color pattern, and advertisement call) as well as larval (external morphology, and oral cavity) characteristics. The description of this frog adds another species, and the first of the S. ruber clade, to those that are endemic to Chapada Diamantina.

Spontaneous behavior of basal Copionodontinae cave catfishes from Brazil (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae)

Cave animals are particularly interesting due to their behavioral specializations, resultant from evolution in isolation. We present data from a spontaneous behavior study (spatial distribution and preference for microhabitats) of two troglobitic catfish from Brazil: Glaphyropoma spinosum and a new species of Copionodon. We compared the data with those obtained of a sympatric epigean species, Copionodon pecten. These Trichomycteridae species belong to a basal and apparently monophyletic subfamily – Copiono dontinae, endemic to Chapada Diamantina, central Bahia state, eastern Brazil. We observed the fishes in natural and laboratory conditions through ad libitum and focal animal methods. Each spatial behavioral category (hidden, bottom, midwater, surface and wall swimming and stationary in the bottom) was timed individually, with a sample of 12 specimens per species. Unlike most troglobitic fishes, cave copionodon tines tested herein did not extend exploratory behavior to midwater, with benthonic and thigmotacticrelated exploratory behavior. This behavior is possibly related to its feeding behavior specializations, strong territorialism and photophobic behavior. The epigean Copionodon species is also benthonic. The spatial behavior of the cave Copionodontinae could be interpreted as a retained and plesiomorphic characterstate in relation to other trichomycterid catfishes.

Advertisement call and morphological variation of the poorly known and endemic Bokermannohyla juiju Faivovich, Lugli, Lourenço and Haddad, 2009 (Anura: Hylidae) from Central Bahia, Brazil.

Bokermannohyla juiju is a member of the B. martinsi species group and it was described based on one male specimen. In order to enhance the knowledge about the species, we describe its advertisement call and morphological variation, including for the first time data on females. We also provide additional comments about its natural history, geographic distribution, and conservation. The advertisement call of B. juiju consists of a single note, non-pulsed, harmonic structured call emitted several times in a row. Four out of five males were found calling in bromeliads. The female, as it is common in many Bokermannohyla species, presents some morphological features not shared with the males, like a non-hypertrophied forearm and less developed prepollex.

The Quaternary vertebrate fauna of the limestone cave Gruta do Ioiô, northeastern Brazil

The present study reports the Quaternary vertebrate fauna of Gruta do Ioiô, a partially submerged limestone cave located in central Bahia, northeastern Brazil. A semi-arid weather prevails nowadays in the area, which is mostly covered by a xeric low arboreal scrubland known as Caatinga. The identified taxa include: Rhamdia (Osteichtyes, Siluriformes), Caiman (Crocodyliformes, Caimaninae), Myocastor cf. Myocastor coypus (Rodentia, Myocastoridae), Holochilus sciureus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae), Natalus cf. Natalus macrourus (Chiroptera, Natalidae), Tonatia bidens, Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), and Eira cf. Eira barbara (Carnivora, Mustelidae). Whereas Rhamdia and Caiman have scarce fossil records, the recovered mammals have already been reported from Quaternary localities of northeastern Brazil, although only two of them are present in the current local fauna. Taphonomic signatures and the nature of the fossiliferous site indicate that the vertebrates lived inside or nearby the cave, including the swamp by its main entrance. Radiocarbon dating of dental bioapatite yielded calibrated ages between 19,980 and 22,040 BP. This indicates that the accumulation started at least during the late Pleistocene, within the Last Glacial Maximum. In agreement with the mode of life of most taxa recognized here, previous studies indicated that this was a wetter period in the region.

Sponge-like features found in "Ediacaran thrombolite" in central Bahia, Brazil

Sponge-like features found in "Ediacaran thrombolite" in central Bahia, Brazil