Cerrado Of Central Brazil Research Articles

A new species of Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from headwaters of the Taquari River basin, Paraguay River basin, central Brazilian Cerrado

ABSTRACT A new species of Melanorivulus is described from the upper Taquari River drainage, upper Paraguay River basin, in the Western Brazilian Cerrado. This species is a member of the Melanorivulus pictus group, endemic to the central Brazilian plateau and adjacent areas. Melanorivulus terena, new species, is endemic to the Paraguay River basin and is possibly closely related to other species endemic to the upper Paraná River basin, such as M. linearis, M. interruptus and M. egens, by the absence of distinctive dark marks on the humeral region in males. The new species is distinguished from all other species of the M. pictus group by a distal margin of unpaired fins and pelvic fin that is orangish red, and by the number of scales in the transversal series. The possible close relationship between the new species and other species recorded in the Paraná River basin may indicate an ancestral interconnection of the headwaters of the Rio Taquari (Paraguay River basin) with the headwaters of the upper Rio Verde and Rio Pardo (Paraná River basin). http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8B0027D9-8346-4ADB-AE9E-8C770823B8D9

Do necrophagous beetles prefer advancedly decomposed carcasses? A comprehensive survey of beetles in Central Brazil Cerrado

Do necrophagous beetles prefer advancedly decomposed carcasses? A comprehensive survey of beetles in Central Brazil Cerrado

A New Species of the Aplastodiscus albosignatus Group (Hylinae: Cophomantini) from the Northern Mantiqueira Mountain Range

Abstract The genus Aplastodiscus (Hylidae) is widely distributed in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and adjacent Argentina, and a single species inhabits the Cerrado in Central Brazil. The genus comprises 16 species included in four species groups. The A. albosignatus species group contains six described species, as well as two candidate species referred to as Aplastodiscus sp. 5 and Aplastodiscus sp. 6 in previous studies. Here we name and describe Aplastodiscus sp. 6, based on morphology, DNA sequences, and vocalizations. The new species is known only from the northern sector of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range and can be distinguished morphologically from most congeneric species based on body size, iris color pattern, and cloacal ornamentation. The new species is distinguished from its sister species A. leucopygius by its vocalization. The species of the A. albosignatus group share a conserved external morphology and most of the morphological characters traditionally included in their diagnoses failed to distinguish them. In contrast, advertisement call traits, such as call duration, call envelope, and distribution of sound energy in the harmonic series, were informative in Aplastodiscus species discrimination.

The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) as an emerging concern for biodiversity in the Brazilian Cerrado

The Cerrado biome is an international biodiversity hotspot, but knowledge about the distribution and impact of invasive bivalve species in the rivers of the Central Brazilian Cerrado is scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to extend our knowledge of the geographical distribution of the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) and enlarge the list of the invasive species that have arrived in the Cerrado environment. In this context, invasive mussels may affect native species, but there is little information on their environmental interaction. The study area was the low-middle Paranaíba River, located in and around the hydroelectric power plant of Cachoeira Dourada. In total, 386 specimens were captured and measured, and the reproductive status was defined through a histological approach. Results showed that the mussel shell length varied from 3.8 to 35.5 mm (215.73 ± 5.53 mm); width, from 1.9 to 14.1 mm (7.20 ± 2.24 mm); and height, from 1.4 to 11.8 mm (5.84 ± 2.00 mm). Hence, the populations discovered is likely to be in its third year, and the histological assessment showed that the mussels are reproducing actively. Results indicated that the process of invasion was enhanced by human activities, such as fish farming, considering that the golden mussel is an emerging bio-infestation concern, and it should be considered a serious threat to native species on the Brazilian Cerrado ecosystem. Further studies on cohabitation and interaction with native species are needed.

A new species of Cheiridium Menge, 1855 (Pseudoscorpiones: Cheiridiidae: Cheiridiinae) from the Brazilian Cerrado biome

ABSTRACT During a survey on the arachnid fauna in the Central Brazilian Cerrado, Goiás State, a new species of the genus Cheiridium Menge, 1855, was found. This specimen represents the third record of this genus in Brazil, and it is described as a new species, Cheiridium piracanjubae sp. n. The species represents an important record for a biome considered a biodiversity hotspot, but with a still poorly known arachnid fauna. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74b9b1fa-eb67-47a6-baa6-f14d7b5b508a

Systematics of the genus Euryoryzomys Weksler et al., 2006 (Rodentia: Cricetidae): integrative analysis reveals a new species from north-eastern Brazil

Abstract The genus Euryoryzomys encompasses six species found across Cis-Andean lowland and montane rainforests in South America. One of the most enigmatic forms of the genus is found in the Brejos de altitude of north-eastern Brazil, where enclaves of dense rainforest in mountain ranges sharply contrast with surrounding semi-arid Caatinga. Here we analyse morphological and molecular data, and demonstrate that these populations are members of a new species, which is described and contrasted with other Euryoryzomys. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, coupled with morphometrics and comparative anatomy analyses, show that the new species differs from its sister-species, Euryoryzomys lamia from the Cerrado of Central Brazil, and from other forms of the genus, corroborating previous perspectives based on karyological data. The new species of the genus occurs in two distinct areas in the state of Ceará, Serra de Ibiapaba and Serra de Baturité, and one isolated range in Paraíba state. The recovered biogeographic pattern of Brejos de altitude—Cerrado sister-group relationship is novel among studied vertebrates, as most species from Brejos are more closely related to taxa from Amazon and Atlantic Forest. Further taxonomic efforts are necessary to uncover the total diversity within Euryoryzomys, especially for the nominal taxa E. emmonsae, E. macconnelli, and E. nitidus.

The economic viability of the use of urea with urease inhibitor in cotton grown in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

The cotton crop has a high demand for nitrogen fertilizers. However, an adequate supply of this nutrient may be difficult in regions with a tropical climate, requiring the introduction of technologies that provide better nitrogen availability to plants, such as urease inhibitors. The study aimed to evaluate the economic viability of using urease inhibitor in the treatment of urea granules for fertilizing cotton grown in the summer in a tropical region. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications in a 3 × 5 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of urea treated with 0.045% and 0.060% urease inhibitor (N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide - NBPT) and urea without urease inhibitor applied as topdressing, in doses of 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha−1, divided into two applications, at 30 and 50 days after emergence. Fiber yield, effective operational cost, total operational cost, total cost, gross revenue, gross margin, net operational margin, net margin, profitability index, equilibrium price, and equilibrium yield were determined. In an agricultural year with rainfall close to the application of N in topdressing, the use of N at a dose of 120 kg ha−1 in the form of urea, associated with the urease inhibitor, promoted greater profitability of the cotton crop, as well as the use of urea regardless of the use of urease inhibitor. The urease inhibitor did not interfere with cotton fiber yield.

Spatiotemporal trends in floral visitation and interaction networks reveal shifting niches for bats in a Neotropical savanna.

Flower-vising bats are important components of tropical pollinator communities, yet little is known about the structure of their pollination networks and how resource availability through time (seasons) and space (habitat heterogeneity) affects the extent to which bats interact with plants within a community-wide context. This information is key for the conservation of threatened nectarivore species, such as the Cerrado-endemic Lonchophylla dekeyseri, for which data on its specialization on floral-resources is scarce. Within a seasonal and heterogeneous savanna in the central Brazilian Cerrado, we performed a year-round assessment of an inclusive assemblage of flower-visiting bats (both nectarivores and other guilds that can also feed on nectar) within a savanna-edge-forest gradient, the phenological trends and spatial distribution of bat and their resource plants, and the resultant temporal and spatial interaction networks between bats and plants in order to associate network structure to resource availability. Clear spatiotemporal trends emerged in the community. Nectarivores dominated the flower-visiting niche outside forests and were prolific floral visitors, resulting in networks with lower specialization and modularity. These bats diverged into savanna foragers active during the wet season and the wet-dry transition, and edge foragers active mostly during the dry season. The latter group encompassed L. dekeyseri, which visited mostly Bauhinia species. Frugivores took over as main floral visitors within forests, as well as during peak dry season, when fewer fruits were available, resulting in more specialized and modular networks. Our work shows that the turnover of floral resources across seasons and vegetation types has a defining role in bat-plant interactions and relates to network structure, as bat trophic guilds interact with plants in distinct habitats and times of the year. Frugivores dominate the flower-visiting niche in certain temporal and spatial subsets of the network, which calls for the inclusion of this guild in future studies. Moreover, the high visitation to Bauhinia species by L. dekeyseri during the dry season might reduce competition with other nectarivores and is relevant to the management of the species, although more data is needed on its resource consumption on a larger time frame and across its geographic range.

Revealing the Permanent and Transient Plant Understory in Gallery Forests in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Abstract The understories of tropical forests comprise complex communities and can be divided into permanent understory, where the generally shade-tolerant plant growth forms are less developed in height, and transient understory, where young tree individuals are only temporarily present. Despite a high contribution to species richness in tropical forests, the understory is poorly studied. Here, we examined the species composition, richness, structure, diversity, and the relative contribution of growth forms in permanent and transient understories of gallery forests in the Brazilian Cerrado. A total of 211 species distributed into sixty-seven families and 153 genera were sampled. The most species-rich family was Rubiaceae, and Miconia was the genus with the highest species richness. The species Hildaea pallens had the highest importance in the forests. The best-represented growth forms were tree seedlings, followed by shrubs and lianas. The transient component of the understory in gallery forests was the most diverse. However, in terms of species relative cover, both transient and permanent understory species contributed equally to the understory structure, mainly due to the high cover of Poaceae species. Our study is the first to examine composition, structure, diversity, and growth forms in the permanent and transient understories of gallery forests. Study Implications: Our study is innovative in describing the plant community attributes of gallery forest understories in the Brazilian Cerrado. The understories of tropical forests comprise complex communities and can be divided into permanent and transient understory. The transient component of the understory in gallery forests was the most diverse, represented by seedlings and young tree specimens. However, in terms of species relative cover, both transient and permanent understory species contributed equally to the understory structure. Here, we provide evidence that may be useful to initiatives seeking to conduct ecological restoration and conservation of gallery forests in the Cerrado.

Avaliação ambiental do uso de agrotóxicos na região do cerrado do Brasil

Abstract The Cerrado in Central Brazil is composed of unique vegetation types with a large source of bioactive compounds. The 1970s and 1980s were marked by the intensive incorporation of these forested areas into pastures and cropland, which increased the consumption of pesticides like glyphosate and atrazine. Today there continues to be a constant loss of native vegetation in this biome, and the pressure from land use is causing significant losses of native vegetation, driven mainly by agricultural expansion. This article offers a mapping of the estimated average consumption of pesticide per crop as well as an understanding of the risks associated with glyphosate and atrazine contamination in the state of Goiás. Both of these areas serve as a basis for understanding the challenges and opportunities for sustainability associated with agriculture in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Novelties in the Anemia elegans Clade (Anemiaceae), with a New Species and Nothospecies from Brazil

Abstract— Anemia is one of the most diverse genera in Brazil, with about 60 species. Unlike many other ferns, species of Anemia are abundant in dry and rocky environments, with many of them being narrow endemics to the mountains of the Central Brazilian Cerrado. Besides its richness, several species of Anemia hybridize, and hybrids and polyploids are fairly common in the genus. During a field trip to the northernmost distribution of the Cerrado, we found an undescribed species that we describe herein ‐ Anemia areniticola. We also describe a new hybrid, Anemia ×pirenopolitana, between two species in the Anemia elegans clade, which is the first record of a hybrid in this clade. We provide morphological descriptions and illustrations, and distribution maps for the new taxa, as well as comparisons with the most similar species. A key is also provided for the species in the Anemia elegans clade.

A new species of Gomphoides Selys, 1854 (Odonata: Gomphidae) from the Environmental Protection Area of the Uberaba River, Brazil.

A new species of the Neotropical dragonfly genus Gomphoides Selys, 1854 (Odonata: Gomphidae) is erected from the Cerrado of central Brazil, distinguished by epiproct morphology, body coloration and wing venation. Gomphoides davi Datto-Liberato Guillermo-Ferreira sp. nov. resembles G. perdita (Frster, 1914), but is distinguished from it by the S10 black, while it is yellow in G. perdita; four cells in the subtriangle of Fw while there are three cells in G. perdita and epiproct shorter than half of the length of cerci while epiproct is more than half the length of the cerci in G. perdita. We also provide additional information for other Gomphoides species. The discovery of a new species in the Environmental Protection Area of the Uberaba River, Minas Gerais, raises concern for the conservation of the biodiversity of the area, mainly because of recent threats due to cattle herding and agriculture.

Spatial and temporal segregation in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Spatial and temporal segregation in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in the Cerrado of Central Brazil

Unveiling an enigma from the Cerrado: taxonomic revision of two sympatric species of Apostolepis Cope, 1862 (Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae: Elapomorphini) from central Brazil

Apostolepis albicollaris and A. cerradoensis are two Elapomorphini snake species, described within a short timespan, from the Cerrado of central Brazil. In their brief descriptions, these two species were diagnosed from congeners largely based on highly variable external morphological characters. Interestingly enough, A. cerradoensis has remained known based on a single specimen since its description. Here, we present a reanalysis of both type specimens, as well as a careful examination of a large series of specimens formerly assigned to these species, based on the comparison of internal and external morphology. We conclude that both species are synonymous, providing evidence for the recognition of A. cerradoensis as a junior synonym of A. albicollaris. Furthermore, an account of its updated diagnosis, morphological variation, geographic distribution, hemipenial morphology, phylogenetic relationships and an osteological description are also provided. We also discuss its conservation status, suggesting that the species is under threat and qualifies to be listed as Vulnerable (VU ab(iii)), considering its rarity, small geographic range, and persistent environmental threats.

Fire stimulates grass flowering in the Cerrado independent of season

AbstractQuestionsPost‐fire flowering is an underestimated plant trait of many fire‐prone ecosystems and is rarely considered for tropical savannas. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of fire season and history on post‐fire flowering of grass species in a tropical savanna (Cerrado), by evaluating the number of species, frequency of individuals and number of reproductive tillers after wet‐ and dry‐season fires, and under different fire histories.LocationsOpen savannas (campo sujo) of the Cerrado in central Brazil (Reserva Natural Serra do Tombador [RNST], 13°35–13°38′ S, 47°45′–47°51′ W).MethodsWe sampled flowering individuals in 10 Poaceae species and counted flowering/vegetative tillers of grass species in 1 m × 1 m plots after wet‐ and dry‐season fires and under different fire histories (3, 18 and 72 months post fire).ResultsSome of the studied species responded differently to fire according to season but most flowered after fire events. Moreover, the exclusion of fire led to a decrease in the number of flowering individuals and reproductive tillers of grass species.ConclusionsWe describe a unique event for tropical savannas: beside rapid resprout after fire events, grasses can allocate resources for both vegetative and reproductive tiller production, even during the dry season. If fire is excluded from the system, fewer grass species and individuals will flower and there will be a lower percentage of reproductive tillers, showing the importance of fire for grass flowering in these tropical savannas, independently of fire season.

Edge Effects and Nature Reserves: A Study of Protected Birds in Grasslands Adjacent to Agricultural Landscapes in a Central Brazilian Cerrado

Although studies of edge effects have great importance for reserve design, they have rarely investigated impacts into nature reserves. This study aimed to examine edge effects associated with adjacent agricultural landscape on birds at Parque Nacional das Emas, Brazil. Study sites [n = 36] were plots in the natural grassland habitat located at four distance bands in relation to the boundary line between protected vegetation and agricultural fields [0-500 m, 500-1,000 m, 1,000-1,500 m and interior]. Birds were surveyed through transect counts between October 2006 and February 2007. GLMMs were used to analyse variation in the abundance of selected species and trophic guilds among distance intervals, while species richness was compared through curves of rarefaction. Variation in community composition was evaluated through Correspondence Analysis. A total of 59 species were recorded. Species more sensitive to proximity to agriculture were insectivores such as Culicivora caudacuta and Alectrurus tricolor. Granivores and omnivores were more abundant close to rather than distant from agriculture. The species richness of the whole community and that of guilds did not vary among distance intervals, as result of species replacement. Communities found in the 0-500 m and 500-1,000 m intervals were very distinct from those of the interior. Edge effects penetrated up to 1,500 m into the park, being more intense within 1 km from adjacent modified landscapes. This study suggests that more effort should be done to establish effective buffer zones [> 1.5 km in width] and avoid the settlement of agribusiness adjacent to nature reserves in Cerrado.

Behavioral Aspects of Coprophanaeus ensifer (Germar) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) Associataed with Pig Carcasses in Central Brazil.

Coprophanaeus ensifer (Germar) is a large dung beetle species primarily scavenger with paracoprid habits, habitually removing and burying parts of the food resource to build its nest and feed its larvae. This species is widely distributed in central-eastern South America and its association with decomposing carcasses confers great potential for forensic entomology. This study aimed to characterize behavioral aspects of C. ensifer associated with decomposing pig carcasses in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Observational expeditions were carried out in the National Park of Brasília (PNB), Federal District. Three pig carcasses of approximately 5kg were exposed for a 30-day period on three typically rainy months. Behavioral observations were made daily in loco at twilight/nighttime throughout the decomposition process. This study comprised 45h of observation. A total of 34 individuals (11 males and 23 females) of C. ensifer were observed and marked. The following events/behaviors were observed: copulation, flight, feeding/perforation of the carcasses, scattering of carcasses portions, soil turning, opening of tunnels below/around the carcasses, burying of carcasses portions, nesting, and agonistic behavior/fighting. The behaviors of feeding, scattering of the carcasses, turning the soil, and opening of tunnels were observed in a high frequency, regardless of sex. The species is most attracted by substrates on the intermediate stages of active decomposition and causes important actions on the carcasses such as drilling and dismemberment. Behavioral descriptions and forensic implications are discussed in the text.

Prognosis of aboveground woody biomass in a central Brazilian Cerrado monitored for 27 years after the implementation of management systems

Prognosis of aboveground woody biomass in a central Brazilian Cerrado monitored for 27 years after the implementation of management systems

Litter size and reproductive condition of small mammals in southern Goiás, Brazil

Litter size and reproductive conditions are important in natural history. However, this information is scarce in scientific literature. Here, we presented litter size data for eight small mammal species (four marsupials and four rodents) and investigated the reproductive conditions of three small rodent species in the transition between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado in central Brazil. We counted the number of young born, the number of embryos found in the uterus, and recorded the presence of well-developed teats and evident scrotum to evaluate the reproductive condition. The litter sizes ranged from one (Oecomys bicolor) to 11 (Gracilinanus agilis and Marmosa murina). We did not find evidence of reproductive seasonality. The pattern found here is similar to other studies carried out in different locations of South America.

Fire and drought: Shifts in bark investment across a broad geographical scale for Neotropical savanna trees

Savanna tree communities occurring in confluence zones with other biomes likely experience different environmental pressures, resulting in shifts in the selection of individual traits, the combinations of such traits, and species composition. In seasonally dry fire-prone environments, plant survival is presumably associated with adaptive changes in bark properties related to fire protection and water storage. Here, we integrated the multiple functions of the bark to investigate whether different selective pressures could influence patterns of variation in bark structure and allocation across species in a broad geographical range. We measured thickness, density, and water content of the inner and outer bark in branches and the main stem of the 51 most abundant species in three savanna communities differing in climatic aridity, one located at the core region of Cerrado in Central Brazil and the other two at its periphery, in the transition zones with Amazonia and Atlantic forest biomes. We found no difference in outer bark thickness but markedly difference in inner bark thickness between the three plant communities. In the central region, where dry season is long and fire is frequent, branches and main stem showed thicker inner bark. Contrastingly, in the south periphery region, where dry season is short, species showed thinner inner bark in both branches and main stem. Species from the north periphery region, where mean annual precipitation is higher, but fire is frequent and the dry season is also long, showed similar main stem inner bark thickness, but thinner branch inner bark compared to core region species. Our findings support the idea that investing in inner bark thickness and bark moisture may be the most advantageous strategy in plant communities that suffer from high evaporative demand during a long period and are at a high risk of fire.