Forest In Southeastern Brazil Research Articles

Two new Dismodix Townes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) with an exceptionally broad occipital carina

Dismodix colai sp. nov., from a reforested legal reserve of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, and D. gladiata sp. nov., from central Brazil, are described and illustrated. Each new taxon is compared with similar species from both Dismodix Townes and the related Acerastes Cushman. Both species can be separated from all others within each genus by having the occipital carina distinctly widened.

Using ecological niche modelling to prioritise areas for conservation of the critically endangered Buffy-Headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps).

Endemic to the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil, the critically endangered Buffy-Headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps) is lacking the required attention for effective conservation. We modelled its ecological niche with the main objectives of (1) defining suitable habitat and (2) prioritising areas for conservation and/or restoration. The current geographical range of Callithrix flaviceps in the Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil. We used Ensemble Species Distribution Modelling to define current habitat suitability considering four climate and two landscape variables. To identify areas to prioritise for conservation and/or restoration, we predicted future habitat suitability considering the intermediate (RCP4.5) and extreme (RCP8.5) climate change scenarios for the years 2050 and 2070. Among the variables included to predict current species distribution, tree canopy cover, precipitation seasonality and temperature seasonality were the most important whereas digital elevation model and precipitation during the wettest month were the least important. Callithrix flaviceps was most likely to occur in areas with tree canopy cover >80%, high precipitation seasonality and temperature seasonality between 21 and 23°C. From the future suitability prediction maps, the Caparaó National Park stands out as a likely key area for the preservation of the species. Furthermore, high climatic suitability but low landscape suitability suggests that habitat restoration in 'Serra das Torres' (South of the current distribution area) might be a useful strategy. However, creating ecological corridors on the west side of Caparaó would be necessary to improve connectivity. More surveys within and beyond the current geographical range are required to define more precisely the distribution of the species. Our results support the notion that seasonality is important for Callithrix flaviceps and that as a montane species, it prefers colder environments and higher altitudes. Within both climate change scenarios, Caparaó National Park was predicted to be highly suitable, with a high probability of presence.

How the Choice of Habitat and Sampling Technique Affects Biodiversity Knowledge: The Case of Cylindromyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, and myrmecologists broadly study its numerous habitats. Even so, much of its biodiversity remains to be discovered, and the choice of collection methods and habitats to be explored directly affect the results obtained, especially in the case of species with cryptic habits, such as Cylindromyrmex ants. The ant subfamily Dorylinae has 11 genera registered in the Neotropics, with Cylindromyrmex Mayr, 1870 being a lineage to the region. The present study reports new records of three Cylindromyrmex species in 13 municipalities located in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. It also describes the effect of sampling techniques and habitats on species records. The 78 examined herein specimens belong to the species C. brasiliensis Emery, 1901, C. brevitarsus Santschi, 1925, and C. longiceps André, 1892, and were collected manually or with Malaise traps. Records are distributed along the Espírito Santo state, with a tendency towards higher records in municipalities with mountainous habitats. All records in this region of the Atlantic Forest are associated with the hottest months and with the highest rainfall, suggesting a possible preference for nuptial flights in the summer. Most records of the three Cylindromyrmex species occurred in forested areas (93%), whereas few records belong to urban areas (7%). Although manual collections and Malaise traps are not widely used in research or surveys of ant diversity, these techniques could potentially reveal essential findings for ant ecology.

First Capture of a Jaguar Using a Minimally Invasive Capture System for GPS Tracking in an Isolated Patch of Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil.

This study presents the first successful capture using GPS tagging of a jaguar (Panthera onca) using a minimally invasive capture system (MICS). We used snare-foot traps and a MICS during two capture campaigns in a fragment of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. The specimen disarmed snares on different occasions, and capture was only possible with the MICS. The captured jaguar, an estimated 16-year-old adult male, was monitored using a GPS Vertex Plus Iridium collar with an optimal performance of 86% in expected locations. The jaguar's home range (659 km2 by MPC and 174 km2 by 95%K) was within the observed range for the species and the animal was primarily maintained in protected areas. The habitat types most frequently used were native grassland (27.2% of 4798 fixes), marsh (24.8%), and dense lowland forest (24.7%). The use of a MICS for trapping jaguars is a promising technique that shows advantages in terms of efficiency, selectivity, portability, reduced potential risk of injury to animals or trappers, and animal stress compared to other capture methods used for the species.

Impacts of Slash-and-Burn Cultivation on the Soil and Vegetation of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Impacts of Slash-and-Burn Cultivation on the Soil and Vegetation of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil

New sources of biological data supporting environmental history of a tropical forest of south-eastern Brazil

The Tijuca Forest results from a reforestation project executed in the second half of the nineteenth century, with native and exotic species planted in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aiming at a theoretical reflection, the use of integrated methodologies from different areas of knowledge was evaluated to expand the research of the environmental history of a tropical forest in south-eastern Brazil, using everything from the search for historical documents to the counting of tree growth rings. It was possible to find some of the trees from the initial reforestation efforts, to circumscribe the locations of the first plantations, hitherto unknown, as well as the original intentions of tree selection: a reflection of the silvicultural model of the period that incorporated the tropical identity of the forest without giving up the market demand. The project area indicates that the planted forest would cover approximately 330 ha, prioritizing restoration by micro basins. In the 33 years analysed, about 155,000 trees were planted (110,000 with success) from a repertoire of at least 107 species, prioritizing the native ones. The quality of the wood, mainly for the naval segment, was prioritized, but other purposes were also met. The model and selection criteria for planting areas and species characterize a strategic plan that foresaw the recovery of water sources simultaneously with the generation of wealth in the medium and long term, diversifying the use of the soil and inaugurating a cycle of silvicultural exploitation in the country. This study re-signifies the understanding of the Tijuca Forest ecology, not only in space but mainly in time, revealing the subtle relationships between tropical nature and society in formation.

A new species of Parasycorax, Duckhouse (Diptera, Psychodidae, Sycoracinae) from the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil and Geographic Distribution of the genus.

A new species of Parasycorax, Duckhouse (Diptera, Psychodidae, Sycoracinae) from the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil and Geographic Distribution of the genus.

Consumption of fruits of Dimorphandra jorgei M.F.Silva by Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) in a Remnant of Atlantic Forest in Southeast Brazil

The Fabaceae family holds great ecological and economic importance. Some species contribute to increased nitrogen levels in the soil (association with mycorrhizae), benefiting the natural regeneration process. Other species have high therapeutic value, while another can be used for ornamentation and urbanization. This study reports the presence of seeds from a tree species in the Fabaceae family, Dimorphandra jorgei M.F.Silva, in the fecal sample of South American tapir, Tapirus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758), in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. The fecal sample was found on an unpaved road, between the forest edge and an area undergoing reforestation with native species. Our record corroborates that D. jorgei can be an important supplementary food item in the tapir’s diet in the region, with its consumption linked to dry periods. The fruits of D. jorgei are not morphologically attractive to vertebrate fauna in general, highlighting the importance of tapirs in the dispersal of this and other species with similar fruits. It is also emphasized that seed dispersal contributes to the maintenance and regeneration of vegetation, serving as an Ecosystem Service of Support.

Does the stage of decomposition of fallen logs influence the bryophyte community? Understanding the epixylic bryophytes in a Nebular Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Does the stage of decomposition of fallen logs influence the bryophyte community? Understanding the epixylic bryophytes in a Nebular Forest in Southeastern Brazil

A New Species of Harpalejeunea (Lejeuneaceae) from Upper Montane Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract— A new species of Lejeuneaceae, Harpalejeunea zilmarii, from an upper montane forest in southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by the upper leaf which has an ovate, asymmetric lobe, is narrowed toward the apex, with an acuminate apex, a uniseriate tip that is 2‐4 cells long, an entire margin, or with cells of the proximal part of the antical margin (up to ca. 2/3 lobe length) crenate-denticulate by conical projections, constricted lobules forming a short and slightly curved passage to the water sac, with 2 short, blunt, closely associated single-celled teeth, and intercalary androecia on the main stem. The new species resembles Harpalejeunea tridens, and its affinities are discussed and presented in the key to the Brazilian species of Harpalejeunea.

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) diversity along a rainy season and edge effects in a riparian forest in Southeastern Brazil

AbstractKnowledge on the distribution of mosquito communities over time and across human‐modified landscapes is important in determining the risk for vector‐borne disease. The diversity of mosquitoes along a rainy season and edge effects were evaluated in a riparian forest in the Cerrado biome, Southeastern Brazil. Mosquito communities were sampled with Shannon traps in three distinct habitats (forest interior, forest edge and pasture) throughout an entire rainy season, comprising five sampling months (December 2015 to April 2016). A total of 13 549 mosquitoes belonging to 54 species were sampled. Mosquito species richness and abundance were greater in February, which coincided with the middle of the rainy season and just after the months with greater rainfall. Mosquito species richness did not differ among habitats for any particular month. In February, month when 74% of individuals were recorded, mosquito abundance was lower in the pasture compared with the forest edge and interior, which did not differ statistically from each other. Four of the six most abundant mosquito species (which account for 93.5% of the sampled individuals) had more individuals collected in the forest edge, and 28 species were more abundant at the edge compared with 15 species in the forest interior. Months with high rainfall probably allowed the availability and maintenance of high‐water level in breeding sites leading to a further increase in mosquito populations. While the pasture did not seem to have the ideal abiotic conditions and/or resources (e.g. food and breeding sites) for mosquito species, edge effects appear to favour mosquito populations. Therefore, the risk of mosquito‐borne diseases is expected to be greater in the middle of the rain season at the riparian forest‐pasture edge, when and where a greater number of disease‐vectoring species are present.

Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae), home range in the Lowland Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil

The ocelot is an important Neotropical mesopredator and information on its spatial ecology remains scarce. Here we estimated the ocelot home range in a remnant of Lowland Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. The data were collected by camera traps installed at eight known ocelot latrines. We estimated the home range both based on the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and the 95% adaptive Kernel density estimator (95%K) to compare with other published studies. We identified 22 ocelots (adult males = 8; adult females = 12; cubs = 2). Six males were recorded at more than one latrine, while all females were recorded at only one sampling point. In addition to male ocelots being recorded at a large number of points, they showed greater intrasexual spatial overlap as they used the same latrines, suggesting larger home ranges than females. The mean home range size for males was 12.1 ± SE 4.4 km2(range = 6.2 to 20.8 km2) using MCP, and 19.9 ± SE 9.5 km2(range = 10.1 to 38.9 km2) applying 95%K. Despite our estimates representing an approximation of the total area used by males, both values are consistent with those reported from other locations. Our data complemented the gradient of vegetation type sampled for ocelots in Atlantic Forest and support the suggestion that this environmental variable and, consequently, its effect on prey availability, influence the home range size of ocelot. Information on population ecology and other spatial ecology data are also presented.

Advertisement calls of 18 anuran species in the megadiverse Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil: review and update.

Advertisement calls constitute the main acoustic signals emitted by frogs during reproductive seasons and are considered species-specific. Currently, many studies explore the advertisement calls in this group, including descriptions, taxonomy status, influence of social and ecological aspects, character displacement and plasticity. Although some patterns are detected in several anuran species, the possible intra and interpopulation variation is not well established for the group. Furthermore, new approaches have been proposed to standardize studies in the area and contribute to the description and interpretation of anuran calls, highlighting the urgency of a literature review. We aimed to review and update the advertisement calls of 18 anurans species from the megadiverse Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. We analyzed 1612 advertisement calls from 175 males of 18 anuran species recorded in ten communities between September 2018 and March 2019. We reviewed the information available in 23 scientific papers and describe each advertisement call based on recent papers. Our results include the definition of sound type for all species recorded, providing temporal and spectral parameters for each species along different localities, including intra and interpopulation variations. We provide new information on the frequency range (minimum and maximum frequencies) for eight species. A new description of the advertisement and territorial call of Boana bandeirantes is also provided based on our fieldwork observations. We emphasize that many species present interpopulation variance throughout their distribution in the megadiverse Atlantic Forest. We hope this information will contribute to future research on amphibian anuran bioacoustics and natural history.

Comparative morphology and key to Amydetinae genera, with description of three new firefly species (Coleoptera, Lampyridae).

Amydetinae is an exclusively Neotropical subfamily of fireflies, distributed among three genera: Amydetes Illiger, 1807, Magnoculus McDermott, 1964, and Memoan Silveira & Mermudes, 2013. Here, we describe three new species of Amydetinae: two belonging to Amydetes (A.alexi sp. nov. and A.marolae sp. nov.) and one to the previously monotypic Memoan (Me.conani sp. nov.). All three species are known only from the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. Endoskeletal structures of Memoan and Magnoculus species are described and compared with those of Amydetes for the first time. After studying the type material, Photinusfruhstorferi Pic, 1942 is transferred to Memoan, generating Memoanfruhstorferi comb. nov., and Me.ciceroi Silveira & Mermudes, 2013 syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym. We also redescribe Magnoculusobscurus Olivier, 1885 and compare it to other species of genus and to other amydetine taxa to identify potential new diagnostic traits for the Amydetinae and its constituting genera. We provide an updated diagnosis for Memoan, illustrations for all four species, and a distribution map for the three new species, as well as a key to adult males of the three amydetine genera, and an updated key to Amydetes species based on males.

Rediscovery of the rare Phrynomedusa appendiculata (Lutz, 1925) (Anura: Phyllomedusidae) from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.

The genus Phrynomedusa Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923 comprises rare and little known phyllomedusid species from southern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Phrynomedusa appendiculata (Lutz, 1925) is known from three localities since its description and considered a lost species because it was last sighted 51 years ago. This pervasive lack of knowledge raised a significant concern about its threat status. Here, we present the rediscovery of P. appendiculata from a breeding population in the Atlantic Plateau forests of the state of So Paulo. This new record allowed the gathering of novel ecological, acoustic and morphological data for this species. Most of the novel data agreed with the variation historically reported for the species, but we found subtle divergences that we interpret as intraspecific variation. Moreover, this record also allowed a reassessment of geographic distribution of the species, and the first inference of its phylogenetic relationships based on molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear DNA). The resulting phylogeny corroborated the generic placement and evolutionary distinctiveness of P. appendiculata, evidencing the species as sister to the clade P. marginata + P. dryade. Based on novel and historical data, we discuss some putative factors influencing the rarity of P. appendiculata and its congeners, and provide conservation perspectives. We expect that the novel data can support further assessments of threat status for this rare species, as well as initiatives aiming its conservation.

Sympathetic science: analogism in Brazilian ethnobiological repertoires among quilombolas of the Atlantic forest and Amazonian ribeirinhos

BackgroundDrawing on Phillipe Descola’s comparative analysis of ontological regimes across cultures, this article identifies analogism guiding ethnobiological repertories among two distinctive traditional tropical forest communities in Brazil.MethodsWe carried out participant observation, semi-structured interviews and informal dialog with 48 individuals, among quilombolas of the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil and ribeirinhos of the Amazon.ResultsWe documented 60 traditional practices governed by analogical principles, comprising hunting, ethnomedical practices, food taboos, and other interactions with non-human entities. We also identify and classify the analogical principles reported in the field data. Based on this classification, we address the phenomenological dimension of the ethnobiological repertoires and discuss the epistemological and ontological foundations of this form of reasoning. We also hypothesize on the role of analogism shaping ethnobiological repertories more generally in Brazil.ConclusionThe heuristic model we apply—articulating phenomenology, epistemology and ontology—could prove valuable in ethnobiology and the emerging field of “anthropology beyond the human.”

Bat diversity from an area of coastal Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil

We characterize the bat fauna of forested sites in the municipality of Domingos Martins, Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil, and update the list of bat species of the state. We conducted a rapid inventory using ground-level mist nets (27,000 m²·h effort) and occasional roost searching, which resulted in a list of 23 species belonging to Phyllostomidae (18 species), Vespertilionidae (3), and Molossidae (2). We report the first record of Molossops neglectus Williams & Genoways, 1980 and Myotis lavali Moratelli, Peracchi, Dias & Oliveira, 2011 from Espírito Santo, bringing the total number of confirmed species in the state to 86. The molossid Nyctinomops laticaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1805) was exclusively recorded in its diurnal roost in rocky outcrops. Our study fills knowledge gaps in the distribution of bat species in southeastern Brazil, and more specifically in the highly diverse coastal Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo. These data reinforce the importance of continuously inventorying and documenting bats in the Neotropics.

Canopy openness and soil conditions explain community structure and diversity in a tropical seasonal forest in south-eastern Brazil

In tropical semi-deciduous forests, where 20-50 % of canopy trees shed their leaves in the dry season, species with varying degrees of leaf deciduousness share the same space and resources. Here, we describe the tree community in a 10.24-ha plot to assess whether small-scale variation in canopy structure and soil conditions are associated with changes in tree community structure, diversity, and composition. We sampled 11,585 individuals with diameter at breast height ≥ 4.8 cm belonging to 146 species. Plot density (1,129 trees ha-1) and basal area (24.81 m2 ha-1) were smaller than other similar forests, which may be due to an old wind disturbance. For 8.96 ha, we evaluated the relationship between abiotic factors and community descriptors using regression models. Results varied within size classes, but canopy openness was associated with changes in the community structure and diversity, and soil fertility did not affect species diversity. Tree density, basal area, and diversity were smaller in areas with more canopy gaps. Tree density and basal area increase with phosphorus availability, while the density of deciduous trees increased with canopy openness and base saturation. Thus, we found evidence that canopy openness and soil can explain small-scale variations of forest structure and diversity.

Linking Plant Functional Traits to Demography in a Fragmented Landscape

Habitat loss in highly deforested landscapes such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been severely affecting the diversity and survival of palm species. As some species are more sensitive than others, trait responses to the environment, as well as environmental effects on fecundity, growth, and mortality rates, may affect species demography. Considering this context, we studied functional and demographic responses of three palm species (Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, Euterpe edulis, and Geonoma schottiana) to habitat loss in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil by measuring morpho-physiological traits related to plant growth and light acquisition for photosynthesis. We also tested the response of population fitness to fragment size. Plant survival and growth was subsequently monitored in 2006 and 2007, and population dynamics were summarized in pool matrices for large and small forest fragments in the monitoring periods comprehending one full year between 2005–2006 and 2006–2007. The asymptotic growth rate of populations (defined here as population fitness, λ) in five forest fragments was then calculated. Diameter of individuals of the demography plots (from year 2005 to 2007) was used to calculate the relative diameter growth rate. Later, in 2015, we measured a set of morpho-physiological functional traits in palms in the same plots used in the demographic studies. While A. aculeatissimum populations were stable in both monitoring periods in small and large fragments, E. edulis populations were predicted to decline due to intense predation by monkeys in the large fragment, but were stable in the smaller fragments, and G. schottiana populations were stable in the large fragments in both monitoring periods, but populations in the smaller fragments were predicted to decline in the second period, i.e., with lower fitness in these fragments. In addition, the functional traits analyzed showed that G. schottiana is a forest interior species associated with the shade/understory environment response. E. edulis was also affected by the size of the fragment, but due to a disruptive interaction with a predator and showed intermediate functional traits values. On the other hand, A. aculeatissimum thrived in areas with higher and lower incidence of light and was not demographically affected by forest remnant size. This suggests that E. edulis and A. aculeatissimum are habitat generalists. We concluded that differences in the ecophysiological performance of palms due to distinct morpho-physiological functional traits related to leaf economic spectrum, such as LDMC or specific leaf area (SLA) and to photosynthetic responses to light environment as electron transport rate (ETR) and saturation irradiance (Ik) were linked to the demographic variation observed in forest remnants of different size.

Build it and they will come, but not all of them in fragmented Atlantic Forest landscapes

Ecological restoration interventions, in most cases, aim to restore habitat structure and plant community composition, thus re‐establishing ecosystem functioning as similar as possible to that of the pre‐existing natural ecosystem. However, given the difficulty of cultivating many species, that goal seems unattainable, unless “if you build it, they will come.” Here we addressed the Field of Dreams hypothesis in the context of trees and shrubs of the seasonal tropical forest in southeastern Brazil. We aimed to verify if the species from the regional pool have been able to colonize the restoration forests and if functional patterns exist behind successful and unsuccessful colonization. We categorized each species by dispersal syndrome, seed traits, growth rate, shade tolerance, and rarity in the communities. Most, but not all, species from the regional pool are colonizing forest patches undergoing restoration. Successful colonizers are mostly zoochorous, dispersed by birds or bats, shade tolerant, of moderate or fast growth. By partially confirming the Field of Dreams hypothesis, our study implies that it is not necessary to reintroduce a large proportion of the regional pool in tropical forest restoration projects, given that many species will later spontaneously arrive, even in fragmented landscapes. However, the existence of a particular functional profile (slow‐growing species, dispersed by gravity or large mammals) that will rarely colonize the restoration forests should not be disregarded. Even though these are a minority, such species will likely be confined to the remaining natural fragments if they are not included in the restoration projects.