Rainforest In Southeastern Brazil Research Articles

Cytogenetic Analysis of the Fungus-Farming Ant Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola, 1851) (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) Highlights Karyotypic Variation

The fungus-farming ant genus Cyphomyrmex (subtribe Attina, clade Neoattina) comprises 23 described species that are widely distributed throughout the Neotropics. Species within Cyphomyrmex have taxonomic issues such as Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola, 1851) which is likely a species complex. Cytogenetics is a useful tool for evolutionary studies and understanding species with dubious taxonomy. In this study, we characterized the karyotype of C. rimosus from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil using classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques to enrich the chromosomal information about Cyphomyrmex. The karyotype of C. rimosus from the rainforest of southeastern Brazil (2n = 22, 18m + 4sm) notably contrasts with that previously described for this species in Panama (2n = 32). This intraspecific chromosomal variation suggests the existence of a species complex within this taxon according to the previous hypothesis derived from morphological analysis. We detected GC-rich heterochromatic regions in C. rimosus and, using repetitive DNA probes, showed that this heterochromatin shares repetitive sequences with other Neoattina species already studied, enhancing the importance of this specific genome region in the understanding of Attina evolution. Mapping of microsatellite (GA)₁₅ on C. rimosus was restricted to the euchromatic regions of all chromosomes. The single intrachromosomal rDNA sites observed in C. rimosus follow the general genomic organization trend of ribosomal genes in Formicidae. Our study extends the data of chromosome mapping on Cyphomyrmex and reinforces the importance of cytogenetic studies in different localities to better understand taxonomic issues in widely distributed taxa such as C. rimosus.

Dissolved organic carbon from the forest floor with different decomposition rates in a rainforest in south-eastern Brazil

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes between environmental compartments are an important component of the global carbon balance and pedoecological processes. Tropical forests are the world’s most productive ecosystems and the forest floor is the main DOC-source in these environments. This study aimed to compare DOC concentrations under the forest floor with different litter-decomposition rates. Four study plots were established along a hillslope profile where heterogeneity was observed in previous studies: drainage divide (DRD); upper-hillslope (UHS); lower-hillslope (LHS); and valley bottom (VLB). Inversely proportional to the decomposition rates, the litter storage in this profile was as follows: DRD > UHS ≅ LHS > VLB. The bulk precipitation was a DOC source statistically similar to canopy-washing, and DOC concentrations in throughfall were statistically similar among the hillslope positions. There was some dilution effect in the inter-event modulation, mainly in throughfall and associated with the rainfall maximum intensity. The DOC concentrations under the forest floor were related in a non-linear manner with the litter storage: thin stocks in VLB showed lower DOC concentrations, but the thicker stocks in DRD did not materialise in the highest concentrations; the litter storage in UHS and LHS showed higher DOC-concentrations as a result of a balance between maintaining the DOC-source and making new soluble byproducts available that favoured the DOC-release to water.

A stream multimetric fish index in a large-sized city in south-eastern Brazil

Abstract: Aim Our study was carried out to develop a multimetric index suitable for urban wadeable streams in Sorocaba, a large-sized city from the Atlantic rainforest in south-eastern Brazil. Methods Twenty-seven stream stretches were selected for environmental and fish evaluation. Twenty ecological metrics were tested over an environmental gradient between the reference and degraded stretches. Candidate metrics were screened for range, responsiveness, and redundancy. We calculated a multimetric fish index (MFI) subdivided into five quality classes: reference ≥ 0.8, 0.6 ≤ good < 0.8, 0.4 ≤ moderate < 0.6, 0.2 ≤ poor < 0.4, and bad < 0.2. Results Four metrics were adequate for discriminating higher biotic quality from degraded stretches. Five stream stretches (18%) were classified as a reference or good, and 16 (60%) were poor or bad. Three reference stretches could be used for a hydromorphological restoration programme. Conclusion Our results indicated that biological integrity was altered, which was indicative of severe environmental degradation. Our study results may be useful for a management and restoration project of the Sorocaba/Médio Tietê hydrographic basin.

Redescription of the tadpole of rare Giant Torrent Frog Megaelosia boticariana Giaretta amp; Aguiar, 1998 (Anura, Hylodidae) with comments on natural history.

The Hylodidae genus Megaelosia Miranda-Ribeiro comprises seven frog species that inhabit the Atlantic Rainforest in Southeastern Brazil (Da Silva et al. 2018). Larvae and adults of Hylodidae are commonly associated with lotic streams (Giaretta et al. 1993; Silva-Soares et al. 2015). Tadpoles of all Megaelosia species but Megaelosia bocainensis Giaretta, Bokemann Haddad are formally described, even though many of these descriptions are restricted to few lines and several anatomical details were overlooked (e.g., Megaelosia lutzae; Izecksohn Gouvêa 1985). The tadpole of M. boticariana was briefly described by Giaretta Aguiar (1998) based on a single larva with no measurements or figures. Currently, M. boticariana is only known from its type locality and São Francisco Xavier, both in São Paulo state portion of the Serra da Mantiqueira, Brazil (Muscat et al. 2020). The lack of information, coupled with the rarity of the species, reinforces the importance of taxonomic and natural history data to subside works on other fields. In this context, we present a complete redescription of the external anatomy of the tadpoles of M. boticariana and comment on their natural history.

Does landscape context affect pollination-related functional diversity and richness of understory flowers in forest fragments of Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil?

BackgroundHow landscape modifications affect functional diversity of floral characteristics pertinent to pollinators is poorly known. Flowers possess functional traits that sometimes coevolved with pollinators, crucial for the maintenance of both pollinator and plant communities. We evaluated how richness and functional diversity of available understory flowers respond to forest cover and landscape heterogeneity in a multiscale analysis. Plants in bloom were sampled from 25 landscapes in the understory of Atlantic Forest fragments in Brazil. Species were classified into functional groups regarding flower characteristics relevant to pollination. Landscape heterogeneity and forest cover were measured in buffers ranging from 200 to 2000 m from sampling units and their correlation with plant richness and functional diversity was assessed using generalized linear models and further model selection through Akaike’s second-order information criterion.ResultsPlants’ richness and functional diversity were affected negatively by forest cover. The former responded to forest cover at a regional scale while the latter responded at a local scale. Higher landscape heterogeneity increased richness and functional diversity.ConclusionsOur results showed that forest cover and landscape heterogeneity are important to support biodiversity related to pollination, mostly due to the availability of diversified resources and nesting sites associated to different land-uses for pollinators and flowering plant communities. These findings should highlight, along with forest cover, landscape heterogeneity as an environmental management priority in rural tropical areas for mitigating the loss of plant biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem functioning.

Plasmodium infection in Kerteszia cruzii (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Atlantic tropical rain forest, southeastern Brazil

In Southeastern Brazil, Kerteszia cruzii (former Anopheles cruzii), a bromeliad mosquito species, is considered an efficient human Plasmodium spp. vector. In this region, recent studies showed asymptomatic or sub-patent Plasmodium falciparum infection. In areas of the Atlantic coast in Rio de Janeiro, Plasmodium simium infection was recently reported in both human and howler monkey. Considering that (1) few malaria cases are reported each year in areas across the tropical Atlantic rain forest in southeastern Brazil; (2) malaria elimination in Atlantic forest is challenged by circulation of P. falciparum and P. simium in humans; (3) the complexity of malaria epidemiology in this region; and (4) the public health importance of Kerteszia cruzii as a sylvatic vector; the major goal of this study is to evaluate Plasmodium infection in Ke. cruzii. Mosquito sampling collections were conducted in Esteiro do Morro and Sítio Itapuan, in Cananeia municipality, and Tapiraí municipality in Ribeira Valley, southeastern São Paulo state, Brazil. Influence of climate and landscape factors in Plasmodium infection in Ke. cruzii was addressed. Among the 1719 mosquitoes tested, 3 females collected in Sítio Itapuan and three from Tapiraí were found infected with either P. vivax or P. simium. Results of statistical analyses did not demonstrate association between Plasmodium infection in mosquito and the landscape. Mosquito infection was found in two landscape clusters, with Plasmodium detected in forest fringe mosquitoes. This finding shows that Ke. cruzii can facilitate transmission among human and non-human primates. Plasmodium falciparum was not identified in the samples analyzed. Spatiotemporal variation in local malaria incidence, low prevalence of Plasmodium, variations in humidity and temperature can explain the absence of mosquitoes infected with P. falciparum in the study.

The tadpole of Physalaemus orophilus from the Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae).

The neotropical genus Physalaemus Fitzinger is currently composed by 48 species (Cardozo Pereyra 2018). Recently, a phylogenetic analysis aiming to investigate the internal relationships of the genus recovered two major clades, the Physalaemus cuvieri and P. signifer clades (Lourenço et al. 2015). The following species groups were retrieved in the first clade: P. biligonigerus, P. cuvieri, P. gracilis, P. henselii, and P. olfersii groups (Lourenço et al. 2015). This proposal redefined the P. olfersii group including P. olfersii (Lichtenstein Martens), P. soaresi Izecksohn, P. maximus Feio, Pombal, Caramaschi, P. feioi Cassini, Cruz, Caramaschi and P. lateristriga (Steindachner). The authors also allocated tentatively P. orophilus Cassini, Cruz, Caramaschi, and P. insperatus Cruz, Cassini, Caramaschi in the P. olfersii group due to their morphological similarity with the other species (Cruz et al. 2008; Cassini et al. 2010). Otherwise, Physalaemus aguirrei Bokermann was not recovered nested within this group, contradicting what was suggested in a previous phenetic analysis (Nascimento et al. 2005). Members of the P. olfersii group inhabit the Atlantic rainforest and most of them have a similar advertisement calls with pulsed notes, without frequency modulation and harmonic structure (Giaretta et al. 2009; Cassini et al. 2010; Lourenço et al. 2015). Regarding their larval stage, only P. soaresi, P. maximus, and P. olfersii have their tadpoles described (Weber et al. 2005; Baêta et al. 2007; Giaretta et al. 2009). Physalaemus orophilus occurs in montane Atlantic Forest sites at the eastern slope of the Espinhaço Range in the State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil (Cassini et al. 2010). Herein, we describe the tadpole of P. orophilus from Quadrilátero Ferrífero mountain region, southern limit of the Espinhaço Range and compared it to the known tadpoles of the P. olfersii group.

First-order effects of fire and prolonged-drought effects on an undescribed semi-aquatic turtle in Atlantic rainforest in southeastern Brazil

Fire usually impose considerable impacts on fauna, including loss of habitats and microhabitats, emigrations, injuries, or death. The general arquitecture of the local environment may play an important role in the extent that fire may act and the resulting burning effects. Understanding the exact extent of the effects of fire on vertebrate populations in natural environments is usually limited by the lack of information on the number of individuals dying during the event. Semi-aquatic turtles which usually move slowly on land, may suffer serious direct effects of fire. The mortality of turtles caused by fire and drought is well documented in the northern hemisphere, but few data are available from Brazil. Here we documented the death of individuals of a semi-aquatic still undescribed turtle species, Rhinoclemmys sp. n. on a coastal plain environment in southeastern Brazil, as result of a fire and a prolonged drought. Our results indicated that fire and drought contributed to the mortality of Rhinoclemmys sp. n. in the study area.

Phylogeny contributes more than site characteristics and traits to the spatial distribution pattern of tropical tree populations

Dispersal mechanism, species height, sexual system, and wood density are potential drivers of the spatial distribution pattern of tropical tree populations. These traits are usually conserved among closely related species, thus populations of these species should have more similar spatial distribution patterns than populations of phylogenetically distant species. Additionally, variation in the abiotic and biotic environment might result in distinct spatial distribution patterns of local populations of the same species. We employed variation partitioning to determine the degree to which traits, shared evolutionary history, site characteristics, and their joint effects govern the degree of overdispersion or aggregation of tree populations at different spatial scales within fourteen 1‐ha plots of the Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil. We quantified the degree of overdispersion or aggregation with a new standardized index err(r) based on standardized effect sizes of the pair correlation function. Variation in err(r) was mostly explained by phylogenetic relationships among species (70–95%, depending on spatial scale), indicating that traits not included in our analysis are important drivers of the spatial distribution pattern. Site characteristics explained a smaller part of the variation, indicating context‐dependence. Finally, the traits studied here provided the smallest explanation of the variation, suggesting a minor role of seed dispersal. Residual variation in err(r) ranged from 5–29%, indicating that stochasticity and/or variables not included in the models (e.g. direct measures of post‐dispersal processes) also influence the spatial distribution pattern of the populations. Our results suggest that many ecological processes act in concert at the study site and that their importance changes with spatial scale. Additionally, the relative importance of these processes differs from that previously described for other tropical forests. Determining why a given ecological process is more important in some tropical tree communities than in others are promising venues for further research.

ETNOECOLOGIA DO CAMBUCI (Campomanesia phaea (O. Berg) LANDRUM) PELA POPULAÇÃO DE PARANAPIACABA, SUDESTE DO BRASIL

A relação do homem com a natureza é tão antiga quanto a sua própria história. No entanto a biodiversidade tem sido ameaçada pelas atividades humanas. Assim, o presente trabalho se propôs a conhecer a relação de uma população humana urbana com uma espécie arbórea, conhecida como cambuci (Campomanesia phaea (O. Berg) Landrum), bastante utilizada para diferentes fins e de relevante interesse ecológico, próximo a uma área de conservação na Mata Atlântica, Sudeste do Brasil. Para isso, foi analisada a população da vila de Paranapiacaba, cidade de Santo André, SP, a qual mantém relação estreita com o cambuci. Foram realizadas 50 entrevistas com moradores e comerciantes locais que concordaram em participar, utilizando-se do método bola de neve e de conversas informais. Foram levantados na entrevista os diversos usos e aplicações do fruto de cambuci, bem como outros aspectos relacionados à ecologia da planta. Os entrevistados demonstraram conhecimento sobre os visitantes florais da C. phea e prováveis dispersores de seus frutos. Em relação ao plantio de mudas, os dados indicam que a comunidade humana promove o plantio da espécie uma vez que a utiliza como recurso para diversos fins e produz mudas por meio de sementes e brotos retirados da mata. Um dos principais usos do cambuci pelos moradores de Paranapiacaba foi o de alimento, sendo o fruto encontrado em diversas formas como como geleias, licores, cachaça, mousse, sorvete, bolo, além do tradicional suco na região.

Identification key for fishes from coastal streams of the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil

Abstract In recent decades, current knowledge about fish from Neotropical streams has greatly increased, but is still deficient. Here we present an identification key for fishes from coastal freshwater streams from a large conservation area of Atlantic rainforest of southeastern Brazil, including 39 species. Considering that most of these species (61.2%) are endemic to the coastal streams, this identification key will be useful not only for the species recognition of the sampled area, but also for the surrounding coastal region.

Two new species of Myrcia (Myrtaceae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Two new species of Myrcia from the Atlantic rainforest in southeastern Brazil, Myrcia congestiflora and Myrcia longipaniculata are here described and illustrated. Myrcia congestiflora occurs in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states and is similar to Myrcia cerqueiria, differing by having densely sericeous indumentum (versus sparse and shorter trichomes), larger flowers and flower buds (flower buds with 3–4 mm versus 1.1 mm long) and by acute or obtuse calyx lobes rather than rounded. Myrcia longipaniculata is known for one collection from the boundary of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro differing from Myrcia spectabilis mainly by the longer inflorescence size (29 cm versus 3.5–21.5 cm long.) as well as for presenting a strong reddish or ferruginous indumentum (versus brown to yellowish).

ELEVATIONAL RANGES AND LOCAL EXTINCTION RISK OF BEETLES OCCURRING IN THE “CAMPOS DE ALTITUDE” IN SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

The mountaintops of the Atlantic Rainforest in Southeastern Brazil are dominated by high altitude grasslands, named Campos de Altitude (CA). Considering the location and the smaller habitat areas of communities on the mountaintops and the high frequency of endemic species, the assemblages in these habitats are particularly threatened by climate change, and the vulnerability of a species should then be higher if its elevational range is narrow. In this study we aim to describe the elevational range of beetle species occurring in the CA and discuss their vulnerability to local extinction in the context of climate change, also considering their trophic group. We selected beetles in five taxa from three trophic groups in the CA of Serra dos Orgaos National Park (SONP) and Itatiaia National Park (INP): detritivores (Scarabaeidae - INP), herbivores (Chrysomelidae - SONP and INP, and Curculionidae - SONP) and predators (Coccinellidae - SONP, and Lampyridae - SONP). We found different elevational ranges among the studied taxa and among species within each taxon. Herbivores tended to have narrower ranges than the detritivores, and predators were the trophic group with the broadest species range. The relatively high frequency of species with narrow elevational range, particularly within the herbivores, suggests that this entomofauna is particularly endangered due to predicted climate warming and an expected range shift upwards. Considering that many endemic species are expected in the CA and that many undescribed species of insects have been found in this habitat, we may lose many yet unknown species.

Ultrastructure and pollen morphology of Bromeliaceae species from the Atlantic Rainforest in Southeastern Brazil.

Pollen grain morphology of Bromeliaceae species collected in areas of the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil was studied. The following species were analyzed: Aechmea bambusoides L.B.Sm. & Reitz, A. nudicaulis (L.) Griseb., A. ramosa Mart. ex Schult.f., Ananas bracteatus (Lindl.) Schult.f., Billbergia distachia (Vell.) Mez, B. euphemiae E. Morren, B. horrida Regel, B. zebrina (Herb.) Lindl., Portea petropolitana (Wawra) Mez, Pitcairnia flammea Lindl., Quesnelia indecora Mez, Tillandsia polystachia (L.) L., T. stricta Sol., T. gardneri Lindl., T. geminiflora Brongn. and Vriesea grandiflora Leme. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used and the species were grouped into three pollen types, organized according to aperture characteristics: Type I - pantoporate pollen grains observed in P. petropolitana, Type II - 2-porate pollen grains, observed in the genera Ananas, Aechmea and Quesnelia, and Type III - 1-colpate pollen grains, observed in the genera Billbergia, Pitcairnia, Tillandsia and Vriesea. Pollen data led to the construction of an identification key. The results showed that the species analyzed can be distinguished using mainly aperture features and exine ornamentation, and that these characteristics may assist in taxonomic studies of the family.

Taxonomy and distribution of Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) and T. topitotum (Burt, 1934) (Amphipoda, Talitridae) in Atlantic rain forests of southeastern Brazil

The family Talitridae Rafinesque, 1815 is the only group, among the amphipods, that colonized the terrestrial environment, and more than half of its species live in tropical and subtropical forests. Nowadays, the family has approximately 270 species described in 64 genera. Leaf litter samples from Atlantic forests and urban areas of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Parana, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, provided material to redescribe the two terrestrial species known to Brazil, Talitroides alluaudi (Chevreux, 1896) and Talitroides topitotum (Burt, 1934), and enlarge their known distribution. These species have a worldwide distribution, as they are commonly dispersed in a synanthropic way. Talitroides topitotum seems to be well established in Brazilian Atlantic forests: 96% of the 1787 individuals examined (51 samples) corresponded to this species. Also, females dominated the samples and only six males were found: four from T. alluaudi and two from T. topitotum. A detailed comparison of these two species, as well as their geographical distribution, is given.

Checklist of ferns and lycophytes from the Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira, Iporanga, São Paulo, Brazil

We present the floristic survey of ferns and lycophytes from the “Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira” (PETAR), a remnant of Atlantic Rain Forest of Southeastern Brazil, in São Paulo state. Besides a complete list of species, we also provide information on habit, geographic distribution, and conservation status. Among the 237 taxa, there are 235 species, one variety and one hybrid, distributed in 29 families and 74 genera. Ferns are represented by 223 taxa, whereas the lycophytes were represented by 14. The most representative families are Polypodiaceae (31 spp.), Pteridaceae (29 spp.) and Dryopteridaceae (28 spp.). The most diverse genera are Thelypteris (23 spp.), Asplenium (19 spp.), Elaphoglossum and Blechnum (10 spp. each). Noteworthy is the presence of Ctenitis anniesii, Dicksonia sellowiana, Elaphoglossum iguapense, E. prestonii, E. strictum, Thelypteris concinna, T. araucariensis and T. hatschbachii, all of them considered as endangered species in São Paulo state.

Dioscorea flabellispina (Dioscoreaceae), a new endangered species from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

Dioscorea flabellispina is endemic to small, low elevation fragments of the Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil, occurring on rocky outcrops in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo. Based on the number and form of thorns present on the stem (5–8 thorns with a fan-like form at the node), this new species is easily recognizable morphologically and possesses characteristics unique to the Neotropical Dioscorea. Presenting only a few individuals in each population, this rare and endangered species is only known from three sites surrounded by a vegetation matrix degraded by human impact and overrun by invasive alien species. Dioscorea flabellispina does not occur in any officially protected area in Brazil, placing the species at increased risk. Herein we present the morphological description of this species, including a discussion of its ecology, distribution, and conservation status.

New species and records of Otiothopinae from the Southern Atlantic Rainforest, with notes on the claw tufts in Fernandezina Birabén (Araneae: Palpimanidae).

Two new species of Otiothops MacLeay, 1839 (O. atalaia sp. n. and O. goytacaz sp. n.), a new species of Fernandezina Birabén, 1951 (F. jurubatiba sp. n.) as well as the female of F. tijuca Ramírez & Grismado, 1996 are described from the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Scanning electron microscope images of the tarsi of F. jurubatiba sp. n. and F. dasilvai Platnick, Grismado & Ramírez, 1999 show that this genus has claw tufts on the posterior legs, composed of setae of variable structure.

DNA barcoding reveals species level divergence between populations of the microhylid frog genus Arcovomer (Anura: Microhylidae) in the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil

The microhylid frogs belonging to the genus Arcovomer have been reported from lowland Atlantic Rainforest in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Here, we use DNA barcoding to assess levels of genetic divergence between apparently isolated populations in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Our mtDNA data consisting of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) nucleotide sequences reveals 13.2% uncorrected and 30.4% TIM2 + I + Γ corrected genetic divergences between these two populations. This level of divergence exceeds the suggested 10% uncorrected divergence threshold for elevating amphibian populations to candidate species using this marker, which implies that the Espírito Santo population is a species distinct from Arcovomer passarellii. Calibration of our model-corrected sequence divergence estimates suggests that the time of population divergence falls between 12 and 29 million years ago.

Record of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato, the zombie-ant fungus, parasitizing Camponotus in an urban fragment of Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil

Ophiocordyceps is a fungal pathogen of ants of the tribe Camponotini. It is called zombie fungus, since it changes the host behavior, causing them to die in an exposed position, typically clinging onto and biting into the adaxial surface of shrub leaves. This study aimed to describe the occurrence of parasitic associations between Ophiocordyceps and ants of the genus Camponotus in an urban fragment of Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil and to measure the rate of hyperparasitism in Ophiocordyceps by other fungi in the same location. We found 57 individuals of four species of ants and three species of fungus. The age categories of fungi were equally distributed, and rate of hyperparasitism was 17.5% (n = 10). The sampled area was recognized as an important site of Ophiocordyceps occurrence.