Semi-arid Caatinga Biome Of Brazil Research Articles

Forced neighbours: Coexistence between jaguars and pumas in a harsh environment

Carnivores face conflicts with humans, which has reduced their numbers and distribution. Carnivores compete in intraguild predation systems, Subordinate predators usually avoid top predators through spatial or temporal separation. Coexistence requires a complex combination of resources and environmental conditions. In this study, we assessed the occupancy and temporal activity during night time of the jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) in the Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP), located in the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. Felines face biological limitations in hot environments. We used camera-traps, occupancy models and temporal analysis to evaluate their patterns of habitat use, activity and interactions in SCNP between 2009 and 2011. We considered jaguar as dominant predator and puma as subordinate, and expected to find spatial and temporal avoidance between them. We found evidence of spatial and temporal coexistence. This coexistence could be a result of a restriction of niche separation between both species, influenced by the harsh conditions in the Caatinga, represented by a combination of extreme temperatures, scarcity of refuges to thermoregulate, an environment around SCNP with a high level of human disturbance and an apparent increase in prey due conservation policies.

Living in extreme environments: modeling habitat suitability for jaguars, pumas, and their prey in a semiarid habitat

Carnivores and their prey occurring at the extremes of their ecological niches face particular constraints in terms of habitat suitability (HS). We combined the use of camera traps and Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) to calculate HS for jaguars (Panthera onca), pumas (Puma concolor), and 4 prey species (3-banded armadillos, Tolypeutes tricinctus; 9-banded armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus; collared peccaries, Pecari tajacu; and gray brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira) in Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP), located in the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil. We also evaluated HS in relation to water management applied in the Park since 1994. Considering the physiological limitations of the Caatinga's species, we used an “edge of niche” habitat-suitability algorithm. For all species examined, distance to waterholes was the ecogeographical variable with the greatest contribution for the ENFA. Water management implemented in SCNP helps to ensure the persistence of predators and prey species, since the combination of topographic characteristics and location of waterholes explained most of HS for the analyzed species.

Conidial fungi from the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil: a new species of <I>Selenosporella</I> from submerged leaves

Conidial fungi from the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil: a new species of <I>Selenosporella</I> from submerged leaves

<I>Anaexserticlava caatingae</I>, a new conidial fungus from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

<I>Anaexserticlava caatingae</I>, a new conidial fungus from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

<I>Ypsilomyces</I>, a new thallic genus of conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

<I>Ypsilomyces</I>, a new thallic genus of conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

Conidial fungi from the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil: a new species of Pseudoacrodictys

Conidial fungi from the semiarid Caatinga biome of Brazil: a new species of Pseudoacrodictys

New species and combinations of conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

During a survey of conidial fungi carried out in aquatic and terrestrial habitats in the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil, three new species were found on decaying plants. Anungitopsis caatingensis sp. nov. was found on decaying leaves collected in a terrestrial habitat. Codinaea pindobacuensis sp. nov. and Stanjehughesia clavata sp. nov. were found on decaying leaves and decaying bark collected in freshwater, respectively. Descriptions, illustrations and comments are presented, including a key to accepted species of Anungitopsis. Three species of Janetia are transferred to Linkosia and two species are proposed as synonyms: Minimelanolocus machili is synonymous with Cacumisporium pleuroconidiophorum and Janetia curviapicis is synonymous with Stanjehughesia hamatiella.

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. Three new species and new records

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. Three new species and new records

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. Ellisembiopsis gen. nov., new variety of Sporidesmiella and some notes of Sporidesmium complex

During an inventory of conidial fungi from dead plant material in the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil, some species of Sporidesmium complex were found. Ellisembiopsis brasiliensis gen. et sp. nov. and Sporidesmiella garciniae var. brasiliensis var. nov. are proposed, described and illustrated. Sporidesmium knawiae is considered synonymous with Repetophragma inflatum. Eight new combinations of Ellisembia (E. delavayae, E. filirostrata, E. ilicis, E. magnibrachypa, E. ochnae, E. phoebes, E. pruni, E. tarennae) and, Ellisembiopsis zhejiangensis comb. nov. are proposed. A table comparing the main features of Sporidesmium and related genera is included.

Conidial fungi from semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New and interesting Zanclospora species

Conidial fungi from semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New and interesting Zanclospora species

Ingoldian fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

Ingoldian fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga Biome of Brazil. A new species of Dictyochaeta

During a survey of freshwater conidial fungi associated with submerged plant debris, an interesting specimen of Dictyochaeta was found. Dictyochaeta aciculata sp. nov. is characterized by 3-septate, acicular conidia with rounded bases. These morphological characteristics differentiate the species found in Brazil from previously described taxa in Dictyochaeta and it is, therefore, described and illustrated herein as a novel species.

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New species and records for Thozetella

As a result of an investigation of microfungi in northeastern Brazil, the hyphomycete Thozetella submersa sp. nov. is described from submerged wood. Its diagnostic features are the smooth, elliptic-fusiform, obclavate to rarely obovoid to obclavate, slightly curved, sometimes corniculate at the ends, microawns. T. boonjiensis and T. gigantea are recorded for the first time for the American continent. A key to all described species is included. A synopsis of drawings of microawns (most based on original papers) is provided for all Thozetella species.

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New species of <I>Endophragmiella</I> and <I>Spegazzinia</I> with new records for Brazil, South America, and Neotropica

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New species of <I>Endophragmiella</I> and <I>Spegazzinia</I> with new records for Brazil, South America, and Neotropica

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New species and new records of <I>Helicosporium</I>

Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil. New species and new records of <I>Helicosporium</I>