scholarly journals Environmental Response of Dinoponera lucida Emery 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an Endemic Threatened Species of the Atlantic Forest Central Corridor

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Soares Simon ◽  
José Henrique Schoereder ◽  
Marcos Da Cunha Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Environmental Response ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Presence And Absence

Endemic species of Atlantic Forest Central Corridor may have evolved under adverse climate conditions, but their response to modern climate change is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the response of the endemic and endangered ant species Dinoponera lucida to biotics and abiotics factors based on three scales: ecological factors inside forest fragment, physical attributes of landscape and climatic variables of the assessed region. Data collection took place in a representative selection of forest fragments in the region where the species is distributed in. Pitfalls were used to collect samples and to assure the presence and absence of the species in the site. We also checked the abundance of food resources and applied a hemispherical photography technique to measure shading inside the fragment, in loco. Landscape attributes data and climatic predictors were collected through geoprocessing techniques. All predictors were associated with binary “presence” and “absence” data based applied in logistic models. There was no significant response to environmental aspects within the fragment or to landscape, but there was strong and peculiar response to climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall. Accordingly, D. lucida presents a restricted realized niche, a feature shared among many endangered species that can disappear due to displacement and to habitat loss caused by climate and environmental changes. This species presents all the criteria necessary to be considered as rare, which is a controversial subject with political implications for Espírito Santo state, and makes D. lucida the ideal target for urgent conservation strategies.

scholarly journals Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Boyle ◽  
Noé U. de la Sancha ◽  
Pastor Pérez ◽  
David Kabelik
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Hair Shaft ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

scholarly journals Human-modified landscape acts as refuge for mammals in Atlantic Forest

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Augusto de Abreu Bovo ◽  
Marcelo Magioli ◽  
Alexandre Reis Percequillo ◽  
Cecilia Kruszynski ◽  
Vinicius Alberici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Species List ◽  
Generalist Species

Abstract: Human-modified landscapes (HMLs) are composed by small, isolated and defaunated forest fragments, which are surrounded by agricultural and urban areas. Information on species that thrives in these HMLs is essential to direct conservation strategies in local and regional scales. Since HMLs are dominant in the Atlantic Forest, we aimed to assess the mammalian diversity in a HML in southeastern Brazil and to propose conservation strategies. We collected data of terrestrial (small-, medium- and large-sized) and volant mammals in three small forest fragments (10, 14 and 26 ha) and adjacent areas, between 2003 and 2016, using complementary methods: active search, camera trapping, live-traps, mist nets and occasional records (i.e., roadkills). In addition, we used secondary data to complement our species list. We recorded 35 native mammal species (6 small-sized, 16 medium- and large-sized, and 13 bats) and seven exotic species in the HML. The recorded mammal assemblage (non-volant and volant), although mainly composed of common and generalist species, includes three medium- and large-sized species nationally threatened (Leopardus guttulus, Puma concolor and Puma yagouaroundi) and two data deficient species (Galictis cuja and Histiotus velatus), highlighting the importance of this HML for the maintenance and conservation of mammal populations. Despite highly impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, the study area harbors a significant richness of medium- and large-sized mammals, being an important biodiversity refuge in the region. However, this biodiversity is threatened by the low quality of the habitats, roadkills and abundant populations of domestic cats and dogs. Therefore, we stress the need of conservation strategies focusing on the medium- and large-sized mammals as an umbrella group, which could benefit all biodiversity in the landscape. We recommend actions that promotes biological restoration, aiming to increase structural composition and connectivity of the forest fragments, reducing roadkills and controlling the domestic cats and dogs' populations, in order to maintain and improve the diversity of mammals in long-term.

scholarly journals INFLUÊNCIA DA PRECIPITAÇÃO E TEMPERATURA DO AR NA PRODUÇÃO DE SERAPILHEIRA EM TRECHO DE FLORESTA ESTACIONAL EM SOROCABA, SP

FLORESTA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Nogueira Scoriza ◽  
Fatima Conceição Márquez Piña-Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Mata Atlântica ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
Mata Atlantica ◽  
Average Contribution

A fragmentação e destruição da Mata Atlântica tornam a sua conservação fundamental. A serapilheira é um importante componente desse sistema e apresenta diferenças na deposição nos diferentes ecossistemas brasileiros. Com isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da precipitação e da temperatura do ar no aporte de serapilheira em fragmentos florestais localizados em Sorocaba, SP. A quantidade média de serapilheira aportada foi de 6,9 ± 0,4 mg.ha-1.ano-1, formada por 65% de folhas. Houve diferenças entre as deposições nas estações do ano, sendo que a menor quantidade foi depositada no período seco. A correlação da serapilheira e suas frações não foram significativas quando analisada para o mesmo mês da avaliação da temperatura do ar e precipitação. Porém, quando se relacionam meses anteriores, a correlação é mais expressiva, demonstrando que a resposta da vegetação a variações ambientais não é imediata.Palavras-chave: Clima; sazonalidade; Mata Atlântica. AbstractInfluence of precipitation and air temperature in production of litterfall in stretch of seasonal forest. Fragmentation and destruction of the Atlantic Rainforest make its conservation essential. The litter is an important component of this system, and reveals differences in deposition in the different Brazilian ecosystems. This research aims to evaluate the effect of rainfall and air temperature on litterfall input in a forest fragment at the municipality of Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The average contribution of litterfall was 6.9±0.4Mg ha-1 yr-1, comprising 65% of leaves. There were differences between the seasons, with the less amount in the dry season. The correlation of litter and its fractions was not relevant for the same month of air temperature and rainfall measurement. However, the correlation is significant when related to the previous month, demonstrating that the response of vegetation to environmental changes is not immediate.Keywords: Climate; seasonality; Atlantic forest.

scholarly journals Genetic variability of Conopophaga lineata (Conopophagidae) (Wied-Neuwied, 1831) in Atlantic Forest fragments

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (4 suppl) ◽  
pp. 859-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
GPM. Dantas ◽  
FR. Santos ◽  
MA. Marini
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Great Part ◽  
Mantel Test ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Genetic Population ◽  
Bird Populations

Forest fragmentation affects bird populations in many ways, modifying the composition of communities and favouring open country species. The Atlantic Forest is considered one of the most important biomes in the world, due to its great biodiversity, accelerated rates of deforestation, and high endemism. Despite these characteristics, few studies have evaluated the effects of forest fragmentation in the genetic structure of Atlantic forest bird populations. So, this study aims to verify the effects of forest fragmentation in the genetic population structure of Conopophaga lineata, through RAPD markers. To achieve this goal, 89 C. lineata individuals were captured in nine Atlantic Forest fragments in Minas Gerais State. The RAPD data indicate that forest fragmentation has not affected the genetic variation of C. lineata populations (Mann-Whitney U = 3.50; p = 0.11). Great part of the genetic variability of this species is found within populations and it was not observed a correlation between genetic and geographic distance (Mantel test t = 0.6250; p = 073). UPGMA analyses did not show defined clades and all branches showed low statistical support. The low population differentiation observed in this species can be due to a high gene flow among populations or a recent fragmentation. Thus, the current diversity status of C. lineata populations indicates that this species is not significantly affected by fragmentation. However, more genetic studies are essential to improve conservation strategies of Brazilian Atlantic Forest birds.

scholarly journals Bird assembly in restinga reforested areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Erich De Freitas Mariano ◽  
Arnaldo Honorato Vieira-Filho ◽  
Gustavo Alves Toledo Da Costa ◽  
Helder Farias Pereira De Araujo ◽  
Malva Isabel Medina Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
The Difference

Fragmentation is one of environmental degradation and reduction of biodiversity causes, including in bird communities, mainly in Atlantic Forest areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in richness and functional groups structure in the ornitofauna from a Restinga forest fragment and four areas with different ages of reforestation. We selected five forest fragments in a Restinga area in the state of Paraiba. A native fragment (Control Area-AC) and four fragments that have undergone a mining process and present different ages of reforestation (1989, 1997, 2001 and 2003). The avifauna samples occurred in four expeditions between November 2006 and April 2008 and counted with a total effort of 2700 net.m2 per expedition. Statistical tests verified richness differences between studied areas, as well as the composition of their functional groups. In general, 90 bird species were recorded, and the highest reforestation age area presented the highest richness (n = 51 spp.). The species richness comparisons indicated that the difference in the richness between AC and reforested areas is not statistically significant. The similarity analysis indicates that reforested areas share a large amount of species and AC has a great differentiation in composition. This differentiation is explained by the significant presence of frugivorous, nectarivorous, leaf and understory-insectivorous species. Changes in species richness and composition in degraded areas are expected and reforested areas usually have a smaller number of forest-dependent species due to the deficiency of available resources. The recovery of areas by reforestation are important conservation strategies, however there is need for management measures that promote the enrichment of these areas and the availability of resources for species dependent on environments Forest.

scholarly journals ABUNDANCE OF TREES USED AS FOOD BY PRIMATES IN FRAGMENTS OF ATLANTIC FOREST

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-41
Author(s):  
Valdecir Da Silva ◽  
Vera Lúcia da Silva ◽  
Válter Da Silva ◽  
Dimítri De Araújo Costa ◽  
Francisco De Assis da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Forest Diversity ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Historical Factors

Forest fragmentation favours the propagation of some arboreal primate species that can alter the floristic composition of a community. This process may be associated with the loss of seed dispersants. In this work we propose to identify if the presence of frugivorous primates of medium and large size (Sapajus flavius and Alouatta belzebul) can influence forest diversity and structure. Further, we ask if the size of the fragment affects the availability of resources for these primates. Three fragments were studied in the Atlantic Forest of the State of Paraíba, Brazil, located in the municipalities of Sapé, Mamanguape, Rio Tinto, and Mataraca. In each area 25 plots of 50 x 4 m were delimited, randomly distributed along trails and transects. All trees with chest-high circumferences (CAP) above 12 cm found within the plots were marked with ribbons, and numbered continuously. A total of 114 plant species were documented in the Pacatuba Forest, 79 in the Asplan Forest, and 97 in the “Guaribas” (Sema III) Biological Reserve (REBIO) Forest. According to the Chao and Jacknife estimators, the REBIO Guaribas Forest can present more species than recorded in the present investigation. Species Tapirira guianensis, Protium giganteum and Protium heptaphyllum are the most abundant in the Asplan, Pacatuba and Sema III Forests, respectively. In the REBIO Guaribas Forest, the Shannon diversity index was (H') = 3.75, the Alpha-Fisher index was = 26.57 and the Simpson index (1-D) was = 0.90. Pacatuba was the forest fragment with the highest index of diversity (H') = 375, Alpha-Fischer = 33.74 and Simpson (1-D) = 0.95. Pacatuba and REBIO Guaribas Forsts possess greater Beta diversity. The results suggest that local and historical factors possibly increase Beta diversity, contributing to the increase in resources used as food by primates. Therefore, the presence of primates of medium and large size in the Pacatuba Forest may affect the diversity of resources, contributing to the dispersion of large fruits and seeds. The presence of primates of medium and large size can thus contribute to the preservation of floristic diversity in forest fragments.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of Habitat Uses and Their Implications for the Conservation of the Chinese Bumblebee Bombus pyrosoma (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Hu ◽  
Jiyao Liu ◽  
Guiling Ding ◽  
Muhammad Naeem ◽  
Jilian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
The Future ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
The Impact

Bumblebees are important pollinators for many wild plants and crops. However, the bumblebee populations are seriously declining in many parts of the world. Hence, the bumblebee conservation strategy should be urgently addressed, and the species distribution modeling approach can effectively evaluate the potentially suitable areas for their conservation. Here, one of the most abundant and endemic species of bumblebee in China, Bombus pyrosoma, was selected to assess current and future climates’ influence on its distribution with MaxEnt. Nine high-resolution bioclimatic/environmental variables with high contribution rates and low correlations were used. Four of the nine bioclimatic/environmental variables, min temperature of the coldest month (bio_06), annual mean temperature (bio_01), precipitation of wettest month (bio_13) and radiation of warmest quarter (bio_26), were found to be the most critical factors influencing the distribution of B. pyrosoma. The modeling results showed that the areas with high and moderate suitability for B. pyrosoma covered 141,858 and 186,198 km2 under the current climate conditions. More than 85% of the sampling sites in 2019 were found to be suitable under the current scenario. Under the future A1B and A2 scenarios in 2050 and 2100, the areas with low and moderate suitability for B. pyrosoma increased. However, alarmingly, the high suitability areas decreased under the future A1B and A2 scenarios in 2050 and 2100. Furthermore, regions covering seven provinces of northern China were the most crucial for developing nature reserves for B. pyrosoma, with the following order of suitable areas: Gansu, Shanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Hebei and Beijing. Our study highlights the impact of future climate changes on the distribution of B. pyrosoma, and conservation strategies should mitigate the threats posed by environmental changes, particularly in the current high suitability areas.

scholarly journals MAPPING PRIORITY AREAS FOR FOREST RECOVERY USING MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS IN THE BRAZILIAN ATLANTIC FOREST

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Franciane Carla De Almeida ◽  
Eduarda Martiniano De Oliveira Silveira ◽  
Lara Lopes De Paiva ◽  
Fausto Weimar Acerbi Júnior
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Multicriteria Analysis ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Drainage Network ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Priority Areas

The collapse of a mining dam with 62 million cubic meters of mud in the Rio Doce basin resulted in the destruction of whole communities and large areas of Atlantic Forest. As forest restoration activities are among the most costly conservation strategies, prioritization of restoration efforts is crucial. In the present article, we mapped priority areas for forest recovery in a portion of the Rio Doce Basin (DO1) using a GIS-based (geographic information system) multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) employing the weighted linear combination (WLC) method. Five factors with different weights were taken into consideration according to their level of importance: distance from the drainage network, distance from the native vegetation patches, slope, soil class and precipitation. A map of priority areas was produced where 1.73% of the area was classified as very high priority for forest recovery, while 5.18% of the area was classified as high priority, 57.88% as medium priority, 1.34% as low priority and 0.00% as very low priority. The highest weights were both for the distance from the drainage network and the distance from native vegetation, revealing that areas of permanent preservation and those closer to forest fragments are priority areas for forest recovery. MCDA is a flexible and easy-to-implement method generating maps with suitable solutions for forest recovery. The approach taken can be replicated in regions that require support for decision making in environmental planning, such as the Pantanal biome, which is under considerable pressure from deforestation for the expansion of pastures.

scholarly journals Analysis of the reproductive stage and ovarian histomorphometry of Dermanura cinerea (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivaldo B. Lima Junior ◽  
Maria J.G. Arandas ◽  
Fabricya R. Silva ◽  
Erivaldo A. Antonio ◽  
Francisco C.A. Aguiar Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Reproductive Stage ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Histomorphometric Analysis ◽  
Forest Fragment

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the reproductive stage, histology and morphometry of the ovary of Dermanura cinerea in an Atlantic Forest fragments in the Biological Reserve of Saltinho, Pernambuco, Brazil. Adult females were captured monthly by mist net, during two consecutive nights from June/2014 to November/2015. The meteorological data were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology and grouped together with the reproductive data, in six periods: period I (June to August/2014), period II (September to November/2014), period III (December/2014 to February/2015), period IV (March to May/2015), period V (June to August/2015) and period VI (September to November/2015). The females were classified according to their reproductive stages in: Inactive, pregnant, lactating and postlactating. Among the 25 females caught, 10 inactive females were selected for the histomorphometric analysis of the ovaries and then they were euthanized. After that, the specimens had their ovaries removed, fixed, processed and included in Paraplast. The organs were cut and stained by Hematoxylin - Eosin and the histological slides produced were submitted to the appropriate optical microscope analysis. Each type of ovarian follicle was estimated according to the histological characteristics evidenced for other mammals. In the morphometric analysis, it was considered: The area of the ovary (measured in square millimeter), Quantification of different types of ovarian follicles (unilaminar and multilaminar primary follicles, antral and matures) and corpus luteum, as well as the area of each by those different follicles (measured in square micrometer) The results indicated that 16 females were inactive, 5 were lactating, 4 were pregnant and no post-lactating. The histological analysis revealed that the ovaries of D. cinerea exhibit characteristics, structures and cellular types similar to other mammals. The morphometric data of the study area were statistically evaluated using the Student’s t-test. Therefore, ovarian histomorphometric analysis are very important to infer with greater certainty about the reproduction of a species. Thus, it was observed that females of D. cinerea exhibit two reproductive peaks, that is, they can give birth either at the end of dry periods or from the beginning to the middle of the rainy season. The main feature observed in the ovary of this species, found in the Atlantic Forest area of the state of Pernambuco, is the preparation of the ovarian cortex to ovulate in months of high rainfall throughout the year. Therefore, this species tries to adjust its reproductive period with the variations of the environmental conditions, so that the reproduction might occur during the period more favorable for the maintenance of their offspring.

scholarly journals Species richness and relative abundance of birds in natural and anthropogenic fragments of Brazilian Atlantic forest

2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz dos Anjos
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Forest Remnants

Bird communities were studied in two types of fragmented habitat of Atlantic forest in the State of Paraná, southern Brazil; one consisted of forest fragments that were created as a result of human activities (forest remnants), the other consisted of a set of naturally occurring forest fragments (forest patches). Using quantitative data obtained by the point counts method in 3 forest patches and 3 forest remnants during one year, species richness and relative abundance were compared in those habitats, considering species groups according to their general feeding habits. Insectivores, omnivores, and frugivores presented similar general tendencies in both habitats (decrease of species number with decreasing size and increasing isolation of forest fragment). However, these tendencies were different, when considering the relative abundance data: the trunk insectivores presented the highest value in the smallest patch while the lowest relative abundance was in the smallest remnant. In the naturally fragmented landscape, time permitted that the loss of some species of trunk insectivores be compensated for the increase in abundance of other species. In contrast, the remnants essentially represented newly formed islands that are not yet at equilibrium and where future species losses would make them similar to the patches.

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