Species richness and composition of snake assemblages in poorly accessible areas in the Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract: Snakes are a diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates of the order Squamata. Despite that, in the Amazonian biome, information about distribution and identification of snakes is limited when compared to other groups. Additionally, in Amazonia there is a sampling bias towards areas geographically close to urban centers and more densely populated areas. This in turn leads to false distribution gaps in poorly accessible areas of Amazonia. In this article we report the composition of snake assemblages in six areas of the Brazilian Amazonia, based on field sampling conducted over four years using standardized methods. We sampled 70 species from eight families: Typhlopidae (n=1), Leptotyphlopidae (n=1), Anillidae (n=1), Boidae (n=5), Colubridae (n=15), Dipsadidae (n=35), Elapidae (n=7), and Viperidae (n=5). The largest number of species was recorded in the Trombetas River area and the lowest in the Jatapu River area. The total beta diversity was 0.40 and the snake assemblages were structured mainly by replacement (72.5%). The time-limited search was the method that recorded the greatest number of individuals in the studied areas (44.1%) and also the greatest number of species (n=40). However, some species were recorded only by other methods such as interception by pitfall traps with directional fences. Despite the large number of species sampled in the study, no particular area comprised more than 40% of species registered in all the areas, indicating that snakes are poorly detected even with large sampling effort across multiple areas of a species distribution.

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Amphibians from Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Brazilian Amazonia

Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v16i2p183-199 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 183 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcelo Menin ◽

Vinicius Tadeu de Carvalho ◽

Alexandre P. Almeida ◽

Marcelo Gordo ◽

Deyla P. Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sampling Methods ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Species List ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Brazilian Amazonia ◽

Squamate Reptiles ◽

Rio Negro ◽

Similarity Indices ◽

Areas Of Endemism ◽

Salamander Species

A species list of amphibians from Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in Brazilian Amazonia is provided. Collections were made from March–April 2012 along each of two 3-km trails with the following sampling methods: (1) pitfall traps with drift fences; (2) visual and auditory surveys; and (3) chance encounters. The trail at Daraá is north of the Rio Negro, whereas the other in Ayuanã is south of the river. Forty species of anurans and one salamander species representing 20 genera and nine families were recorded. The species composition was compared with those of 16 other studies conducted in the Guiana, Imeri, and Jaú areas of endemism, where species richness varies from 21–63, and similarity indices range from 23–100%. The anuran fauna at our sites resembles that of Flota Faro in eastern Amazonia more than it does that of the nearest site in the Departamento del Guainía of Colombia. The index of similarity is extremely variable between sites of the same and distinct areas of endemism. This pattern also was observed in the cluster analysis. As expected, geographically close areas have similar faunal compositions. However, the anuran fauna of Parque Nacional do Jaú (Jaú area of endemism) resembles that of Manaus (Guiana area of endemism) more closely than it does that of the Ayuanã River, which belongs to the same area of endemism as Parque Nacional do Jaú. The limits of the areas of endemism are better defined by the presence / absence of other terrestrial vertebrates, such as birds and mammals, than by the assemblage of amphibians and squamate reptiles.

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Invertebrates for vertebrate biodiversity monitoring: comparisons using three insect taxa as iDNA samplers

10.22541/au.161962034.46569351/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aimee Massey ◽

Roberta Bronzoni ◽

David da Silva ◽

Jennifer Allen ◽

Patrick de Lazari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alpha Diversity ◽

Environmental Dna ◽

Feeding Preference ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Diversity Profiles ◽

Number Of Individuals ◽

Substantial Interest

Metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) is now widely used to build diversity profiles from DNA that has been shed by species into the environment. There is substantial interest in the expansion of eDNA approaches for improved detection of terrestrial vertebrates using invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) in which hematophagous, sarcophagous, and coprophagous invertebrates sample vertebrate blood, carrion, or feces. Here, we use metabarcoding and multiple iDNA samplers (carrion flies, sandflies, and mosquitos) to profile gamma and alpha diversity in a dry, tropical forest in the southern Amazon. Our main objectives were to (1) compare diversity found with iDNA to camera trapping, which is the conventional method of vertebrate diversity surveillance and (2) compare each of the iDNA samplers to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and potential biases associated with each sampler. Carrion flies were the most effective sampler, despite the least amount of sampling effort and the fewest number of individuals captured for metabarcoding, in describing vertebrate biodiversity followed by sandflies. Camera traps had the highest median species richness at the site-level but showed strong bias towards carnivore and ungulate species and missed much of the diversity described by iDNA methods. Mosquitos showed a strong feeding preference for humans as did sandflies for armadillos, thus presenting potential utility to further study related to host-vector interactions.

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Invertebrates for vertebrate biodiversity monitoring: comparisons using three insect taxa as iDNA samplers

10.22541/au.161962034.46569351/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aimee Massey ◽

Roberta Bronzoni ◽

David da Silva ◽

Jennifer Allen ◽

Patrick de Lazari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alpha Diversity ◽

Environmental Dna ◽

Feeding Preference ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Biodiversity Monitoring ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Diversity Profiles ◽

Number Of Individuals ◽

Substantial Interest

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Checklist of lizards of the Juruti, state of Pará, Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/9.1.42 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ana Lúcia Costa Prudente ◽

Fernanda Magalhães ◽

Alessandro Menks ◽

João Fabrício De Melo Sarmento

Keyword(s):

Sampling Methods ◽

Abundant Species ◽

The Other ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

Lizard Species ◽

Species List ◽

The Road ◽

On The Road

We present the first lizard species list for the municipality of Juruti, state of Pará, Brazil. The list was drawn up as a result of data obtained from specimens deposited in the Herpetological Collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi and from inventories conducted in 2008-2011. Sampling methods included pitfall traps with drift fences and time constrained searches. We considered the data collected by other researchers, incidental encounters and records of dead individuals on the road. We recorded 33 species, 26 genera and ten families. Norops tandai was the most abundant species. Compared with the other regions of Amazonia, the region of Juruti presented a large number of lizards. However, further studies with an increase in the sampling effort, could prove this area to be richer in lizards than that observed so far.

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Lessons from a century of conservation translocations

10.32942/osf.io/hnzqk ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shane D Morris ◽

Katherine E. Moseby ◽

Barry W. Brook ◽

Christopher N. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Population Growth ◽

Population Growth Rate ◽

Historical Context ◽

Extrinsic Factors ◽

Global Database ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

Failure Classification ◽

High Population Growth ◽

Number Of Individuals

Translocation—moving individuals for release in different locations—is among the most important conservation interventions for increasing or re-establishing populations of threatened species. However, translocations often fail. To improve their effectiveness, we need to understand the features that distinguish successful from failed translocations. Here, we assembled and analysed a global database of translocations of terrestrial vertebrates (n=514) to assess the effects of various design features and extrinsic factors on success. We analysed outcomes using standardized metrics i.e. a categorical success/failure classification, and population growth rate. Probability of categorical success and population growth rate increased with the total number of individuals released but with diminishing returns above about 20-50 individuals. There has been no increase in numbers released per translocation over time. Positive outcomes—reported success and high population growth—were less likely for translocation in Oceania, possibly because invasive species are a major threat in this region and are difficult to control at translocation sites. Increased rates of categorical reported success and population growth were found for Europe and North America, suggesting the key role of historical context in positive translocation outcomes. Categorical success has increased throughout the 20th century, but that increase may have plateaued at about 75% since about 1990. Our results suggest there is potential for further increase in the success of conservation translocations. This could be best achieved by greater investment in individual projects, as indicated by total number of animals released.

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Temporal patterns in the macrobenthic communities of the Hawkesbury estuary, New South Wales

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9870607 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 607

Author(s):

AR Jones

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Temporal Patterns ◽

Single Species ◽

Species Number ◽

Community Patterns ◽

Low Salinity ◽

Number Of Species ◽

South Wales ◽

Physicochemical Factors ◽

Number Of Individuals

Temporal patterns in number of species, number of individual animals and community composition of the soft-sediment zoobenthos of the Hawkesbury estuary are described and related to physicochemical factors. Replicate grabs were taken at 3-month intervals over 3 years (1977-1979) from sites located in three zones: the lower, middle and upper reaches. The number of species and number of individuals showed significant seasonal and annual differences in all zones. However, the pattern of these differences varied among sites and seasonal differences were not repeatable over years. Similarly, differences in community composition as revealed by classification were not seasonal. In the middle and lower reaches, these differences were apparently caused by the over- riding influence of non-seasonal climatic events, i.e. a major flood in 1978 and a drought throughout 1979. In the first two sampling following the flood, sample values for the numbers of both species and individuals were usually lowest and community composition was distinct from pre-flood and drought times. During the drought, the number of species was usually high and community composition relatively distinct. Whereas the number of species and community composition groupings were both significantly related to river discharge, the number of individuals was significantly correlated with temperature. All community variables were sometimes significantly related to salinity. The identity of numerically dominant species, as determined by Fager rankings, varied among times in both the lower and middle reaches. However, the polychaete Nephtys australiensis and the bivalve mollusc Notospisula trigonella were highest ranked overall in both zones. Community patterns in the low-salinity upper reaches differed from those further downstream by showing little change in numbers of species and community composition following the flood. Only the number of species was significantly correlated with any of the measured physicochemical variables, this being partly due to an influx of species during the drought. Furthermore, the upstream community was always dominated by the polychaete Ceratonereis limnetica and was thus the only community that could be characterised by a single species.

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Changes in the floristic composition of a Terra Firme rain forest In Brazilian Amazonia over an eight-year period In response to logging

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-43922002322291 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 277-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

João Olegário Pereira de CARVALHO

Keyword(s):

Rain Forest ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

National Forest ◽

Terra Firme ◽

Permanent Sample Plots ◽

Brazilian Amazonia ◽

Number Of Species

Changes in the floristic composition over an eight-year period in a logged area at the Tapajós National Forest in Brazilian Amazonia arc discussed. Two treatments of different intensities of logging were compared with an undisturbed (control) forest. Data were collected from permanent sample-plots. The effects of logging on floristic composition were stronger in the more heavily logged treatment. The number of species decreased immediately after logging, but started to increase before the fifth year after logging and was higher at the end of the study period than before logging. The more heavily logged plots responded more to disturbances, as judged by the increase in the number of species during the period after logging. This forest appears to recover its initial floristic composition after disturbance without intervention.

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Comparing on site human and video counts at Igarapava fish ladder, south eastern Brazil

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252006000200017 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 291-294 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mark D. Bowen ◽

Simone Marques ◽

Luiz G. M. Silva ◽

Volney Vono ◽

Hugo P. Godinho

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Accurate Method ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Human Observer ◽

Full Spectrum ◽

Prochilodus Lineatus ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Fish Ladder ◽

Number Of Individuals

On site human observations and video images were collected and compared at the window of the Igarapava Dam fish ladder (IDFL), rio Grande , Southeastern Brazil, between March 1st and June 30th, 2004. We conducted four experiments with two humans (Observer 1 and Observer 2) observing fish passage in the IDFL window while a Sony 3CCD video camera (Observer 3) recorded fish passage at the same time. Experiments, each one hour in length, were distributed throughout the diel cycle using full spectrum lights. We identified fish species, the number of individuals for each species, and the real time that they passed. Counts from each human observer were compared to the video counts. The fish species most commonly observed in the window were - curimba (Prochilodus lineatus), mandi-amarelo (Pimelodus maculatus), piau-três-pintas (Leporinus friderici) and ferreirinha (Leporinus octofasciatus). The number of species and individuals were indistinguishable for the three observers. But, the number of species and individuals were significantly different among experiments. Thus, the three observers register the same number of species and count the same number of individuals even when these two response variables differ significantly among experiments. Based on these results, we concluded that the video count was an accurate method to assess fish passage at the IDFL.

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Anurans of the Urucu Petrol Basin, municipality of Coari, State of Amazonas, northern Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/9.3.601 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 601 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ana Lúcia Da Costa Prudente ◽

Marcelo José Sturaro ◽

Alessandra Elisa Melo Travassos ◽

Gleomar Fabiano Maschio ◽

Maria Cristina Santos-Costa

Keyword(s):

Sampling Methods ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Pitfall Traps ◽

The Road ◽

Northern Brazil ◽

On The Road

We present the first species amphibian list for municipality of Coari, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The list was drawn up as a result of data obtained from specimens deposited in the Herpetological Collection of the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi and inventories conducted in the Urucu Petrol Base, in 2003-2004 and 2007-2009. Sampling methods included pitfall traps with drift fences and time constrained searches. We considered the data collected by other researchers, incidental encounters and records of dead individual on the road. Fifty four species were recorded. Rhinella gr. margaritifera (n= 68), Adenomera gr. marmorata (n= 59), and Osteocephalus leprieurii (n= 20) were the most collected, while ten species were less collected. Compared with other studies in eastern Amazonia, the region of Urucu presented a large number of anurans. Nonetheless, it ́s not possible to confirm this because the data collected were not standardized among studies. However, further studies by, increasing the sampling effort, could prove this area to be richer in anurans than that observed so far.

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Annotated world checklist of the Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae (1758–2021) (Acari: Trombiculoidea), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4967.1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4967 (1) ◽

pp. 1-243

Author(s):

DAVID H. NIELSEN ◽

RICHARD G. ROBBINS ◽

LEOPOLDO M. RUEDA

Keyword(s):

Scrub Typhus ◽

Diverse Group ◽

Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽

Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽

The World ◽

Medical Importance ◽

Original Species ◽

Species Descriptions ◽

Annotated Checklist ◽

Collection Sites

The superfamily Trombiculoidea is a large and diverse group of acarines that comprises six families; of these, the families Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae are characterized by larvae commonly known as chiggers that are parasites of terrestrial vertebrates, including humans, and some species are of medical importance as vectors of chigger-borne rickettsiosis (scrub typhus), caused by the rickettsia Orientia tsutsugamushi. This paper presents an annotated checklist of 3,013 generally accepted chigger species, together with their distribution by zoogeographic region, and a non-comprehensive list of synonyms. A total of 58 new combinations are proposed by transferring species to different genera, treating some subgenera as genera, or updating current generic names. The checklist updates earlier catalogs of the world chigger fauna, but because the literature on chigger taxonomy is voluminous and scattered, similar, regional monographs were utilized in constructing the classificatory foundation. This list may not contain every species, synonym or taxonomic rearrangement that has been published, but it reflects the most recent arrangement of chigger taxa. Distribution records are primarily drawn from collection sites listed in the original species descriptions, together with subsequently published geographical records.

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