scholarly journals Hair as a tool for identification of predators and prey: a study based on scats of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor)

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda C. Souza ◽  
Fernando C.C. Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Hair Identification ◽  
Identification Technique ◽  
Macroscopic Identification

Abstract: Microscopic hair identification is a non-invasive, simple, and economical method applied in scientific studies to identify mammal species. In ecology, this method is used mainly in mastofaunistic inventories and dietary studies. In the last decade, the number of dietary studies using the microscopic identification of hairs has grown substantially, but the application of this technique as a tool for the identification of both predators and prey species is still scant. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify predator and prey hairs in scat samples from the two largest species of carnivores in the Neotropical region, the jaguar (Panthera onca Linnaeus, 1758) and the puma (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771). We examined a total of 100 scat samples being 50 from the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul and 50 from the Atlantic Forest of Paraná. We used different identification categories that included the hair microscopic and macroscopic identification, as well as the use of hooves and nails present in the scats associated with tracks and kills found in the field. We identified 57 prey items in the Pantanal samples and 61 in the Atlantic Forest samples. Predator´s hairs were identified in 34% of Pantanal samples and in 46% of Atlantic Forest samples. The combination of hair microscopic and macroscopic characteristics was efficient in the identification of different taxonomic levels, with most identifications reaching the level of the species. However, the methodological protocol for microscopic hair identification was not fully effective in obtaining all the microstructural patterns of the studied mammals. Adjustments in the technique are necessary to differentiate microstructural characteristics of species belonging to the same family. We recommend macroscopic identification of scat content items (hairs, hooves or nails) of both prey and predators to be used to complete the microscopic hair identification technique in dietary ecological studies.

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.

Evaluating Landscape Connectivity for Puma concolor and Panthera onca Among Atlantic Forest Protected Areas

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1377-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila S. Castilho ◽  
Vivian C. S. Hackbart ◽  
Vânia R. Pivello ◽  
Rozely F. dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Panthera Onca

scholarly journals Determining the numbers of a landscape architect species (Tapirus terrestris), using footprints

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle O. Moreira ◽  
Sky K. Alibhai ◽  
Zoe C. Jewell ◽  
Cristina J. da Cunha ◽  
Jardel B. Seibert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Gps Collars ◽  
Landscape Architect ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Tapirus Terrestris ◽  
Identification Technique ◽  
Invasive Method

Background As a landscape architect and a major seed disperser, the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is an important indicator of the ecological health of certain habitats. Therefore, reliable data regarding tapir populations are fundamental in understanding ecosystem dynamics, including those associated with the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Currently, many population monitoring studies use invasive tagging with radio or satellite/Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. These techniques can be costly and unreliable, and the immobilization required carries physiological risks that are undesirable particularly for threatened and elusive species such as the lowland tapir. Methods We collected data from one of the last regions with a viable population of lowland tapir in the south-eastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil, using a new non-invasive method for identifying species, the footprint identification technique (FIT). Results We identified the minimum number of tapirs in the study area and, in addition, we observed that they have overlapping ranges. Four hundred and forty footprints from 46 trails collected from six locations in the study area in a landscape known to contain tapir were analyzed, and 29 individuals were identified from these footprints. Discussion We demonstrate a practical application of FIT for lowland tapir censusing. Our study shows that FIT is an effective method for the identification of individuals of a threatened species, even when they lack visible natural markings on their bodies. FIT offers several benefits over other methods, especially for tapir management. As a non-invasive method, it can be used to census or monitor species, giving rapid feedback to managers of protected areas.

scholarly journals Detection of areas of endemism on two spatial scales using Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE): the Neotropical region and the Atlantic Forest

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mário Sérgio Sigrist ◽  
Claudio José Barros de Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Parsimony Analysis ◽  
Areas Of Endemism ◽  
Endemic Areas ◽  
Analysis Scale ◽  
Parsimony Analysis Of Endemicity

An important biological challenge today is the conservation of biodiversity. Biogeography, the study of the distribution patterns of organisms, is an important tool for this challenge. Endemism, the co-occurrence of several species unique to the same area, has important implications for the preservation of biodiversity, since many areas of endemism are also areas with large human impact. More rigorously defined, areas of endemism are historical units of distributional congruence of monophyletic taxa. These areas often assumed to be due to nonrandom historical events that favored conditions associated with high rates of speciation. Thus, understanding endemism and the delimitation of endemic areas has important implications for conservation. Today, most studies delimit areas of endemism by superimposing maps of distribution for various species. This approach suffers from arbitrary delimitations, however, when a great distributional data is used. In this paper we used the method of Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) based on georeferenced quadrats in order to delimit areas of endemism. This modality of the method is important due to its testable nature and can also be used to infer area relationships. We applied the method to raw distributional data from 19 unrelated taxa to delimit general patterns of endemism in the Neotropical Region and in the Atlantic forest domain using different grid scales. Neotropical areas found are comprised over the Panama region, northern Andean region and the Atlantic forest. Atlantic forest showed a major division into two distinct components (northern x southern). Endemic areas delimited using smaller scale grids on the Atlantic forest should be considered for conservation priorities once they showed endemism at regional and local scales. The results were also compared to other studies using different taxa and methods. Finally, some considerations on the analysis scale and future perspectives of the method are presented.

scholarly journals Infracommunities of Streblidae and Nycteribiidae (Diptera) on bats in an ecotone area between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme D. P. Dornelles ◽  
Gustavo Graciolli ◽  
Anderson Odon ◽  
Marcelo O. Bordignon
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Single Species ◽  
The State ◽  
Infestation Rate ◽  
Carollia Perspicillata ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Glossophaga Soricina ◽  
Phyllostomus Hastatus ◽  
Mato Grosso Do Sul

ABSTRACT We described infracommunities, prevalence and mean intensity of infestation of ecotoparasite flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) on bats in an ecotone area of Cerrado as predominant vegetation, with influence of Atlantic Forest, in the southeast of Mato Grosso do Sul. In 36 sampling nights between April 2015 and August 2016 (23,328 m².h), we captured 17 bat species, of which ten were infested, and 14 species of fly. The most abundant bats were the phyllostomids Artibeus planirostris (Spix, 1823), Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1776) and Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) and the most abundant flies were the streblids Trichobius longipes (Rudow, 1871), T. joblingi Wenzel, 1966 and Megistopoda aranea (Coquillett, 1899). Phyllostomus hastatus (Pallas, 1767) was the bat species that presented the highest infestation rate. Platyrrhinus lineatus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) and Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy, 1810) were not infested. Besides that, the frequency of bats that were infested by a single species of fly was higher than the frequency of bats infested for two or more, and it may be a pattern.

scholarly journals Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Silva ◽  
FA Hernandes ◽  
M Pichorim
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Visual Examination ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

scholarly journals Comparação entre duas concentrações de glicerol para a criopreservação de sêmen de suçuarana (Puma concolor)

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thyara de Deco-Souza ◽  
Tarcizio A.R. de Paula ◽  
Deiler Sampaio Costa ◽  
Eduardo Paulino da Costa ◽  
João Bosco Gonçalves de Barros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Mato Grosso Do Sul

O desenvolvimento de biotécnicas de reprodução é uma importante ferramenta para a conservação de animais silvestres ameaçados de extinção. Procedimentos de reprodução assistida em suçuarana, no entanto, são escassos na literatura, em especial aqueles relacionados à criopreservação de sêmen. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a congelabilidade do sêmen de suçuaranas adultas mantidas em cativeiro, por meio da comparação entre duas concentrações de glicerol no meio de congelamento. Foram usados cinco machos adultos de suçuarana, mantidos no Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres do Mato Grosso do Sul (CRAS/MS). As amostras foram coletadas por eletroejaculação e avaliadas quanto ao seu aspecto físico, volume, vigor, motilidade, concentração e índice espermático. De cada ejaculado duas alíquotas foram diluídas em meio Tris-citrato-gema de ovo, em concentrações finais de 5 e 7,5% de glicerol, resfriadas a uma taxa de -0,55ºC/min e congeladas a uma taxa de -5,8ºC/min. Depois de descongeladas, as amostras foram reavaliadas e submetidas aos testes de termorresistência e hiposmótico. O protocolo de criopreservação e descongelamento de sêmen proposto se mostrou eficiente em ambas as concentrações de glicerol testadas, não havendo diferença (p>0,05) entre estas.

scholarly journals Re-discovering jaguar in remaining coastal Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil by non-invasive DNA analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andiara Silos Moraes de Castro Souza ◽  
Bruno Henrique Saranholi ◽  
Peter Gransden Crawshaw Jr. ◽  
Agustin Javier Paviolo ◽  
Lilian Elaine Rampim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
National Park ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Top Predator ◽  
Resident Population ◽  
Serra Do Mar ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
The Status

Abstract Jaguar populations have been declining in Brazil mostly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with humans, poaching and reduction of prey. This is dramatically true in the Atlantic Forest, where occurrence of this large felid is now restricted to very few remaining areas. We used a non-invasive DNA analysis to search through felid scats collected in the Santa Virginia Unit (SVU) of the Serra do Mar State Park, to test for the potential presence of jaguar there. Our results indicated at least three individuals (two females and one male) inside SVU, thus confirming at least temporary presence of this top predator in this important protected area. It is now crucial to intensify studies in that area and surroundings, to evaluate the status of these individuals and identify conservation needs to urgently improve the prospects for the establishment of a resident population, allowing it to expand to adjoining units of the Serra do Mar State Park and Serra da Bocaina National Park.

scholarly journals Composição e caracterização da fauna de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em uma pequena reserva de cerrado em Mato Grosso, Brasil

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ednaldo Cândido Rocha ◽  
Julio César Dalponte
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Leopardus Pardalis ◽  
Mato Grosso

Este estudo foi realizado na Reserva Biológica Municipal "Mário Viana", Nova Xavantina, MT, objetivando inventariar e avaliar a abundância e diversidade de mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte. Para tanto, foram realizadas duas visitas mensais a um transecto com 2.820 m de extensão, durante todo o ano de 2001, para o levantamento de pegadas (rastreamentos) e outras evidências de mamíferos. Um total de 29 espécies foram registradas na área de estudo, sendo que 22 ocorreram no transecto e tiveram suas seqüências individuais de pegadas quantificadas para realização do cálculo dos índices de abundância e de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H'). De acordo com seus índices de abundância, as espécies foram classificadas em raras, comuns e abundantes. Dentre outras, onça-parda (Puma concolor - Linnaeus, 1771) e tatu-canastra (Priodontes maximus - Keer, 1792) mostraram-se raras; jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis - Linnaeus, 1758), e tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla - Linnaeus, 1758), comuns; e cutia (Dasyprocta azarae - Lichtenstein, 1823) e tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis - Linnaeus, 1758), abundantes. O H' encontrado foi 2,40, sendo considerado significativo. O presente trabalho apontou que, apesar de pequena (470 ha), a área de estudo desempenha importante papel para a conservação da mastofauna da região de Nova Xavantina, MT.

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