scholarly journals Anurans of the Reserva Ecológica da Michelin, Municipality of Igrapiúna, State of Bahia, Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Camurugi ◽  
Tasso Meneses Lima ◽  
Ednei de Almeida Mercês ◽  
Flora Acuña Juncá
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Temporary Ponds ◽  
Temporary Pond ◽  
Atlantic Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Forested Areas

We studied the richness and distribution of anuran species on different breeding sites at the Reserva Ecológica da Michelin (13° 50' S and 39° 10' W, approximately 90-400 m above sea level), Municipality of Igrapiúna, Bahia State, Brazil. The reserve includes fragments of Atlantic Rain Forest varying from 140 to 650 ha. Five types of environments were sampled: leaf litter inside forest fragments, streams inside forest fragments, dam on the edge of forest fragment, temporary pond inside forest, and temporary ponds inside banana and rubber groves along the eastern boundary of the reserve. We used active and passive sampling methods for surveys of amphibians, between March 2007 and December 2008. We captured 48 species distributed in 10 families (number of species in parentheses): Aromobatidae (1), Brachycephalidae (4), Bufonidae (2), Craugastoridae (1), Centrolenidae (1), Cycloramphidae (3), Hylidae (29), Leiuperidae (1), Leptodactylidae (3), and Microhylidae (3). Temporary ponds presented the highest number of species in reproductive activity (19 species in native forested areas, and 21 in plantation areas), while leaf litter presented the lowest (6 species). Two species were found in bromeliads (Phyllodytes melanomystax and P. luteolus). Twenty-two species were exclusive to fragments of forest, 11 were found only in anthropized areas (dam, and rubber and banana plantations) and 15 in both environments. Aplastodiscus cavicola and Dendropsophus giesleri had their geographic distribution extended to the State of Bahia. Phasmahyla timbo and Chiasmocleis cordeiroi known only from their type localities were found in the reserve.

scholarly journals Diversity of ants in citrus orchards and in a forest fragment in Southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-08
Author(s):  
Halison Correia Golias ◽  
José Lopes ◽  
Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie ◽  
Fabio De Azevedo
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Citrus Orchards ◽  
Orange Orchard ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Abstract. The landscapes of the South and Southeast regions of Brazil are a mosaic of agroecosystems and vegetation in different stages of preservation, shapes and sizes and sizes and this changes the community structure of ants. Diversity of ants was compared in three different environments: orange orchard, lemon orchard and a forest fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome, in the northwestern part of the State of Paraná, Brazil by a sampling method using pit-fall traps. Both richness and diversity of the species of ants were broader in the forest fragment than in the orchards; the fauna components were distributed rather homogeneously, as shown by the indices of equitability. The proximity of the areas sampled and the orchard management could be the main reasons to explain why all the species trapped in the experiments were found at least once in the forest remnant, whereas some groups of ants were not found in the orchards. Furthermore, the species of antes which were collected from the agricultural areas were mostly generalists and less diverse, leading to a monopoly of resources by a few, more prolific species. On the contrary, the ants living in forested areas were more diverse, where fewer individuals were found per species, and these were expected to be more specialized. The establishment of citrus orchards near the forest fragments may facilitate invasion by ants, especially the opportunistic species. Diversidade de formigas em pomares cítricos e em fragmento florestal no sul do BrasilResumo. As paisagens das regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil são um mosaico de agroecossistemas e vegetação em diferentes estágios de preservação, formas e tamanhos e isso altera a estrutura da comunidade de formigas. A diversidade de formigas foi comparada em três ambientes diferentes: pomar de laranja, pomar de limão e fragmento florestal da Mata Atlântica brasileira, no noroeste do Estado do Paraná, por meio de um método de amostragem utilizando armadilhas de queda pitfall. Tanto a riqueza como a diversidade das espécies de formigas foram mais amplas no fragmento florestal do que nos pomares; Os componentes da fauna foram distribuídos de forma bastante homogênea, conforme demonstrado pelos índices de equitabilidade. A proximidade das áreas amostradas e a gestão do pomar podem ser as principais razões para explicar por que todas as espécies capturadas nos experimentos foram encontradas pelo menos uma vez no remanescente da floresta, enquanto que alguns grupos de formigas não foram encontrados nos pomares. Além disso, as espécies coletadas nos pomares eram na sua maioria generalistas e menos diversificadas, levando a um monopólio de recursos por algumas espécies mais prolíficas. Ao contrário, as formigas que viviam em áreas florestadas eram mais diversas, onde menos indivíduos eram encontrados por espécie, e esperava-se que fossem mais especializados. O estabelecimento de pomares de citros perto dos fragmentos florestais pode facilitar a invasão por formigas, especialmente as espécies oportunistas.

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 Richness, composition and trophic groups of an avian community in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre, Alagoas, Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 1207-1220 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUILHERME S. TOLEDO-LIMA ◽  
PHOEVE MACARIO ◽  
RACHEL M. DE LYRA-NEVES ◽  
BRUNO P. TEIXEIRA ◽  
LUIZ A.F. DE LIMA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Surrounding Matrix

In northeastern Brazil, the reduction of the natural forest cover to a series of small, isolated fragments has had negative consequences for the local avian fauna, in particular, a loss of the more specialized species, while the populations of some generalists have tended to increase. The present study focuses on the composition and trophic groups of a bird community on a farm in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas. Monthly surveys were conducted between November 2008 and October 2009, based on mist-netting and systematic observations. Overall, 112 species were recorded, of which 76 were associated with the two forest fragments surveyed, while all the others were observed exclusively in the surrounding matrix of pasture and orchards. The bird community presented a predominance of insectivorous species, followed by omnivores. However, specialized trunk-creeping and understory insectivores accounted for only around 15% of the species in this feeding category. The reduced diversity of other guilds and species with more specialized diets, and the complete absence of sensitive species such as large parrots and raptors, reflects the severe fragmentation and degradation of the local forests, which has greatly reduced the availability of dietary resources and breeding sites.

Temporal partitioning of reproductive activity in a neotropical anuran community

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigitte Gottsberger ◽  
Edith Gruber
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Active Species ◽  
South American ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Calling Activity

The phenology of calling activity and reproduction of a neotropical anuran community in French Guiana was studied during one rainy season. We investigated the correlation between calling activity, rainfall, temperature and water level in two ponds and recorded the occurrence of tadpoles of pond-breeding species. The study site contained 31 calling frog species, which were divided into groups according to reproductive mode. Increased rainfall was associated with increased reproductive activity in all groups, but temporal patterns in calling activity varied significantly between groups. Species with aquatic oviposition exhibited sporadic acoustic activity, aggregating into explosive breeding events following heavy rainfall. Species laying eggs in foam nests had the peak of calling activity at the start of the rainy season. Taxa with embryonic development on vegetation called mainly from middle to late wet season, being the only group which showed a significant correlation of calling with increasing water level. Dendrobatids with terrestrial oviposition and subsequent parental tadpole transportation were continuously active. Species with direct development or with non-feeding larvae were mainly active at the beginning of the rainy season. It is concluded that phenologies of calling activity in South American tropical anuran species are strongly influenced by abiotic factors like rainfall and availability of breeding sites. The temporal limitation of the rainy season forces species to adjust calling and reproductive activity according to their reproductive modes.

scholarly journals Distribution of Atta (Hymenoptera - Formicidae) in "terra-firme" rain forest of Central Amazonia: density, species composition and preliminary results on effects of forest fragmentation

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 309-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heraldo Luís de Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Terra Firme ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Leaf Cutting

One hundred and fourteen hectares of a "terra-fiirme" rain forest 70 km north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, were surveyed for leaf-cutting ant colonies (Atta spp). One half of this area was in isolated forest fragments (surrounded by pastures or second growth) of two sizes: 1 and 10 ha. The other half was in non-isolated fragments (connected to a large parch of forest) of the same sizes. Only two species occured in this forest: Atta sexdens sexdens L. and A. cepfhalotes L. The first was the most abundant species with a mean density of 0.35 colonies per ha. The mean density of A. cephalotes colonies was 0.03 per ha. The density of colonies was not significantly different between the isolated fragments and the continuous forest. Furthermore, the species composition did not change with isolation. However, pre-isolation data and long term monitoring are necessary to conclude that the isolation of a forest fragment has no effect upon Atta colonies. The non-uniform spatial distribution of Atta colonics within the "terra-firme" forest must be taken into account when selecting conservation areas in the Amazon, in order to preserve this important group of ants together with their native habitat.

scholarly journals Reactivation of nutrient cycling in an urban tropical dry forest after abandonment of agricultural activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-365
Author(s):  
Juan D. León-Peláez ◽  
◽  
William Caicedo-Ruiz ◽  
Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Mean Residence Time ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Agricultural Activities ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Leaf Litterfall ◽  
Passive Restoration ◽  
Standing Litter

Introduction: Standing leaf litter represent an essential source of organic matter and nutrients to dynamize biogeochemical processes at the ecosystem level. Objectives: To characterize the accumulation and decomposition of organic materials and flow of nutrients from standing litter in an urban dry tropical forest in a successional stage, after 10 years of abandonment of agricultural activities, and to determine the potential use of three species in future active restoration activities. Materials and methods: Standing litter samples were collected from a forest fragment in Santa Marta, Colombia, separating leaves, reproductive material, woody material and other residues. Additionally, leaves of three species of interest for ecological restoration (Albizia niopoides Spruce ex Benth., Cordia alba [Jacq.] Roem. & Schult. and Machaerium milleflorum Dugand G. A.) were separated and Ca, Mg, K, N and P concentrations were determined. Results and discussion: Total standing litter was 8.3 Mg∙ha-1 with a mean residence time of two years. The leaves represented 20% of the standing litter, with a mean residence time of 1.4 years. Based on the decomposition constant (kj = 0.73) and the rate of leaf litterfall, organic matter returns accounted for 3.4 Mg∙ha-1∙year-1. Leaf decomposition rate decreased in the following order C. alba > M. milleflorum > A. niopoides. P represented the greatest limitation with low release rates (0.1 to 1.2 kg∙ha-1∙year-1). Conclusions: The passive restoration strategy allowed reactivation of biogeochemical cycle via fine leaf litter. Cordia alba showed potential for inclusion in restoration activities, with lower values for leaf N/P ratio, and higher rates for leaf litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient release.

scholarly journals Contributions of organic matter and nutrients via leaf litter in an urban tropical dry forest fragment

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeiner Castellanos-Barliza ◽  
Juan Diego León-Peláez ◽  
Rosalba Armenta-Martínez ◽  
Willinton Barranco-Pérez ◽  
William Caicedo-Ruíz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
One Year ◽  
Degraded Ecosystems

The litterfall and decomposition represent the main transfer of organic matter and nutrients from the vegetation to the soil surface and determine positive trajectories in the process of rehabilitating and restoring degraded ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contributions of organic materials and nutrients through the characterization of fine litter in an urban dry forest fragment. Litter production was monitored for one year by collecting 29 traps (0.5 m2). To evaluate leaf nutrient resorption, green leaves were collected from 5-10 individuals that represented the dominant tree species. Litter-bags (20 x 20 cm, 2 mm pore) were used for six months to evaluate the decomposition of leaf litter. Annual fine litter production was found to be 8 574 kg ha-1, with the Cordia alba species contributing the most leaf litter (1 134 kg ha-1) and nutrients (N: 6.16; P: 0.21; Ca: 4.72; Mg: 0.47; K: 1.27 kg ha-1). Decomposition rates (k constant) followed the decreasing order: C. alba (k: 4.6) > Machaerium milleflorum (k: 3.5). M. milleflorum and Albizia niopoides presented a pattern of rapid N and P release in the first 30 days, with more than 80 % and 60 % released from M. milleflorum and C. alba, respectively, by the end of the experiment. The litterfall monitoring carried out in this urban dry forest fragment revealed some important aspects of the functioning of an ecosystem as seriously threatened as the tropical dry forest. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 571-585. Epub 2018 June 01. 

A simple, low-cost device for collecting mushroom-dwelling Scaphidiinae (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5071 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-298
Author(s):  
ELISA VON GROLL ◽  
SERGIO ALOQUIO ◽  
CRISTIANO LOPES-ANDRADE
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Active Search ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Rotten Wood ◽  
Collecting Techniques

The shining fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) comprise more than 1800 described species, which are usually small (≅0.84–14.30 mm long) (Tang et al. 2014 ; Löbl & Ogawa 2016) and found on bracket and resupinate fungi, mushrooms and slime molds (Newton 1984; Löbl & Leschen 2003; Löbl 2018). They are known to be diverse in forests of tropical and subtropical regions, which contrast to the low number of species currently known from Brazil: only 34 species and two subspecies from seven genera (Löbl 2018; von Groll & Lopes-Andrade, 2021). Any active search for Scaphidiinae in the Brazilian Atlantic forest reveals a considerable abundance and diverse of these organisms (pers. obs.), but they disperse rapidly if disturbed, and the success of field collections relies on the collectors’ skills, luck and collecting techniques and devices. The most common methods and devices for collecting shinning fungus beetles are sifting leaf litter, rotten wood and fungi, flight intercept (FIT) and V-flight intercept (V-FIT) traps, aspirators, sweeping, and hand collecting (Löbl & Leschen 2003; Tang et al. 2014; Löbl et al. 2021). Hand collecting is considered the best method, because the host fungi and larvae can be collected together to make associations (Löbl & Leschen 2003).  

A new species and a new combination for the subfamily Cunaxinae (Acari: Cunaxidae)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley Borges Wurlitzer ◽  
Anderson De Azevedo Meira ◽  
Naiara Antonia Nunes Vinhas ◽  
Noeli Juarez Ferla
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Rural Forest ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest Biome ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Cunaxidae, namely Cunaxa bagualensis Wurlitzer & Ferla sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on females and males collected in soil and leaf litter in the Atlantic rainforest biome in a rural forest fragment in Mormaço county, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Additionally, Armascirus livingstoni Laniecka & Kazmierski, 2021 is transferred to Dactyloscirus based on some observations.  

scholarly journals LITTER CONTRIBUTION ON DIFFERENT GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST – STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

FLORESTA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 373
Author(s):  
Victória Maria Monteiro Mendonça ◽  
Gilsonley Lopes Santos ◽  
Marcos Gervasio Gervasio Pereira ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Gabriel Menezes
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Small Sites ◽  
Leaf Litter Production

The deposition of leaf litter on the forest floor is influenced by biotic and abiotic factors where forest fragments are inserted, which is a major source of nutrients to the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the change in relief conditions (landform) in leaf litter contribution and nutrient content in a Submontane Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest in Pinheiral (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). It was selected two adjacent landforms with convex and concave relief type and they divided into small sites (SS), obeying the variation of the slope and topographic gradient. Five conic collectors with an area of 0.2834 m² were installed in each SS, totaling 30 collectors. The collections of leaf litter were carried out every 30 days during a year. The material retained in the traps was separated as the fractions; leaves, twigs, reproductive and other material to assess the proportion of each fraction in the leaf litter production and nutrient content of the fraction leaves. The contribution and nutrient content of litter are influenced by the type of landform and seasons of the year. The highest contribution was observed in the dry season, in the lower and middle SS of the landforms, and the highest nutrient levels occurred in the convex landform during the rainy season.

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