First records and range extension of Bristle-spined Porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818) (Rodentia, Erethizontidae), in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

We report from three localities four new records of the threatened Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818). These are the first records of this porcupine species from the state of Minas Gerais, and these new data extend the distribution of this species by approximately 220 km to the southwest. As C. subspinosus was observed in areas of transitional vegetation, this species may be found in a much broader spectrum of habitat types than previously thought. We recommend further surveys focusing on documenting this species.

Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) logs in the Atlantic Forest biome: first host plant for Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Col.: Cerambycidae) and a new host for Temnopis megacephala (Col.: Cerambycidae)

Wood-boring beetles develop in live trees and dead wood, performing ecological services such as decomposition and regulation of forest resources. Species of the Cerambycidae family, widely distributed in the world, bore into the trunks of trees and dead wood in native and cultivated areas. The objective is to report the first host plant for Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Thomson, 1865) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and a new host plant for Temnopis megacephala (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Three logs, with one-meter-long by 20 cm in diameter, were cut from the trunk of a healthy Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) tree in October 2013 and tied in the understory at 1.5m high in the Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The logs, exposed in the forest, were each removed after 40, 80 and 120 days and stored individually in a cardboard box in the “Laboratório de Campo do Projeto de Ecologia de Longa Duração (PELD-CNPq)” in the Rio Doce State Park. A total of 94 individuals of T. lineatocolle and 228 of T. megacephala emerged from the A. colubrina logs. This is the first report of a host plant for T. lineatocolle and a new host plant for T. megacephala.

BIRDS OF PARQUE ESTADUAL DO BIRIBIRI, CENTRAL ESPINHAÇO RANGE, BRAZIL

The Central Espinhaço Range forms a large biogeographical barrier that contains areas of ecological transition between two important conservation hotspots in Brazil: the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. This research aims to present the first consolidated list of bird species from Parque Estadual do Biribiri (PEBI) located in the Central Espinhaço Range at Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. We recorded 172 bird species between August/November 2018 and January/April 2019, of which 15 are associated with the surrounding biomes (Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest) and three species restricted to the southeastern Brazilian mountain tops. Among those species, four are considered globally Near Threatened and 41 species are listed under wildlife trafficking species, indicating the importance of conserving this area. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of PEBI and stress the importance of such transitional areas for maintaining diversity of birds in the Espinhaço Range.

Application of a ‘Recycling Exchange’ instrument to compensate waste pickers in Brazil via a first payment for urban environmental services programme

This article presents an approach to compensate waste pickers in the informal sector of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, via a Payment for Urban Environmental Services (PUES) instrument, called ‘Recycling Exchange’. The aim is to evaluate the effects of this instrument on the amount of waste diverted from landfill and reintroduced into the production chain, and to increase recognition of waste pickers’ contributions to the state’s economy. It was found that the ‘Recycling Exchange’ met the fundamental objectives of a PUES: the double social and economic benefits of the social inclusion of waste pickers in the execution of the public policy for solid waste management, and inducing (in the case of glass), ensuring and stabilising (plastic and paper) continuity of the activity of selling recyclables in times of wide price fluctuations for these recyclables. The instrument enhanced the provision of this environmental service and the positive externalities associated with recycling.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in wild animals treated at the Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Ticks have a great diversity of hosts, many of which are still being discovered. These parasites may be responsible for the transmission of several pathogens to animals and humans. For this reason, knowledge on tick species and their hosts is essential for planning actions in public health and fauna conservation. From February 2018 to July 2019, ticks found in animals treated at the Wild Animal Clinic of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) were surveyed. Animals came from nine municipalities at the southern region of Minas Gerais State, all close to the municipality of Lavras. During veterinary procedures the animals were inspected, and tick specimens were removed from the hosts’ skins with the help of tweezers, and posteriorly identified. One hundred and three specimens of ticks were removed from the hosts and allocated in five species of Amblyomma Koch, 1844 (Ixodidae) [A. nodosum (Neumann, 1899), A. sculptum Berlese, 1888, A. aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), A. calcaratum Neumann, 1899, and A. ovale (Koch, 1844)] and one of Rhipicephalus Latreille, 1806 [R. (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888)]. Ticks were collected from: Cariama cristata (Linnaeus, 1766) (Cariamidae); Cerdocyon thous Linnaeus, 1766 and Chrysocyon brachyurus Illiger,1815 (Canidae); Leopardus pardalis Linnaeus, 1758 (Felidae); Mazama gouazoubira Fischer, 1814 (Cervidae); Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Myrmecophagidae); Sphiggurus villosus (F. Cuvier, 1823) (Erethizontidae). In this study no new parasite-host relationships were found, however, wild animals can be vectors of important diseases, and monitoring the occurrence of ectoparasites in wildlife is a significant step in public health policies.

Perceptions about marine environmental issues by citizens who are mostly from Minas Gerais state (Brazil)

Despite the marine ecosystems’ importance, the anthropogenic actions have been impacting these environments negatively. However, these impacts could be mitigated through Environmental Education (EE), which is able to change behaviors that are harmful to the environment. This study aimed to describe environmental perception of the majority population in Minas Gerais state, in order to provide subsidies for marine environmental education's promotion. The methodology adopted was through questionnaire's application via Google forms. The studied subjects totaled 122 people over 18 years old, although they had conceptual domain, they showed an utilitarian tendency about marine resources.

The genus Brycon Müller & Troschel (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Bryconidae) of Espírito Santo State, Brazil: new records and comments on conservation

The occurrence of the species of the genus Brycon (Characiformes: Bryconidae) in Espírito Santo State is herein reviewed. Brycon opalinus, a species formerly known only from the upper rio Paraíba do Sul and upper rio Doce basins, is recorded for the first time in the rio Itapemirim, an independent coastal basin in southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil. With the records of B. opalinus, four Brycon species are now known from Espírito Santo State: B. insignis in the rio Itabapoana basin, on the boundary between Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, B. opalinus in the rio Itapemirim basin, B. dulcis in the rio Doce basin, and B. ferox in the rio Barra Seca, rio Itaúnas and the rio São Mateus basins. Additionally worth highlighting is that several fisherman and local inhabitants report the occurrence Brycon vermelha in the rio Cotaxé, a tributary of the rio São Mateus in Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, although there are no preserved specimens of B. vermelha from river basins other than the rio Mucuri, in Minas Gerais state.

Molecular epidemiology of Paracoccidiodes spp. recovered from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis in a teaching hospital from Minas Gerais State of Brazil

Introduction Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by several species of the Paracoccidioides genus which can be differentiated by interspecific genetic variations, morphology and geographic distribution. Intraspecific variability correlation with clinical and epidemiological aspects of these species still remains unclear. This study aimed to sequence the loci GP43, exon 2 and ARF of 23 clinical isolates of Paracoccidioides spp. from patients in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Methodology and main findings GenBank was used to compare the present (23) with previous described sequences (151) that included ARF and GP43. It was identified a high polymorphism rate among the 23 isolates in comparison to the other 151. Among the isolates, 22 (95,66%) were S1/P. brasiliensis and 1 (4,34%) was identified as PS2/P. americana. A total of 45 haplotypes were found as follows: 19 from S1/P. brasiliensis (13 from the present study), 15 from P. lutzii, 6 from PS2/P. americana (1 from the present study), 3 from PS3/P. restrepiensis and 2 from PS4/P. venezuelensis. Moreover, exclusive haplotypes according to clinical origin and geographical area were found. S1/P. brasiliensis (HD = 0,655 and K = 4,613) and P. lutzii (HD = 0,649 and K = 2,906) presented the highest rate of polymorphism among all species, from which 12 isolates of the present study were clustered within S1b/P. brasiliensis. The GP43 locus showed a higher variability and was found to be the main reason for the species differentiation. Conclusions The results herein decribed show a high intraspecific genetic variability among S1/P. brasiliensis isolates and confirm the predominance of this species in the Southeast region of Brazil. The finding of exclusive haplotypes according to clinical origin and geographical area would suggest correlation between the molecular profile with the clinical form and geographic origin of patients with PCM.

Tillandsia mantiqueirae (Bromeliaceae), a New Species from Minas Gerais State, Brazil

A new species of rupicolous Tillandsia from the Mantiqueira mountain range in Southern Minas Gerais State is described based on morphology and leaf anatomy. This new taxon is close to T. nuptialis. The known distribution and conservation status of this new species are discussed.