Bats from the Pedra Branca Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Pedra Branca Forest is located in a highly-urbanised region of the central portion of Rio de Janeiro City, comprises the largest urban forest on the continent and is isolated from other Atlantic Forest remnants. The local flora and fauna are protected by three conservation units (Pedra Branca State Park, Prainha Municipal Natural Park and Guaratiba State Biological Reserve) and one biological station (Fiocruz Atlantic Forest Biological Station—EFMA). Here, we provide an updated list of the bat fauna for the remnant. The results are based on samplings at EFMA and literature data from Pedra Branca State Park and Prainha Natural Park. The three sampling sites combined resulted in 31 species, 23 genera and four families. Phyllostomidae was the richest family with 24 species, followed by Vespertilionidae with five species (3%) and Molossidae and Noctilionidae with one species. The local bat fauna was predominantly composed of species with a broad geographic distribution.

Rediscovery of Laura’s glassfrog Nymphargus laurae (Anura: Centrolenidae) with new data on its morphology, colouration, phylogenetic position and conservation in Ecuador

We report the rediscovery of Laura’s Glassfrog, Nymphargus laurae Cisneros-Heredia & McDiarmid, 2007, based on two specimens collected at the Colonso-Chalupas Biological Reserve, province of Napo, Ecuador. The species was described and known from a single male specimen collected in 1955 at Loreto, north-eastern Andean foothills of Ecuador. Limited information was available about the colouration, systematics, ecology, and biogeography of N. laurae. We provide new data on the external morphology, colouration, distribution and comment on its conservation status and extinction risk. We discuss the phylogenetic relationships of N. laurae, which forms a clade together with N. siren and N. humboldti. The importance of research in unexplored areas must be a national priority to document the biodiversity associated, especially in protected areas.

MONITORING OF RHAGOLETIS CERASI L. THROUGH THE DECIS TRAP AT IAȘI-ROMANIA

Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) is the main agent of damage to sweet cherry plantations. Found in all sweet cherry plantations, it is important for an integrated phytosanitary protection of the crop. The population dynamics in the Iasi area was monitored at different time intervals. The climatic conditions of the year and the biological reserve favored the appearance and development of the pest studied. The first catches were recorded on 12 May and the highest number of catches was recorded on 17 June 2020. Adult monitoring Rhagoletis cerasi (L.) was performed using “Decis Trap”, an attractive trap containing ammonium carbonate, which attracts by its orange color and fights with the active substance deltamethrin providing a duration of protection of 5 months. The appearance and dynamics of pests have directly influenced the phytosanitary protection program. The observations were made during the vegetation period of the cherry plantation within the Research and Development Station for fruit growing in Iași in 2020.

Host-Feeding Patterns of the Mosquito Assemblage at Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Mosquito-borne pathogens have spread throughout tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere causing increased burden of disease in the region. Outbreaks of dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika have occurred over the past several years. Mosquito blood-feeding patterns need to be assayed to assist in determining which vertebrates could act as hosts of these mosquito-borne pathogens and which mosquito species could act as vectors. We conducted bloodmeal analyses of mosquitoes collected at Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, a dry tropical forest reserve in Costa Rica. Mosquitoes were collected using backpack aspirators and light, gravid, and resting traps, and then identified morphologically. Blood-fed mosquitoes underwent DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing of the vertebrate cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes to identify vertebrate bloodmeal hosts. Several mosquitoes known to vector pathogens were found including Culex (Melanoconion) erraticus Dyar & Knab (Diptera: Culicidae), Cx. (Mel.) pedroi Sirivanakarn & Belkin, Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, Ae. (Ochlerotatus) scapularis Rondani, Ae. (Och.) serratus Theobald, and Ae. (Och.) taeniorhynchus Wiedemann. The most common bloodmeal hosts were basilisk lizards (Basiliscus vittatus) Wiegmann (Squamata: Corytophanidae) in Culex (Linnaeus) species and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Zimmermann (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Aedes (Meigen) species. These results show the diversity of mosquito species in a tropical dry deciduous forest and identify associations between mosquito vectors and potential pathogen reservoir hosts. Our study highlights the importance of understanding interactions between vector species and their hosts that could serve as predictors for the potential emergence or resurgence of mosquito-borne pathogens in Costa Rica.

Schwenckia aurantiaca (Solanaceae), a new species from calcareous outcrops of northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

A new species of Schwenckia (Solanaceae) from calcareous outcrops of the Serra Azul Biological Reserve in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is described and illustrated. Schwenckia aurantiaca is an annual plant characterized by a cylindrical corolla tube with five orange, linear appendages, an androecium with two stamens and three, unequal pilose staminodes, and a calyx that tears to the base in fruit. We discuss the morphological characters, habitat, and conservation status of the species, which is assessed as Critically Endangered.

Estimation of rainfall based on remote sensing and observation fields in Jaru Biological Reserve at the Brazilian Amazonian forest

The Amazon basin, with a drainage area of about 6 million km2, is the largest drainage basin in the world, consequently the accurate measuring the rainfall dynamics at high spatial and temporal resolution is essential for a better understanding of the hydrological cycle. So, we validated rainfall estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite using surface precipitation data collected from 2004 to 2012. Rainfall data came from the Jaru Biological Reserve meteorological station, located to the east in the state of Rondônia, Brazil, and was compared with the estimates of the algorithms 3B42 V7 and 3B43 V7 of the product TRMM. Statistical analysis was based on indices of continuous variables such as the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ), the square root mean square error normalized by the mean of the observed values ​​(NRMSE), the mean square error (RMSE), the error (ERV) and some categorical indices such as probability of detection (POD), False Alarm (FAR) and success rate (CSI) between the daily and monthly precipitation observed data and the estimated precipitation data. The 3B43 V7 precipitation estimates were broadly representative of surface observations, but underestimated precipitation in the wet season and overestimated precipitation in the dry season. The 3B42 V7 product performed poorly and does not generate a robust representation of surface precipitation.

Soil catenas in a pilot sub-basin in the region of Itajubá, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, for environmental planning

Systemic studies that allow the environmental characterization of pilot sub-basins are essential to guide their management, which are the basis for adequate environmental planning. The José Pereira sub-basin has an area of approximately 40 km² and is located in the municipality of Itajubá, south of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This area was chosen as a pilot sub-basin for this study because it holds an important forest remnant, the Serra dos Toledos Biological Reserve, and part of the urban area of the municipality in the process of expansion, as well as a rural area where inappropriate and intensive agricultural activities are practiced. In this scenario, this atudy examined the soil catenas of this sub-basin to serve as an important instrument of planning for this unit. Eight soil catenas distributed into three topo-morphological compartments were studied. According to the generated soil map, Haplic Cambisols occupy 26% of the sub-basin, in mountainous relief; Red and Red-Yellow Latosols, 6% of the area, predominating in the flat-to-undulating relief; Haplic Gleysols, 7% of the area, in the lowlands, in flat relief and at the footslope. Finally, Red and Red-Yellow Argisols were the predominant classes, occurring in almost 50% of the sub-basin, under undulating and strongly undulating reliefs. Based on the combined results, a model of local evolution of the sub-basin soils was proposed: the younger soils, Haplic Cambisol and Haplic Gleysol, occupy the positions of convex top and floodplain, respectively. In the upper and lower thirds of the landscape, the predominance of Red Argisol is related to constant renewal of soil material, preventing it from reaching the latosolic stage. In addition, part of these Argisols has a Bw horizon below Bt horizon in rugged relief. Moreover, in the landscape lower third, Latosols are present, even in areas with steep slope.

Diversidade Florística dos Afloramentos Rochosos da Reserva Biológica de Pedra Talhada, Quebrangulo, Alagoas

Os afloramentos rochosos ocorrem principalmente em regiões de climas áridos e são reconhecidos por apresentarem uma flora altamente especializada, com altos níveis de diversidade e endemismo. O objetivo do estudo foi realizar um levantamento florístico em ambientes de afloramentos rochosos visando registrar a diversidade local e contribuir para a ampliação do conhecimento da flora brasileira. O estudo foi desenvolvido nos afloramentos rochosos conhecidos popularmente como Pedra Talhada, Três Lagoas e dos Bois, todos localizados na Reserva Biológica de Pedra Talhada no município de Quebrangulo, Alagoas. Coletas mensais foram realizadas durante dois anos (2013 - 2014). Para a identificação dos táxons foram consultadas bibliografias especializadas, guias e sítios de imagens, além de especialistas. Na Rebio de Pedra Talhada foram identificadas 160 espécies de angiospermas pertencentes a 132 gêneros e 60 famílias. Nas três áreas estudadas predomina o estrato herbáceo-arbustivo (77,3%), no entanto, diferem quanto a riqueza e composição florística. As famílias com maior representatividade foram Orchidaceae (13 spp.), Rubiaceae (12 spp.) e Asteraceae (11 spp.). São indicadas 15 novas ocorrências para Alagoas; cinco para o domínio Mata Atlântica e um novo registro para a região Nordeste do Brasil. Floristic Diversity of the Rocky Outcrops in the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve, Quebrangulo, Alagoas ABSTRACTThe rocky outcrops occur mainly in regions with arid climates and are recognized for having a highly specialized flora, with high levels of diversity and endemism. The aim of the study was to carry out a floristic survey in rocky outcrop environments in order to register the local diversity and contribute to the expansion of knowledge of Brazilian flora. The study was carried out on rocky outcrops popularly known as Pedra Talhada, Três Lagoas and dos Bois, all located in the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve in the municipality of Quebrangulo, Alagoas. Monthly collections were carried out for two years (2013 - 2014). For the taxa identification, specialized bibliographies, guides and image sites were consulted, in addition to specialists. In Rebio de Pedra Talhada, 160 species of angiosperms belonging to 132 genera and 60 families were identified. In the three areas studied, the herbaceous-shrub stratum predominates (77.3%), however, they differ in terms of richness and floristic composition. The most representative families were Orchidaceae (13 spp.), Rubiaceae (12 spp.) and Asteraceae (11 spp.). 15 new occurrences are indicated for Alagoas; five for the Atlantic Forest domain and a new record for the Northeast region of Brazil.Keywords: Angiosperms, Atlantic Forest, new occurrences, Northeast of Brazil.