Birdwatching: pedagogical trail on the story of animal trafficking / Passarinhando: trilha pedagógica sobre a história do tráfico de animais

Involving animals in environmental education themes is a playful strategy that contributes to the formation of a conservationist awareness in children. Activities with birds arouse children's interest, stimulate dialogues about biodiversity, and assist in the construction of humanistic values focused on the environment. The present study reports on a pedagogical experience that consisted of a trail called “birdwatching”, which integrated characters and taxidermized birds in a story about the traffic of wild animals. The story was presented to children from the 3rd year of elementary school, from Objetivo Alto Padrão school, in the municipality of Franca, SP, Brazil. With the proposed activity, it was realized that environmental issues are of interest to children. Furthermore, the playful approach used created a feeling of belonging to the environment, facilitating the teaching-learning process through the active participation of students

Influence of environmental conditions and predator-prey relationship in a community of medium and large sized terrestrial mammal in dense rain forest

A destruição de florestas tropicais é intensa e pode levar à extinção de espécies sensíveis à fragmentação. Na Mata Atlântica, mamíferos com importantes funções no equilíbrio do ecossistema, como Panthera onca (onça-pintada), já estão ausentes em grande parte do bioma. Logo, é de extrema urgência compreender os processos que influenciam na permanência dessas espécies em uma área, para evitar futuras extinções locais. Assim, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar as influências das características ambientais sobre a riqueza e ocorrência de mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte e as relações espaço-temporais entre o predador de topo, mesopredadores e presas em uma área de Mata Atlântica contíngua ao Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar com recente histórico de perturbação (Parque das Neblinas, Bertioga, SP). A coleta de dados foi realizada por armadilhamento fotográfico, durante 90 dias em 2013 e 2014, em 27 pontos amostrais, distantes 1 km entre si. As características ambientais avaliadas foram altitude, densidade de drenagem, precipitação média, temperatura média, número de palmitos (Euterpe edulis) e presença de trilhas naturais. Para analisar as influências do ambiente sobre a riqueza e ocorrência de espécies (com mais de três registros por ano) foram utilizados Modelos Lineares Generalizados. Para as demais análises, as espécies foram agrupadas em predador, mesopredadores, presas de grande, médio e pequeno porte. O período e sobreposição de atividade destes grupos foram estimados por meio da densidade de Kernel. A abundância foi estimada para mesopredadores e presas, através de modelos N-mixture. Para analisar a probabilidade de ocupação e detecção do predador de topo foram usados modelos de ocupação single-season. Foram amostrados 18 mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte, dos quais nove estão ameaçados de extinção ((Cabassous unicinctus (tatu-de-rabo-mole), Cuniculus paca (paca), Leopardus guttulus (gato-do-mato-pequeno), Leopardus pardalis (jaguatirica), Leopardus wiedii (gato-maracajá), Pecari tajacu (cateto), Puma concolor (onça-parda), Puma yagouaroundi (gato-mourisco) e Tapirus terrestris (anta)). A riqueza de espécies foi positivamente influenciada pelo maior volume de chuvas e a ocorrência da maioria das espécies (C. unicinctus, Dasypus novemcinctus (tatu-galinha), P. concolor, Sylvilagus brasiliensis (tapiti) e T. terrestris) foi influenciada pela densidade de drenagem em 2013. Em 2014, a riqueza não foi explicada por nenhuma característica e apenas quatro espécies sofreram influência de alguma característica ambiental. O predador de topo registrado foi catemeral, os mesopredadores e presas de grande porte mostraram-se mais noturnos e presas de médio e pequeno porte foram mais diurnas. Presas menores apresentaram a maior sobreposição total com o predador (Δ1=0,72). A influência sobre a probabilidade de ocupação da área pelo predador variou entre os anos, tendo sido pela abundância de presas de grande e pequeno porte, em 2013, e pela abundância de presas de médio porte, em 2014. A detecção foi influenciada apenas em 2014, de forma negativa pelas ocasiões. A partir destes resultados foi possível identificar as características ambientais que devem ser mantidas na área, como a disponibilidade de recursos hídricos e abundância de presas, a fim de conservar das espécies resilientes.The destruction of tropical forests is alarming and may lead to the extinction of species susceptible to fragmentation. In the Atlantic Forest, mammals with important functions in the ecosystem balance, such as Panthera onca (jaguar), are already absent in part of the biome. Therefore, it is urgent to understand the processes that influence the permanence of these species in an area, in order to prevent future local extinctions. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the influence of environmental characteristics on the richness and occurrence of terrestrial mammals of medium and large size; as well as the spatio-temporal relationship between the top predator, mesopredator and preys, in the Atlantic foreste area continuos continuous with Serra do Mar State Park, with recent degradation history (Neblinas Park, Bertioga, State of São Paulo). Sample data was collected by camera trapping for 90 days in 2013 and 2014, 27 sampling points 1km distant from each other. The environmental characteristics were altitude, drainage density, average rainfall, average temperature, number of palm hearts (Euterpe edulis) and the presence of nature trails. Generalized Linear Models were used to analyze the environmental influences on the richness and occurrence of species (with more than 3 records per year). For the other analyses, species were grouped into predator, mesopredators, preys of large, medium and small size. The period and overlap activity of these groups were estimated by the Kernel density. Abundance was estimated for mesopredators and prey through N-mixture models. Single-season occupancy models were used to analyze the probability of occupancy and detection of top predators. A total of 18 terrestrial mammals of medium and large size were sampled, with nine of them being threatened with extinction: Cabassous unicinctus (naked-tailed armadillo), Cuniculus paca (paca), Leopardus guttulus (oncilla), Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Leopardus wiedii (margay), Pecari tajacu (collared peccary), Puma concolor (cougar), Puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi) and Tapirus terrestris (tapir). In the 2013, the species richness was positively influenced by the largest volume of precipitation and the species occurrence (C. unicinctus, Dasypus novemcinctus (tatu-galinha), P. concolor, Sylvilagus brasiliensis (tapiti) e T. terrestris) was interfered by the drainage density. In 2014, richness was not explained by any of the environmental characteristics mentioned and only four species have suffered influence of them. The top predator recorded was catemeral, the mesopredator and large prey were mainly nocturnal and prey of medium and small size were mainly daylight. Smaller prey had the highest total overlap with the predator (Δ1=0.72). The influence on the probability of occupancy of the area by the predator varied between the years: in 2013 it was the abundance of large and small preys, and in 2014, the influence was the abundance of medium preys. The detection was negatively influenced by the occasion only in 2014. Our findings showed the environmental characteristics that should be maintained in the area, such as water resources and abundance of prey, for conservation of Atlantic Forest and its fauna community

Characterization of the mid and large bodied mammal community in a fragmented agricultural landscape

O avanço agrícola é uma das maiores causas da fragmentação de habitats, levando à diminuição e ao isolamento de áreas naturais. Assim, torna-se importante compreender qual papel da estrutura e dinâmica da paisagem na manutenção da biodiversidade local. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever a estrutura de uma comunidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em paisagem fragmentada agrícola, considerando a estrutura e dinâmica da paisagem. O estudo foi realizado em unidades de paisagem (16 Km2) com matriz predominante de pasto (n = 2) e cana-de-açúcar (n = 3) (bacia do rio Corumbataí, São Paulo) de maio a outubro de 2010. O levantamento da comunidade de mamíferos foi realizado através de busca ativa por pegadas, em 15 transectos alocados nas margens de riachos, com distância percorrida padronizada em 200 m. No entorno de cada transecto foram gerados buffers (250, 500, 1000 e 2000 m de raio), para o cálculo de índices de estrutura (porcentagens dos usos do solo, densidade de drenagem, densidade de estradas e proximidade entre fragmentos) e de dinâmica (taxa anual de mudança e perfil da curva de mudança florestal) para cinco anos (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 e 2008). A relação entre os índices de paisagem e a riqueza de espécies foi analisada através de um teste PCA (Análise de Componentes Principais), gerando um gráfico Biplot. Posteriormente, foi realizada regressão linear múltipla, para análise da influência da estrutura e dinâmica da paisagem sobre a riqueza de espécies e frequência de registros. Foram registradas 19 espécies, sendo 17 em unidades de cana-de-açúcar e 13 em unidades de pasto. A comunidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte, presente nestas matrizes da bacia do rio Corumbataí, é representada, em grande parte, por espécies tolerantes a alterações ambientais da região. A espécie com maior frequência de registros foi Procyon cancrivorus, de hábito generalista, como a maior parte dos animais registrados. Pelo gráfico Biplot, o buffer de 1000 m foi o que melhor distinguiu os sítios amostrais em relação às matrizes de cana-de-açúcar e pasto. A riqueza apresentou relação positiva com a porcentagem de áreas florestais e densidade de drenagem. Em contrapartida, a riqueza mostrou relação negativa com a porcentagem de pasto. A riqueza e a frequência de registros não apresentaram diferença estatística significativa entre as matrizes e também não houve relação significativa entre os índices de paisagem e as variáveis dependentes. A similaridade entre a composição de espécies das comunidades amostradas nas matrizes foi de 57%. As relações entre a estrutura desta comunidade e a paisagem necessitam de mais esforços para serem melhor compreendidas, já que o método de levantamento utilizado neste estudo, assim como a escala espaço-temporal, não permitiram descrever tais relações.Agricultural expansion is a major cause of habitat fragmentation, leading to a reduction and isolation of natural areas. It is therefore important to understand the role of agricultural landscape structure and dynamics in maintaining local biodiversity. We aimed to describe how the structure and dynamics of an agricultural landscape influenced the community of mid and large bodied mammals in the south of Brazil. From May to October 2010 we studied the mammal community in five 16 km2 landscape units located within the Corumbatai river basin, São Paulo. Landscape units contained a matrix of predominantly pasture (n = 2) and cane sugar (n = 3). We used track surveys along 15 transects (200m each) to sample the mammal community along river banks. To calculate indices of habitat structure and dynamics we generated buffers (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 m radius) around each of the transects. Within each of these distance buffers we calculated habitat structure indices (percentage of land use, drainage density, road density and proximity of fragments) and indices of habitat dynamics (annual rate of change and profile of the forest change curve) for five years (1962, 1978, 1995, 2000 and 2008). The relationship between landscape indices and species richness was analyzed through a PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and associated Biplot. Subsequently, multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the influence of landscape structure and dynamics on species richness and frequency of records. We recorded 19 species, 17 in cane sugar units and 13 in pasture units. The community of mid and large bodied mammals present in the habitat matrices of the Corumbataí river basin was represented mostly by generalist species tolerant of environmental changes. The most frequently recorded species was Procyon cancrivorus, a habit generalist. The PCA Biplot showed that the 1000m buffer was the one that best distinguished the sampling sites in relation to the sugar cane and pasture matrices. Species richness was positively related with the percentage of forested areas and drainage density. In contrast, richness was negatively related with the percentage of pasture. The richness and frequency of records showed no statistically significant difference between the two matrix types and there was no significant relationship between landscape indices and the dependent variables. The similarity between the species composition of the sampled communities in the matrices was 57%. Understanding the relationships between the composition of this community and the landscape structure and dynamics requires more efforts, as the survey method used in this study, and the spatiotemporal scale, do not permit the description of these relationships

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data