Bats in a restinga area in Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil

There is little known about the bats of the Brazilian restinga as most studies have concentrated on the country’s south and southeast regions. In Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil, the only study previously carried out registered 17 species in different restinga habitats. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the bat community in a restinga area in Sergipe and update the list of species that occur in the area. The study was carried out in the Caju Private Natural Heritage Reserve, on the south coast of the state of Sergipe. Monthly campaigns were carried out from October 2016 to September 2017 over two consecutive nights and alternating between two sites to capture the bats. We captured Bats using 10 mist nets that remained open between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. We determined the abundance and trophic guilds of the captured species. In addition, we obtained the occurrence frequency degree through the Constancy Index. We captured 457 individuals distributed over 13 species and two families, where three species represented a new record for the locality. The family Phyllostomidae was the richest and most abundant. Most species were frugivorous (61.5%). According to the Constancy Index, only four species were considered common. Using Jackknife 1 estimator, we estimated 14.83 species for the area, indicating that the richness obtained in this study corresponds to 87.6% of this estimate. This study resulted in an 17.6% increase in bat richness known for the area. The high representativeness of the Phyllostomidae family may be related to the capture method used. The predominance of frugivores bats in this study may be associated with the presence of many fruit trees in the area. The low occurrence of species considered common is often reported and can be explained by the species’ trophic specializations and by the sampling methods. Considering the scarcity of studies in restinga areas in Northeastern Brazil, this work becomes important for the knowledge of the bats in this environment, especially for Sergipe

Riqueza e uso do habitat por mamíferos de médio e grande porte na Caatinga, nordeste do Brasil

The Caatinga, a Brazilian semiarid ecosystem, is threatened critically by human activities. Information on the region’s large mammals is limited. This study characterizes the species composition and habitat use of medium and large mammals in an area of 2,138 ha in the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil. Samples were obtained in three habitats: arboreal- shrubby caatinga, grota (humid gallery) forest, and riparian forest. We used 30 sand plots and camera traps, from November 2012 to November 2013, in monthly campaigns. We recorded 10 species in 571 records, 454 in sand plots and 117 by photographs. The occurrence of three additional species was confirmed by other methods, amounting to 13 species recorded for the study area. There was the first record of Lontra longicaudis for the Caatinga. Kerodon rupestris and small wild cats differed in habitat use, with K. rupestris being more related to the grota and wild cats to the riparian vegetation. Overall, the community consists of habitat generalist species; the reduced size of the area and the degree of habitat degradation, resulting from the conversion of native vegetation to agriculture, may have contributed to the low observed species richness.Keywords: Sergipe, neotropical otter, camera trap, sand plot, community.A Caatinga, ecossistema semiárido brasileiro, encontra-se criticamente ameaçada por ações antrópicas, havendo escassas informações sobre mamíferos de grande porte na região. Esse estudo caracteriza a comunidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em relação à composição de espécies e uso do habitat, em uma área protegida de 2.138 ha localizada em Sergipe, nordeste do Brasil. Amostragens foram realizadas em três habitats: caatinga arbustiva arbórea, grota e mata ciliar. Utilizaram-se 30 parcelas de areia e armadilhas fotográficas, entre novembro de 2012 a novembro de 2013, em campanhas mensais. Foram registradas 10 espécies através de 571 registros, sendo 454 em parcelas de areia e 117 por fotografias. Três espécies foram registradas ocasionalmente, resultando em uma riqueza de 13 espécies para a área, destacando-se o primeiro registro de Lontra longicaudis para a Caatinga. Kerodon rupestris e pequenos felinos diferiram quanto ao uso do habitat, sendo o primeiro mais relacionado à grota e o segundo, à mata ciliar. A comunidade é constituída por espécies generalistas no uso do habitat, sendo que o tamanho reduzido da área e o grau de degradação do seu entorno, resultante da supressão da vegetação nativa para a prática agrícola, podem ter contribuído para a baixa riqueza observada.Palavras-chave: Sergipe, lontra neotropical, armadilha fotográfica, parcela de areia, comunidade