Educação, pesquisa, extensão e conservação na paisagem fragmentada, uma conciliação necessária.

A Fazenda Experimental Catuaba (FEC), o antigo seringal, é um sítio consolidado para ações de ensino, pesquisa e extensão da Universidade Federal do Acre (UFAC). Ela provê suporte para atividades de grupos de pesquisa, para estudantes do ensino médio e de cursos de graduação e de pós-graduação, e para treinamentos, oficinas e cursos de capacitação, todas alinhadas com um dos principais objetivos da Convenção da Diversidade Biológica, a conservação da biodiversidade e dos serviços ecossistêmicos. Este capítulo sintetiza os resultados principais dos 30 anos de pesquisas realizadas na FEC e alerta para a diminuição do número de fragmentos e para o aumento da extensão das bordas no seu entorno e para a perda de biomassa, de biodiversidade e de serviços ecossistêmicos, em função dos efeitos do fogo e do desmatamento. Ele destaca a importância da UFAC efetuar o Cadastro Ambiental Rural e o Plano de Recuperação Ambiental (PRA) da FEC, e aponta para a perspectiva de abertura de um caminho para a integração com os PRAs do entorno e a viabilização da tão necessária conectividade com fragmentos vizinhos. A conectividade dos remanescentes da paisagem fragmentada é possível, envolve a integração de propriedades e a restauração de área de preservação permanente dos igarapés da FEC, e pode integrar, de fato, pelo menos dois fragmentos de cerca de 900 hectares, dobrando a sua efetividade. The Fazenda Experimental Catuaba (FEC), the former rubber production forest, is a consolidated site for teaching, research and extension activities at the Federal University of Acre (UFAC). It provides support for activities of research groups, for high school students and for undergraduate and graduate courses, and for training, workshops and courses, all aligned with one of the main objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This chapter summarizes the main results of the 30 years of research carried out at FEC and presents warnings and concerns of the decrease in the number of fragments and the increase in the extent of the edges in its surroundings and the loss of biomass, biodiversity and ecosystem services due to the effects of fire and deforestation. It also highlights the importance of UFAC making the Rural Environmental Registry and the Environmental Recovery Plan (PRA) of the FEC, and points to the prospect of opening a path for integration with the surrounding PRAs and enabling the much needed connectivity among neighboring fragments. The connectivity of the remnants of the fragmented landscape is possible and it involves the integration of properties and the restoration of the permanent preservation area of the FEC streams, and can in fact integrate at least two fragments of around 900 hectares, doubling their effectiveness.bitstream/item/219530/1/27084.pd

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

FERTILISATION STRATEGIES ACROSS EUROPE: CURRENT SITUATION, POTENTIAL AND LIMITS FOR A HARMONISED APPROACH

Peer reviewe

Terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys (Callicebus, Cheracebus, and Plecturocebus) : potential correlates, patterns, and differences between genera

For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat change, access to ground-based resources, and resilience to human disturbances, and so has conservation implications. We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality. We examined whether the frequency of terrestrial activity correlated with study duration (a proxy for sampling effort), rainfall level (a proxy for food availability seasonality), and forest height (a proxy for vertical niche dimension). Terrestrial activity was recorded frequently for Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but rarely for Cheracebus spp. Terrestrial resting, anti-predator behavior, geophagy, and playing frequencies in Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but feeding and moving differed. Callicebus spp. often ate or searched for new leaves terrestrially. Plecturocebus spp. descended primarily to ingest terrestrial invertebrates and soil. Study duration correlated positively and rainfall level negatively with terrestrial activity. Though differences in sampling effort and methods limited comparisons and interpretation, overall, titi monkeys commonly engaged in a variety of terrestrial activities. Terrestrial behavior in Callicebus and Plecturocebus capacities may bolster resistance to habitat fragmentation. However, it is uncertain if the low frequency of terrestriality recorded for Cheracebus spp. is a genus-specific trait associated with a more basal phylogenetic position, or because studies of this genus occurred in pristine habitats. Observations of terrestrial behavior increased with increasing sampling effort and decreasing food availability. Overall, we found a high frequency of terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys, unlike that observed in other pitheciids