Desenvolvimento intrauterino da paca (cuniculus paca), um roedor histricomorfo precocial.

CNPq e CAPESO desenvolvimento intrauterino consiste em uma preparação dos recém-nascidos para a vida aérea. Além das relações filogenéticas, esta fase reflete as estratégias adotadas pelos mamíferos para maximizar a sobrevivência materna e neonatal, o que influencia fortemente na dinâmica de suas populações silvestres e na sua resiliência a distúrbios. Neste estudo, nós utilizamos amostras de 137 pacas (Cuniculus paca) gestantes, obtidas ao longo de 15 anos através de métodos colaborativos com caçadores locais na Amazônia, para descrever o desenvolvimento da morfologia externa e interna da espécie durante a fase intrauterina, discutindo a estratégia adotada pela espécie para sobrevivência do recém-nascido em comparação com outros roedores. Nos embriões/fetos adquiridos, foram realizados (i) a avaliação da probabilidade de presença de características externas ao longo da gestação; (ii) a biometria externa e uma estimativa da idade fetal e; (iii) medições do volume de órgãos torácicos e abdominais, comparando suas proporções com os órgãos de adultos. O comprimento fetal total (CRL) variou de 0,6 cm a 24,6 cm. As características fetais apareceram na seguinte ordem cronológica: membros, pálpebras, pálpebras fusionadas, genitália, orelha externa, pelagem tátil, garras, pele, pintas, pelagem de cobertura, dentes e pálpebras abertas. Fetos com CRL>19,5 cm apresentaram todas as características externas avaliadas. A fórmula de crescimento da idade fetal foi ∛W = 0,082 (t - 37,25), e a idade foi fortemente associada com CRL. O fígado mostrou uma tendência decrescente na sua proporção ao longo do desenvolvimento fetal, enquanto o volume relativo de órgãos gastrointestinais tubulares aumentou significativamente. Todos os órgãos, exceto o coração e o timo, apresentaram volumes relativos semelhantes entre fetos avançados e adultos. Este estudo revela que pacas produzem recém-nascidos precociais com estruturas adequadas para a sobrevivência com baixa dependência do cuidado parental. Além disso, os neonatos da espécie são mais desenvolvidos do que os de outros roedores estudados. Embora a paca seja atualmente a espécie mais caçada na Amazônia, sua estratégia reprodutiva não é compatível com uma condição de presa, sugerindo que a espécie não é reprodutivamente preparada para responder a altas pressões de caça. Portanto, nossos resultados têm uma importância crítica para o diagnóstico clínico e o manejo reprodutivo in situ e ex situ da espécie.The intrauterine development consists of a preparation of the neonates for the aerial life. Beyond the phylogenetic relationships, this phase reflects the strategies adopted by mammals to maximize the maternal and neonatal survival, which strongly influences the dynamics of their wild populations and their resilience to disturbances. Here, we used samples of 137 pregnant pacas (Cuniculus paca), obtained along 15 years through collaborative methods with local hunters in the Amazon, to describe the development of the external and internal morphology of the species during the intrauterine phase, discussing the newborn survival strategy adopted in comparison to other rodents. In the embryos/fetuses acquired, we performed (i) an assessment of the presence probability of external features along the gestation; (ii) an estimation of fetal age and an external biometry; and (iii) a measurement of the volume of thoracic and abdominal organs, comparing their relative volumes with those of adults. The crown-rump length (CRL) ranged from 0.6 cm to 24.6 cm. The fetal features appeared in the following chronological order: limbs, eyelid buds, fusioned eyelids, genitalia, outer ear, tactile pelage, claws, skin, skin spots, covering pelage, teeth and open eyelids. Fetuses with CRL > 19.5 cm presented all features assessed. The growth formula of fetal age was ∛W = 0.082 (t - 37.25), and the age was accurately associated with CRL. The liver showed a decreasing trend in its proportion in the internal cavity, while the relative volume of tubular gastrointestinal organs increased significantly. All organs but the heart and the thymus presented similar relative volumes between advanced fetuses and adults. This study reveals that pacas produce precocial neonates with appropriate structures for survival with low dependence on the mother’s care. In addition, the species’ neonates are more developed than other studied rodents. Although the paca is currently the most hunted species in the Amazon, its reproductive strategy is compatible to a low prey condition, suggesting that the species is not reproductively prepared to respond to high hunting pressures. Therefore, our results have a critical importance for clinical diagnosis and in situ and ex situ reproductive management of the species

Comparative gastrointestinal organ lengths among Amazonian primates (Primates: Platyrrhini)

ObjectivesThe morphological features of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in mammals reflect a species' food niche breadth and dietary adaptations. For many wild mammals, the relationship between the structure of the GIT and diet is still poorly understood, for example, the GIT for frugivorous primates is usually classified as unspecialized and homogeneous. Here, we compare the GIT structure of 13 primate species from the three families of extant platyrrhines (Atelidae, Pitheciidae, and Cebidae) in Amazonia, and discuss possible evolutionary adaptations to different diets and trophic niches.MethodsWe measured the length of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, cecum, colon, and rectum of the digestive tracts of 289 primate specimens. We determined the allometric relationships of the different tubular organs with the total length of the GIT as a proxy of specimen body size. Allometric parameters were used to establish the quotients of differentiation of every organ for each primate specimen.ResultsThere was a high differentiation in structure of the digestive organs among genera. Alouatta specimens clearly separated from the other genera based on dissimilarities in gastric, colonic, and rectal quotients, likely linked to the fermentation of plant contents. In contrast, all cebines (Sapajus, Cebus, and Saimiri) and Cacajao species had similar small intestine quotients, which is expected due to their high rates of animal matter consumed.ConclusionsWe show that diverse adaptations in digestive structure exist among frugivorous primates, which in turn reflect different dietary patterns within this group that may enable the geographic coexistence of different primate species

Freelisting as a suitable method to estimate the composition and harvest rates of hunted species in tropical forests

The aim of this study was to test the use of measures obtained from freelisting as possible surrogates of the harvest rate of game species. For this purpose, we interviewed 100 rural and urban hunters in southwestern Amazonia to obtain the frequency of citations of each hunted species through freelisting and gather information on the number of individuals hunted per species in the last five hunting events through hunting recalls. We assessed the relationship between the percentage of records per species by each method through a generalized linear model, and then compared the predicted values obtained from this model with the values observed in our dataset using Pearson’s correlation. During freelisting, forty-three taxa were listed in 608 citations as hunted by the informants. Freelisting provided data on around twice the number of species obtained from recalls. During the last five hunting trips, urban hunters reported the hunting of 164 individuals of 18 species, representing 54.5% of the freelisted species. Rural hunters caught 146 individuals of 21 species, 60.0% of the freelisted species. We found a strong logistic relationship between the harvest rates, i.e., percentage of individuals hunted per species from recalls, and the freelisting percentage citations of game species, with the estimated and observed values of harvest rates highly matching (Pearson's R = 0.98, p < 0.0001). The freelisting method allowed a good estimate of the composition and the harvest rates of hunted species. The formula produced in this study can be used as a reference for further studies, enabling researchers to use freelisting effectively to assess the composition of hunted species and to address the difficulty of obtaining reliable data on species harvest rates in tropical forests, especially in short-term studies and contexts in which hunters distrust research

Patterns of wildlife hunting and trade by local communities in eastern Amazonian floodplains

Local people living in the Amazon rainforest rely heavily on wild meat as a source of protein and income. While the patterns and drivers of wildlife hunting and trade by local communities are well-known for upland forests, such aspects have been poorly explored in Amazonian floodplains. This study aims to describe wild meat hunting and trade patterns and assess the hunting dynamics of local communities in Amazonian floodplain areas. For this purpose, we interviewed 121 hunters in 36 communities living in white-water flooded forests in the lower Amazon River, Brazil. Thirty taxa were cited as hunted by interviewees, who used a repertoire of 13 hunting techniques. Aquatic and semi-aquatic taxa were the most prevalent, especially Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, Cairina moschata, and Podocnemis unifilis. Eight taxa were cited as traded; wild meat was sold at 2.57 ± 2.22 USD/kg, while eggs of birds and turtles were sold at 0.37 ± 0.27 USD/unit. We found an inverted-U relationship between the body mass and the number of citations per taxa, with species weighing between 10-40 kg presenting the highest number of citations. The hunting patterns found here are different from those frequently found in the literature for upland environments. Understanding these hunting and trade patterns will help develop tailored wildlife conservation and management strategies for Amazonian floodplains

Caça de vertebrados no Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Acre

Apesar de a caça de animais silvestres garantir a segurança alimentar de populações rurais e indígenas na Amazônia, a atividade representa um desafio para a conservação da biodiversidade. Mesmo em unidades de conservação (UCs), o impacto da extração de vertebrados ainda é pouco conhecido, dificultando ações de manejo e a implementação de estratégias de conservação adequadas à realidade local. Neste trabalho, apresentamos o perfil da atividade de caça de uma comunidade tradicional do Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor (PNSD), no sudoeste da Amazônia. Através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas em janeiro de 2018, e de dados originados de atividades de fiscalização desenvolvidas entre janeiro de 2016 e janeiro de 2018, identificamos que 57,9% dos 69 vertebrados com ocorrência confirmada para a área de uso da comunidade Pé da Serra são alvos de caça para alimentação. Cerca de um quinto das espécies ameaçadas em listas nacionais e internacionais é citado como fonte de alimento. Os ungulados, aves, roedores caviomorfos, o tatu-verdadeiro (Dasypus novemcinctus) e o jabuti (Chelonoidis denticulatus) constituíram os grupos taxonômicos mais frequentemente citados e mais apreciados para consumo. Para o abate e captura de vertebrados cinegéticos, foram registrados o emprego da busca ativa, a focagem com uso de lanternas, armadilhas de arma de fogo e a espera. Os moradores da comunidade também utilizam a fauna silvestre para fins medicinais, como animal de estimação e na alimentação de animais domésticos. Apesar de o comércio de produtos animais não ter sido relatado pelos moradores, verificamos que 30,8% das missões de fiscalização realizadas no PNSD resultaram em apreensão de itens silvestres. A biomassa total interceptada foi de 428,08kg. A espécie mais registrada nas apreensões foi C. denticulatus, totalizando 37,9% do total de animais interceptados. A diversidade de espécies e os usos a elas atribuídos, revelados neste levantamento, destacam a importância do recurso faunístico para as populações humanas do PNSD. É através do uso de técnicas produtivas de baixo impacto, associado a empreendimentos locais de geração alternativa de renda, e criação de mecanismos de governança local, que a biodiversidade poderá ser conservada ou mantida na região

Hunting practices in southwestern Amazonia: a comparative study of techniques, modalities, and baits among urban and rural hunters

Background: Hunting is a vital means of obtaining animal in various human populations. Hunters rely on their knowledge of species ecology and behavior to develop and employ hunting techniques and increase their chances of success. The comparison of the hunting practices of different human societies can shed light on the sustainability of hunting and the impact it has on species’ populations. In this study, we examine and compare the techniques, modalities, and baits used by urban and rural hunters in Rondônia, a state in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil. We expected that rural hunters would use these elements and have greater knowledge when compared to urban hunters. We also expect that the use of specific hunting techniques and modalities will have greater selectivity and specificity of capture for rural hunters and that this knowledge will differ between groups. Methods: We conducted 106 semi-structured interviews with rural and urban hunters from October 2018 to February 2020. We analyzed the data using PERMANOVA and Network analyses to compare and contrast the hunting practices of each group. Results: We recorded four main hunting techniques divided into ten modalities with three techniques and seven modalities being the preferred choices among hunters. Waiting for at a Fruit Tree was cited as the primary technique employed by hunters living in urban and rural areas indicated. While the techniques and modalities were similar among hunters, the composition of species targeted and baits used differed between groups. Our network approach showed that modularity in urban areas was numerically lower than in rural areas. All species had one to more techniques associated with their capture. Conclusions: Hunters living in urban and rural environments showed high similarity in their practices, probably due to sharing similar environments to hunt containing similar species, as well as targeting preferably the same species

Ultrasound evaluation of fetal bone development in the collared (Pecari tajacu) and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari)

El estudio del desarrollo fetal permite evaluar las diferentes estrategias adoptadas por las especies de mamíferos para maximizar la supervivencia neonatal. La locomoción autónoma es fundamental para que los recién nacidos realicen actividades de búsqueda de alimento y aumenta la supervivencia neonatal frente a la depredación. En este estudio, evaluamos el desarrollo óseo gestacional de 53 pecaríes de collar (CP, Pecari tajacu) y 61 pecaríes de labios blancos (WLP, Tayassu pecari), recolectados mediante la colaboración de cazadores de subsistencia en la Amazonia. La mineralización ósea y la biometría del esqueleto axial y apendicular se evaluaron mediante exámenes ecográficos, y se calculó el momento de los principales acontecimientos del desarrollo óseo en relación con la longitud dorsal total (TDL) y el porcentaje del período gestacional total (GP). Los primeros signos ecográficos de mineralización del esqueleto axial en CP y WLP se observaron en fetos de 3,4 cm (42 días de gestación, 30% GPCP) y 5,1 cm (51 días de gestación, 32% GPWLP). El desarrollo temprano del esqueleto apendicular se observó por la aparición sincrónica de la escápula mineralizada, el húmero, el radio, el cúbito, el ilion, el isquion, el fémur, la tibia y el peroné con un 36% de GPCP (50 días de gestación) y un 35% de GPWLP (56 días de gestación). El pubis estaba mineralizado en los fetos con un 55% de GPCP (75 días de gestación) y un 59% de GPWLP (94 días de gestación). La mineralización se observó en todos los huesos autópodos al 79% GPCP (109 días de gestación) y al 67% GPWLP (106 días de gestación). Todos los centros primarios de osificación de los huesos largos de las extremidades torácicas y pélvicas estaban mineralizados en los fetos avanzados (GPCP y GPWLP ≥75%). La rótula mineralizada no se observó en fetos avanzados de ninguna de las dos especies. Los centros de osificación secundaria aparecieron por primera vez en la epífisis distal del fémur en el CP (99 días de gestación, 72% GPCP) y en la epífisis distal del radio, fémur y tibia en el WLP (106 días de gestación, 67% GPWLP). Los fetos avanzados de CP y WLP presentaban el 60% (15/25) y el 68% (17/25) del total de centros de osificación secundaria observados presentes en el cerdo doméstico adulto, mientras que los recién nacidos del cerdo doméstico presentaban el 52% (13/25). El temprano desarrollo intrauterino del sistema esquelético en ambas especies de pecaríes sugiere una estrategia de desarrollo precoz, que probablemente se correlaciona con la capacidad neonatal para escapar de los depredadores y reduce la dependencia de los cuidados parentales.Revisión por pares

Amazonia Camtrap: a data set of mammal, bird, and reptile species recorded with camera traps in the Amazon forest.

Abstract : The Amazon forest has the highest biodiversity on Earth. However, information on Amazonian vertebrate diversity is still deficient and scatteredacross the published, peer-reviewed, and gray literature and in unpublishedraw data. Camera traps are an effective non-invasive method of surveying vertebrates, applicable to different scales of time and space. In this study, we organized and standardized camera trap records from different Amazonregions to compile the most extensive data set of inventories of mammal,bird, and reptile species ever assembled for the area. The complete data setcomprises 154,123 records of 317 species (185 birds, 119 mammals, and13 reptiles) gathered from surveys from the Amazonian portion of eightcountries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru,Suriname, and Venezuela). The most frequently recorded species per taxawere: mammals:Cuniculus paca (11,907 records); birds: Pauxi tuberosa (3713 records); and reptiles:Tupinambis teguixin(716 records). The infor-mation detailed in this data paper opens up opportunities for new ecological studies at different spatial and temporal scales, allowing for a moreaccurate evaluation of the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, climatechange, and other human-mediated defaunation processes in one of themost important and threatened tropical environments in the world. The data set is not copyright restricted; please cite this data paper when usingits data in publications and we also request that researchers and educator sinform us of how they are using these data

Parasitic parameters of natural filarial infection in non-human primates from Loreto region, northeast of the Peruvian Amazon

Filarial nematode infection is still a neglected disease very common in humans and wild primates, but have received few attention in forested areas of the Neotropics. Epidemiological data on filarial infection for primates in the wild are still scarce to understand the complex phenomenon of parasitism, especially because of the difficulty in obtaining biological and epidemiological information. The data describe parasitic indicators by Dipetalonema parasitizing eight free-living primate genera (Alouatta, Ateles, Cacajao, Cebus, Lagothrix, Saimiri, Sapajus and Pithecia) in communities in the Corrientes (José Olaya, Jerusalén), Pastaza (Andoas, Andoas Viejo, Titiyacu, Los Jardines) and the Yavari-Mirín River Basin (Nueva Esperanza). For the calculation of parasitic parameters, we considered the Dipetalonema genus, which was observed in all infected NHPs. Parasitic indicators for each host species, and for all primates pooled were calculated according to Bush et al. (1998, doi:10.2307/3284227). Indicators were: prevalence (percentage of hosts with filariae), parasitic mean abundance (PMA, number of parasites divided by the number of infected and uninfected hosts, expressed as number of filariae per host), parasitic mean intensity (PMI, number of parasites divided by the number of infected hosts, expressed as number of filariae per infected host), and amplitude range (AR, minimum and maximum number of parasites in a sample). The sample collection protocol was approved by the Peruvian Forestry and Wildlife Service (Ethical Committee for Wildlife Research, No0350-2012-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS; No0249-2013-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS). We also include climatic, ecological and biological factors. Data include presence and number of filariae per primate host and average body mass. The sex and female reproductive state were determined through examinations of the genitalia in each hunted specimen. Between 2009 and 2015, in the Yavari-Mirín River basin we established three transects to estimate group size and density of primate populations, and annual changes in ripe fruit availability. We estimated the density (individuals/km²) of each NHP species from direct sightings conducted on twelve 4-km wide transects monitored, with a total of 1,173.5 km survey effort in upland and flooded forests. Transects were opened prior to the surveys and researchers and local residents walked each one multiple times. Two observers (a technician and a local resident, or two local residents) walked the trails between 6:00 h and 15:00 h at an average speed of 1.5 km/h. When a group of NHP was encountered, the number of individuals was recorded, and the perpendicular distance from the trail to the first individual sighted was measured with a measuring tape. Distance 7.1 software was used to estimate population density (number of individuals/km²) of each NHPs species (Peres CA (1999) General guidelines for standardizing line-transect surveys of tropical forest primates. Neotropical Primates 7:11-16; Buckland S, Anderson D, Burnham K, Laake J, Borchers D, Thomas L (2001) Introduction to distance sampling: Estimating abundance of biological populations, Oxford: Oxford University Press). This information was also used to calculate the average group size (individuals/group) of each NHP species. Information on river water elevation (in meters above sea level, m.a.s.l.) and rainfall (in mm3) was obtained from data from the Yavari River hydrological station. These information was used to assess the relationship between the average body mass, group size and density of primate populations with parasitic indicators. We also assessed the influence of environmental variables (monthly rainfall and the percentage of trees bearing fruits) on infection patterns, using Lagothrix lagothrica poeppigii in the Yavari-Mirín River

Involving local communities for effective citizen science: determining game species' reproductive status to assess hunting effects in tropical forests

These three datasets are related to the analyses conducted in the article "Involving local communities for effective citizen science: determining game species' reproductive status to assess hunting effects in tropical forests". The first dataset (1_Archive_Interviews_Pregnancy_Diagnoses_Final) consists of interviews through which diagnoses of reproductive status of lowland paca (Cuniculus paca) were performed by local people in the Amazon. The second dataset (2_Archive_Hunting_Registers_Pregnancy_Immatures) consists of all records of pacas hunted voluntarily collected by local people over a 17-years citizen science project in one of the study sites. The third dataset (3_Archive_Hunting_Registers_CPUE) consists of data on the catch-per-unit-effort of lowland paca hunting events in the same site over 17 years. Specific explanations of columns' attributes are presented in the sheet "Explanations" within each dataset. The study areas and the coordinates related to the dataset are: Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve: -64.538 W; -2,492 S Yavarí-Mirín River:-71,958 W; - 4,357 S Juruá River: -67,659 W; -5,517