Diversity And Abundance Of Litter Frogs In A Montane Forest Of Southeastern Brazil: Seasonal And Altitudinal Changes

We sampled litter flogs in an 1800-ha mid-elevation seasonal forest in southeastern Brazil. One hundred 8 x 8-m plots were sampled during the dry/cold season and wet/warm season (unburned areas); we also examined the effects of fire in recently burned areas. A total of 267 frogs (305 g), belonging to 16 species (4 families) were caught. A single species comprised 78.5 percent of the individuals in the dry/cold season and 54.3 percent in the wet/warm season. The density of individuals did not change significantly with season, biomass did. Density and biomass of frogs were positively correlated with altitude. A Mantel test indicated that biological data (species and their abundance) were significantly associated with environmental parameters. The burned areas showed low values in richness, density and biomass of frogs. Harsh seasonal climate and a history of human disturbance may produce the low observed diversity values. The greater densities of frogs in sites of higher elevation may primarily result from mist-generated humidity, which diminishes the harshness of the dry/cold season in relation to lower sites.314669674Ab'Saber, A.N., Os domínios morfoclimáticos na América do Sul (1977) Geomorfologia, 52, pp. 1-23Allmon, W.D., A plot study of forest floor litter frogs, central Amazon, Brazil (1991) J. Trop. Ecol., 7, pp. 503-522Borror, J.D., DeLong, D.M., (1988) Introduçāo Ao Estudo Dos Insetos, , Edgard Blucher Ltda, São Paulo, BrasilBruijnzeel, L.A., Proctor, J., Hydrology and biogeochemistry of tropical montane cloud forest: What do we really know? (1995) Tropical Montane Cloud Forest, pp. 38-78. , J. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik, and F. N. Scatena (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, New York, New YorkDigby, P.G.N., Kempton, R.A., (1987) Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Communities, , Chapman & Hall, New York, New York. 206 ppDe Falkenberg, D.B., Voltolini, J.C., The montane cloud forest in sourhern Brazil (1995) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests, pp. 138-149. , L. S. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik, and F. N. Scatena (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, New York, New YorkGascon, C., Amphibian litter fauna and river barriers in flooded and non-flooded Amazonian rain forest (1996) Biotropica, 28, pp. 136-140Giaretta, A.A., Sawaya, R.J., Machado, G., Araújo, M.S., Facure, K.G., De Medeiros, H.F., Nunes, R., Diversity and abundance of litter frogs at altitudinal sites at Serra do Japi, southeastern Brazil (1997) Rev. Bras. Zool., 14 (2), pp. 341-346Grombone, M.T., Bernacci, L.C., Meira-Neto, J.A.A., Tamashiro, J.Y., Lettao-Filho, H.F., Estrutura fitossociológica da floresta semidecídua de altitude do Parque Municipal da Grota Funda (Atibaia-Estado de São Paulo) (1990) Acta Bot. Bras., 4 (2), pp. 47-64Haddad, C.F.B., Sazima, I., Anfíbios anuros da Serra do Japí (1992) História Natural Da Serra Do Japí: Ecologia e Preservação de Uma Ãrea Florestal No Sudeste Do Brasil, pp. 188-210. , L. P. C. Morellato (Org.). Editera da Unicamp/FAPESP, Campinas, SP, BrasilHeinen, J.T., Comparisons of the leaf-litter herpetofauna in abandoned cacao plantations and primary rain forest in Costa Rica: Some implications for faunal restoration (1992) Biotropica, 24, pp. 431-439Heyer, W.R., Rand, A.S., Da Cruz, C.A.G., Peixoto, O.L., Nelson, C.E., Frogs of Boracéia (1990) Arq. Zool., 31, pp. 231-410Jaeger, R.G., Inger, R.F., Standard techniques for inventory and monitoring: Quadrat sampling (1994) Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity. Standard Methods for Amphibians, pp. 97-98. , W. R. Heyer, M. A. Donnelly, R. W. McDiarmid, L. C. Hayek, and M. S. Foster (Eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DCKrebs, C.J., (1989) Ecological Methodology, , Harper & Row Publishers, New York, New YorkLeo, M., The importance of tropical montane cloud forest for preserving vertebrate endemism in Peru: The Río Abiseo National Park as a case study (1995) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests, pp. 198-211. , L. S. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik, and F. N. Scatena (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, New York, New YorkLieberman, S.S., Ecology of the leaf litter herpetofauna of a Neotropical rain forest: La Selva, Costa Rica (1986) Acta Zool. Mex. (NS), 15, pp. 1-71Long, A.J., The importance of tropical montane cloud forest for endemic and threatened birds (1995) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests, pp. 79-106. , L. S. Hamilton, J. O. Juvik, and F. N. Scatena (Eds.). Springer-Verlag, New York, New YorkLuo, J., Fox, B.J., A review of the Mantel test in dietary studies: Effect of sample size and inequality of sample size (1996) Wildl. Res., 23, pp. 267-288Magurran, A.E., (1988) Ecological Diversity and Its Measurement, , Croom Helm, London, EnglandMeira-Neto, J.A.A., Bernacci, L.C., Grombone, M.T., Tamashiro, J.Y., Leitao-Filho, H.F., Composição florística da floresta semidecídua de altitude do Parque Municipal da Grota Funda (Atibaia, Estado de São Paulo) (1989) Acta Bot. Bras., 3, pp. 51-74Morellato, L.P.C., Nutrient cycling in two south-east Brazilian forests. I. Litterfall and litter standing crop (1992) J. Trop. Ecol., 8, pp. 205-215Pombal J.P., Jr., Sazima, I., Haddad, C.F.B., Breeding behavior of the pumpkin toadlet, Brachycephalus ephippium (Brachycephalidae) (1994) J. Herpetol., 28, pp. 516-519Rodriguez, L.O., Structure et organization du peuplement d'anoures de Cocha Cashu, Parc National Manu, Amazonie Péruvienne (1992) Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie), 47, pp. 151-197Rohlf, F.J., (1988) NT-SYS-pc. Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System, Version 1.50, , Exeter Publ., Ltd., New York, New YorkScott, N.J., The abundance and diversity of herpetofaunas of tropical forest litter (1976) Biotropica, 8, pp. 41-58Toft, C.A., Feeding ecology of thirteen syntopic species of anurans in a seasonal tropical rain forest (1980) Oecologia, 45, pp. 131-141. , BerlSeasonal variation in populations of Panamanian litter frogs and their prey: A comparison of wetter and drier sites (1980) Oecologia, 47, pp. 34-38. , BerlZar, J.H., (1974) Biostatistical Analysis, , Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 718 p

Feeding habits of the crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous (Carnivora: Canidae), in a mosaic area with native and exotic vegetation in Southern Brazil

Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766) is the most widespread neotropical canid, most commonly inhabiting forested areas. This animal is a generalist omnivore that is able to use environments disturbed by human activities. The aim of this study was to describe its diet through the stomach content analysis of 30 samples obtained from specimens that were run over in a mosaic composed by Araucaria Pine Forest, Semidecidual Seasonal Forest, natural grasslands, and exotic vegetation. The items were quantified by frequency of occurrence (F.O.) and percentage of occurrence (P.O.). A total of 64 food items were found among 171 occurrences. According to F.O. method, plant items corresponded to 93.3% of the occurrences, followed by animal items (86.7%) and human rejects (16.6%). Among plants, fruits accounted for 92.9% of the occurrences, followed by leaves (53.6%) and flowers (10.7%). Syagrus romanzoffianum (Cham.) Glassman, 1968 and the exotic Hovenia dulcis Thunberg were the most consumed fruits (30% each), and the most consumed leaves were Poaceae. Among preyed animals, the F.O. was 73.3% for invertebrates (mostly Orthoptera and Coleoptera, 36.7% each) and 63.3% for vertebrates (mostly mammals, 33.3%). Regarding the P.O. method, there was an overestimation of invertebrates (98.1%) due to the presence of ants and termites in the stomach of a single individual. In general, C. thous presented its usual diet. Its generalistic feeding habits can positively influence its survival in altered environments. This study also compares different methods for dietary analysis and discusses some opportunistic behaviors of C. thous, such as the consumption of exotic species and the use of silviculture areas as hunting sites.<br>Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766) é o canídeo neotropical mais amplamente distribuído e habita principalmente ambientes florestados. Este animal possui hábito alimentar onívoro generalista e demonstra capacidade de utilizar ambientes perturbados pela ação do homem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever sua dieta através da análise de 30 conteúdos estomacais de espécimes atropelados, provenientes de um mosaico constituído por Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Campos Naturais e vegetação exótica. Os itens foram quantificados em freqüência de ocorrência (F.O.) e porcentagem de ocorrência (P.O.). No total foram identificados 64 itens, distribuídos em 171 ocorrências. De acordo com o método F.O., itens vegetais ocorreram em 93,3% das amostras, itens animais em 86,7% e rejeitos humanos em 16.6%. Entre os vegetais, os frutos apresentaram a maior F.O. (92,9%), seguido das folhas (53,6%) e flores (10,7%). Syagrus romanzoffianum (Cham.) Glassman, 1968 e a espécie exótica Hovenia dulcis Thunberg se destacaram entre os frutos consumidos (30% cada), e Poaceae entre as folhas consumidas. Dentre os animais, 73,3% foram invertebrados, com destaque para Orthoptera e Coleoptera (36,7% cada), e 63,3% foram vertebrados, destacando-se os mamíferos (33,3%). Em relação ao método P.O. houve a supervalorização de invertebrados (98,1%) devido ao consumo de formigas e cupins observado no estômago de um indivíduo. Em geral, C. thous apresentou uma dieta conforme o esperado. Seus hábitos alimentares generalistas podem influenciar positivamente sua sobrevivência em ambientes alterados. Este trabalho ainda compara diferentes métodos de análises da dieta e discute alguns comportamentos oportunistas de C. thous, como o consumo de espécies exóticas e o uso do ambiente de silvicultura para a caça

Dieta e dispersão de sementes por Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus) (Carnívora, Canidae), em um fragmento florestal no Paraná, Brasil Diet and seed dispersal by Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus) in a forest fragment in Paraná (Carnivora, Canidae)

Embora o cachorro-do-mato, Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1706), seja um Canidae relativamente comum, não há muita informação sobre sua dieta e seu papel como dispersor de sementes nos diferentes habitats onde ocorre. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de reportar a dieta de C. thous e sua importância como dispersor e/ou predador de sementes, e ainda testar a taxa de germinação de sementes após passar pelo trato digestório do animal. O estudo foi realizado em um fragmento (680 ha) de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, o Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy, localizado na cidade de Londrina, Paraná, sul do Brasil. A metodologia consistiu de coletas de fezes de C. thous, as quais foram analisadas em laboratório para identificar os itens consumidos. Nos testes de germinação, as sementes foram dispostas para germinar em placas de Petri com algodão umedecido em água. Noventa e três amostras fecais com 219 itens de origem vegetal e animal foram registradas, sendo 36,52% contendo restos de pequenos roedores, 24,19% de gramíneas, 13,24% de aves, 10,47% de insetos, 6,39% de Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassm., 4,6% de outros itens de origem animal e 4,54% de outros itens de origem vegetal. Ainda, C. thous dispersou nove espécies de plantas, com relevante importância para a germinação de algumas sementes que passaram pelo trato digestório do animal, exceto para S. romanzoffiana, cujas sementes não germinaram nas condições de laboratório. Conclui-se que, C. thous apresentou uma dieta generalista e oportunista, sobrevivendo em áreas degradadas e antrópicas, e agindo como dispersor de sementes nestes locais.<br>Although the crab eating fox, Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1706), is a relatively common Canidae, there isn't much information about its diet and its role as a seed disperser in the different habitats where it occurs. The aim of this work was to report the diet of the C. thous and its importance as a seed disperser and / or a seed predator and to test the rate of germination of the seeds after passing through the digestive tract of the animal. The work was carried out in a 680 ha fragment of the Semidecidual Seasonal Forest in the Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy, located in the city of Londrina-Paraná, south of Brazil. The methodology consisted of the collection of excrement of C. thous which were analyzed in laboratory for identification of consumed items and seeds. In germination tests, the seeds were placed to germinate in Petri dishes with wet cotton. Ninety-three animal feces samples, with 219 animal and vegetable items were registered, being 36.52% remaining portions of small rodents, 24.19% of grasses, 13.24% of birds, 10.47% of insects, 6.39% of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassm., 4.6% of other items of animal origin and 4.54% of items vegetable origin. In addition, C. thous dispersed nine species of plants, with relevant importance to the germination of some seeds, which passed through the digestive tract, except for the most consumed of fruit, S. romanzoffiana, whith no seed germination at all in lab conditions. In conclusion, C. thous has a generalistc and opportunistc diet, surviving in degraded and anthropic areas and being able to act as a seed disperser