Padrões de diversidade (riqueza, filogenética e funcional) de quelônios continentais da América do Sul, seus processos geradores e suas consequências para a conservação

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, 2014.Compreender os padrões e os determinantes da distribuição da biodiversidade é uma questão central em ecologia, que deixou de ser somente teórica para se tornar subsídio para tomadores de decisão, em especial pela necessidade de medidas urgentes para conter a crise da biodiversidade de forma planejada e sistemática. O presente estudo investiga padrões de diversidade de quelônios continentais da América do Sul, bem com suas singularidades e determinantes. Foram compilados da literatura registros de ocorrência e informações biológicas (filogenia e traços funcionais) de 46 espécies, para identificar padrões de riqueza, diversidade filogenética e diversidade funcional. Essas três métricas tiveram sua estruturação espacial definida por mapeamento de autovetores espaciais, para retirar o viés da autocorrelação espacial. Foram empregadas regressões lineares para investigar as relações entre as métricas; regressões múltiplas de cada métrica com preditores ambientais para testar hipóteses de processos contemporâneos que determinam a diversidade; e regressões parciais para definir a contribuição espacial, ambiental e residual dos modelos. As três métricas seguiram o gradiente latitudinal de diversidade e foram fortemente correlacionadas entre si. A análise dos preditores ambientais corroborou as hipóteses dinâmica água-energia e disponibilidade de energia como determinante das três métricas de diversidade. Preditores de importância secundária corroboraram as hipóteses de estresse e estabilidade ambiental como responsáveis pela distinção dos três componentes da diversidade. Singularidades observadas pela espacialização dos resíduos das regressões lineares indicaram locais onde as métricas diferem do esperado, sugerindo prioridades secundárias para a conservação. Os preditores ambientais e espaciais explicaram grande parte dos padrões de diversidade, mas indícios da influência de aspectos históricos devem ser considerados para a compreensão da diversidade de uma linhagem antiga e com baixas taxas evolutivas. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTUnderstanding the biodiversity distribution patterns and process is a central issue in ecology, that is no longer merely theoretical to be a source for decision makers, especially because the necessity of urgent measures to contain the biodiversity conservation crisis in a systematic and plain way. This present study investigates patterns of diversity of continental South American turtles, as well as their singularities and determinants. Occurrence records and biological information (phylogenies and functional traits) were compiled from literature of 46 species of turtles to find patterns of richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity. These three diversity metrics were spatially structured by spatial eigenvector mapping which allowed removing the spatial autocorrelation bias, the linear regression between metrics and of the multiple regressions of each metric explained by environment predictors that represent the hypothesis of the determinants contemporary process of the diversity; and partial regressions to define environmental, spatial and residuals contribution of the models. The three metrics followed the latitudinal gradient and were strongly correlated. The environment predictors corroborate the hypothesis water-energy dynamic and availability-of-energy as determinants of South American turtles diversity. The predictors of secondary representativity indicate that the hypothesis of the environmental stress and stability are the reason of distinction among the three metrics of diversity. These singularities have been observed with spatialization of the residuals of the linear regression, indicating where the metrics differ of the richness expected for the continent, and suggest secondary priorities for turtles conservation, the most threatened vertebrates group in the world on the continent over the strong anthropic impact. The environmental and spatial predictors explained the most part of diversity patterns. Anyhow evidences of the influence of historical aspects should be considered for understanding the biodiversity patterns of an ancient lineage with low evolutionary rates

Priority areas and integrated actions for the conservation of Amazonian turtle populations historically over-exploited by humans

The definition of priority areas for conservation and integrated management actions are essential for the effective maintenance and recovery of natural populations, especially for species overexploited by humans. Amazonian chelonians are a food resource historically used by people, resulting in the decline of species populations and worsening the risk of local extinctions. In this paper, we establish priority areas and define integrated conservation actions for populations of three Amazonian chelonians most threatened by human consumption in Brazil (Podocnemis expansa, P. unifilis and P. sextuberculata). To do so, we used 15 prioritization criteria (ecological, logistical and socioeconomic) estimated with 30 years monitoring data in 15 areas by the Amazon Chelonian Program (in portugues Projeto Quelonios da Amazonia, PQA). Each criterion presented four levels of priority with scores increasing according to the relevance for conservation of chelonian populations. The sum of the scores obtained in each area of the PQA allowed a ranking and four categories of importance for conservation to be defined. We also analyzed the similarity of scores among areas of the PQA and among the prioritization criteria to evaluate the application of integrated conservation action strategies. The areas of PQA were classified as Extremely Important for Conservation (Rebio Trombetas River, Middle Xingu River, Middle Araguaia River, Upper Guaporé River), Very Highly Important for Conservation (Middle Purus River, Middle Juruá River, Crixás-Açu River Mouth, Sub-middle Tapajós River); Highly Important for Conservation (Sub-Middle Araguaia River, Amazonas River Mouth, Middle Mortes River); and Important for Conservation (Middle Guaporé River, Lower Branco River, Flechal River, Afuá River). The prioritization and similarity analyses can support the development of a national integrated plan of conservation actions to reduce the overexploitation of Amazon chelonian populations, according to the ecological, logistical and socioeconomic needs of each PQA area.Fil: Gamba, Fábio Brega. Universidade de Tocantins; BrasilFil: Falcon, Guth Berger. Integrated Actions For Species Conservation Coordination; BrasilFil: Simoncini, Melina Soledad. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Machado Balestra, Rafael Antônio. National Center For Research And Conservation Of Reptiles And Amphibians; BrasilFil: Malvásio, Adriana. Universidade de Tocantins; Brasi

Hydrological Effects on the Reproduction of the Giant South American River Turtle Podocnemis expansa (Testudines: Podocnemididae)

Understanding the relationship between species and the environment is crucial to predicting their responses to human-induced global changes, i.e., habitat conversion, biological invasions, and global warming. Precipitation and river level are relevant factors that regulate the populations of aquatic organisms. We used long-term data to assess the effects of climate on nest number, clutch size (number of eggs per nest), hatching success, and unviable eggs of the Giant South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa) in a protected area of Brazilian Amazonia. We found a positive relationship between the number of nests and precipitation on headwaters in May. We also observed that clutch size increased when the local river level rose; hatching success increased with rising local river level, mainly during October and November; and egg failure increased with rising headwater river level. We show how precipitation and river level (at local and headwater) can influence reproductive success in P. expansa, highlighting the perils of human-induced environmental changes.Fil: Simoncini, Melina Soledad. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina. Universidade Federal Do Tocantins; BrasilFil: Campos De Sousa, Heitor. Universidade Federal Do Tocantins; BrasilFil: Costa Gonçalves Portelinha, Thiago. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina. Universidade Federal Do Tocantins; BrasilFil: Falcon, Guth Berger. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade; BrasilFil: Collicchio, Erich. Universidade Federal Do Tocantins; BrasilFil: Machado Balestra, Rafael A.. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis e Anfíbios; BrasilFil: Ferreira Luz, Vera L.. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis e Anfíbios; BrasilFil: Colli, Guarino Rinaldi. Universidade do Brasília; BrasilFil: Malvásio, Adriana. Universidade Federal Do Tocantins; Brasi