Seedlings and ramets recruitment in two rhizomatous species of Rupestrian grasslands: Leiothrix curvifolia var. lanuginosa and Leiothrix crassifolia (Eriocaulaceae)

Leiothrix curvifolia var. lanuginosa and Leiothrix crassifolia are endemic and sympatric species in the Brazilian rupestrian grasslands, a habitat that has a predominance of sandy and shallow soils with low water retention. Based on the premise that soil moisture is one of the abiotic factors that affects most reproduction in plants, we hypothesized that the flowering phenology events and establishment of sexual and vegetative offspring would occur in the periods of higher soil water availability. We marked 478 ramets distributed among 100 genets of L. curvifolia var. lanuginosa and 693 ramets distributed among 100 genets of L. crassifolia, so that they could be observed monthly along the two rainy seasons from December 2003 to 2004. Both species showed phenological synchrony in the flower heads and seedlings production with soil moisture availability. Seedling mortality was intense in the dry period. Unlike the seedlings, the ramets survived was 100%. The greater capacity of ramets to survive can result from a much greater biomass compared with seedlings.. and ramets become adult much faster. We conclude that for a successful seedling establishment, the synchronization with the rainy season was required, and moreover, that repeated seedling recruitment can be important for the maintenance of local populations of these species which suffer from high seedling mortality in the drought period. It is likely that the coincidence of the rainy period with seedling establishment is an important factor that determines the flowering phenological pattern of L. curvifolia var. lanuginosa and L. crassifolia in rupestrian grasslands. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.203215216

Cryptic coloration and choice of escape microhabitats by grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Cryptic coloration is found in many Orthoptera, especially in Acrididae, showing a great variety of forms. In a grasshopper assemblage in southeastern Brazil, preferences for escape places were detected; grasshoppers tended to escape to backgrounds in which they seem to be more cryptic. Coloration was measured using the Simpson diversity index, to quantify 'aspect diversity' (diversity of colours and shapes of patches along the insect's body). A weak positive correlation was found between grasshoppers' aspect diversity and diversification in use of escape places (use of many backgrounds to escape). Grasshoppers xith similar colour patterns tended to use the same structures (leaves, sandy soil, stones) to escape. (C) 1997 The Linnean Society of London.61448549

A NEW PROTOCARNIVOROUS PLANT FROM BRAZIL, PAEPALANTHUS BROMELIOIDES SILV (ERIOCAULACEAE)

Paepalanthus bromelioides Silvestri (Eriocaulaceae) from the Cerro do Cipo, Brasil, is a new protocarnivorous plant mimicking Bromeliaceae, and sharing with three of them (Catopsis berteroniana, Brocchinia reducta and B. hechtioides) carnivorous tendencies: U.V. reflexion by leaves, central tank, lubricating and wettable liquid, absorbing trichomes, acid pH of water within the tank, etc.. However, prey digestion is apparently carried out by bacteria only, as in the above mentionned Bromeliaceae. A complex arthropod assemblage lives between the leaves, within tank water, and in the inflorescences.4913

First records of Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825 (Charadriidae) and Gelochelidon nilotica Gmelin 1789 (Sternidae) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Around forty bird species habitually reproduce in the Northern Hemisphere during summer, and migrate to the Southern Hemisphere during northern winter. These migrating birds fly together in large or small groups until they have reached the Caribbean, Central American, or Brazilian shores. Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825, is one of these migrating species that uses resting and feeding areas along eastern and western coasts of North and South America, with several records for the Brazilian coast, and very few for the inland country. On November 24, 2011, an individual of this species was observed on the banks of one of the lakes that compose a complex of about 40 temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area. On October 29 and 30, 2012 a single individual of Gelochelidon nilotica, Gmelin 1789, was also observed in Sumidouro State Park. We suggest that these specimens have used the Atlantic Ocean migration route, following the São Francisco River Basin, until the karst area. Although highly impacted, the temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa still harbor a significant number of bird species, and serve as resting and feeding places for migratory or errant species that are still eliciting new records

First records of Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825 (Charadriidae) and Gelochelidon nilotica Gmelin 1789 (Sternidae) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Around forty bird species habitually reproduce in the Northern Hemisphere during summer, and migrate to the Southern Hemisphere during northern winter. These migrating birds fly together in large or small groups until they have reached the Caribbean, Central American, or Brazilian shores. Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825, is one of these migrating species that uses resting and feeding areas along eastern and western coasts of North and South America, with several records for the Brazilian coast, and very few for the inland country. On November 24, 2011, an individual of this species was observed on the banks of one of the lakes that compose a complex of about 40 temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area. On October 29 and 30, 2012 a single individual of Gelochelidon nilotica, Gmelin 1789, was also observed in Sumidouro State Park. We suggest that these specimens have used the Atlantic Ocean migration route, following the São Francisco River Basin, until the karst area. Although highly impacted, the temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa still harbor a significant number of bird species, and serve as resting and feeding places for migratory or errant species that are still eliciting new records

Subsistence hunting of Cuniculus pacain the middle of the Solimões River, Amazonas, Brazil

Ungulates, large primates and caviomorfs are cited by Amazonian hunters as preferred species. In this research, paca (Cuniculus paca) hunting was investigated in relation to water levels and the lunar cycle. In eight years of monitoring in the Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve, the killing of 625 pacas was registered in five monitored communities. Paca hunting took place mainly at night and the most commonly used method is “spotlighting”. A positive correlation between the number of pacas killed and water level (rs=0.890; p<0.0001) was found. At least 37% of the pacas were hunted when moon illumination level was less than 10%, before moonrise or after moonset. In the Boa Esperança community, capture of paca tended to decrease on nights with high moon illumination (rs= −0.663; p=0.067). At the same time, an expressive catch-per-unity-effort decrease was also observed in this community (r2= −0.881; p<0.001), allowing us to predict unsustainable hunting levels for the next decade. The stock of animals in these areas could be continuously replaced if surrounding areas consisted of continuous forests. However, continuous hunting and deforestation force local hunters to travel longer distances to kill prey such as pacas. The confirmation of the relation between paca habits and lunar illumination and water level, a pattern described by local hunters, demonstrates the potential value of participatory research and the possibility of integrating traditional knowledge into scientific knowledge

Soil factors effects on life history attributes of Leiothrix spiralis and Leiothrix vivipara (Eriocaulaceae) on rupestrian grasslands in Southeastern Brazil

In this study, we hypothesized that the life history traits of Leiothrix spiralis and L. vivipara would be linked to soil factors of the rupestrian grasslands and that rosette size would be influenced by soil moisture. Soil analyses were performed from five populations of L. spiralis and four populations of L. vivipara. In each area, three replicates were employed in 19 areas of occurrence of Leiothrix species, and we quantified the life history attributes. The microhabitats of these species show low favorability regarding to soil factors. During the dry season, their rosettes decreased in diameter due the loss of its most outlying leaves. The absence of seedlings indicated the low fecundity of both species. However, both species showed rapid population growth by pseudovivipary. Both L. spiralis and L. vivipara exhibit a kind of parental care that was quantified by the presence of connections between parental-rosettes and ramets. The findings of the present study show that the life history traits are linked to soil factors

SAUROCORY IN MELOCACTUS-VIOLACEUS (CACTACEAE)

The button cactus, Melocactus violaceus (Cactaceae), occurs in open, sandy soils in southern Brazilian coastal areas. The fruits of this species are pink, cone-shaped, and have a high water content and low sugar concentration. The fruits of M. violaceus develop while completely protected inside the cephalium and are driven out by internal pressure when ripe. Fruits can be exposed in only a few minutes during the hottest part of the day, and they become easily visible over the cephalium. They are expelled more quickly when temperature is high and lizards are more active. During the dry season these fruits appear to be eaten exclusively by the lizard Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae). The cephalium is positioned dose to soil level and the bright color of the fruits apparently improves fruit detection. Lizards defecate viable M. violaceus seeds. These seeds germinated quickly under laboratory conditions, while seeds collected directly from ripe fruits did not germinate under the same conditions. Cactus and fruit morphology, and the diurnal pattern of fruit release, may represent a suite of adaptations for dispersal by Tropidurus torquatus.26329530