An annotated avian inventory of the Brazilian state of Alagoas, one of the world’s most threatened avifauna

The northeast Brazilian state of Alagoas harbors a rather diverse, and one of the world’s most threatened, avifauna. However, the knowledge about its avifauna is currently scattered on several publications and the state’s birds have never been comprehensively assembled into a checklist. To fill this shortfall, we present here the first critical review of all available bird records for the state of Alagoas. We present a list of 520 bird species recorded in the state, of which 503 are supported by documentary evidence. We also comment on the distribution, migratory movements, taxonomy and conservation of the region’s avifauna and correct previous misidentified or invalid records for the state

Extra-pair paternity in a Neotropical rainforest songbird, the White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis (Aves: Turdidae)

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades, several studies have shown that the mating systems of various birds are more complex than previously believed, and paternity tests performed with molecular techniques have proved, for instance, that the commonly observed social monogamy often presents important variations, such as extra-pair paternity. However, data are still largely biased towards temperate species. In our study, at an area of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found broods containing at least one extra-pair young (EPY) in the socially monogamous White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis (Vieillot, 1818). Paternity tests using six heterologous microsatellite loci revealed that four of 11 broods (36.4%) presented at least one extra-pair young (EPY). This rate of EPY is within the range found for other studies in the tropics. This is one of the few studies that present detailed paternity analyses of a Neotropical rainforest passerine. Our findings corroborate the early insights that breeding strategies involving cheating can also be widespread among Neotropical socially monogamous songbirds

Estruturação genética em populações do tangará-dançarino Chiroxiphia caudata (Aves, Pipridae) no corredor costeiro da Mata Atlântica (SP) e sua importância para a conservação.

Neotropical passerine birds that inhabit forests understory are thought to be highly sedentary, which may result in greater genetic differentiation among populations than in temperate species. The species of the genus Chiroxiphia (Pipridae) perform highly specialized courtship displays in which males aggregate at traditional arenas, or ``leks´´, performing a precopulatory dance. Each lek consists of 2-6 males, where a linear dominance hierarchy exists. With rare exceptions, the dominant male perform all of the copulations, resulting in one of the highest variances in male mating success ever demonstrated in vertebrates. Since subordinate males (beta) expend energy dancing, increasing the fitness of the alpha male, without receiving any immediate benefit, it has been hypothesized that kin selection could be involved, providing a genetic payoff to the subordinate individuals. Considering that the leks locations are permanent, if kin selection is involved, male dispersal is expected to be limited at some level, while females, that are free to visit different leks, would be the more dispersive sex. Sedentariness associated with the high variance in male mating success, as well as the possibility of kin selection, make of these birds candidates to present high levels of interpopulation structuring. In this work we investigated the extent of variation within and among blue-manakin, Chiroxiphia caudata, populations using 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci, along a 415 km transect, which covers most of the extension of the largest remaining continuum of one of the most endangered ecosystem in the planet, the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Low but significant levels of differentiation were found across populations (FST = - 0.0002 to 0.023). This structuring must be mostly related to social aspects of the species, and three non exclusive hypothesis can be urged to explain it: (1) genetic drift due to the intra population smaller effective population size caused by the high variance in male mating success; (2) inbreeding if males contribute to more than one generation of females and (3) the existence of kin selection among males from the same lek. Besides, an isolation by distance pattern of differentiation was found, indicating that dispersal is at some level limited, which can also have contributed to the observed structuring. Thus, a significant part of the blue manakin genetic diversity was distributed among populations, even at such a limited geographic scale. When these continuous areas get disconnect reducing gene flow, these animals are probably much more prone to suffer inbreeding depression and loose alleles than species that are not naturally inbred, such as most of the temperate birds. In this scenario, preserving continuous areas must be essential to maintain the genetic diversity, and the continuous corridor here studied can be the last large genetic repository for many Atlantic forest organisms.Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisOs Passeriformes neotropicais que habitam o sub-bosque das áreas florestadas têm sido considerados como sendo altamente sedentários, o que resultaria em maiores diferenciações genéticas entre as populações se comparadas com as aves de ambientes temperados. As espécies pertencentes ao gênero Chiroxiphia (Pipridae) realizam displays de corte altamente especializados, nos quais os machos se agregam em arenas tradicionais, ou leks, para fazerem a dança pré-copulatória. Cada lek consiste de 2-6 machos, havendo uma dominância hierárquica entre eles. Salvo raras exceções, apenas o macho dominante (alpha) tem acesso às cópulas, resultando numa das maiores variâncias no sucesso de acasalamento dos machos já descrita para os vertebrados. Dado que os machos subordinados (beta) gastam energia dançando, aumentando o potencial reprodutivo do macho alpha, sem receber nenhum benefício imediato, tem sido proposto que seleção de parentesco possa estar envolvida, garantindo um ganho genético para estes machos subordinados. Considerando-se que os locais dos leks são permanentes, se seleção de parentesco estiver envolvida espera-se que a dispersão dos machos seja limitada, enquanto as fêmeas, que são livres para visitar diferentes leks, seriam o sexo mais dispersivo. O sedentarismo, associado com a alta variância no sucesso reprodutivo dos machos, bem como a possibilidade de seleção de parentesco, fazem destes animais fortes candidatos a apresentar altos níveis de estruturação interpopulacional. No presente trabalho foi investigada a extensão da variação genética intra e interpopulacional do Tangará-dançarino, Chiroxiphia caudata, utilizando-se 10 loci polimórficos de microssatélites. Os animais (n = 143) foram amostrados em cinco áreas localizadas ao longo de um transecto de 415 km, que cobre a maior parte da extensão do maior corredor contínuo restante da Mata Atlântica, um dos ecossistemas mais ameaçados do planeta. Níveis baixos, mas significativos, de diferenciação foram encontrados (FST = -0,0002 a 0,023). Este estruturação deve estar relacionada com aspectos sociais da espécie em estudo, e três hipóteses não exclusivas podem ser consideradas para explicar a diferenciação observada: (1) ação da deriva genética devido a um menor tamanho efetivo das populações locais causado pela grande desproporção no sucesso de acasalamento dos machos; (2) endocruzamento, se os machos contribuírem com mais de uma geração de fêmeas e (3) a potencial existência de seleção de parentesco entre os machos participantes do mesmo lek. Além disso, um padrão de isolamento pela distância extremamente significativo foi encontrado, indicando que a dispersão é até certo ponto limitada, o que também pode ter contribuído com a estruturação observada. Portanto, uma porção significativa de diversidade genética de C. caudata está distribuída entre as populações, mesmo em escalas geográficas tão limitadas. Quando estas áreas contínuas se tornam fragmentadas, reduzindo o fluxo gênico, estes animais são provavelmente mais propensos a perder alelos e a sofrer os efeitos negativos do endocruzamento do que seriam as espécies que não são naturalmente endocruzadas, como a maioria das aves de ambientes temperados. Neste cenário, a preservação de áreas contínuas deve ser essencial para a manutenção da diversidade genética, e o corredor contínuo onde este trabalho foi realizado pode ser o último grande reservatório de diversidade genética para muitos organismos da Mata Atlântica

First complete description of nest, eggs, and nestlings of the Squamate Antbird, Myrmoderus squamosus (Aves: Thamnophilidae)

Even though nest architecture has been useful for phylogenetic inferences among the Thamnophilidae (Aves: Passeriformes), the nests of only three out of five species of Myrmoderus (Ridgway, 1909) are known to science. Here we describe the nests, eggs, and nestling of the Squamate Antbird Myrmoderus squamosus (Pelzeln, 1868). Two nests were bulky bottom-supported cups, measuring 7.3 and 12 cm in maximum outside diameter, with a noticeably smaller egg cup, and they were placed within the crown of short, broad-leafed plants. Eggs were short-oval, with chalky white background color, and purple blotches and streaks more concentrated in the large end. One nestling was dark reddish grey, with bluish white feet, pinkish gray tarsi, and a blackish bill with bright yellow rictal flanges. In face of the great diversity of nest types found among the Thamnophilidae, we concluded that the nest of M. squamosus was similar to those of other congeners, giving support to this currently phylogenetically-defined genus

Consumo dos frutos de Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae) por aves numa área de cerrado em São Carlos, Estado de São Paulo

Fruits have been considered an important feeding resource used not only by frugivorous birds, but also by omnivore and some insectivore species. In the present paper we are reporting the behavior of birds consuming fruits of Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae). Handling behavior and visits frequency were analyzed in order to infer about the potential ornithochoric seed dispersal. Focal observations were carried out from October to December 1999 in a cerrado fragment located in São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil (21°58′S, 47°52′W). In 60 h of field work we recorded 241 visits of 13 passerine bird species consuming the fruits. The mean number of visits per hour and the standard deviation were 4.01 ± 4.88. All of the species were considered potential seed dispersers, since no pulp mashers or seed predators were observed. No temporal difference in visit frequency was found when all of the species were analyzed together or when they were individually considered. Generalist species were responsible for 68.5% of the visits, followed by frugivorous (22.82%) and insectivorous (8.71%). The main potential seed dispersers were Elaenia spp. (Tyrannidae), Tangara cayana (Emberizidae), Empidonomus varius (Tyrannidae), Turdus leucomelas (Muscicapidae) and Vireo chivi (Vireonidae). The high visit frequency observed suggests that D. rugosa fruits may be an important feeding resource for birds in the cerrado ecosystem, in the manner that this plant can be considered in management plans which intent to maintain or rescue bird communities

Aves como potenciais dispersoras de sementes de Ocotea pulchella Mart. (Lauraceae) numa área de vegetação de cerrado do sudeste brasileiro

Embora os estudos de frugivoria e dispersão de sementes sejam importantes para a realização de planos de manejo e recuperação de ambientes degradados, pouco tem sido pesquisado sobre o assunto no cerrado brasileiro. Neste trabalho são apresentados aspectos da frugivoria e dispersão das sementes de Ocotea pulchella Mart. (Lauraceae) por aves. Treze espécies de aves foram registradas consumindo os frutos de O. pulchella em 72 horas de observação focal, entre os meses de agosto e outubro de 1999, numa área de cerrado da região central do estado de São Paulo (21º58' S, 47º52' W), Brasil. As principais espécies potencialmente dispersoras foram o sabiá-pardão, Turdus leucomelas (Muscicapidae), o sabiá-docampo, Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), o bem-te-vi, Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae) e as guaracavas, Elaenia spp. (Tyrannidae). Não foram encontradas variações significativas no número de visitas nos diferentes intervalos de hora quando todas as espécies foram analisadas em conjunto e quando cada espécie foi analisada separadamente. Não houve variação significativa também no tempo de permanência sobre as plantas entre as diferentes espécies de aves. A taxa de consumo diferiu significativamente entre elas, tendo sido encontrada correlação positiva significativa entre o peso das diferentes espécies e o número médio de frutos consumidos por visita. O tempo de permanência sobre a planta e o número de frutos consumidos foram positivamente correlacionados para Elaenia spp., para a maria-cavaleira, Myiarchus tyrannulus (Tyrannidae) e para o sabiá-laranjeira, Turdus rufiventris (Muscicapidae). Embora espécies primariamente frugívoras não tenham sido observadas consumindo os frutos de O. pulchella, as espécies oportunistas pareceram favorecer a eficiência da dispersão, mantendo altas freqüências de visitas, altas taxas de consumo e permanecendo por curtos períodos de tempo sobre as plantas.Studies on frugivory and seed dispersal are extremely important for management plans, but few studies have been developed in the Brazilian cerrado. In this paper we describe the frugivory and seed dispersal of Ocotea pulchella Mart. (Lauraceae) by birds in a cerrado area in São Paulo state (21º58' S, 47º52' W), southeastern Brazil. In 72 hours of focal observations, from August to October 1999, we recorded 411 visits of 13 different bird species consuming the fruits of O. pulchella. The main potential seed dispersers were the Pale-breasted Thrush, Turdus leucomelas (Muscicapidae), the Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), the Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae) and the Elaenias, Elaenia spp. (Tyrannidae). We did not find significant difference in the frequency of visits at different hour intervals throughout the day when all of the species were pooled together and when the species were individually considered. The bird species did not differ in the time they spent foraging on the plants. The number of fruits consumed in each visit differed among species and there was positive correlation between avian body mass and mean number of consumed fruits in these visits. The time spent on plants was positively correlated to the number of consumed fruits by Elaenia spp., Brown-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus (Tyrannidae) and the Rufous-bellied Thrush, Turdus rufiventris (Muscicapidae). Although specialist frugivorous birds have not been observed consuming O. pulchella, generalist species were potential seed dispersers, presenting high frequency of visits, high fruit consume and shortened visit periods.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES