Effects of reduced-impact logging on medium and large-bodied forest vertebrates in eastern Amazonia

Standard line-transect census techniques were deployed to generate a checklist and quantify the abundance of medium and large-bodied vertebrate species in forest areas of eastern Amazonia with and without a history of reduced-impact logging (RIL). Three areas were allocated a total of 1,196.9 km of line-transect census effort. Sampling was conducted from April to June 2012 and from April to August 2013, and detected 29 forest vertebrate species considered in this study belonging to 15 orders, 20 families and 28 genera. Additionally, eight species were recorded outside census walks through direct and indirect observations. Of this total, six species are considered vulnerable according to IUCN (Ateles paniscus, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Priodontes maximus, Tapirus terrestris, Tayassu peccary, Chelonoidis denticulata). Observed species richness ranged from 21 to 24 species in logged and unlogged areas, and encounter rates along transects were highly variable between treatments. However, the relative abundance of species per transect did not differ between transects in logged and unlogged forests. Of the species  detected during censuses, only three showed different relative abundance between the two treatments (Saguinus midas, Tinamus spp. and Dasyprocta leporina). Our results show that the effect of RIL forest management was a relatively unimportant determinant of population abundance for most medium and large vertebrates over the time period of the survey

Gamebird responses to anthropogenic forest fragmentation and degradation in a southern Amazonian landscape

Although large-bodied tropical forest birds are impacted by both habitat loss and fragmentation, their patterns of habitat occupancy will also depend on the degree of forest habitat disturbance, which may interact synergistically or additively with fragmentation effects. Here, we examine the effects of forest patch and landscape metrics, and levels of forest disturbance on the patterns of persistence of six gamebird taxa in the southern Brazilian Amazon. We use both interview data conducted with long-term residents and/or landowners from 129 remnant forest patches and 15 continuous forest sites and line-transect census data from a subset of 21 forest patches and two continuous forests. Forest patch area was the strongest predictor of species persistence, explaining as much as 46% of the overall variation in gamebird species richness. Logistic regression models showed that anthropogenic disturbance—including surface wildfires, selective logging and hunting pressure—had a variety of effects on species persistence. Most large-bodied gamebird species were sensitive to forest fragmentation, occupying primarily large, high-quality forest patches in higher abundances, and were typically absent from patches 10,000 ha), relatively undisturbed forest patches to both maximize persistence and maintain baseline abundances of large neotropical forest birds

Estudo preliminar sobre a biologia reprodutiva de Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Foi estudado o ciclo reprodutivo de Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) no Sul do Brasil. Os exemplares foram capturados em floresta secundária de Mata Atlântica, na Estação Experimental Fitotécnica de Osório, Município de Maquiné, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A Estação localiza-se à latitude de 29°39'32"S e longitude de 50°12'46"W e as altitudes variam de 15 a 450 metros. Foi analisada a morfologia externa da genitália e a microestrutura das gônadas das fêmeas e dos machos coletados, através de cortes histológicos. As remeas apresentam útero simples e ambos os ovários funcionais . O ciclo reprodutivo parece ser do tipo poliéstrico bimodal, pois foram observadas remeas prenhes, com embriões em início de desenvolvimento no útero e lactantes simultaneamente. F oram encontradas, simultaneamente, fêmeas em diferentes estágios do ciclo reprodutivo, o que caracteriza assincronia na atividade reprodutiva das fêmeas. Os dados do ciclo reprodutivo dos machos de Artibeus lituratus não são conclusivos devido ao pequeno tamanho da amostra. Parece não haver relação entre a condição externa do testículo e o estado reprodutivo dos animais. O nascimento de filhotes de Artibeus lituratus, no Sul do Brasil, está relacionado às épocas de temperaturas mais elevadas, como a primavera e verão. Época em que ocorre, provavelmente, maior disponibilidade de alimento.The Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) reproductive cycle was studied in the South of Brazil. The specimen was captured in a secondary forest from the "Mata Atlântica", in the ''Estação Experimental Fitotécnica de Osório", Maquiné, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The Station is situated by the latitude of 29°39'32"S and by the longitude o f 50° 12' 46"W and the altitude changes from 15 to 450 meters. The externai morphology of the genital and the microstructure of the females gonads and colected males were analyzed, through histological cuts. The females presents simple uterus and both functional avaries. The reproductive cycle seems to be from the bimodal polyestric type, because females in foal were observed, with embryos in the beggining o f their development in to the uterus and milk-producing simultaneously. Females in different stages of their reproductive cycle were found, wich means asynchrony in the females reproductive activity. The condition of the reproductive cycle from the males of the males of the Artibeus lituratus are not conclusive due to the smallest size of the sample. It seems not to have a relation between the externai condition of the testicle and the reproductive state o f males. The birth of the Artibeus lituratus, in the South of Brazil, is related to the periods of higher temperatures, like spring and summer. Those are probably the periods o f the best food availability

Anthropogenic influences on the distribution of a threatened apex-predator around sustainable-use reserves following hydropower dam installation

Although previous studies demonstrate declines in many large bodied species following hydropower dam installation, others suggest that some species, including the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) may return to newly created reservoir habitats. Yet, there is a lack of evidence to support such theories. Here, we analyzed the effects of a hydropower dam on giant otters using a before-after control-impact study design in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. We collected data 3 years before (2011–2012 and 2015) and after (2017–2019) dam construction, totaling 6,459 km of surveys along rivers with 43 direct sightings of giant otters. Contrary to expectations, our results revealed that giant otters did not remain nor did they return to the dam reservoir. Beyond the zone directly impacted by the dam giant otter occurrence and relative abundance declined next to sustainable-use reserves where the river was more intensely used by people. Our study showed that in the absence of active management sustainable-use reserves and low human density were not sufficient to maintain this apex-predator. Our findings suggest a need to proactively create and maintain areas with low levels of anthropogenic disturbance to enable sustainable coexistence between energy demands and biodiversity across Amazonia

JUSTIÇA RESTAURATIVA: UMA ALTERNATIVA A SER APLICADA NO CAMPO DA VITIMOLOGIA

Each passing day increases the number of people who become victims of numerous crimes. This context is very sad, because it shows the weakness of the society in which we live. This study aims to demonstrate a small point against such a context. It aims to clarify, how the victim is treated in the legal environment, especially in criminal cases. And this is not the eyes of the accuser society, or our justice fails. The methodology adopted was given in explanatory mode, through literature survey, from research and book report bibliographic works. The main role of this work is to show, especially to the victim's eyes, what she sees, feels, and your opinion forward to the experiences of others, but especially because of their own experiences. Finally, aims to counter the current justice system, which is, of retributive justice, with restorative justice as a way to change our paradigm.Cada día que pasa aumenta el número de personas que son víctimas de numerosos crímenes. Este contexto es muy triste, porque demuestra la debilidad de la sociedad en la que vivimos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo demostrar un pequeño punto en contra de este contexto. Se trata de aclarar, la forma en que la víctima es tratada en el entorno legal, especialmente en los casos penales. Y esto no es los ojos de la sociedad acusador, o no nuestra justicia. La metodología adoptada fue dada en el modo explicativo, a través de estudio de la literatura, de investigación y reporte de un libro de obras bibliográficas. La función principal de este trabajo es mostrar, sobre todo a los ojos de la víctima, lo que ve, siente, y su opinión con interés las experiencias de los demás, pero sobre todo a causa de sus propias experiencias. Por último, tiene como objetivo contrarrestar el actual sistema de justicia, que es, de la justicia retributiva, con la justicia restaurativa como una manera de cambiar nuestro paradigma.A cada dia que passa cresce o número de pessoas que se tornam vítimas de inúmeros crimes. Tal contexto é muito triste, pois demonstra a fraqueza da sociedade em que vivemos. O presente estudo pretende demonstrar um pequeno ponto frente a tal contexto. Visa esclarecer, de que forma a vítima é tratada no meio jurídico, em especial, na esfera penal. E isto não aos olhos da sociedade acusadora, ou de nossa justiça falha. A metodologia adotada se deu na modalidade explicativa, por meio de levantamento de literatura, a partir de pesquisa e fichamento de obras bibliográficas. O papel principal deste trabalho é mostrar, principalmente aos olhos da vítima, o que ela vê, sente, e sua opinião frente às experiências de outras pessoas, mas principalmente frente às suas próprias experiências. Por fim, almeja rebater o atual sistema de justiça, qual seja, da Justiça Retributiva, apresentando a Justiça Restaurativa, como forma de mudança em nosso paradigma

Effects of human-induced habitat changes on site-use patterns in large Amazonian Forest mammals

The Amazon is one of the most diverse biomes around the globe, currently threatened by economic and industrial development and climate change. Large mammals are keystone species, playing an important role in ecosystem structure and function as ecological engineers, while being highly susceptible to deforestation, habitat degradation, and human exploitation. Using a unifying hierarchical Bayesian spatial approach, we examine the site-use patterns of four large Amazonian Forest mammals and their relationships to anthropogenic factors at a biome-wide scale. Our results showed that species’ patterns of site use are correlated with human induced habitat changes, and that this correlation is species-specific. The white-lipped peccary shows highest site-use estimates within strict protected areas, affected by proximity to urban areas and benefiting from indigenous territories, the tapir responding slightly to proximity to burned forested areas, while the giant armadillo and the jaguar were primarily affected by vegetation cover loss; disturbances related to the colonization of the Amazon. Our findings contribute to the understanding of how human-induced environmental changes influence the site-use patterns of these four large mammals, and inform future conservation and land use planning. Transboundary conservation efforts, empowering and integrating native (indigenous and non-indigenous) communities in land governance schemes, involving the private sector and securing the commitment of developed countries are important paths for the protection and sustainability of the globally-crucial Amazon rainforest

Ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation and disturbance in Amazonian forests

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