Medium and large sized mammals and the effect of habitat heterogeneity from a Caatinga shrubby forest at Serra de Santa Catarina, Paraíba, Brazil

In xeric environments, such as Caatinga Biome, habitat characteristics such as phytophysiognomy type and presence of water bodies can represent higher resource availability. In this context, the present study investigated the effect of phytophysiognomies and presence of water bodies in the abundance and community structure of medium and large mammal species (MLM) in the Serra de Santa Catarina, Paraíba, Brazil. To evaluate these variables we conduct an effort of 373 camera-trap days, between August 2012 and November 2014. We recorded 12 MLM species, distributed in six orders and 11 families. From those, Kerodon rupestris is the only one listed in the Brazilian List of Threatened Fauna. Regarding the habitat, the Mann-Whitney showed a significant higher frequency to the Shrubby habitat and the ANOSIM showed no shifts in the community structure between Arboreal and Shrubby. Concerning the presence of water bodies, both the Mann-Whitney and the ANOSIM showed significant higher frequency to the habitat with water presence. We observed that both phytophysiognomy and water bodies are important variables which affect mainly the abundance of mammalian species from semiarid environments. Nonetheless, whereas the forest remnants get smaller the existence of water bodies becomes a preponderant factor to the MLM species and its community structure

Occurrence of Sturnira tildae De La Torre, 1959 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

The bat genus Sturnira is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, from northwestern Mexico to northern Argentina, and four species occur in Brazil: Sturnira lilium, Sturnira giannae, Sturnira magna, and Sturnira tildae. The present study is the first to record Sturnira tildae in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, based on morphological and molecular diagnoses. The specimen was identified based on its cranial and morphometric traits. The diagnostic traits include discreetly bilobed inner upper incisors with a broad base, lower first and second molars with lingual cusps separated by shallow grooves, and forearm longer than 45 mm. The molecular sequences of Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit 1 (COI) and 16S rRNA genes confirmed the morphological identification and thus the occurrence of Sturnira tildae in the Amazon biome of Maranhão. This record represents an eastward extension of the known distribution of the species in the Amazonia, to Cândido Mendes, Maranhão, within an area dominated by dense rainforest and influenced by tides

Barragem subterrânea: transformando vidas no Semiárido brasileiro.

No âmbito do uso da água na agricultura, entre outros estudos, a Embrapa e instituições parceiras têm desenvolvido pesquisas que visam à captação e estocagem da água de chuva nas comunidades rurais do Semiárido brasileiro. A barragem subterrânea é uma das soluções tecnológicas para o aproveitamento da água da chuva, como forma de reduzir os efeitos das irregularidades climáticas na região semiárida.bitstream/item/222290/1/Folder-Barragem-subterranea-2021.pd

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Medium and large sized mammals and the effect of habitat heterogeneity from a Caatinga shrubby forest at Serra de Santa Catarina, Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract In xeric environments, such as Caatinga Biome, habitat characteristics such as phytophysiognomy type and presence of water bodies can represent higher resource availability. In this context, the present study investigated the effect of phytophysiognomies and presence of water bodies in the abundance and community structure of medium and large mammal species (MLM) in the Serra de Santa Catarina, Paraíba, Brazil. To evaluate these variables we conduct an effort of 373 camera-trap days, between August 2012 and November 2014. We recorded 12 MLM species, distributed in six orders and 11 families. From those, Kerodon rupestris is the only one listed in the Brazilian List of Threatened Fauna. Regarding the habitat, the Mann-Whitney showed a significant higher frequency to the Shrubby habitat and the ANOSIM showed no shifts in the community structure between Arboreal and Shrubby. Concerning the presence of water bodies, both the Mann-Whitney and the ANOSIM showed significant higher frequency to the habitat with water presence. We observed that both phytophysiognomy and water bodies are important variables which affect mainly the abundance of mammalian species from semiarid environments. Nonetheless, whereas the forest remnants get smaller the existence of water bodies becomes a preponderant factor to the MLM species and its community structure

New records and a new mtDNA lineage of Cryptonanus agricolai (Moojen, 1943) (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae) from Maranhão state, northeastern Brazil

Cryptonanus agricolai (Moojen, 1943) is a small didelphid widely distributed across of central and northeastern Brazil and in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. A recent phylogeographic study of this species identified three major mtDNA clades with strong geographic structure. Here, we present new records of C. agricolai in northeastern Brazil, including the first report for Maranhão state. We also identify a novel mtDNA lineage, sister to one of the three major clades, in some specimens from Maranhão, indicating that C. agricolai is morphologically and genetically more variable than previously recognized

Mammals of a restinga forest in Mataraca, Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, and its affinities to restinga areas in Brazil

<div><p>Abstract The Restinga forests are plant formations associated to the Atlantic Forest which still have not been much studied in terms of their mastofauna. The objective of the present work was to list for the first time the mammal species found in a Restinga on northeastern Brazil and show the similarities on species composition to other areas of the same environment and of Atlantic Forest. Our records were based on several complementary approaches: field survey, interviews, and museum collections. Subsequently, we performed similarity analysis between Restinga areas along Brazil and Atlantic Forest areas. We found a total of 30 species of mammals distributed in 28 genera, 16 families and 7 orders for Restinga of Mataraca. Species richness was similar to other Restinga areas and similarity analyzes pointed out that Restingas are more closely related to adjacent Atlantic Forest areas than to other Restingas in the country. This suggests that Restingas do not exhibit an autochthone fauna, but rather a faunal subsample of neighbor Atlantic Forest. Therefore, conservations policies for the Restinga habitat depends not only on actions focused on this habitat, but on initiatives that encompass nearby Atlantic Forest remnants, allowing the connectivity between these habitats.</p></div

Nonvolant mammals in habitats of the Caatinga scrub and cloud forest enclave at Serra da Guia, state of Sergipe

There were identified 19 species of nonvolant mammals on the Serra da Guia region, municipalities of Poço Redondo - Sergipe and Pedro Alexandre - Bahia. The samplings were conducted between December 2008 and August 2009, in two different areas: Caatinga dry scrub and a Cloud Forest enclave, in which were placed 10 Sherman type traps, within three nights per month. To mid and large mammals’ species, existing transects of 1,000 m were traveled, searching for tracks, sightings, feces or vocalizations. Among sampled species, only Leopardus tigrinus is in the IUCN Red List, classified as Vulnerable (VU). Regarding the differences between the study sites, some species were sampled only in exclusive areas, as: Monodelphis domestica and Thrichomys laurentius to Caatinga dry scrub; and Marmosops incanus, Trinomys albispinus and Oecomys catherinae to Cloud Forest. Continued studies may provide more information about the mammal diversity and the role of Cloud Forest in the maintenance of such diversity, to the Caatinga Biome

Rational use of watershed resources in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco - Brazil | Uso racional de recursos em microbacia na região Agreste do estado de Pernambuco - Brasil

It was used a model of development based on the availability of natural resources, to identify the possible options for income generation in the area, and the current infrastructure conditions and of labor qualification. It was drafted a plan to use the watershed centered in man, with the primary concern of protecting the environment of which it is part. This study aimed to establish a development plan, promoting the improvement of quality of life and control of damage to the environment in the watershed of Várzea Grande, located in the city of Belo Jardim - PE. Planning for sustainable use of a basin should involve human and natural resources available, in addition to promoting social welfare and environmental protection. In semi-arid regions occur locations at high altitudes, with less risk of crop loss, representing potential for sustained food production. The planning had as supports an expeditious survey of natural resources, classifications made on the land and socio economic information gathered in the area. It was concluded that in addition to agriculture, there should be encouragement for other activities such as domestic agribusiness, for crafts and even for rural tourism in order to increase earnings and put the population in the market economy