Diversidade regional de serpentes na Amazônia: uma abordagem multidimensional com implicações para conservação de paisagens naturais

The overexploitation of natural resources have threatened tropical forests at an alarming rate, and integrative studies are necessary for planning effective conservation actions. In this thesis we used snakes as a model-group in studies on community ecology and landscape genomics in three chapters with different goals, but all converging in scientific basis for biodiversity conservation. In the Chapter I we present a cost-benefit evaluation of sampling snakes for environmental impact assessments in the Amazon. We show that the high cost of sampling snakes ($120 per individual) associated with the low detection probabilities makes this group inappropriate for short-term studies. Alternatively we suggest that environmental impact assessments are focused on taxonomic groups that simultaneously reflect robust diversity measures and are relatively easy to obtain samples. The remaining chapters of this thesis result from sampling surveys along nine years of monitoring snakes in standardized sampling units. In the Chapter II we tested the effects of ecological gradients of tree density, altitude and soil clay content on measures of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic β-diversity. We show that the three gradients tested act as filters on the taxonomic diversity, which creates regional patterns of co-occurring species. However, differences in functional traits and phylogenies among sampling units are randomly distributed throughout the landscape, regardless of variation in the gradients tested. In the Chapter III we used thousands of genetic loci (SNPs) to compare patterns of gene flow between two ambush predator snakes and two active foragers. We show that the lower dispersal capability in ambush predators generates genetic differentiation among individuals and reduces the gene flow through isolation by geographic distance and environmental resistance. The active foragers, in turn, have high levels of gene flow over about 880 km of an heterogeneous landscape, and no evidence of genetic structure was found, regardless of the geographic distance and environmental resistance. We expect that the chapters of this thesis are part of integrative studies on biodiversity in the Amazon, which have been conducted through standardized sampling of different groups of animals and plants.A superexploração de recursos naturais tem ameaçado as florestas tropicais em ritmo alarmante, e estudos integrativos se fazem necessários para o delineamento de ações efetivas de conservação. Nessa tese nós usamos serpentes como um grupo-modelo para estudos em ecologia de comunidades e genômica de paisagens, em três capítulos com objetivos diferentes, mas todos convergindo em embasamento científico para conservação da biodiversidade. No capítulo I nós apresentamos uma avaliação de custo-benefício de amostragem de serpentes para avaliações de impacto ambiental na Amazônia. Nós mostramos que baixas probabilidades de detecção associadas ao alto custo de amostragem de serpentes (U$ 120 por indivíduo) tornam esse grupo pouco adequado para estudos em curto prazo. Alternativamente nós sugerimos que avaliações de impacto ambiental sejam focadas em grupos taxonômicos que simultaneamente reflitam medidas de diversidade robustas, e sejam relativamente fáceis para se obter dados. Os demais capítulos dessa tese resultam de campanhas de monitoramento de serpentes em unidades amostrais padronizadas, distribuídas ao longo de nove anos. No capítulo II nós testamos os efeitos de gradientes ecológicos de densidade de árvores, altitude e porcentagem de argila no solo sobre medidas de β- diversidade taxonômica, funcional e filogenética. Nós mostramos que os três gradientes testados funcionam como filtros à diversidade taxonômica, o que gera padrões regionais de co-ocorrência de espécies. No entanto, diferenças em traços funcionais e filogenias entre unidades amostrais são aleatoriamente distribuídas ao longo da paisagem, independentemente da variação nos gradientes testados. No capítulo III nós usamos milhares de marcadores genéticos (SNPs) para comparar padrões de fluxo gênico entre duas serpentes predadoras senta-e-espera e duas forrageadoras ativas. Nós mostramos que a capacidade de dispersão mais baixa em predadores senta-e-espera gera diferenciação genética entre indivíduos e redução no fluxo gênico por meio de isolamento por distância geográfica e resistência ambiental. Os forrageadores ativos, por sua vez, têm altos níveis de fluxo gênico ao longo de cerca de 880 km de uma paisagem heterogênea, e nenhuma evidência de estruturação genética foi encontrada, independentemente de distância geográfica e resistência ambiental. Nós esperamos que os capítulos dessa tese sejam parte de estudos integrativos de biodiversidade, os quais vêm sendo conduzidos na Amazônia por meio de amostragem padronizada de diferentes grupos de animais e plantas

Novo registro de ocorrência da perereca-franjada, Cruziohyla craspedopus (Anura: phyllomedusidae) estende o limite oriental de sua distribuição

The fringed leaf frog, Cruziohyla craspedopus is rarely sampled in the Brazilian Amazon, probably due to low detection probability associated with its arboreal habit. The knowledge about the species’ distribution stems from successive additions of occasional occurrence records, which indicate that the species is widely distributed throughout Amazonia. We present new occurrence records to update the geographic range of the species, which is hereby extended 224 km to the northeast. We also present morphological data from collected specimens and discuss the updated range from the geographic and ecological points of view. We show that the range of the leaf frog crosses several main tributaries along the southern bank of the Amazonas River, although the species occurrence is apparently limited by a minimum tree cover of 70%. © 2019, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia. All rights reserved

Herpetofauna of the Reserva Extrativista do Rio Gregório, Juruá Basin, southwest Amazonia, Brazil

We present a checklist for reptiles and amphibians of the Reserva Extrativista do Rio Gregório, at the upper Juruá River basin, in the southwest Brazilian Amazonia. Using time-constrained searches, pitfall traps, vocalization, and accidental sightings, we recorded 84 species: 46 amphibians and 38 reptiles. Although analyses suggest still higher diversity, considering the short sampling time, relatively high species richness was documented, which reveals the relevance of this region for conservation. Species richness did not differ between upland and floodplain habitats. Species compositions were significant different between these habitat categories for amphibians and snakes, but not for lizards, suggesting some habitat preferences. Additionally, we found threatened and vulnerable species. We did not assess impacts of human activities on natural populations in RESEX do Rio Gregório, but since resident people have directly used natural resources (e.g. consuming turtles and modifying natural habitats), we recommend monitoring biodiversity to avoid negative impacts. © 2012 Check List and Authors

Peripheral and central auditory findings in individuals with Williams syndrome

Introduction: Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopment genetic condition. The syndrome may present manifestations associated with the central nervous system, hearing, and language. It is possible, as well, to observe an alteration in the central auditory system, which can be diagnosed through long-latency auditory evoked potential (LLAEP). Objective: The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the results obtained by peripheral and central auditory evaluation on individuals with WS, verifying if there is a relationship between audiological findings and gender, age and ear side. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which 14 individuals with WS were evaluated. The exams performed consisted of pure tone audiometry, vocal audiometry, acoustic immittance measures, LLAEP, and cognitive potential. Results: The sample was composed of patients from 4 to 18 years old, with a mean age of 11.6 years old (±5.3), being 9 males (64.3%) and 5 females (35.7%). We mainly verified mild to moderate degree (40-44%) of sensorineural auditory loss (35.7-42.9%), type A tympanometric curve (57.1-64.3%), and absent acoustic reflexes (57.1%). As for central auditory evaluation, the subjects showed latency delay in all of the LLAEP components. Moreover, it was evidenced a statistically significant difference when comparing ears for amplitude on cognitive potential evaluation (p = 0.032), observing higher values at the left ear. It was also observed an inverse association between age and P1 wave latency both on the right (p = 0.006) and on the left ear (p = 0.022), and this result can be related to the nervous system maturational process of the WS individuals. Conclusion: There are few studies investigating the central auditory pathway on WS in literature. The present study contributes to the extension of the knowledge about the central involvement of the auditory phenotype in the syndrome. However, considering the sample size, more studies are suggested to confirm these findings

Morphology and geographical distribution of the poorly known snake Umbrivaga pygmaea (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Brazil

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Síntesis de kesterita Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 mediante métodos de hot-injection y solvotermal

En el presente trabajo se han sintetizado compuestos con estructura de kesterita Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 mediante métodos de síntesis “hot-injection” y solvotermal. Se ha analizado la efectividad de ambos procedimientos sobre las propiedades físico-químicas del material. Paralelamente, se ha estudiado la influencia de precursores y disolventes sobre la reactividad y la morfología del sistema. Los materiales desarrollados se han caracterizado estructural y microestructuralmente.Kesterite solid solution of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 have been synthesized by “hot-injection” and solvothermal methods. The procedure effectiveness that affect to the physical and chemical properties of the final material have been analyzed. The influence of different raw materials and solvents has been investigated in order to improve the preparation procedure. The materials have been characterized structurally and morphologically