Liquid Lunch - Vampire Bats Feed On Invasive Feral Pigs And Other Ungulates

14950550

Curso Latino Americano de Frugivoria e Dispersão de Sementes

Peer reviewe

Densidade de teiús (Tupinambis merianae) e seu papel como predador de ninhos na ilha Anchieta, Brasil

Mammals has been pointed out to be the main nest predators in islands, but recent studies has shown that tree snakes are also important nest predator in tropical forests. Here we present information on the density tegu lizards Tupinambis merianae and its role as nest predator at Anchieta Island, Ubatuba, in southeastern Brazil. The mean density of tegu lizards was estimated to be 83 individuals/km2, which is 1.83 times lower than other well-known population (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago). In the dense rainforest, the density was estimated in 20 individuas/ km2, and in the open rainforest, 109 ind/km2. The high density of this lizard may have serious implications for nest predation. We found that 36% of artificial plasticine eggs were “preyed upon” by tegu lizards. Therefore, it is paramount to manage the tegu population on Anchieta Island to assure the survival of ground nesting birds in islands and possibly in forest fragments. Key words: Teiidae, islands, insular ecosystems, nest predation.Mamíferos têm sido apontados como os principais predadores de ninhos em ilhas. Estudos recentes demonstram que serpentes arborícolas também são importantes predadores de ninhos em florestas tropicais. Este estudo apresenta dados sobre a densidade de Tupinambis merianae (teiús) na ilha de Anchieta (Ubatuba, SP) e seu papel como predador de ninhos. A densidade média de teiús na ilha foi estimada em 83 indivíduos/km2, 1,83 vezes menor que outra população bem conhecida (e.g., arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha). Em florestas chuvosas densas, a densidade estimada de teiús é de 20 indivíduos/ km2, e de 109 indivíduos/km2 nas abertas. A alta densidade de teiús pode ter sérias implicações na predação de ninhos. Na área estudada, 36% dos ovos artificiais utilizados no experimento foram “predados” por teiús. Assim, é fundamental monitorar a população de teiús na ilha Anchieta para garantir a sobrevivência de filhotes de pássaros que constroem seus ninhos no chão, em ilhas e, possivelmente, em fragmentos de florestas. Palavras-chave: Teiidae, ilhas, ecossistemas insulares, predação de ninhos

FRUGIVORIA E DISPERSÃO DE SEMENTES PELO JABUTI-PIRANGA CHELONOIDIS CARBONARIA

Diversos estudos visam compreender a dispersão por aves e mamíferos, enquanto que a saurocoria (dispersão por répteis) recebe relativa pouca atenção. O presente estudo visa compreender se os Jabutis-Piranga (Chelonoidis carbonaria) podem ser considerados potenciais dispersores de sementes. Sendo assim, foram oferecidos diversos frutos nativos e exóticos com variações em seus tamanhos de sementes, observando a capacidade dos indivíduos engolirem; a partir do oferecimento de quatro espécies de frutos, foi obtido o tempo de retenção e posteriormente, a taxa de germinação. Os resultados indicam que os Jabutis-Piranga podem ser considerados potenciais dispersores de sementes, pois engolem frutos de até 23mm de diâmetro, possuem um tempo de retenção de 3-28 dias (variando com a espécie do fruto) e afetam positivamente nas taxas de germinação de sementes, apenas inibindo o desenvolvimento germinativo em Euterpe edulis.

Trophic and spatial complementarity on seed dispersal services by birds, wild mammals, and cattle in a Mediterranean woodland pasture

Most earth surfaces have undergone intensive land-use changes, creating habitat mosaics. Seed dispersal by animals is a crucial process in such mosaics, but community-wide studies comparing the functional complementarity and response to man-imposed habitat heterogeneity are rare. Here, we investigate the trophic and spatial seed dispersal networks underpinning a strong, woody vegetation expansion over a pastureland inside the largest forest remnant in western Sicily, Italy. Over two fruiting seasons, we surveyed transects in three distinct biomes within our study area: forest, pastureland, and unpaved road. In total, we collected 659 feces and tested for differences in defecation patterns and seed rain density of birds, wild mammals, and cattle. We also tested the degree of trophic and spatial specialization and modularity using a network approach. Overall, birds dispersed 1208 seeds/ha of nine plant species, including six exclusive. Mammals dispersed 679 seeds/ha from four wild species, three of which also dispersed by birds, and 38 seeds/ha of three cultivated species. In turn, mammals dispersed exclusively the seeds of wild pear (Pyrus amygdaliformis), the most abundant tree in the woodland pasture. Cattle only dispersed wild pear, but accounting for 56% of the dispersed seeds. Seed rain densities were significantly higher in woodland pastures than in forests. However, almost of half the seeds dispersed by cattle and red fox were deposited on unpaved roads. While both trophic and spatial networks were more specialized than expected, we did detect distinct modules. Our study demonstrated the magnitude of the effects of man-made habitat heterogeneity on seed dispersal services, giving baseline information for restoration programs as well as high nature value pastureland management strategies

Densidade de teiús (Tupinambis merianae) e seu papel como predador de ninhos na ilha Anchieta, Brasil

Mammals has been pointed out to be the main nest predators in islands, but recent studies has shown that tree snakes are also important nest predator in tropical forests. Here we present information on the density tegu lizards Tupinambis merianae and its role as nest predator at Anchieta Island, Ubatuba, in southeastern Brazil. The mean density of tegu lizards was estimated to be 83 individuals/km2, which is 1.83 times lower than other well-known population (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago). In the dense rainforest, the density was estimated in 20 individuas/ km2, and in the open rainforest, 109 ind/km2. The high density of this lizard may have serious implications for nest predation. We found that 36% of artificial plasticine eggs were “preyed upon” by tegu lizards. Therefore, it is paramount to manage the tegu population on Anchieta Island to assure the survival of ground nesting birds in islands and possibly in forest fragments. Key words: Teiidae, islands, insular ecosystems, nest predation.Mamíferos têm sido apontados como os principais predadores de ninhos em ilhas. Estudos recentes demonstram que serpentes arborícolas também são importantes predadores de ninhos em florestas tropicais. Este estudo apresenta dados sobre a densidade de Tupinambis merianae (teiús) na ilha de Anchieta (Ubatuba, SP) e seu papel como predador de ninhos. A densidade média de teiús na ilha foi estimada em 83 indivíduos/km2, 1,83 vezes menor que outra população bem conhecida (e.g., arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha). Em florestas chuvosas densas, a densidade estimada de teiús é de 20 indivíduos/ km2, e de 109 indivíduos/km2 nas abertas. A alta densidade de teiús pode ter sérias implicações na predação de ninhos. Na área estudada, 36% dos ovos artificiais utilizados no experimento foram “predados” por teiús. Assim, é fundamental monitorar a população de teiús na ilha Anchieta para garantir a sobrevivência de filhotes de pássaros que constroem seus ninhos no chão, em ilhas e, possivelmente, em fragmentos de florestas. Palavras-chave: Teiidae, ilhas, ecossistemas insulares, predação de ninhos

Science for a wilder Anthropocene: synthesis and future directions for trophic rewilding research

Trophic rewilding is an ecological restoration strategy that uses species introductions to restore top-down trophic interactions and associated trophic cascades to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems. Given the importance of large animals in trophic cascades and their widespread losses and resulting trophic downgrading, it often focuses on restoring functional megafaunas. Trophic rewilding is increasingly being implemented for conservation, but remains controversial. Here, we provide a synthesis of its current scientific basis, highlighting trophic cascades as the key conceptual framework, discussing the main lessons learned from ongoing rewilding projects, systematically reviewing the current literature, and highlighting unintentional rewilding and spontaneous wildlife comebacks as underused sources of information. Together, these lines of evidence show that trophic cascades may be restored via species reintroductions and ecological replacements. It is clear, however, that megafauna effects may be affected by poorly understood trophic complexity effects and interactions with landscape settings, human activities, and other factors. Unfortunately, empirical research on trophic rewilding is still rare, fragmented, and geographically biased, with the literature dominated by essays and opinion pieces. We highlight the need for applied programs to include hypothesis testing and science-based monitoring, and outline priorities for future research, notably assessing the role of trophic complexity, interplay with landscape settings, land use, and climate change, as well as developing the global scope for rewilding and tools to optimize benefits and reduce human–wildlife conflicts. Finally, we recommend developing a decision framework for species selection, building on functional and phylogenetic information and with attention to the potential contribution from synthetic biology