ATLANTIC BIRDS: a data set of bird species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

South America holds 30% of the world's avifauna, with the Atlantic Forest representing one of the richest regions of the Neotropics. Here we have compiled a data set on Brazilian Atlantic Forest bird occurrence (150,423) and abundance samples (N = 832 bird species; 33,119 bird individuals) using multiple methods, including qualitative surveys, mist nets, point counts, and line transects). We used four main sources of data: museum collections, on-line databases, literature sources, and unpublished reports. The data set comprises 4,122 localities and data from 1815 to 2017. Most studies were conducted in the Florestas de Interior (1,510 localities) and Serra do Mar (1,280 localities) biogeographic sub-regions. Considering the three main quantitative methods (mist net, point count, and line transect), we compiled abundance data for 745 species in 576 communities. In the data set, the most frequent species were Basileuterus culicivorus, Cyclaris gujanensis, and Conophaga lineata. There were 71 singletons, such as Lipaugus conditus and Calyptura cristata. We suggest that this small number of records reinforces the critical situation of these taxa in the Atlantic Forest. The information provided in this data set can be used for macroecological studies and to foster conservation strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Data Paper if data are used in publications and teaching events. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ

Padrão de desmatamento ilegal em área de mata ciliar: implicações para a conectividade da paisagem

In the last months the government and the society promote several debates about changes in the Forest Code. The main topic discusses about the reduction of riparian forest along the water bodies. This possible reduction will have negative effects on biodiversity conservation, soil and water resources. However, there are no consensus about the real negative effects. In the other side, there are a lack of empiric studies about this theme in the context of the Forest Code. In this way, the main goal of this research is to quantify and analyze the patterns of deforestation in riparian forest at the Muzambo drainage basin (Alterosa/Areado-MG). Additionally been recommended actions to restore the Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) considering the landscape context. The analysis of vegetation fragments based on remote sensing data of RapidEye images and Object-Oriented Analysis. From landscape metrics verify the configuration of landscape considering two scenarios: i)actual condition of the riparian forest and, ii) simulation taking into account the ideal arrangement of the riparian forest, based on CONAMA 303/2002 resolution. The results show a high level of illegal deforestation, which occurred randomly in the study area. This situation promote an increase of fragments that there are isolated between them. In addiction, the percentage of vegetal cover reduced to a critic range that impossibility the species conservation. It is necessary the management of landscapes to protect the few and small fragments presents and also to restores areas, increasing the percentage of vegetation cover.Pages: 6759-676

Taxonomic groups with lower movement capacity may present higher beta diversity

ABSTRACT Diversity analysis by partition is an approach employed in order to understand how communities spatially structure themselves and the factors that operate in the generation and maintenance of distribution patterns. We examined the spatial structure of species diversity of four taxonomic groups, with different dispersal abilities, in 16 forest fragments in the southern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Specifically, we tested: i) if the similarity in species composition would be negatively related to geographical distance between the 16 fragments; and ii) if the beta diversity of the different groups could be negatively related to their dispersal abilities. Alpha diversity and the compositional similarity between localities were both low. Beta diversity was not correlated with distance for any of the groups. Primates, followed by birds, showed a higher tendency of forming similarity groupings, although in a manner that was independent from distance between fragments, as well as showed the lowest beta diversity relative values. Spermatophytes and amphibians did not define groupings and presented the highest values of beta diversity. We interpreted such results as indications that the groups with higher dispersal ability (primates and birds) tend to reach, on average, farther localities and, therefore, to define more similar groupings (low beta diversity). The groups with lower dispersal ability (spermatophytes and amphibians) showed the opposite tendency. Although most of the species were restricted to few localities, contributing to the low similarity, beta and gamma diversity values showed the extent which the localities are, respectively, different and complementary to each other in terms of species composition. Such features reinforce and justify future conservation initiatives, both in local and regional levels

Taxonomic groups with lower movement capacity may present higher beta diversity

ABSTRACT Diversity analysis by partition is an approach employed in order to understand how communities spatially structure themselves and the factors that operate in the generation and maintenance of distribution patterns. We examined the spatial structure of species diversity of four taxonomic groups, with different dispersal abilities, in 16 forest fragments in the southern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Specifically, we tested: i) if the similarity in species composition would be negatively related to geographical distance between the 16 fragments; and ii) if the beta diversity of the different groups could be negatively related to their dispersal abilities. Alpha diversity and the compositional similarity between localities were both low. Beta diversity was not correlated with distance for any of the groups. Primates, followed by birds, showed a higher tendency of forming similarity groupings, although in a manner that was independent from distance between fragments, as well as showed the lowest beta diversity relative values. Spermatophytes and amphibians did not define groupings and presented the highest values of beta diversity. We interpreted such results as indications that the groups with higher dispersal ability (primates and birds) tend to reach, on average, farther localities and, therefore, to define more similar groupings (low beta diversity). The groups with lower dispersal ability (spermatophytes and amphibians) showed the opposite tendency. Although most of the species were restricted to few localities, contributing to the low similarity, beta and gamma diversity values showed the extent which the localities are, respectively, different and complementary to each other in terms of species composition. Such features reinforce and justify future conservation initiatives, both in local and regional levels

Predicted (according to plausible models that were valid according to the Kappa test) and observed primate presence/absence in the validation region, Poço Fundo—MG, Brazil.

<p>a) <i>Callicebus nigrifrons</i>—Size + visibility model; b) <i>Sapajus nigritus</i>—Size only model; c) <i>S. nigritus</i>—Size + matrix type model. Figures originally produced by LGS based on Google Earth images, for illustrative purposes only.</p

Comparison of competing predictive models of species occurrence for <i>Callicebus nigrifrons</i>, <i>Callithrix aurita</i> and <i>Sapajus nigritus</i>, through the Akaike Information Criterion, based on occurrence information in the region of Alfenas—Brazil.

<p>^(a) Difference between the AICc value of a given model and the lower AICc value among all models for a given species.</p><p>^(b) Model weight. Models were ordered following the first species in the table. For the next two species, we indicate the position of the models, from the higher to the lower weight, using superscripts.</p><p>Plausible models are highlighted.</p><p>Comparison of competing predictive models of species occurrence for <i>Callicebus nigrifrons</i>, <i>Callithrix aurita</i> and <i>Sapajus nigritus</i>, through the Akaike Information Criterion, based on occurrence information in the region of Alfenas—Brazil.</p

Focal study area, Alfenas—MG, Brazil.

<p>The Atlantic Forest remnants in the region are highly fragmented, with the vegetation reduced to 4% of the original area. The forest fragments were manually vectorized, scale 1:10,000, followed by visual grading. Figure originally produced by LGS based on Google Earth images, for illustrative purposes only.</p