First records of Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus, Mammalia, Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae) predation by jaguar (Panthera onca, Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae)

The jaguar Panthera onca and the Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus are two threatened mammals that coexist in the Caatinga dry forests and the Cerrado savannas of Brazil. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, interactions between these species have not been reported in the literature. Here, we present the first records of P. onca predation on T. tricinctus from two different areas in the Caatinga in northeastern Brazil. We showed that P. onca can pierce the hard carapace of T. tricinctus, which may be possible due to its distinctly strong bite and associated predation behavior. We argue that P. onca may be the most adapted non-human predator to feed on T. tricinctus, and that the smaller body sizes of P. onca individuals in the Caatinga may increase their likelihood to feed on smaller prey, including T. tricinctus. Thus, the originality of our records is probably more related to insufficient research in the areas where these species coexist than to the rarity of this interaction

Medium and large sized mammals of the Boqueirão da Onça, North of Bahia State, Brazil

The mosaic of protected areas of Boqueirão da Onça (8.636 km²), created in the north of Bahia state, is located in the Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, but exposed to a range of anthropic impacts that threaten its species and natural resources. Few data are available for various zoological groups in Caatinga, including mammals. In order to characterize the community of mammals of this region, considering species richness, we installed 80 camera-trap stations. With a sampling effort of 10,370 camera-days we recorded 28 species (22 wild and six domestic). Opportunistically, we recorded four mammals, resulting in a total richness of 32 species, five of which are included in the global list of endangered species, and seven in the national list. The results are significant, since the richness of wild mammals of the Boqueirão da Onça (S = 26) presented a high value when compared to other Caatinga localities. During the study we found evidence of human activities threatening the conservation of the region, such as poaching and deforestation. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the publication of the Management Plan of the recently created Boqueirão da Onça National Park, to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity and ensure the maintenance of ecological processes

Interaction with parents and use of space by an infant of Alouatta fusca (Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, 1812) in captivity

Os primatas são animais que possuem elo social entre a mãe e sua prole, diferente de outras ordens de mamíferos. A sobrevivência do infante primata é completamente dependente do cuidado provido por membros de seu grupo social, particularmente do cuidado materno. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a utilização do recinto por um infante de bugio e sua proximidade com os pais. O grupo de bugios era composto por um casal de adultos e seu filhote fêmea com quatro meses de idade. O período de observações foi de agosto a dezembro/2006, perfazendo uma média de 96 horas de esforço de amostragem. O método de observação foi o animal focal com registro instantâneo, com intervalos de 30 segundos durante uma hora por dia. O local do estudo foi o recinto de exposição da Fundação Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte, com 7m de altura, 6 m de largura, 7 m de profundidade com presença de paisagismo interno. As observações revelaram um contato maior do infante com a mãe em relação ao pai e um distanciamento significativo (P < 0,05) do filhote em relação ao contato materno, com o aumento da idade e maior independência. O local mais utilizado durante os três primeiros meses de cativeiro foi a pérgola. No mês de dezembro, período de maior pluviosidade, o filhote aumentou interações ventrais com a mãe, e permaneceu mais tempo no cano. As informações obtidas neste trabalho contribuem para um melhor entendimento em relação aos infantes de Alouatta fusca, suas interações sociais e uso do espaço que podem ser utilizados para aprimorar o manejo ex-situ dos animais, criando melhores condições para a estadia dos mesmos em cativeiro, utilizando-se de estruturas adequadas que simulem o ambiente natural, a fim de garantir o bem-estar dos bugios e assim, a sobrevivência da espécie.Primates are social animals that have bond between mother and offspring, unlike other orders of mammals. The survival of an infant primate is completely dependent on the care provided by members of their social group, particularly maternal care. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of premises for an infant of monkey and its proximity to the parents. The group of monkeys was composed of a pair of adult female and her pup at 4 months of age. The observation period was from august to december 2006, making an average of 96 hours of sampling effort. The method of observation was the focal animal with instant record, with 30 second intervals for 1 hour per day. The study site was an exhibition space of the Zoo-Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte, 7 m high, 6 m wide, 7 m deep with the presence of internal landscaping. The results revealed greater contact with the infant's mother and father in relation to a significant departure (P < 0.05) compared to the puppy's maternal contact with increasing age and greater independence. The most used during the first 3 months of captivity was the pergola. In December, a period of higher rainfall, the chick ventral increased interactions with the mother, and stayed longer in the barrel. Information obtained here will contribute to a better understanding in relation to infants of Alouatta fusca, their social interactions and use of space that can be used to improve the ex-situ management of animals, creating better conditions for the stay of those in captivity, using appropriate structures that mimic the natural environment, to ensure the welfare of apes and thus the survival of the species

Gestão da Coleta Seletiva de Resíduos Sólidos no Campus Pampulha da UFMG: Desafios e Impactos Sociais

The selective collection of solid waste consists of the separation of recyclable materials at the source and its routing to proper recycling. This action looks for promoting environmental education besides generating jobs and income and consequently it presents as a result the development of the garbage separation habit for its further processing and use, contributing in this way to urban sustainability. This study aimed to identify challenges to the implementation and management of solid waste selective collection on the campus of UFMG Pampulha and its social impacts. The research was characterized as a descriptive case study where quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. The perception of waste managers of various units of UFMG were analyzed, comparing the results obtained with those of other universities. The social participation in the solid waste selective collection at UFMG was also investigated. The results signaled the need for investment in infrastructure, for the institutionalization of the process and for the continuous promotion of environmental education through campaigns, seeking the involvement of people in the program. The establishment of waste pickers associations was considered important for the development and valorization of the collector’s activity.La recogida selectiva de residuos sólidos consiste en la separación de los materiales reciclables en la fuente generadora y en el encaminamiento para el reciclaje. Esta acción busca promover la educación ambiental, generar trabajo y ingresos y consecuentemente el hábito de separación de los residuos para su aprovechamiento apropiado, contribuyendo a una sostenibilidad urbana. Este trabajo tuvo como meta identificar los desafíos para la implantación y la gestión de la recogida selectiva nel Campus de la Pampulha de la UFMG así como sus impactos sociales. La investigación fue caracterizada como un estudio de caso descriptivo. Se utilizó abordajes cuantitativos y cualitativos. Se buscó analizar la percepción de los gestores de residuos de las unidades de la UFMG, comparando los resultados con las experiencias de otras universidades. También fue investigada la participación social en la recogida selectiva en UFMG. Los resultados señalizaron una necesidad de: inversiones en infraestructura, institucionalización del proceso y promoción continua de campañas de educación ambiental, mirando el envolvimiento de las personas nel programa. Se consideró importante la constitución de las asociaciones de colectores de los materiales reciclables para la valorización de su actividad.A coleta seletiva de resíduos sólidos consiste na separação de materiais recicláveis na fonte geradora e o devido encaminhamento para reciclagem. Esta ação busca promover a educação ambiental, gera trabalho e renda e apresenta como consequência o hábito da separação do lixo para seu devido aproveitamento, contribuindo para a sustentabilidade urbana. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar os desafios à implantação e gestão da coleta seletiva no Campus da Pampulha da UFMG e seus impactos sociais. A pesquisa foi caracterizada como um estudo de caso descritivo. Foram utilizadas as abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa. Buscou-se analisar a percepção dos gestores de resíduos das várias unidades da UFMG, comparando os resultados obtidos com as experiências de outras universidades. Também foi investigada a participação social na coleta seletiva na UFMG. Os resultados sinalizaram a necessidade de investimentos em infraestrutura, a institucionalização do processo e a promoção contínua de campanhas de educação ambiental, buscando o envolvimento das pessoas no programa. Foi considerada importante a constituição das associações de catadores de materiais recicláveis para a valorização da atividade dos catadores

ATLANTIC-CAMTRAPS: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the Atlantic Forest of South America

Our understanding of mammal ecology has always been hindered by the difficulties of observing species in closed tropical forests. Camera trapping has become a major advance for monitoring terrestrial mammals in biodiversity rich ecosystems. Here we compiled one of the largest datasets of inventories of terrestrial mammal communities for the Neotropical region based on camera trapping studies. The dataset comprises 170 surveys of medium to large terrestrial mammals using camera traps conducted in 144 areas by 74 studies, covering six vegetation types of tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of South America (Brazil and Argentina), and present data on species composition and richness. The complete dataset comprises 53,438 independent records of 83 species of mammals, includes 10 species of marsupials, 15 rodents, 20 carnivores, eight ungulates and six armadillos. Species richness averaged 13 species (±6.07 SD) per site. Only six species occurred in more than 50% of the sites: the domestic dog Canis familiaris, crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous, tayra Eira barbara, south American coati Nasua nasua, crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus and the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. The information contained in this dataset can be used to understand macroecological patterns of biodiversity, community, and population structure, but also to evaluate the ecological consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and trophic interactions. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of Americ

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost