Mandible shape in marsupial and placental carnivorous mammals: a morphological comparative study using geometric morphometrics

We analysed mandible shape of the orders Dasyuromorpha, Didelphimorphia, and Carnivora using twodimensional geometric morphometrics, in order to explore the relationship between shape, size, and phylogeny. We studied 541 specimens, covering most of the genera of the terrestrial Carnivora (115 species) and a wide sample of marsupials (36 species). The observed shape variation had an ecological component. As an example, omnivorous carnivores have thick mandibles and large talonids in the carnassials, while hypercarnivores possess short mandibles and reduced talonids. There is also a discrimination between different taxonomic groups (i.e. marsupials and Carnivora), indicating some kind of constraint. Size explains a large percentage of total variance (large species had shorter and stronger mandibles, with anteriorly displaced carnassials), was significant when  phylogeny was taken into account with a comparative method, but not when size and shape were optimized on the phylogeny. Carnivora presents a larger disparity and variation in body size, which could be related to the difference in teeth replacement. The optimization of mandible shape on the phylogenetic tree indicates that functional aspects, such as diet, are a key factor in the evolution of the carnivore mandible, but also that there is a phylogenetic pattern that cannot be explained by differences in diet alone.Fil: Prevosti, Francisco Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Turazzini, Guillermo Fidel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Ercoli, Marcos Darío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Hingst Zaher, Erika. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; Brasi

PEREGRINE FALCON FALCO PEREGRINUS IN BRAZIL: NATURAL HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS OF CITIZEN SCIENCE

Brazil is a relevant wintering area for Falco peregrinus, particularly the subspecies F. p. tundrius and F. p anatum. Using data from WikiAves, we analyzed and discussed aspects of the species natural history, such as their migratory behavior, geographical distribution, diet, and ecological interactions. Peregrine falcons can be seen in the country from October until April. Our data suggests that adults can arrive up to a month earlier than juveniles. Individuals have been recorded in all 26 states and there is no significant difference in the geographical distribution due their subspecies or age, but there is an apparent lack of records on Central region of the country. Our results shows that in Brazil peregrines prey mainly on Columbiformes and Charadriiformes. Some individuals share the same perch and engage on agonistic interactions with other bird species, usually mopping or kleptoparasitism

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the urban park of Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

Green areas in urban landscapes are under strong anthropogenic pressure, and, at the same time are fundamental to maintaining biodiversity, as they provide resources for many animal and plant species. Knowing these species is fundamental for its maintenance and conservation, and inventories are extremely important for monitoring fauna and conserving it. Therefore, the goal of this research is to inventory the butterflies species in the park of the Instituto Butantan (Ibu), located in an urban area in the city of São Paulo, southeast Brazil. The surveys of butterflies were conducted through visual censuses from August 2017 to July 2019 and recorded a total of 324 butterfly species. The most speciose family was Hesperiidae, followed by Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae, and Papilionidae. Among the sampled species, there is Euselasia zara which is a new record for the state of São Paulo. Neither the species accumulation nor the richness estimator curves tended to reach an asymptote, suggesting that additional butterflies’ species will be recorded with more sampling effort on the site. Even with a flora composed mainly of exotic and ornamental plants, the park of Instituto Butantan exhibits a very rich butterfly community. This community exhibits a pattern of seasonally variation, with the peak of species richness related to the rainy season. When compared with Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira (USP), another nearby urban green area, which is larger, more heterogeneous and sampled over a longer period, it is possible to notice that the Ibu butterfly community is a subsample of this larger one. These results highlight the potential that urban parks have for the maintenance and conservation of butterfly species

A time with e-Natureza (e-Nature): a model of nature-based health interventions as a complex adaptive system

Discussions surrounding the positive impacts of nature on human health and strategies to enhance our connection with the natural world have been ongoing. However, a limited number of theoretical models are available to guide research and practice in this area. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a systematic framework that outlines clear steps for conducting research implementing nature-based interventions. In this study, we investigate the relationship between health and nature through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems. This approach involves examining the dynamic interactions between multiple interconnected elements to understand the complex emergent behaviors that arise from such relationships. Our model is designed to support nature-based interventions, considering the essential interdependence between humans and nature. This perspective aims to improve both human health and biodiversity conservation in a mutually beneficial manner. The underlying interactions that drive nature-based health interventions are thoroughly explored, leading us to propose a novel intervention model named “A time with e-Natureza” (e-Nature). This model encompasses four types of experiences, drawing from scientific literature and insights from authors engaged in an interdisciplinary research group: (1) Aesthetic and emotional experience; (2) Multisensory integration experience; (3) Knowledge experience; and (4) Engagement experience. Each experience within the model targets affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects, with a specific focus on fostering a deeper connection with nature. Distinct activities are incorporated within each experience to promote successful outcomes. The model is grounded in existing theories that address the human-nature relationship and is informed by Nursing theories that support health promotion interventions. By presenting this new model, our aim is to contribute to the effective implementation of nature-based interventions that not only enhance human well-being but also support the conservation of nature. This integrated approach recognizes the mutual benefits of human-nature interaction and offers valuable insights for future research and practical applications in the fields of nature and health

Taxonomic revision and additional comments of some bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) reported from Bolivia, with an updated checklist based on voucher material with verified identities

We review the taxonomic identities of museum specimens of three bat species previously reported from Bolivia. We comment on some erroneously reported taxa, or taxa either not represented by voucher materials or based on insufficient data (including acoustic detections) to verify their taxonomic affinities. As result of this review, the list of bat species known to occur in Bolivia is updated to eight families and 133 species, unlike the nine families and 146 species of previous lists. Some recommendations for future research and a brief historical revision of bat inventories in the country are included

Application of geometric morphometrics to the study of postnatal size and shape changes in the skull of <em>Calomys expulsus</em>

<strong>Abstract</strong> We analyzed ontogenetic patterns of landmarks for 169 laboratory-raised specimens of <em>Calomys expulsus</em>, at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, and 300 days of age, using two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. There is sexual dimorphism in size, with males smaller than females at earlier ages, but larger after 50 days. Differences in shape between sexes are strong only until 10 days of age, suggesting that shape is more constrained than size. Combining sexes, there is strong variation in size with age, reduced after 200 days, while most of the variation in shape occurs before 20 days. This dissociation is common for sigmodontine rodents, and might be the basis of heterochronic processes responsible for the morphological variation of this South American group. Centroid size does not show any reduction in the coefficient of variation over ages, while Procrustes distances within sucessive ages are reduced after 20 days. Uniform component and the more global partial warps explain most of the shape changes with age. Cranial and Facial parts of the skull increase in size at different rates with a relative lengthening of the snout and decrease in height of the braincase. We were unable to detect a clear pattern of integration for the rostrum and braincase, besides that shown by landmark displacements

Investigating South American biogeographic history using patterns of skull shape variation on Cerdocyon thous (Mammalia: Canidae)

Patterns of geographic variation of the canid Cerdocyon thous have historically been obscured by its remarkable intraspecific morphological variability. The observed distribution is highly associated with phytophysiognomy, a feature considered highly dynamic along geological time. In the present study, we tested whether vegetation distribution during the Holocene Glacial Maximum of South America (HGM) explains the patterns of morphological variation within Cerdocyon thous. The species was divided in groups according to paleohabitats that could support their presence during the HGM, and then tested for differences in skull morphometrics. The results obtained demonstrate that the climatic changes during the HGM influenced the population structure of this species, resulting in the establishment of geographical groups with different degrees of morphological cohesion. Higher morphological cohesion found in the Northern group might be explained by the marked discontinuity between its geographical range and the rest of the species`distribution. The Eastern and Southern morphological divergence is less striking and, although this could be related to past vegetation distribution, the disappearance of those barriers leads to a population structure that could be slowly breaking down. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 77-84.Fapesp proc[01/07053-8]FAPESP (proc.

Timing of ontogenetic changes of two cranial regions in Sotalia guianensis (Delphinidae)

Despite the fact that heterochronic processes seem to be an important process determining morphological evolution of the delphinid skull, previous workers have not found allometric scaling as relevant factor in the differentiation within the genus Sotalia. Here we analyzed the skull ontogeny of the estuarine dolphin S. guianensis and investigate differential growth and shape changes of two cranial regions the neurocranium and the face in order to evaluate the relevance of cranial compartmentalization on the ontogeny of this structure. Our results show that, even though both cranial regions stop growing at adulthood, the face has higher initial growth rates than the neurocranium. The rate of shape changes is also different for both regions, with the face showing a initially higher, but rapidly decreasing rate of change, while the neurocranium shows a slow decreasing rate, leading to persistent and localized shape changes throughout adult life, a pattern that could be related to epigenetic regional factors. The pattern of ontogenetic shape change described here is similar to those described for other groups of Delphinidae and also match intra and interspecific variation found within the family, suggesting that mosaic heterochrony could be an important factor in the morphological evolution of this group. (C) 2012 Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Saugetierkunde. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.CAPESCAPESFAPESPFAPESP [07/52144-5, 01/07053-8

A geometric morphometric analysis of cranial and mandibular shape variation of didelphid marsupials

<strong>Abstract</strong> The New World marsupial family Didelphidae is one of the oldest among mammals and is usually regarded as a morphologically conservative group. We analyzed cranial shape variation among six species of the six largest living genera of the family using two-dimensional landmark data. We captured and digitized video images of the skull and mandible for the following species: <em>Caluromys philander</em> (n = 65), <em>Chironectes minimus</em> (n = 30), <em>Didelphis aurita</em> (n = 70), <em>Lutreolina crassicaudata</em> (n = 37), <em>Metachirus nudicaudatus</em> (n = 77) and <em>Philander frenata</em> (n = 62). Fourteen landmarks were defined for the lateral, 25 for the ventral, 23 for the dorsal views of the skull, and nine on the mandibular lateral view. Sex, species, and interaction effects were analyzed with a two-way MANOVA on the matrices of coordinates aligned by general least squares. All four views had significant interactions. Canonical Variates Analysis was performed on sexes and species, and shape was regressed on the canonical variate scores for each species. <em>Caluromys philander</em> was clearly the most distinct species, with paedomorphic features that can be related to its arboreal habits. A conspicuous shortening of the rostrum distinguishes the highly carnivorous <em>Lutreolina crassicaudata</em>. <em>Didelphis aurita</em> and <em>Philander frenata</em> overlapped somewhat, reflecting shape similarities associated with their phylogenetic affinities, while the few differences observed are probably allometric consequences of size differences. <em>Philander frenata</em> and <em>Chironectes minimus</em> showed similar cranial shapes, while <em>Metachirus nudicaudatus</em> was distinctive with a broad and elongated rostrum. In spite of an overall similar shape, the geometric morphometric approach revealed several marked differences among species that can be related to their phylogenetic origin and their adaptive zone