Padrões de ocupação do javali (Sus scrofa L.) na Mata Atlântica brasileira

Apesar dos grandes impactos da invasão do javali (Sus scrofa) nos ecossistemas naturais, o uso de hábitats por esta espécie nos neotrópicos ainda permanece pouco estudado. Aqui, nós investigamos os efeitos do hábitat local e de covariáveis da paisagem (tipos de vegetação, cursos d'água e estradas) sobre os padrões de ocupação do javali na Mata Atlântica do sul do Brasil. Utilizamos a modelagem de ocupação de estação única para estimar as probabilidades de detecção (p) e de ocupação (ψ) dos javalis, usando monitoramento de armadilha fotográfica por 8 dias em 100 locais. As câmeras detectaram javalis em 64 locais (ocupação ingênua = 64%). Os quatro melhores modelos explicaram 72,7% dos padrões de ocupação, e o melhor modelo (com variável "água") teve um peso de 28,5%. Embora nenhuma das variáveis testadas apresentaram alto poder explicativo na ocupação do javali, a variável água foi a que contribuiu com uma tendência de efeito negativo (β = -1,124; SE = 0,734), com 59% de ocupação quando a água estava presente e 82% quando estava ausente nos pontos de amostragem. Vestígios da presença de javali em diferentes tipos de vegetação revelaram que eles utilizaram plantações de Pinus sp., florestas nativas e culturas de milho e aveia. O padrão de ocupação mostra que o javali é extremamente generalista em nosso local de estudo na Mata Atlântica, sendo encontrado em todos os lugares, o que levanta preocupações ecológicas e econômicas sobre os potenciais efeitos negativos de sua invasão.Despite the great impacts of invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) to natural ecosystems, habitat use by this species in the neotropics remains poorly studied. Here, we investigated the effects of local habitat and landscape covariates (vegetation types, running watercourses and roads) on occupancy patterns of wild pig in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. We used single season occupancy modeling to estimate detection (p) and occupancy (ψ) probabilities, using 8-day camera-trap monitoring of 100 sampled sites. The cameras detected wild pig in 64 sites (naïve occupancy = 64 %). The four best models explained 72.7 % of the occupancy patterns, and the top model (with "water" variable) had a weight of 28.5 %. Even though none of the tested variables had high explanatory power of wild pig occupancy, the water variable had a negative effect trend (β = -1.124; SE = 0.734), with 59 % of occupancy when water was present and 82 % when it was absent around the sampling sites. Vestiges of the presence of wild pig in different vegetation types revealed that they used plantations of Pinus sp., native forests, and corn and oat crops. The occupation pattern shows that wild pig are generalist at our study site at the Atlantic Forest being found everywhere, raising ecological and economic concerns about the high potential negative effects of its invasion

Host migration and environmental temperature influence avian haemosporidians prevalence: a molecular survey in a Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Avian haemosporidians are parasites with great capacity to spread to new environments and new hosts, being considered a good model to host-parasite interactions studies. Here, we examine avian haemosporidian parasites in a protected area covered by Restinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil, to test the hypothesis that haemosporidian prevalence is related to individual-level traits (age and breeding season), species-specific traits (diet, foraging strata, period of activity, species body weight, migratory status, and nest shape), and climate factors (temperature and rainfall). We screened DNA from 1,466 birds of 70 species captured monthly from April 2013 to March 2015. We detected an overall prevalence (Plasmodium/Haemoproteus infection) of 22% (44 host species) and parasite’s lineages were identified by mitochondrial cyt b gene. Our results showed that migration can be an important factor predicting the prevalence of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus), but not Plasmodium, in hosts. Besides, the temperature, but not rainfall, seems to predict the prevalence of Plasmodium in this bird community. Neither individual-level traits analyzed nor the other species-specific traits tested were related to the probability of a bird becoming infected by haemosporidians. Our results point the importance of conducting local studies in particular environments to understand the degree of generality of factors impacting parasite prevalence in bird communities. Despite our attempts to find patterns of infection in this bird community, we should be aware that an avian haemosporidian community organization is highly complex and this complexity can be attributed to an intricate net of factors, some of which were not observed in this study and should be evaluated in future studies. We evidence the importance of looking to host-parasite relationships in a more close scale, to assure that some effects may not be obfuscated by differences in host life-history

Primeiro registro documentado do piolhinho (Phyllomyias fasciatus) no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

We report the first record of the Planalto Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias fasciatus) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. This species was observed in the Nísia Floresta National Forest, on the east coast of the state, on October 14, 2022. The record is important to update the state's species list and can help in the search for new populations in the region.Reportamos el primer registro del piojo (Phyllomyias fasciatus) en el estado de Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Esta especie fue observada en el Bosque Nacional Nísia Floresta, en la costa este del estado, el 14 de octubre de 2022. El registro es importante para actualizar la lista de especies del estado y puede ayudar en la búsqueda de nuevas poblaciones en la región.Relatamos o primeiro registro do piolhinho (Phyllomyias fasciatus) no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Esta espécie foi bservada na Floresta Nacional de Nísia Floresta, no litoral leste do estado, em 14 de Outubro de 2022. O registro é importante para atualizar a lista de espécies do estado e pode ajudar na busca por novas populações na região

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

The influence of clutch and brood sizes on nesting success of the biscutate swift, Streptoprocne biscutata (Aves: Apodidae)

The nesting success of three colonies of Streptoprocne biscutata (Sclater, 1866), and the influence of clutch and brood size on nesting success of species were studied. Overall, apparent nesting success was 58% and Mayfield nesting success was 53%. Nest survival during incubation (64%) was lower than during the nestling period (83%). During incubation, clutches were lost to rain, desertion, predation, egg ejection, egg damage, and egg disappearance. During the nestling period, losses occurred due to offspring disappearance, nestling death by starvation, predation and falling. During both incubation and nestling periods, predation was low, while egg ejections and nestling starvation were the main causes of nest failure. Nest survival during incubation was directly proportional to clutch size, while during the nestling period it was inversely proportional to the brood size. Apparently, there seemed to be an advantage to having more eggs during incubation. However, if all eggs were to hatch during unfavorable weather the nest success could be low. These results suggest that when the breeding pairs face adversity during incubation, they control the brood size by ejecting part of the clutch

First record of Microlynchia pusilla (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) in Northeastern Brazil Primeiro registro de Microlynchia pusilla (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) no Nordeste do Brasil

The present paper reports the occurrence of Microlynchia pusilla in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) on Leptotila verreauxi approximans from a deciduous forest fragment located in the municipality of Macaíba. A specimen of L. v. approximans was collected in June 2012, wrapped in paper towels and kept under refrigeration in a plastic bag for later analysis of parasite fauna, taxidermy, and eventual storage in the Ornithological Collection of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). During the search for ectoparasites, a specimen of M. pusilla was found among feathers of the ventral region; it was collected and stored in the Entomological Collection ‘Adalberto Antônio Varela-Freire’ of the same university. This report extends the knowledge about geographical distribution and confirms the association of M. pusilla with hosts Columbiformes, contributing to the knowledge of the family Hippoboscidae in the country.Este trabalho registra a ocorrência de Microlynchia pusilla no estado do Rio Grande do Norte em Leptotila verreauxi approximans oriunda de um fragmento de floresta estacional decidual localizado no município de Macaíba. Um espécime de L. v. approximans foi coletado em junho de 2012, envolvido em papel toalha e conservado sob refrigeração em saco plástico para posterior análise da fauna parasitária, taxidermia e depósito na Coleção Ornitológica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Durante a busca por ectoparasitos foi encontrado um espécime de M. pusilla nas penas da região ventral, o qual foi coletado e depositado na Coleção Entomológica Adalberto Antônio Varela-Freire da mesma universidade. Este relato amplia o conhecimento sobre a distribuição geográfica de M. pusilla e confirma sua associação com hospedeiros Columbiformes, contribuindo para o conhecimento da família Hippoboscidae no país