Barn Owl pellets (Aves: Tyto furcata) reveal a higher mammalian richness in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Southeastern Brazil

LEMOS, H.M.; SILVA, C.A.O.; PATIU, F.M.; GONÇALVES, P.R. 2015. Barn Owl pellets (Aves: Tyto furcata) reveal a higher mammalian richness in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, Southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotropica 15(2):1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1676-06032015012114

Abstract. The northern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro harbors the largest coastal sandy plains (restingas) of southeastern Brazil, severely threatened due to recent human occupation. In this context, mammal inventories becomes urgent to support biodiversity conservation and management policies. This paper aims to update the knowledge on the mammalian species richness of Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park by analyzing pellets of the Barn owl Tyto furcata. The analyses of 4745 mammalian bone fragments (1739 individuals) revealed the occurrence of 17 species belonging to the orders Rodentia (9 spp.), Didelphimorphia (2 spp.) and Chiroptera (6 spp.). The rodents Mus musculus and Cerradomys goytaca accounted for 77.2% of the total individuals preyed, suggesting that the Barn owl hunts in both disturbed and natural open shrub formations. A compilation of previous records, together with those provided in the present study, indicates the occurrence of 44 species of mammals in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park, of which six (13.6%) were exclusively detected in pellets. These new records include species adapted to open formations of the interior of Brazil that were not previously reported in restingas on the basis of voucher-specimens, such as the rodents Necromys lasiurus and Calomys tener, the latter being recorded for the first time in the littoral of Rio de Janeiro state. This study underscores the importance of owl pellet analysis as a complementary and indispensable method for inventorying mammals. The results highlight the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park as one of the restingas in Southeastern Brazil with the highest number of mammal species.

Medium and large-sized mammals of the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçú, Cachoeira de Macacu, RJ

CARVALHO, I.D.; OLIVEIRA, R.; PIRES, A.S. 2014. Medium and large-sized mammals of the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçú, Cachoeira de Macacu, RJ. Biota Neotropica 14(3):1-9.

Abstract: Medium and large-sized terrestrial mammals develop important functions in ecosystems maintenance. However, this group is the most vulnerable to local extinctions, through habitat loss or hunting. This study inventoried the community of medium and large mammals in the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçú (REGUA), Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ, providing data on species composition, richness and abundance. Species were registered through the use of camera traps, sign survey and visual encounters on pre-existing trails and roads. The study was conducted from January to October 2012, with each month considered as a sample unit. An effort of 1568 cameras-day and 120 km traveled, resulted on 302 records of 22 species of medium and large-sized mammals, belonging to eight orders. This value corresponds to more than three-quarters of the richness described from this group in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state. Five species are under some level of regional, national or global threat. Three game species, Pecari tajacu, Cuniculus paca and Dasyprocta leporina were abundant in the area. The observed richness was comparable to that found in other studies conducted in rain forests. Thus, for its high number of species, including those under some degree of threat, we conclude that REGUA is an important area to mammal conservation, especially in the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state.

Composição e caracterização da fauna de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em uma pequena reserva de Cerrado em Mato Grosso, Brasil

ROCHA, E.C.; DALPONTE, J.C. 2006. Composição e caracterização da fauna de mamíferos de médio e grande porte em uma pequena reserva de Cerrado em Mato Grosso, Brasil. Revista Árvore 30(4):669-678.

Abstract. This study was carried out at the "Mario Viana" Municipal Biological Reserve in Nova Xavantina, MT, aiming to make an inventory and evaluate the abundance and diversity of terrestrial mammals of medium and large size. Thus, two monthly visits were made to a 2.820 m long transect throughout 2001 to acess tracking and other evidences of mammals. Twenty-nine species were recorded in the study area, with 22 in the transect and two individual tracking sequences being quantified for calculation of Shannon-Wiener (H') abundance and diversity indices. According to the abundance indices, the species were classified as rare, common and abundant. Among other species, onça-parda (Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)) and tatu-canastra (Priodontes maximus (Keer, 1792) were classified as rare; jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758)) and tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) as common; and cutia (Dasyprocta azarae (Lichtenstein, 1823)) and tapetí (Sylvilagus brasiliensis (Linnaeus, 1758)) as abundant species. The H' index found was 2.40, which was considered significant. This work shows that despite being small (470 ha), the area studied plays an important role in the preservation of the mammalian fauna in the region of Nova Xavantina, MT.

Camera-trap study of ocelot and other secretive mammals in the northern Pantanal

TROLLE, M.; KÉRY, M. 2005. Camera-trap study of ocelot and other secretive mammals in the northern Pantanal. Mammalia 69:3-4.

Abstract. Reliable information on abundance of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is scarce. We conducted the first camera-trap study in the northern part of the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil, one of the wildlife hotspots of South America. Using capture-recapture analysis, we estimated a density of 0.112 independent individuals per km² (SE 0.069). We list other mammals recorded with camera traps and show that camera-trap placement on roads or on trails has striking effects on camera-trapping rates.

Curso sobre Técnicas de Levantamento de Fauna para Licenciamento Ambiental - em Novembro também

Evaluation of GPS collar performance by stationary tests and fitting on free-ranging Japanese black bears

YAMAZAKI, K.; KASAI, S.; KOIKE, S.; GOTO, Y.; KOZAKAI, C.; FURUBAYASHI, K. 2008. Evaluation of GPS collar performance by stationary tests and fitting on free-ranging Japanese black bears. Mammal Study 33:131-142.

Abstract. We evaluated the performance of two GPS collars as a tool for studying Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) in the Kanto region, Japan. Collars were placed at five stationary points to test the effects of GPS antenna orientation and degree of canopy closure on the fix rate and the positional error, and collars were deployed on 16 free-ranging bears to examine the fix rate and the effects of fix interval on fix rate. In the stationary tests, the proportions of no fix and of 2D fix (vs. 3D fix) increased as canopy closure increased and antenna orientation was further from vertical; at an antenna angle =90° from the vertical and canopy closure of 76.2–79.1%, the fix rate was <50%. The positional error for 3D fixes (ranged from 6.84 to 16.43 m) was significantly lower than that for 2D fixes (ranged from 30.74 to 43.45 m), and the positional error for both was affected by canopy closure and GPS antenna angle. An expected multipath effect on positional errors by rain was not statistically significant. Mean fix rates on collared bears ranged from 23.6% to 56.4% and were significantly lower than those in the stationary test. The fix rates at 5-min intervals were significantly higher than those at 4-hr intervals. Although our tests revealed some limitations and biases, GPS collar appears suitable for studying the movement and behavior of the bears.

Efficiency of box-traps and leg-hold traps with several bait types for capturing small carnivores (Mammalia) in a disturbed area of Southeastern Brazil

MICHALSKI, F.; CRAWSHAW JR., P.G.; OLIVEIRA, T.G.; FABIÁN, M.E. 2007. Efficiency of box-traps and leg-hold traps with several bait types for capturing small carnivores (Mammalia) in a disturbed area of Southeastern Brazil. Revista de Biología Tropical 55(1):315-320.

Abstract. Capturing small carnivores is often necessary for obtaining key ecological data. We compared the efficiency of box and leg-hold traps, using live and dead bait, to capture six carnivore species (Herpailurus yagouaroundi (É. Geoffroyi, 1803), Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), Nasua nasua (Linnaeus, 1766), Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766), Eira barbara (Linnaeus, 1758), and Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782)). The use of leg-hold traps significantly increased the capture rate of carnivores (5.77%) and non-target species (non-carnivores, 11.54%). Dead bait significantly attracted more non-carnivores than carnivores and live bait was more efficient for capturing carnivores (2.56%) than non-carnivores (0.77%). Both box and leg-hold traps caused some minor injuries (swelling and claw loss). We provide recommendations for the ethical use of these trap and bait types.

Mamíferos: Diversidade, ecologia, métodos de estudo e conservação

O Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos da Unisinos está promovendo o curso Mamíferos: Diversidade, ecologia, métodos de estudo e conservação nos dias 23, 24 e 31 de agosto de 2013, na Unisinos - São Leopoldo/RS. As inscrições estão abertas! Visite www.unisinos.br/eventos para maiores informações.

Influence of pitfall trap size and design on herpetofauna and small mammal studies in a Neotropical Forest

RIBEIRO-JÚNIOR, M.A.; ROSSI, R.V.; MIRANDA, C.L.; ÁVILA-PIRES, T.C.S. 2011. Influence of pitfall trap size and design on herpetofauna and small mammal studies in a Neotropical Forest. Zoologia 28(1):80-91. doi: 10.1590/S1984-46702011000100012.

Abstract. One of the most commonly used sampling techniques to capture leaf litter amphibians, lizards and small mammals is a set of pitfall traps with drift fences. However, there are still many speculations concerning the effectiveness of different designs of pitfall traps and the most adequate size of each trap. To address this problem, we conducted the first standardized comparison of patterns of species richness, rank-abundance, and community structure of leaf litter amphibians, lizards and small mammals for two trap designs (I and Y format) and three bucket sizes (35, 62, and 100 L) in a Neotropical forest. Results are very similar for the herpetofauna, regardless of the pitfall trap design or size used, while for small mammals values of species richness were higher for 100 L pitfall traps, as compared to the smaller traps. Therefore, the use of 100 L pitfall traps is recommended to sample the terrestrial vertebrate fauna, in multidisciplinary studies. For surveys aiming only the herpetofauna the use of smaller (35 L) traps is acceptable, taking into consideration the cost-benefits obtained by the smaller traps, in comparison to the larger ones.

Ecology of a small mammal community in an Atlantic forest area in southeastern Brazil

BERGALLO, H.G. 1994. Ecology of a small mammal community in an Atlantic forest area in southeastern Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 29(4):197-217.


Abstract. During a 14 month mark-and-release project in a Atlantic forest area (Jurélia Ecological Station), I studied the population ecology of 8 species of small mammals (3 marsupials and 5 rodents). In a 4,307 trap nights, 182 individuals were captured 650 times. The rodents were caught 73% of the total capture and the marsupials 27%. Oryzomys nitidus was the commonest species in the grid followed by Proechimys iheringi and Metachirus nudicaudatus. The marsupials showed a seasonal pattern of reproduction. As a consequence, the population densities has a peak during the wet months with the antrance of the youngs . The rodents, P. iheringi and O. nitidus bred throughtout the year, althought the former one has a peak in the dry months. Density of O. nitidus was fairly constant, whereas that of P. ihenrigi was higher during the recruitment time. Rodents and marsupials contributed with the same biomass in Juréia small mammal community.

Mamíferos: da Terra aos Mares

A equipe do Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos da Unisinos têm o prazer de convidar todos a participar da oficina Mamíferos: da Terra aos Mares.

A oficina visa apresentar o grupo dos mamíferos com aspectos de sua evolução, diversidade, ecologia, manejo, conservação e relações com o homem. A oficina ocorrerá nos dias 24 e 25 de agosto, e 1º de setembro de 2012, na Unisinos (Univerdade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos), em São Leopoldo, RS. As inscrições podem ser realizadas diretamente pela internet através do link: http://www.unisinos.br/extensao/eventos/EX120309/EX120309-00001/620/apresentacao.

DATAS: 24 e 25 de agosto, e 1º de setembro de 2012.


INVESTIMENTO: R$ 100,00.


INFORMAÇÕES: www.unisinos.br/eventos (eventos saúde).


CONTEÚDO PROGRAMÁTICO PREVISTO
A oficina será dividida em quatro módulos, sendo o primeiro módulo uma apresentação geral sobre características, diversidade e evolução dos mamíferos. Os quatro módulos seguintes apresentarão aspectos gerais e ecológicos sobre os mamíferos terrestres, e os quatro módulos seguintes apresentarão técnicas de estudo e monitoramento de populações de mamíferos marinhos, bem como suas interações com o homem.


O conteúdo detalhado previsto (sujeito a modificações) segue abaixo:


24/ago/2012
- Introdução geral: mamíferos, da terra aos mares (Msc Paulo T. Sarti, Fernando R.V. Lopes).

25/ago/2012

- Biologia e ecologia de pequenos mamíferos (Msc Maury S.L. Abreu).

- Padrões de microestrutura de pelos: identificando mamíferos (Nathalia S. Freitas).

- Mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte (Msc Paulo T. Sarti).

- O uso do habitat por mamíferos terrestres (Guilherme W. Schmitz).

01/set/2012

- Técnicas de estudo em mamíferos-marinhos: coleta, curadoria de coleção e estudos osteológicos (Biol. Ana Paula Costa).

- Técnicas de estudo em mamíferos-marinhos: monitoramento de populações (Biol. Rodrigo Machado, Biol. Ana Paula Costa, Fernando R.V. Lopes).

- Interações entre mamíferos aquáticos e a atividade pesqueira: da pesca cooperativa ao conflito (Biol. Rodrigo Machado).

- Dimensões humanas (Mônica Terra, Biol. Ana Carolina Pont).

Ecological scale and habitat use

MORRIS, D.M. 1987. Ecological scale and habitat use. Ecology 68(2):362-369

Abstract. Population density can respond to habitat at different scales. If habitat selection occurs as a consequence of resource exploitation, the density of fine-grained consumers should reflect microhabitat variation. But if habitat use is controlled by a variety of selective pressured, it is no longer apparent whether density should respond to micro- or macrohabitat. These two alternatives can be tested simultaneously by multiple regression models where macrohabitat are represented by dummy variables. When the local densities of two Temperate Zone rodents were analyzed in this way, macrohabitat and temporal effects were consistent significant predictors of rodent density; microhabitat was not. This analysis suggests species whose patterns of resource and habitat use probably depart from classical interpretations of species coexistence. It is probably premature to assess the role of habitat selection in the structure of ecological systems until the results of further tests of habitat scaling are reported.

Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments

HULBERT, S.H. 1984. Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecological Monographs 54(2):187-211.

Abstract. Pseudoreplication is defined as the use of inferential statistics to test for treatment effects with data from experiments where either treatments are not replicated (though samples may be) or replicates are not statistically independent. In ANOVA terminology, it is the testing for treatment effects with and error term inappropriate to the hypothesis being considered. Scrutiny of 176 experimental studies published between 1960 and the present revealed that pseudoreplication occurred in 27% of them, or 48% of all such studies that applied inferential staticts. The incidence of pseudoreplication is especially high in studies of marine benthos and small mammals. The critical features of controlled experimentation are reviewed. Nondemonic intrusion is defined as the impingement of chance events on and experiment in progress. As a safeguard against both it and preexisting gradients, interspersion of treatments is argued to be an obligatory feature of good design. Especially in small experiments, adequate interspersion can sometimes be assumed only by dispensing with strict randomization procedures. Comprehension of this conflict between interspersion and randomization is aided by distinguishing pre-layout (or conventional) and layout-specific alpha (probability of tyme I error). Suggestions are offered to statisticians and editors of ecological journals as to how ecologists' understanding of experimental design and statistics might be improved.

Habitat fragmentation and movements of three small mammals (Sigmodon, Microtus, and Peromyscus)

DIFFENDORFER, J.E.; GAINES, M.S.; HOLT, R.D. 1995. Habitat fragmentation and movements of three small mammals (Sigmodon, Microtus, and Peromyscus). Ecology 76(3):827-839.

Abstract. We studied the effects of habitat fragmentation on the movements of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) living in a fragmented landscape using 7.7 yr (1984-1992) of mark-recapture data. The study area included three kinds of 0.5-ha blocks: single large patches (5000 m²), clusters of medium patches (288 m²), and clusters of small patches (32 m²). We tested three predictions regarding animal movements. First, animal should move longer distances as fragmentation increases. Second, the proportion of animals moving will decrease as fragmentation increases. Third, species will show more movement from putative sources to putative sinks. In support of our first two predictions, all species (except male cotton rats) moved farther, and lower proportions of animals moved, as fragmentation increased. In testing our third prediction, we found no trends, for all species, between patch size and the net number of animals a block either imported or exported, indicating source-sink dynamics were probably not occurring on our study site. Furthermore, animals of all species (except female deer mice) switched more frequently to blocks of larger patches. For prairie voles in the spring and deer mice in the summer, relative abundance among blocks predicted from a Markov matrix model of switching probabilities showed high congruence with the actual abundances, indicating movement and abundance were related. In both cotton rats and prairie voles but not in deer mice, more juveniles and nonreproductive animals switched between blocks than did adults or reproductive animals. Deer mice switched more frequently than did either cotton rats or prairie voles; the latter species switched in similar frequencies. We discuss the implications of our data for modeling and conservation.

Variation in size of colony of Molossus molossus and Molossus rufus in Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil

ESBÉRARD, C.E.D. 2011. Variation in size of colony of Molossus molossus and Molossus rufus in Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 6(2):71-77.

Abstract. In the Neotropical region, knowledge of seasonal variation of bat colonies is low and appears to be fundamental to the choice of methods for estimating the total number of animals and husbandry. It was analyzed the monthly variations in the size of four colonies, two of Molossus molossus and two of Molossus rufus in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. A total of 60 nights of data collection was conducted in these four colonies, totaling 634 hours of work. The number of animals that comprised each colony was high, 293 and 474 in M. molossus and 165 and 363 in M. rufus. There are two types of colonies: reproductive, when it is observed increase in the number of animals during the months of reproductive activity, and not reproductive, when the colony size is larger in the months of inactive reproduction of the specie in this latitude and few bats remain in the refuge from October to February.

Uso do espaço vertical por pequenos mamíferos no Parque Nacional Serra dos Órgãos, RJ: um estudo de 10 anos utilizando três métodos de amostragem

PREVEDELLO, J.A.; FERREIRA, P.; PAPI, B.S.; LORETTO, D.; VIEIRA, M.V. 2008. Uso do espaço vertical por pequenos mamíferos no Parque Nacional Serra dos Órgãos, RJ: um estudo de 10 anos utilizando três métodos de amostragem. Espaço & Geografia 11(1):95-119.

Abstract. In this study we analyze the use of forest strata by species of small mammals using three sampling methods: livetraps, artificial nests, and spool-and-line devices. With livetraps and a total effort of 69,525 trap-nights (17,550 in the canopy) there were 2,759 captures of 1,172 individuals of 15 species, eight marsupials and seven rodents. In the nests, the effort was 6,018 nest verifications, with 71 individuals of six species registered. With the spool-and-line devices, 53,000 m of line were tracked in 403 paths of 272 individuals of four species of marsupials. Sampling the canopy was essential to properly characterize the structure of the community, particularly regarding relative abundance of species. The results of the different sampling methods were complementary, each one with its own advantages and limitations to study the vertical use of the forest by small mammals. The combination of the three methods revealed that the small mammal community in Garrafão is clearly stratified, but the vertical use of the forest by small mammals is more complex and sophisticated than a simple classification by dominant strata used. Some species use predominantly the ground, others the canopy, but only these extremes are detected by livetraps. This method alone does not allow a detailed analysis of use of the understory and even the canopy by predominantly terrestrial or scansorial species.

Fotos: Armadilha de pegada

Armadilhas de pegada são usadas em geral para registrar mamíferos de maior porte. Pode-se usar vários tipos de iscas, geralmente algum tipo de fruta, algum tipo de carne e sal (para ungulados).
Fotógrafo: Maury S.L. Abreu
Contato: maury.abreu@gmail.com

Fotos: Armadilha Fotográfica

Esta é uma das armadilhas fotográficas que tenho, da Tigrinus®, modelo Convencional 6.0C. As armadilhas fotográficas consistem em aparelhos fotográficos (digitais ou analógicos) acoplados a um sensor de movimento. Toda vez que algum animal passa em frente à armadilha, o sensor ativa e a armadilha obtêm o registro fotográfico.  Geralmente são presas em árvores, com a lente e o sensor voltados para uma trilha. Pode-se usar isca para atrair os animais ou não. Maiores informações no site da Trigrinus (http://www.tigrinus.com.br/).
Fotógrafo: Maury S.L. Abreu
Contato: maury.abreu@gmail.com

Fotos: Myotis cf. nigricans

Não sou muito bom com morcegos, mas este parece um Myotis nigricans. Foi capturado em rede de neblina, perto das 19:00 (foi a hora em que fomos revisar a rede).
Espécie: Myotis cf. nigricans.
Fotógrafo: Paulo T. Sarti.
Contato: paulo.tomasi@gmail.com

The question of scale in threat analysis: a case study with Brazilian mammals

GRELLE, C.E.V.; FONSECA, G.A.B.; FONSECA, M.T.; COSTA, L.P. 1999. The question of scale in threat analysis: a case study with Brazilian mammals. Animal Conservation 2:149-152.

Abstract. Rates of biodiversity loss are clearly associated with a reduction in the extent of original habitat. The most frequently used method to derive such estimates comes from the well-known species–area relationship. We explored the relationship between habitat loss and area for the Brazilian mammal fauna on a biome level (Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and the Brazilian portion of the Amazon basin), as well as on a smaller regional scale (the Rio Doce Valley of the Atlantic Forest). Habitat loss overestimates the number of threatened species when the entire species pool is considered (endemics and wideranging species). Restricting the analyses to the endemic species, the predicted extinction as a function of habitat loss in the Atlantic Forest and in the Cerrado is found to be greater than the number of taxa actually listed as threatened. This relation is reversed in the Amazon. When considering only the localized species pool for the Rio Doce Valley region of the Atlantic Forest, the function accurately predicts the number of extinctions resulting from habitat loss. We suggest that there is both theoretical and empirical evidence to suggest that threat analysis will generate more accurate estimates of species loss when conducted on a more local scale, particularly for the fauna of non-insular, continental regions. Furthermore, other phenomena affecting the likelihood of extinction of certain groups of species, such as hunting, need to be taken into account in order to better understand the dynamics of biodiversity loss.