54 research outputs found
Morphological, molecular and ecological integrative taxonomy of Acanthocephala (Archiacanthocephala) paraite of Brazilian wildlife mammals
No full textO filo Acanthocephala é caracterizado por não possuir trato digestório e por apresentar na região anterior uma probóscide munida de ganchos que retrai-se para dentro de um receptáculo. Este grupo é dividido em quatro classes Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, Eoacanthocephala e Polyacanthocephala baseado em características morfológicas, biológicas e ecológicas. Dentre os filos dos helmintos estudados em mamíferos brasileiros, o filo Acanthocephala se destaca por apresentar lacunas no que se refere às informações taxonômicas, filogenéticas e ecológicas. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi realizar a taxonomia integrativa dos acantocéfalos recuperados em mamíferos das famílias Procyonidae, Myrmecophagidae e Cricetidae de diferentes regiões geográficas do Brasil, armazenados e disponibilizados pela coleção do Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios (LABPMR) utilizando características morfologicas, moleculares e ecológicas. Os acantocéfalos recuperados foram identificados através da microscopia de luz (ML) e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Foi também realizada a análise filogenética molecular dos acantocéfalos com os marcadores moleculares do gene ribossomal da subunidade maior (28S rRNA) e do gene mitocondrial citocromo oxidase da subunidade 1 (MT-CO1). Além disto, foi determinada a prevalência e abundância dos ovos de Acanthocephala através da análise coproparasitológica de fezes de quati Nasua nasua e de cachorro-do-mato Cerdocyon thous, avaliando a influencia dos fatores bióticos e abióticos na infecção Os espécimes de acantocéfalos foram descritos e identificados em duas novas espécies Pachysentis n. sp. (Archiacanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) parasitando Nasua nasua (quati) proveniente do Mato Grosso do Sul do bioma Pantanal e Moniliformis n. sp. (Archiacanthocephala: Moniliformidae) em Necromys lasiurus (ratinho-do-cerrado) da região de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais do bioma Cerrado; e redescrita a espécie Gigantorhynchus echinodiscus (Archiacanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) em Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Tamanduá-bandeira) da Estação Ecológica Santa Bárbara, São Paulo, bioma cerrado. As análises filogenéticas moleculares sugeriram que a espécie G. echinosdichus está relacionada com Mediorhynchus sp. formando um grupo monofilético, assim como Moniliformis n. sp. está relacionado com as espécies do gênero Moniliformis também formando grupo monofilético. A análise ecológica foi realizada com 118 amostras fecais de 55 espécimes de cachorro-do-mato e 72 amostras fecais de 61 espécimes de quatis sugerindo a influência da sazonalidade na abundância dos acantocéfalos para ambos os hospedeiros e que os atributos relacionados ao hospedeiro como sexo e idade também constituíram fatores importantes associados à prevalência e às cargas parasitárias. O presente trabalho acrescentou informações morfológicas, moleculares e ecológicas, enfatizando a importância de adotar abordagem da taxonomia integrativa nos estudos com Acanthocephala.The phylum acanthocephala is characterized by the presence of a proboscis armed with hooks, which retracts into receptacle, and lack of alimentary tract. This group is divided in four classes Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, Eoacanthocephala and Polyacanthocephala based on morphological, biological and ecological characteristics. Among the helminths studied in Brazilian mammals, the phylum Acanthocephala have a lack of taxonomic, phylogenetic and ecological information. The aim of the present work was to perform the integrative taxonomy of acanthocephalans recovered in mammals of the family Procyonidae, Myrmecophagidae and Cricetidae from different geographic regions, store and made available by the Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoirs Mammal (LABPMR) using morphological, molecular and ecological characteristics. The recovered acanthocephalans were identified by light microscopy (ML) and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, molecular phylogenetic analyses of the acanthocephalans was performed with the molecular markers of ribosomal large subunit (28s rRNA) gene and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-CO1). Furthermore, the prevalence and abundance of acanthocephala’s eggs were determined by coproparasitological analyses of brown-nosed coatis Nasua nasua and crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous, evaluating the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on infection. The acanthocephalan specimens from the LABPRM collection were analyzed, and two new species were described and identified: Pachysentis n. np. (Archiacanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) parasitizing Nasua nasua (brown-nosed coati) from Mato Grosso do Sul in the Pantanal wetland, and Moniliformis n. sp. (Archiacanthocephala: Moniliformidae) parasitizing Necromys lasiurus (hairy-tailed bolo mouse) from Uberlândia in the state of Minas Gerais in the cerrado biome; and one species were redescribed Gigantorhynchus echinodiscus (Archiacanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) in Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater) from Santa Bárbara Ecological Station, state of São Paulo in the cerrado biome. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggested that G. echinosdichus is related to Mediorhynchus sp. forming a monophyletic group, as well as Moniliformis n. sp. is related to the species of the genus Moniliformis also forming a monophyletic group. The ecological analysis was performed with 118 fecal samples of 55 specimens of crab-eating fox, and 72 fecal samples of 61 specimens of coatis, and suggested the influence of seasonality on the abundance for both hosts; as well as the attributes related to the host as sex and age were important factors associated with prevalence and parasitic load. The present work added morphological, molecular and ecological informations, emphasizing the importance of adopting integrative taxonomic approaches in studies on acanthocephala.2020-07-1
EDITORIAL OECOLOGIA AUSTRALIS 2017
No full textThis editorial describes the main improvements Oecologia Australis has gone through from 2017 to 2018. The journal renewed its Editorial Board and has now a Deputy Editor-in-Chief and a Graphic Editor. We also updated its OLS submission system and it is now hosted on the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro\u27s webpage (https://revistas.ufrj.br/index.php/oa/login). In 2017, Oecologia Australis reached Qualis-Capes B3 in the BIODIVERSITY area and B1 in the ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES area, and it was indexed and abstracted in the Zoological Record, Biological Abstracts e BIOSIS Previews.In 2018, the new editor-in-Chief Dr. Ana Claudia Delciellos and the editorial board will keep working to make Oecologia Australis a reference journal in Ecology and related subjects
Niche partitioning among Mesocarnivores in a brazilian wetland.
No full textWas investigated the home range size, habitat selection, as well as the spatial and activity overlap, of four mid-sized carnivore species in the Central Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From December 2005 to September 2008, seven crab-eating foxes Cerdocyon thous, seven brown-nosed coatis Nasua nasua, and six ocelots Leopardus pardalis were radio-collared and monitored. Camera trap data on these species were also collected for the crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus. Was hypothesized that there would be large niche differentiation in preferred habitat-type or active period between generalist species with similar diet, and higher similarity in habitat-type or activity time between the generalist species (crab-eating foxes and coatis) and the more specialized ocelot. Individual home ranges were estimated using the utilization distribution index (UD? 95% fixed Kernel). With data obtained from radio-collared individuals, we evaluated habitat selection using compositional analysis. Median home range size of ocelots was 8 km2. The proportionof habitats within the home ranges of ocelots did not differ from the overall habitat proportionin the study area, but ocelots preferentially used forest within their home range. The median home range size of crab-eating foxes was 1.4 km2 . Foxes showed second-order habitat selection and selected savanna over shrub-savanna vegetation. The median home range size for coati was 1.5 km2 . Coati home ranges were located randomly in the study area. However, within their home range, coatis occurred more frequently in savanna than in other vegetation types. Among the four species, the overlap in activity period was the highest (87%) between ocelots and raccoons, with the least overlap occurring between the ocelot and coati (25%). It is suggest that temporal segregation of carnivores was more importantthan spatial segregation, notably between the generalist coati, crab-eating fox and crab-eating raccoon
Survey of medium to large mammals of units in the Middle Paraíba region, RJ
No full textAtualmente, a maior parte das Unidades de Conservação no Brasil não possui levantamento in situ de espécies e nem plano de manejo redigidos; isso inclui a ausência de levantamento de mamíferos, inclusive no estado do Rio de Janeiro, onde 80% das UCs ainda não têm plano de manejo. Com base nisso, o estudo teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento de mamíferos de médio a grande porte em duas Unidades de Conservação na região do Médio Paraíba e seu entorno, no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Para o levantamento, foram utilizadas armadilhas fotográficas e buscas ativas entre agosto e setembro de 2021. Os resultados indicaram diferenças na riqueza de espécies entre as UCs, com o Parque Estadual Serra da Concórdia apresentando 16 espécies em comparação ao Monumento Natural Estadual da Serra da Beleza, com 10 espécies, resultado atribuído tanto ao maior esforço de amostragem quanto às características ecológicas dos locais. Foram detectadas as espécies exóticas Bos taurus, Felis catus e Equus ferus caballus e Canis lupus familiaris; tais espécies podem representar impactos negativos à fauna nativa devido aos riscos de predação, competição e transmissão de doenças. Além disso, o estudo também registrou espécies vulneráveis, como Cuniculus paca, Leopardus pardalis e Puma concolor, ressaltando a importância dessas áreas para a conservação da biodiversidade regional da Mata Atlântica. Com base nos resultados, é importante reforçar a necessidade de monitoramento contínuo para identificar e mitigar pressões ambientais e a importância das UCs como refúgios para espécies ameaçadas. O estudo contribui para os planos de manejo dessas UCs e ressalta a importância do monitoramento da fauna de mamíferos, bem como a ampliação das amostragens na região.Currently, most protected areas in Brazil lack in situ species surveys or management plans. This includes the absence of mammal surveys, even in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where 80% of protected areas still do not have management plans. Based on this, the study aimed to conduct research of medium to large mammals in two protected areas in the Médio Paraíba region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and their surroundings, in an Atlantic Forest area. For the study, camera traps and active searches were used between August and September 2021. The results indicated differences in species diversity between the Conservation Units, with Serra da Concórdia State Park (PESC) showing 16 species compared to Serra da Beleza State Natural Monument (MONASBEL), with 10 species, a result attributed to both greater sampling effort and the ecological characteristics of the sites. Exotic species Bos taurus, Felis catus and Equus ferus caballus were detected at PESC, and Canis lupus familiaris in both Conservation Units; these species represent threats to native fauna due to predation, competition, and disease transmission risks. Additionally, the study recorded vulnerable species such as Cuniculus paca, Leopardus pardalis, and Puma concolor, highlighting the importance of these areas for the conservation of regional biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest. Based on the results, it is important to reinforce the need for continuous monitoring to identify and mitigate environmental pressures and to recognize the importance of Conservation Units as refuges for threatened species. The study highlights the relevance of specific management plans to protect native fauna and maintain the protection of these areas, contributing to biodiversity conservation in a highly threatened biome
Co-infection and wild animal health: effects of Trypanosomatids and gastrointestinal parasites on coatis of the Brazilian Pantanal.
No full textWild animals are infected by diverse parasites, but how they influence host health is poorly understood. We examined the relationship of trypanosomatids and gastrointestinal parasites with health of wild brown-nosed coatis (Nasua nasua) from the Brazilian Pantanal. We used coati body condition and hematological parameters as response variables in linear models that were compared using an information theoretic approach. Predictors were high/low parasitemias by Trypanosoma cruzi and T. evansi, and indices representing the abundance of distinct groups of gastrointestinal parasites. We also analyzed how host health changed with host sex and reproductive seasonality. Hemoparasites was best related to coati body condition and hematological indices, whereas abundance of gastrointestinal parasites was relatively less associated with coati health. Additionally, some associations were best predicted by models that incorporated reproductive seasonality and host sex. Overall, we observed a lower health condition during the breeding season, when coatis are under reproductive stress and may be less able to handle infection. In addition, females seem to handle infection better than males. Body condition was lower in coatis with high parasitemias of T. evansi, especially during the reproductive season. Total red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, platelets and eosinophils were also lower in animals with high T. evansi parasitemias. Total white blood cell counts and mature neutrophils were lower in animals with high parasitemias for both Trypanosoma species, with neutrophils decreasing mainly during the reproductive season. Overall, decreases in hematological parameters of females with T. evansi high parasitemias were less evident. For T. cruzi, monocytes decreased in individuals with high parasitemias. High abundances of microfilariae in the bloodstream, and cestode eggs and coccidian oocysts in feces were also associated with coati blood
Padrão de atividade de mamíferos em gradientes ambientais do Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, RJ
No full textO padrão de atividade dos organismos auxilia na compreensão de bases ecológicas e evolutivas do comportamento animal por meio de um importante componente do nicho ecológico – o nicho temporal. A partir da escolha dos taxa, há a possibilidade de observar variação nos fatores que possuem maior ou menor influência sobre os padrões apresentados por eles – incluindo modificações ambientais. Nesse sentido, com o intuito de verificar a plasticidade frente a características do habitat, a pesquisa busca descrever o padrão de atividade de Didelphis aurita, Cuniculus paca, Leopardus spp. (L. wiedii, L. guttulus e L. pardalis) e Puma concolor e investigar a influência de altitude, estações do ano, fitofisionomia e vertente no horário de atividade das espécies no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos – RJ. As armadilhas fotográficas utilizadas foram distribuídas em 26 estações e monitoradas de 2012 a 2016, com um esforço amostral de 18.219 armadilhas-dia. A fim de aumentar o poder estatístico, foram selecionadas espécies com pelo menos 100 registros independentes. O padrão de atividade das espécies foi avaliado pela distribuição das imagens ao longo das faixas horárias e representado por meio do diagrama de rosa e o método de Kernel circular. Já a análise do efeito dos gradientes ambientais foi realizada com o uso de um modelo de regressão circular-linear. Os resultados indicaram D. aurita com um padrão majoritariamente noturno e também em horários crepusculares, assim como C. paca. Os felídeos revelaram um padrão catemeral, com mais de um pico de atividade ao longo do ciclo diário. Houve diferenças na influência das quatro variáveis ambientais sobre a atividade de acordo com a espécie. Apenas o padrão de D. aurita respondeu a variações de todas elas. Em relação a C. paca, houve efeito somente da vertente e das fitofisionomias. Leopardus spp., por sua vez, apresentaram resposta a variações nas estações do ano e na fitofisionomia, enquanto os horários de atividade de P. concolor foram influenciados tanto pelas fitofisionomias, como pelas diferentes altitudes. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa demonstra a relevância das variáveis ambientais selecionadas para investigar a atividade de mamíferos, com novidades na influência encontrada em comparação a estudos anteriores. Além disso, as descobertas destacam a diversidade de plasticidade ecológica em espécies com diferentes funções em florestas tropicais.The activity pattern of organisms supports the understanding of the ecological and evolutionary
bases of animal behavior through an important component of the ecological niche - the temporal niche. According to the choice of the taxa, there is the possibility of observing variation in the factors that have a greater or lesser influence on the patterns presented by them - including environmental changes. In this sense, with the intention of verifying the plasticity in response to environmental characteristics, the research seeks to describe the activity pattern of Didelphis aurita, Cuniculus paca, Leopardus spp. (L. wiedii, L. guttulus and L. pardalis) and Puma concolor and to investigate the influence of altitude, seasons, phytophysiognomy and slope of the mountain on the species activity time in Serra dos Órgãos National Park - RJ. The camera traps used were distributed in 26 stations and monitored from 2012 to 2016, with a sampling effort of 18,219 days-trap. In order to improve the statistic power, species with at least 100 independent records were selected. The activity pattern of the species was evaluated by the distribution of the images along the time slots and represented by means of the rose diagram and the circular Kernel method. The analysis of the influence of environmental gradients was performed using a circular-linear regression model. The results indicated D. aurita with a predominantly nocturnal pattern and also in twilight hours, as well as C. paca. Felids showed a cathemeral pattern, with more than a peak of activity throughout the daily cycle. There were differences in the influence of the four environmental variables on the activity according to the species. Only the activity pattern of D. aurita responded to variations of all of them. In relation to C. paca, there was an effect only of the slope and phytophysiognomies. In contrast, Leopardus spp. showed a response to variations in the seasons and phytophysiognomy, while the hours of activity of P. concolor were influenced both by phytophysiognomies and by different elevations. In this sense, the research demonstrates the relevance of the environmental variables selected to investigate the activity of mammals, with novelties in the influence found in comparison to previous studies. In addition, the findings highlight the diversity of ecological plasticity in species with different functions in the tropical forests.56 p
Comparing the effectiveness of tracking methods for medium to large-sized mammals of Pantanal
No full textMost Neotropical mammals are not easily observed in their habitats, and few studies have been conducted to compare the performance of methods designed to register their tracks. We compared the effectiveness of track registry between sand plots and two tracking methods that use artificial materials to record tracks: the sooted paper, and the plastic board methods. The latter is described here for the first time. From 2002 to 2005, we conducted two experiments in three study sites in the Pantanal region of Brazil. We compared the artificial methods with the sand plot by registering track presence/absence, the number of identifiable tracks, and the total number of tracks (identifiable and unrecognizable) in each tracking plot. Individuals avoided artificial tracking plots either by not stepping on them or by doing it fewer times than on the sand plots. The use of artificial materials to register mammal tracks resulted in underestimates that are especially relevant to short-term ecological studies. We recommend the use of the traditional sand plot method whenever possible and the development of detailed studies on the efficiency of artificial methods under a variety of environmental conditions and time lengths. Despite their relatively lower efficiency, we believe that artificial methods are useful under specific conditions and may be more efficient if used in more comprehensive sampling efforts
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