scholarly journals Analysis of the reproductive stage and ovarian histomorphometry of Dermanura cinerea (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivaldo B. Lima Junior ◽  
Maria J.G. Arandas ◽  
Fabricya R. Silva ◽  
Erivaldo A. Antonio ◽  
Francisco C.A. Aguiar Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Reproductive Stage ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Histomorphometric Analysis ◽  
Forest Fragment

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to analyze the reproductive stage, histology and morphometry of the ovary of Dermanura cinerea in an Atlantic Forest fragments in the Biological Reserve of Saltinho, Pernambuco, Brazil. Adult females were captured monthly by mist net, during two consecutive nights from June/2014 to November/2015. The meteorological data were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology and grouped together with the reproductive data, in six periods: period I (June to August/2014), period II (September to November/2014), period III (December/2014 to February/2015), period IV (March to May/2015), period V (June to August/2015) and period VI (September to November/2015). The females were classified according to their reproductive stages in: Inactive, pregnant, lactating and postlactating. Among the 25 females caught, 10 inactive females were selected for the histomorphometric analysis of the ovaries and then they were euthanized. After that, the specimens had their ovaries removed, fixed, processed and included in Paraplast. The organs were cut and stained by Hematoxylin - Eosin and the histological slides produced were submitted to the appropriate optical microscope analysis. Each type of ovarian follicle was estimated according to the histological characteristics evidenced for other mammals. In the morphometric analysis, it was considered: The area of the ovary (measured in square millimeter), Quantification of different types of ovarian follicles (unilaminar and multilaminar primary follicles, antral and matures) and corpus luteum, as well as the area of each by those different follicles (measured in square micrometer) The results indicated that 16 females were inactive, 5 were lactating, 4 were pregnant and no post-lactating. The histological analysis revealed that the ovaries of D. cinerea exhibit characteristics, structures and cellular types similar to other mammals. The morphometric data of the study area were statistically evaluated using the Student’s t-test. Therefore, ovarian histomorphometric analysis are very important to infer with greater certainty about the reproduction of a species. Thus, it was observed that females of D. cinerea exhibit two reproductive peaks, that is, they can give birth either at the end of dry periods or from the beginning to the middle of the rainy season. The main feature observed in the ovary of this species, found in the Atlantic Forest area of the state of Pernambuco, is the preparation of the ovarian cortex to ovulate in months of high rainfall throughout the year. Therefore, this species tries to adjust its reproductive period with the variations of the environmental conditions, so that the reproduction might occur during the period more favorable for the maintenance of their offspring.

scholarly journals Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Boyle ◽  
Noé U. de la Sancha ◽  
Pastor Pérez ◽  
David Kabelik
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Fragment Size ◽  
Hair Shaft ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

scholarly journals Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Silva ◽  
FA Hernandes ◽  
M Pichorim
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Visual Examination ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

scholarly journals Dynamics and Edge Effect of an Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poliana Gabriella Araújo Mendes ◽  
Maria Amanda Menezes Silva ◽  
Tassiane Novacosque Feitosa Guerra ◽  
Ana Carolina Borges Lins-e-Silva ◽  
Airton de Deus Cysneiros Cavalcanti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Edge Effect ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Canopy Tree ◽  
Forest Interior

ABSTRACT The woody plants in an edge area formed approximately 35 years ago in an Atlantic Forest fragment in northeastern Brazil were examined, and three environments defined: edge, intermediate, and interior. Canopy tree densities and basal areas were found to be similar in all three environments, and also similar to previous published studies in the same region; species richness was greatest at the forest edge. The understory showed greater species richness in the forest interior, but greater diversity and equitability in the intermediate environment. Understory environments close to the forest edge demonstrated larger stem diameters than in the forest interior, although at lesser densities and with smaller total basal areas. Our results indicated the existence of distinct patterns in canopy and understory that most likely reflect differences in the response times of these two vegetation layers, with the understory being more sensitive to alterations in environmental structure.

scholarly journals Diversity of scorpions (Chelicerata: Arachnida) in the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

Check List ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Felipe de Araujo Lira ◽  
Cleide Maria Ribeiro de Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Important Center ◽  
Uv Lamps ◽  
Northeastern Atlantic

This study was conducted to measure the biodiversity of scorpion species in the remnants of the Brazilian northeastern Atlantic Forest, an important center of biodiversity and endemism. Collections were performed in twelve forest fragments in Sirinhaém municipality, Pernambuco State, through active searches at night by using UV lamps between 19:00h and 21:00h during the new moon phase in December 2012 and January 2013. A total of 1,125 specimens from two genera and five species were collected: Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893; Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982; Tityus brazilae Eickstedt & Lourenço, 1984; Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitão, 1932; and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876), all belonging to the family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837. The most abundant species was T. pusillus (90.7%), followed by A. mauryi (7.1%). Tityus brazilae, T. neglectus, and T. stigmurus together represented less than 3% of the individuals sampled.

scholarly journals Seasonal influence on testicular morphophysiological parameters of bat Carollia perspicillata in fragments of the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-433
Author(s):  
Maria J.G. Arandas ◽  
Álvaro A.C. Teixeira ◽  
Valéria W. Teixeira ◽  
Fabricya R. Silva ◽  
Ketsia S.N. Marinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Histomorphometric Analysis ◽  
Reproductive Seasonality ◽  
Carollia Perspicillata ◽  
Androgenic Activity ◽  
High Precipitation

ABSTRACT: Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, family Phyllostomidae, and present a wide diversity of reproductive strategies. However, information on the reproductive biology of male bats is scarce, mainly in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Thus, this study evaluated the seasonal testicular histomorphometry of the bat Carollia perspicillata in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco state. To this end, adult males were collected, euthanized for removal of the testicles, and later submitted to a routine histological technique. Histomorphometric analysis included assessment of the areas of tubular and intertubular compartment occupation, as well as quantification of spermatocytes, rounded spermatids, elongated spermatids, and Sertoli and Leydig cells. Results indicated that this bat species presents reproductive seasonality, because significantly higher averages of the testicular parameters were observed in the rainy season, which is a period of greater availability of food resources. Such inferences indicate that there is a synchrony between peak spermatogenesis and hormonal inversion in the months of high precipitation; furthermore, a higher carrying capacity of the Sertoli cells is noted. C. perspicillata males possibly present greater sperm and androgenic activity in the rainy season, associated with increased tubular area and number of spermatogenic cells, as well as with the intertubular area and number of Leydig cells, respectively.

Species richness and seasonality of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidclay C. Dias ◽  
Antonio D. Brescovit ◽  
Erminda C. G. Couto ◽  
Celso F. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment

scholarly journals Helminths infecting Dryadosaura nordestina (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. M. Teixeira ◽  
R. J. Silva ◽  
S. V. Brito ◽  
D. A. Teles ◽  
J. A. Araujo-Filho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Helminth Infection ◽  
First Record ◽  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Helminth Fauna ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Northeast Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Parasite Abundance

Abstract We analyzed the patterns of infection by helminths in populations of the Gymnophthalmidae lizard Dryadosaura nordestina from three Atlantic Forest fragments in Northeast Brazil. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection by location showed the following results: ARIE Mata de Goiamunduba (60.8 % and 10.4 ± 8), RPPN Engenho Gargaú (83.3 % and 20.8 ± 19.7) and Benjamim Maranhão Botanical Garden (70.4 % and 7.78 ± 5.8). We provide the first records of helminth infection for the lizard D. nordestina, in which three species of nematodes, Aplectana sp., Cosmocerca sp. and Physaloptera lutzi and one trematode Haplometroides odhneri were recovered. Trematodes of the genus Haplometroides were previously known as parasites only in snake and amphisbaenian hosts in South America. Now, our study provides the first record of a species belonging to this genus parasitizing lizards. In conclusion, our study shows that D. nordestina have a depleted helminth fauna (three species at maximum), similar to other studies with lizards of this family in Brazil and that its parasite abundance is related to host snout-vent length, but not to the sex.

scholarly journals ABUNDANCE OF TREES USED AS FOOD BY PRIMATES IN FRAGMENTS OF ATLANTIC FOREST

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-41
Author(s):  
Valdecir Da Silva ◽  
Vera Lúcia da Silva ◽  
Válter Da Silva ◽  
Dimítri De Araújo Costa ◽  
Francisco De Assis da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Forest Diversity ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Historical Factors

Forest fragmentation favours the propagation of some arboreal primate species that can alter the floristic composition of a community. This process may be associated with the loss of seed dispersants. In this work we propose to identify if the presence of frugivorous primates of medium and large size (Sapajus flavius and Alouatta belzebul) can influence forest diversity and structure. Further, we ask if the size of the fragment affects the availability of resources for these primates. Three fragments were studied in the Atlantic Forest of the State of Paraíba, Brazil, located in the municipalities of Sapé, Mamanguape, Rio Tinto, and Mataraca. In each area 25 plots of 50 x 4 m were delimited, randomly distributed along trails and transects. All trees with chest-high circumferences (CAP) above 12 cm found within the plots were marked with ribbons, and numbered continuously. A total of 114 plant species were documented in the Pacatuba Forest, 79 in the Asplan Forest, and 97 in the “Guaribas” (Sema III) Biological Reserve (REBIO) Forest. According to the Chao and Jacknife estimators, the REBIO Guaribas Forest can present more species than recorded in the present investigation. Species Tapirira guianensis, Protium giganteum and Protium heptaphyllum are the most abundant in the Asplan, Pacatuba and Sema III Forests, respectively. In the REBIO Guaribas Forest, the Shannon diversity index was (H') = 3.75, the Alpha-Fisher index was = 26.57 and the Simpson index (1-D) was = 0.90. Pacatuba was the forest fragment with the highest index of diversity (H') = 375, Alpha-Fischer = 33.74 and Simpson (1-D) = 0.95. Pacatuba and REBIO Guaribas Forsts possess greater Beta diversity. The results suggest that local and historical factors possibly increase Beta diversity, contributing to the increase in resources used as food by primates. Therefore, the presence of primates of medium and large size in the Pacatuba Forest may affect the diversity of resources, contributing to the dispersion of large fruits and seeds. The presence of primates of medium and large size can thus contribute to the preservation of floristic diversity in forest fragments.

scholarly journals Small non-volant mammals (Didelphimorphia and Rodentia) from the RPPN Guarirú, an Atlantic Forest fragment in northeastern Brazil

Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1782
Author(s):  
Mateus Souza de Carvalho ◽  
Téo Veiga de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Relative Lack ◽  
Northern Half ◽  
One Year ◽  
Didelphis Aurita ◽  
Privately Owned

Due to the very rare mammal inventories in the northern half of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Bahia, Brazil, all initiatives to increase the knowledge of the group in this region are greatly appreciated. Thus, herein we present an inventory conducted in the privately owned Guarirú Nature Reserve, a fragment of Atlantic Forest in several conservation/regeneration stages. Sampling was carried out using Tomahawk, Sherman, and Pitfall traps over one year. The sampling resulted in 154 captures of 93 individuals from 12 different species. The didelphids Didelphis aurita, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Marmosa murina, Marmosops incanus, Metachirus nudi­caudatus, Micoureus paraguayanus, and Monodelphis americana were recorded, as well as the cricet­ids Akodon cursor, Oligoryzomys sp., and Rhipidomys sp., and the echimyids Trinomys albispinus and T. setosus. Given the relative lack of knowledge about this important portion of the Atlantic Forest this inventory is an important contribution to the mammalogy of Brazil. 

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