Showing papers by "Stephen F. Ferrari published in 2019"

ATLANTIC-PRIMATES: a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America.

Abstract: Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1-6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Parana, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data.

Terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys (Callicebus, Cheracebus, and Plecturocebus) : potential correlates, patterns, and differences between genera

Abstract: For arboreal primates, ground use may increase dispersal opportunities, tolerance to habitat change, access to ground-based resources, and resilience to human disturbances, and so has conservation implications. We collated published and unpublished data from 86 studies across 65 localities to assess titi monkey (Callicebinae) terrestriality. We examined whether the frequency of terrestrial activity correlated with study duration (a proxy for sampling effort), rainfall level (a proxy for food availability seasonality), and forest height (a proxy for vertical niche dimension). Terrestrial activity was recorded frequently for Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but rarely for Cheracebus spp. Terrestrial resting, anti-predator behavior, geophagy, and playing frequencies in Callicebus and Plecturocebus spp., but feeding and moving differed. Callicebus spp. often ate or searched for new leaves terrestrially. Plecturocebus spp. descended primarily to ingest terrestrial invertebrates and soil. Study duration correlated positively and rainfall level negatively with terrestrial activity. Though differences in sampling effort and methods limited comparisons and interpretation, overall, titi monkeys commonly engaged in a variety of terrestrial activities. Terrestrial behavior in Callicebus and Plecturocebus capacities may bolster resistance to habitat fragmentation. However, it is uncertain if the low frequency of terrestriality recorded for Cheracebus spp. is a genus-specific trait associated with a more basal phylogenetic position, or because studies of this genus occurred in pristine habitats. Observations of terrestrial behavior increased with increasing sampling effort and decreasing food availability. Overall, we found a high frequency of terrestrial behavior in titi monkeys, unlike that observed in other pitheciids.

The bony fishes (Teleostei) caught by industrial trawlers off the Brazilian North coast, with insights into its conservation

Abstract: The Brazilian North coast is one of the world’s most important shrimp fishery grounds, with a total area of approximately 223,000 km2. However, the available data on the diversity of fish caught by the region’s industrial trawler fleet are limited to the commercially-valuable species. This lacuna in the data on the region’s marine fish fauna is worrying, both for the management of stocks and the conservation of the local biodiversity. The present study was based on a comprehensive inventory of the teleost fishes captured by the industrial outrigger trawling operations off the North coast of Brazil. This inventory recorded 201 species belonging to 64 families and 20 orders, and revealed a unique fauna, characterized by 17 endemic species, and a mixture of estuarine-dependent and marine species, mainly associated with coral reefs. The Kernel density analysis indicated that the industrial trawling fleet operates within an important ecotone, which encompasses the transition zones of different fish communities found off the Brazilian North coast.

Lizard Predation Tropidurus Hispidus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) by False Coral Snake Oxyrhopus Trigeminus (Squamata, Dipsadidae) in the Caatinga, in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: The predation of lizards is rarely observed in the wild, and events involving snakes are scarcer still Here we document in detail the predation of a lizard (Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825)) by a snake (Oxyrhopus trigeminus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) Many studies have identified Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 lizards as prey for Brazilian snakes Thus, this record provides important insights into the natural history of both species, especially O trigeminus, which are essential for the understanding of their ecology

Phytosociology of angiosperms in a highly-fragmented landscape of Coastal Atlantic Forest in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: Perda e fragmentacao de habitat da Floresta Atlântica nordestina tem sido extremamente extensa, restando apenas arquipelagos de pequenos fragmentos florestais. Devido a falta de trabalhos botânicos na Mata Atlântica de Sergipe apresentamos o primeiro estudo fitossociologico de arvores e cipos da Mata Atlântica de Sergipe. Aqui duas areas Mata Atlântica nordeste Brasil, Fazenda Trapsa (FT - 14 ha) e Refugio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco (MJ - 522 ha) foram estudadas a partir de protocolos padroes de amostragem. A vegetacao no FT demostra estar em um estagio inicial de regeneracao, com uma grande diversidade de arvores e densidade de lianas, enquanto que MJ apresenta arvores mais altas, uma area basal maior e menor densidade liana indicando um habitat mais maduro. Assim, a aplicacao de estrategias de conservacao e gestao destes habitats, tais como a criacao de areas protegidas, pode ajudar a manter e aumentar a diversidade de especies. Alem disso, esses fragmentos tambem pode atuar como stepping stones ou corredores ecologicos de biodiversidade na regiao.

Note on bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in a Restinga area of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract: Currently, forty-one species of bats are known to occur in the restingas of Brazil. However, most studies on restingas’ bats are limited to the south and southeastern regions of Brazil, leaving the northeastern region with a gap of knowledge. The present article presents data on bats captured in three areas of restinga of the municipality of Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, collected from a short-term sampling. Mist nets were used to capture bats near the ground and the water bodies. Were captured 38 individuals of six species and two families: five Phyllostomidae and one Molossidae. The bat Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) was the most abundant species. We present here the first list of bats captured in the restinga area for the Rio Grande do Norte State.

Structure of a bat community in the xerophytic Caatinga of the state of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract: Abstract The Caatinga, a Brazilian biome that covers an area of 740,000 km2, is characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions with high temperatures and irregular rains throughout the year. The present study verified the structure of the local bat community and the seasonal variation in the abundance of bats and their diversity. We sampled four points on Serra dos Macacos and Serra de Antenor, in the municipality of Tobias Barreto, Sergipe. Field campaigns were conducted monthly between February and November 2011 in the region of the Serra dos Macacos, with the same sampling effort being applied in the dry and rainy seasons. A total sampling effort of 95,040 m2⋅h resulted in the capture of 104 specimens, representing 15 species belonging to the families Phyllostomidae (12 sp.), Vespertilionidae (2 sp.) and Mormoopidae (1 sp.). The Jackknife 1 estimate indicated the occurrence of 21.3±2.07 species in the study area. There was no difference in species diversity between the two stations (t=0.65, p=0.51). The guild of frugivorous and nectarivorous bats were the most abundant in both seasons, and most representative in the rainy season. Significant seasonal difference was found in the abundance of bats between the dry and rainy seasons (χ2=16.96; df=1; p<0.05). The results were consistent with other Caatinga studies in terms of species richness and diversity, and community structure, with a predominance of nectarivorous bats and seasonal variation in the community structure.