Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The present study analyzed the vertical stratification of hawkmoths in an area of the Dense Ombrophylous Forest in the Amazon. The moths were captured through light traps with ultraviolet lamps F15 T12 LN installed in three strata (canopy, midstory, and understory) from 6 pm to 7 am, during the first quarter to new moon period, on three consecutive nights per month during May 2019 to February 2020, in the Tapajós National Forest located in the state of Pará, Brazil (02°51’23.3”S, 54°57’31.0”W). This study analyzed 33 species (S) and 775 specimens (N) of Sphingidae. The sphingofauna had a high concentration, mainly in the upper strata, with greater emphasis on richness (S = 28), abundance (N = 687), and Berger Parker dominance (BP = 0.72) found in the forest canopy. The canopy’s dominance stood out because the species Erinnyis ello (Linnaeus, 1758) was more abundant in this stratum (N = 492). PERMANOVA analysis indicated significant differences in all strata. Therefore, our study provided important information about the vertical distribution of moths, showing that their richness, abundance, and species composition are distinct between strata.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Length-weight (LWR) and length-length (LLR) relationships are widely used in management programs and monitoring of fish stocks. We estimated the LWR and LLR of 10 fish species sampled from nine streams of the lower reach of the Iguassu River Basin, Paraná, Brazil. All LWR fits were significant, with b values ranging from 2.37 to 3.62 and an average value of 3.07. Most species showed isometric growth. Significant differences in the LWR between sexes were observed only for Phalloceros harpagos Lucinda, 2008 in the Três Barras stream. All LLR fits were significant, with b values ranging from 0.98 to 1.25 and an average value of 1.15. Significant differences between sexes for the LLR were observed for Rhamdia voulezi Haseman, 1911 in the Arroio Passo Liso stream. First records of the LWR for four species - Ancistrus mullerae Bifi, Pavanelli & Zawadzki, 2009, Bryconamericus pyahu Azpelicueta, Casciotta & Almirón, 2003, Cambeva stawiarski (Miranda Ribeiro, 1968), and Cambeva taroba (Wosiacki & Garavello, 2004) - and the LLR for six species - A. mullerae, B. pyahu, C. davisi, C. stawiarski, C. taroba, and P. harpagos - and a new record of maximum standard length for two species - C. taroba and B. pyahu - are presented.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT In this study, we conducted a survey of researchers studying flies in Brazil, with the aim of acquiring up-to-date information about them, across multiple aspects, i.e., demographics, opinions, needs, and the main challenges they face. We developed an online questionnaire and collected the responses between September and November 2019; 126 responses were received. Most of them held a Ph.D. and identified themselves as males. Nearly all respondents worked exclusively in public institutions, and most were financially reliant on scholarships provided by public agencies. All of them studied at least one of the 81 dipteran families known to occur in Brazil, with most respondents working on families that included taxa of public health importance. Additionally, most work conducted by these researchers was rooted in systematics/taxonomy. A specific portion of the respondents (i.e., students) felt less integrated into the research community and found it challenging to publish high-impact research. However, some concerns were shared across all respondent subgroups, such as the need for increased funding and a more seamless integration within the research community. Academic professionals highlighted limited funding and inadequate infrastructure as barriers to research. Nevertheless, some subgroups expressed concerns about their career prospects. Although there may be limitations in the sampling process underpinning this study, our survey provides valuable insights into the demographic characteristics of Brazilian dipterist community, thus facilitating the development of policy strategies.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Stegomyia aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) vectors arboviruses of public health concern in urban areas of tropical countries, so it is necessary to reduce its population. Among the control methods used, chemically synthesized molecules have been widely employed, nonetheless, the over usage of the same mechanism of action can result in the resistance selection. Considering the influence of insect resistance with the success of chemical control of vectors, this study aims to assess the susceptibility to organophosphorus of a population of S. aegypti from Paranaguá (Paraná, Brazil), after intense use of malathion during a dengue outbreak. World Health Organization susceptibility tests and expression of Acetylcholinesterase ace-1, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP6N12, and α-esterases CCEae3A genes were evaluated. The mortality rate of wild females (66.5%) indicated their resistance status, furthermore, a new discriminant concentration was detected in this population (3.41%). Exclusively CYP6N12 gene was overexpressed in malathion-resistant females indicating its possible contribution to the transformation of this insecticide. Constant monitoring of insecticide resistance of current and past molecules, mainly in port areas where there is a large flow of species, is crucial for effective use of insecticide in vector control programs.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The ovary of sexually mature females involves oogenetic process for follicular development, ovulation, and luteinization (gametogenic function), which in turn relate to stages of the estrous cycle (EC), as well as the production and biotransformation (steroidogenic function) of sexual steroid hormones (SSH) during EC, pregnancy, and lactation. Depending on their concentrations, SSH play different functions to elicit such reproductive events, but little is known about this in free-living wild species. Here we used ELISA to assess intraovarian concentrations of progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol, during EC, pregnancy, and lactation in wild adult females of Peromyscus melanotis J.A. Allen & Chapman, 1897 and Peromyscus difficilis (J.A. Allen, 1891), immediately after their capture. Results of intraspecific ANOVA showed statistical differences between concentrations of different SSH in the same reproductive stage or event and between the stages or events for each SSH, according to the steroidogenic Δ 4 pathway. Although ANOVA analyses showed no interspecific differences of the same SSH in the same event, except for more testosterone in P. melanotis during heat, profiles of production curves suggest intraspecific peculiarities and interspecific differences that need to be further investigated. Our results contribute to physiological-endocrine evidence during the four stages of EC and first and second part of pregnancy in species of Peromyscus, and are the first documentation for overall lactation in wild rodents.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède) specimens were sampled in the Sanaga River and in the Dibamba River. Three new species, Protoancylodiscoides edeaensis sp. nov., P. yombai sp. nov. from both rivers, and P. dibambaensis sp. nov. from the Dibamba River alone, are described. Protoancylodiscoides edeaensis sp. nov., close to P. mansourensis El-Naggar, 1987 and P. chrysichthes Paperna, 1969 by the morphology of the haptor sclerotised parts, differs from these species by the penis length and the morphology of the vagina. Protoancylodiscoides yombai sp. nov. is close to P. edeaensis sp. nov., P. mansourensis, and P. chrysichthes by the morphology of some sclerotised parts of the haptor (ventral bar, ventral anchors, dorsal onchium and hooks). However, it differs from these species by the morphology of the vagina, of the outer root of the dorsal anchor, and the size of some sclerotised parts (dorsal anchor total length, dorsal bar length, ventral anchor length, and penis length). Protoancylodiscoides dibambaensis sp. nov. is close to P. ivoiriensis Bouah, N’Douba & Pariselle, 2021 by the lack of the onchium and the morphology of some sclerotised parts of the haptor. However, it differs from this species by the morphology of the dorsal bar, penis length, dorsal bar length, and of the ventral anchor total length. This study on monogeneans raises the question of ichthyofauna exchange between adjacent streams; it also reveals a longitudinal gradient of Protoancylodiscoides species richness in the Sanaga River.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Parental division of offspring care in the post-fledging stage of passerines is scarcely studied, especially for neotropical species. We describe the division of parental care in the post-fledging stage of the pale-breasted thrush, Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818, focusing on the food provisioning rate, its effects on fledgling vocalization and foraging, as well as the way parents divide their brood for care. We made direct observations on 13 fledglings from eight families (mean ± standard deviation: 1.88 ± 0.83 fledglings per family) for 70.2 hours. We found no differences in food provisioning rate between adult males and females, nor was it affected by brood age or size. Food provisioning rate was not associated with the frequency of foraging and vocalization by fledglings; foraging was the only behavior that varied with brood age, increasing in frequency. Although there was no difference between parents in food provisioning, pale-breasted thrushes presented four different arrangements of fledgling care: male-only care (while females incubated a new clutch), brood division between the two parents, female-only care (in the absence of a new nesting attempt), and biparental care (both adults take care of the same fledgling). The mode of parental care (uniparental or biparental) did not affect the rate of food provisioning to fledglings. The diversity in modes of brood division between parents was greater than expected, which calls for further studies to uncover the underlying reasons for such variation.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Habitat loss and land use changes resulting from urbanization in residential communities are among the greatest threats to wild mammals. Identifying anthropogenic factors determining mammal diversity and composition can help coordinate socio-economic development with ecological conservation. In this study, we used transect surveys to compare the mammal assemblages near human-disturbed communities with those in the natural off-community area around Beijing, a major metropolis. We assessed the variables affecting the mammals’ presence using 19 environmental indicators. Of the twelve mammal species detected in the area, three vulnerable species have obtained legislative protection. In 58% of the observations, mammals were discovered around communities closer to croplands and located at slightly higher elevations with less vegetation, and these are the main environmental variables contributing to more mammals’ presences in the disturbed near-community area. The selection of croplands for the mammals in the suburb should be a trade-off between feeding benefits and predation risks, and with the rise of protection willingness, green zones near residential communities can serve as additional habitats for mammals facing the expansion of urbanization.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Changes in Neotropical bat taxonomy in the past two decades have caused significant shifts in our understanding of the diversity and distribution of the group. Taxonomic revisions have shown that the once widespread Platyrrhinus helleri (Peters, 1866) represented a species complex, which resulted in the elevation of Platyrrhinus helleri incarum (Thomas, 1912) to the species level for cis-Andean South America and the restriction of P. helleri to Central America and northern South America west of the Andes. Nevertheless, some studies still mention P. helleri for Brazil. Aiming to investigate if P. helleri occurs in Brazil, we collected specimens of small-sized Platyrrhinus in the Cerrado and Pantanal ecosystems, and revised vouchers in museum collections. Based on DNA sequence data and analysis of the pelage and craniodental morphology, we confirm that the only small Platyrrhinus species occurring in Cerrado and Pantanal of central Brazil corresponds to P. incarum. This is the first study to provide sequence data for Brazilian P. incarum. We also provide new records of P. incarum, extending its range by 390 km to southeast and 480 km to the east in Brazil.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The knowledge of the diversity and distribution of Opiliones in Brazil can be considered suitable. However, while the harvestmen fauna of the southern Atlantic Forest is also well-known, several gaps remain and they are still far from complete, notably those in Paraná. Thus, investigations on regional assemblages focused on primary data are critical for promoting many key research fields such as taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, as well as encouraging conservation efforts. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the knowledge on diversity, distribution, and the history of Opiliones research from the state of Paraná. Knowledge gaps are identified and the background of taxonomic studies, highlighting the key contributors, is also discussed. A total of 1115 records were compiled, with 584 from Paraná for 118 species belonging to five families. This compilation allowed to identify 60 endemic species and 106 type localities (including invalid specific names) for the state. Despite being one of the three Brazilian states with the greatest diversity of harvestmen, this knowledge is concentrated in a small region in the First Plateau and is the result of the efforts of a few researchers and collectors over a few decades. To overcome these limitations further sampling is required in the state’s western region. This study is a very first step toward to achieve a comprehensive database of knowledge about Opiliones from one of the richest hotspots for these invertebrates in the world. We encourage similar approaches that consider the state of art for other research fields such behavior, ecology, and natural history in the state, as well as to other neotropical areas.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Sturnira, known as the yellow-shouldered bat, has a wide geographical distribution and encompasses 24 distinct species. Within Phyllostomidae, Sturnira is the most diverse, with four species in Brazil: S. lilium, S. magna, S. tildae, and S. giannae. Sturnira species occur on the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjacent Amazonian lowlands, spanning from Colombia to northern Bolivia, the Brazilian Amazon, the southern lowlands of Venezuela, and the Guianas. In the present study the following were investigated: the phylogenetic relationships of Sturnira, employing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene as a marker; the phylogeography of S. lilium and S. giannae, aiming to elucidate their geographical boundaries and phylogenetic positions; the morphology of S. lilium and S. giannae, and their potential distributions. The results indicate that there are two major clades within Sturnira, one including S. lilium, S. parvidens, and S. bakeri as the sister group of S. giannae, S. luisi, and S. paulsoni, and another clade with the remaining species. Morphological analyses showed that the diagnostic characteristics previously advanced for S. lilium and S. giannae overlap. Our findings expanded the known distribution of S. giannae, and show an area where S. lilium and S. giannae overlap in distribution. This area spans from the south of the state of Mato Grosso to the south of the state of Maranhão; the two species are sympatric in northeast Brazil and syntopic in the Pantanal. The comprehensive species distribution model suggested that the sympatry between S. lilium and S. giannae is notably larger than documented here.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Monstrilloid copepods are endoparasites of marine benthic invertebrates (i.e., polychaetes, molluscs) during their juvenile stages. A final copepodite stage V preadult leaves the host and moults into a non-feeding, reproductive planktonic adult. The taxonomy of Monstrilloid copepods has been historically complex. The current list of species of Brazilian Monstrilloida is available from the “Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil” website (CTFB), an on-line database with taxonomic information on the species known to occur in Brazil. Based on current taxonomical contributions, a total of 14 valid nominal species of Monstrilloida have been recorded from Brazil, including six endemic species (43%). Species of Cymbasoma (five species: 36%) and Monstrilla (six species: 43%) total up to 78% of the Brazilian monstrilloid species diversity. Monstrillopsis and Caromiobenella are both represented by three species. Records of Monstrilloida are concentrated in the East, Southeast, and Northeast regions of the country, with an absence of records for the Rio Grande region. The records of Monstrilloid copepods should be revised in the light of evidence suggesting that widespread nominal species like Cymbasoma longispinosum Bourne, 1890, Cymbasoma rigidum Thompson I.C., 1888, Monstrillopsis dubia (Scott T., 1904), and Monstrilla grandis Giesbrecht, 1891 probably represent species complexes. A better knowledge of the taxonomy, distribution, and biology of the Brazilian Monstrilloida taxa is important to support their conservation. The revision of previous records, the occurrence of species complexes among the Brazilian monstrilloid fauna, the discovery of hosts, and reliably matching males and females of monstrilloids are pending assignments to significantly improve our knowledge of the group.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT The Tunicata, despite the relatively low species diversity among the invertebrates, has always received attention not only due to their ecological importance, especially in fouling communities, but also for several species that are studied as models for genetics and the evolution of development, as well as being a prolific source of natural products. In Brazil, research during the last 60 years has considerably increased our knowledge of benthic and planktonic tunicates, resulting from the work of several research teams. In this review, we provide information on the biodiversity of coastal Brazil along with an analysis of geographic distribution, sampling effort, the locations and status of taxonomic collections, and research specialists working on this group.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT Body weight and vertical stratum utilization are important functional characteristics of species. Several studies have explored the capture success of different traps. These studies, however, did not explore how trappability is influenced by body weight. Here, we investigated the relationship between the weight of marsupial species caught in traps with trap type (wire cage and Sherman) and trap placement (ground and understory). For this we used data from Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840 (n = 127; 75-958 g) and Gracilinanus agilis (Burmeister, 1854) (n = 327; 8.5-46 g) captured in semideciduous forest fragments in central Brazil. The results show that heaviest individuals of D. albiventris (391.01 ± 197.57 g) were captured more often by wire cage traps, regardless of trap placement. In contrast, G. agilis was trapped at similar rates regardless of weight, trap type or trap placement. We conclude that wire cage traps are more efficient at catching large marsupials weighing more than 300 g on average. Furthermore, the size of the individuals captured is not influenced by where the trap is placed (ground or understory). These findings contribute to a better understanding of the natural history and trappability of Neotropical marsupials.

Resumo em Inglês:

ABSTRACT To correct errors in previous catalogs and update the Brazilian fauna, thirty-five species of Darwin wasps erroneously reported for Brazil are removed from the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna, belonging to the following subfamilies: Anomaloninae (2 species), Banchinae (1), Campopleginae (8), Cremastinae (2), Cryptinae (8), Phygadeuontinae (3), Pimplinae (8), Tersilochinae (2), and Tryphoninae (1). Most species were incorrectly cataloged due to an incorrect interpretation of the species list created by Costa Lima in 1962, which mentions species occurring in neighboring countries but does not confirm their presence in Brazil. Thus, the Brazilian fauna of Ichneumonidae currently corresponds to 234 genera and 1,038 species.