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Forest cover has been a pivotal indicator of biological conservation and carrying capacity for wildlife in forest ecoregions. Such a relationship underpins policies focused on the extension of protected lands. Here, we estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) as a proxy for habitat quality in seminatural rural patches and provide a comparison with approaches that only consider forest cover. We hypothesize that recommendations for biological conservation in agricultural landscapes are substantially improved if habitat quality is also taken into account, and thus consider the possibility of forest quality being modulated by land‐use amount, type, and age. We assessed AGB in a densely farmed Brazilian region using a straightforward approach designed to be affordable at large scales, focusing on two expanding and contrasting land uses: sugarcane, and eucalyptus plantations. At a detailed scale, we confirmed through field surveys and AGB estimation using 3D‐multispectral imagery (i.e., AGB = 0.842 × vegetation heightNDVI+1) that AGB variation could be predicted with forest degradation classes that are visually distinguishable with high‐resolution images: 9.33 t ha−1 (90% predictive intervals [PI] = [3.23, 26.97]) in regenerating fields (RF), 31.12 t ha−1 (90% PI = [10.77, 89.90]) in pioneer woods (PW), and 149.04 t ha−1 (90% PI = [51.59, 430.58]) in dense forests (DF). Applying these values to land units sampled across the study region, we found an average land use of 88.5%, together with 11.5% of land set aside for conservation, which reduced AGB to less than 4.2% of its potential (averages of 5.85 t ha−1 in sugarcane‐dominated areas and 6.56 t ha−1 in eucalyptus‐dominated areas, with secondary forests averaging 149.04 t ha−1). This imbalance between forest cover and AGB resulted from forest quality decay, which was similarly severe among land‐use types, ages, and extensions. Therefore, the shortage of trophic resources is likely more critical to wildlife than spatial limitations in vastly deforested tropical ecoregions, where AGB and carbon sinks can be more than doubled just by restoring forests in lands currently spared by agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Biota Neotropica (Edicao em Iingles) is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biota Neotropica (Edicao em Iingles) is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bioenergy has been under intense scrutiny over the last ten years with significant research efforts in many countries taking place to define and measure sustainable practices. We describe here the main challenges and policy issues and provide policy recommendations for scaling up sustainable bioenergy approaches globally. The 2016 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs defined under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) will not reach global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission targets of 2 °C. Sustainable biomass production can make a significant contribution. Substantive evidence exists that many bioenergy cropping systems can bring multiple benefits and off-set environmental problems associated with fossil fuels usage as well as intensive food production and urbanization. We provide evidence that there are many approaches to land use for bioenergy expansion that do not lead to competition for food or other needs. We should focus on how to manage these approaches on a synergistic basis and how to reduce tradeoffs at landscape scales. Priorities include successful synergies between bioenergy and food security (integrated resource management designed to improve both food security and access to bioenergy), investments in technology, rural extension, and innovations that build capacity and infrastructure, promotion of stable prices to incentivize local production and use of double cropping and flex crops (plants grown for both food and non-food markets) that provide food and energy as well as other services. The sustainable production of biomass requires appropriate policies to secure long-term support to improve crop productivity and also to ensure environmental as well as economic and social benefits of bioenergy cropping systems. Continuous support for cropping, infrastructure, agricultural management and related policies is needed to foster positive synergies between food crops and bioenergy production. In comparison to fossil fuels, biofuels have many positive environmental benefits. Potential negative effects caused by land-use change and agriculture intensification can be mitigated by agroecological zoning, best management practices, the use of eco-hydrology and biodiversity-friendly concepts at field, watershed and landscape scales. Global climate and environmental changes related to the use of fossil fuels and inequitable development make it unethical not to pursue more equitable energy development that includes bioenergy. To achieve sustainable development, competitiveness and costs of bioenergy production need to be addressed in a manner that considers not only economic gains but also development of local knowledge and social and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a South American crocodilian with a wide geographical distribution. Water bodies originally occupied by the species have suffered extreme anthropogenic pressure; however, the broad-snouted caiman has a high adaptive capacity to colonize man-made habitats such as decanting pounds and artificial reservoirs for agriculture or livestock. In this context, the present study aimed at identifying the population structure of the broad-snouted caiman in a silvicultural landscape in southeastern Brazil. Fifty-two caimans of various classes were captured with baited traps and steel cable snares at night. The estimated population size was 51 individuals excluding class I individuals. The population density was estimated to be 2.6 individuals/ha with a linear density of 11.3 individuals/km. The intermediate values of linear density estimates herein are similar to other areas, suggesting that silvicultural landscapes can be relevant for broad-snouted caiman conservation. Therefore, the role of silvicultural landscapes in crocodilian conservation should be taken into consideration for environmental certification processes related to forestry in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biofuels can result on a decrease of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when compared to fossil fuels. However, the expansion of biofuels crops has been either based on direct or indirect displacement of natural ecosystems or on the use of degraded or marginal lands. The former results in direct habitat loss, whereas the later results in usual agricultural impacts (e.g., soil and biotic contamination and water eutrophication). However, in some circumstances biofuels crops can result on an increase in biodiversity compared to other agricultural crops. Agricultural zoning can mitigate the impacts of land use change (LUC), either direct (dLUC) or indirect (iLUC), whereas the use of wildlife-friendly techniques can mitigate the impacts of agriculture intensification. However, in both cases long-term biodiversity monitoring programs should be established in order to help the decision making process concerning the conflict between the expansion of biofuels crops and the conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing for wildlife in human-dominated matrices outside natural reserves has great importance to improve the efficacy of conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore biodiversity. As such, it is critical to understand which features of the matrix enhance habitat suitability to the remaining species and also to evaluate species responses to alternative management practices. We used hierarchical modeling to estimate the effect of stand level management practices adopted in Eucalyptus plantations on site occupancy by birds while accounting for species detection failure. Our models incorporated site-specific traits, such as management practice type and landscape attributes of each sampling unit. They also incorporate species-specific traits, particularly main foraging stratum. The major factor associated with differences in site occupancy by birds within our study site is the management practice type. Scattered native trees and early successional stage understory within mature stands were associated with an increase in the proportion of bird species from the regional pool that was able to occupy the silvicultural matrix. Landscape attributes had a relatively minor effect on site occupancy in our study area. We concluded that site occupancy by birds is positively associated with increasing spatial complexity within Eucalyptus stands, with species responding to the retention of native scattered trees and understory presence. Forestry managers interested in improving the conservation value for birds of Eucalyptus plantations in tropical areas should maintain existing native trees and adopt practices that trigger understory regeneration during site preparation and stand rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the thermoregulatory behavior in captive broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). The study is investigated by data collection, thermal sensors, and Turkey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Results show that several factors affect the temperature (Tb) of adult broad-snouted caiman including sex of the animals and reproduction.

The article discusses a research study which investigated thermoregulation in captive broad-snouted Caiman latirostris. The influence of sex, body size, and reproductive status on the body temperature of broad-snouted caiman in captivity was determined. Observations on the variation among the microenvironmental temperatures used by the species are discussed. Data shows the pattern and statistical values of comparison of body temperature between sexes in captive adult broad-snouted caiman.

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The area covered by Eucalyptus plantations is significantly increasing in Brazil for economic reasons. However, the impact of such land use change is still unknown. In this study we evaluated the spatial–temporal distribution and abundance of terrestrial non-volant small mammals on a recently converted landscape whose matrix is formed by Eucalyptus plantations up to 3years of age. From August 2007 to July 2009 we carried out monthly sampling campaigns over a grid of 30 sampling units, formed by pitfall traps covering both the landscape matrix of Eucalyptus plantations (n =18) and legal conservation areas of native vegetation (n =7) and abandoned pastures (n =5). A total of 1640 individuals from 14 species of the orders Didelphimorphia (4 spp.) and Rodentia (10 spp.) were captured. However, only three species of rodents (Olygorysomys flavescens, Oligoryzomys nigripes and Calomy tener) represented 81.8% of the total amount. Eucalyptus plantations had a lower species richness and abundance than the abandoned pasture and the remaining fragments of native vegetation. Although the present species are predominantly generalists, there is clear distinction among environments in terms of their species composition and relative abundance, which also present a pronounced time variation. The assemblage found in this study suggests that silvicultural landscapes still have some conservation value, with species that seem to be resident at the Eucalyptus plantations. Moreover, the presence of the native and abandoned pastures patches imbibed in the Eucalyptus plantation matrix may increase the carrying capacity of such a silvicultural system and these landscapes may play a role in maintaining local biodiversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the results of a survey of felids in an agricultural landscape in Sao Paolo, Brazil from July 2003 to June 2004. Findings revealed the presence of five felid species, which are the puma, ocelot, margay, oncilla and jaguarundi. Using Nested Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), evaluation of the possible differences in distribution of the frequency of occurrence of species and species richness according to the land use type in which they were found showed no differences. Results of Kruskal-Wallis test also revealed no differences in the abundance of species. Only pumas were found in pasture areas while the presence of all five species were recorded in native forest fragments.

The article presents information on a study which investigated the ecology of the north American freshwater turtle Trachemys (T.) scripta (s.) elegans. The first occurrence of this species in feral state in Brazil were observed. Four captured T. s. elegans were sexed by carapace length, tail length, eloacae position and plastron concavity. As previously reported, the most probable cause of T. s. elegans occurrence in the Piracicamirim stream was from the turtles released by pet owners. A biometry of the specimen captured in the stream is also provided.

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Eucalyptus plantations are habitat for part of the small mammals' assemblage. • Small mammals' diversity raises along commercial cycles of Eucalyptus plantations. • Small mammals have an even distribution on Eucalyptus plantations. • Forest species switch Cerrado ones along cycles of Eucalyptus plantations. In this study we surveyed small mammals on a silvicultural landscape during the early second 7-year commercial cycle of Eucalyptus plantations in southeast Brazil. To do so we used the same method (pitfall traps) and part of the same sampling units used by a previous study during the early first commercial cycle. Our results suggest that Eucalyptus plantations are used as habitat by part of the original assemblage of small mammals along their commercial cycles. Four new species were detected on the second cycle but three were only detected on the first. In both cycles Eucalyptus plantations presented smaller abundance of small mammals than native vegetation and abandoned pastures around. Oligoryzomys nigripes (a species from the Atlantic forest) replaces O. flavescens and Calomys tener (species from Cerrado) from the first to the second commercial cycle. Species richness of the landscape matrix tend to remain lower than the native vegetation and abandoned pastures on the early second commercial cycle. Similarly to the first cycle, the species that use Eucalyptus plantations are not affected by the distance to the border of the conservation areas (i.e., native vegetation and abandoned pastures). The land sharing approach of the silvicultural sector in Brazil apparently prevented a higher small mammal species local extinction in relation to a former matrix of pastures. This provides a relevant conservation value to local silvicultural landscapes due to the role of small mammals in local trophic network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)