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This article evaluates the effectiveness of the methods fixed area plots (AP) and point-centered quarters (PQ) to describe a woody community from typical Cerrado. We used 10 APs and 140 PQs, distributed into 5 transects. We compared the density of individuals, floristic composition, richness of families, genera, and species, and vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. The AP method was more effective to sample the density of individuals. The PQ method was more effective for characterizing species richness, vertical vegetation structure, and record of species with low abundance. The composition of families, genera, and species, as well as the species with higher importance value index in the community were similarly determined by the 2 methods. The methods compared are complementary. We suggest that the use of AP, PQ, or both methods may be aimed at the vegetation parameter under study.

This article evaluates the effectiveness of the methods fixed area plots (AP) and point-centered quarters (PQ) to describe a woody community from typical Cerrado. We used 10 APs and 140 PQs, distributed into 5 transects. We compared the density of individuals, floristic composition, richness of families, genera, and species, and vertical and horizontal vegetation structure. The AP method was more effective to sample the density of individuals. The PQ method was more effective for characterizing species richness, vertical vegetation structure, and record of species with low abundance. The composition of families, genera, and species, as well as the species with higher importance value index in the community were similarly determined by the 2 methods. The methods compared are complementary. We suggest that the use of AP, PQ, or both methods may be aimed at the vegetation parameter under study.

The Procyon cancrivorus, as well as its entire family, is an endemic species of the Americas. It is widely found throughout the Brazilian territory and it inhabits all biomes, particularly the cerrado. This study used five adult specimens of P. cancrivorus for the characterization of the leg muscles. The animals were collected on roads (i. e. they had been killed by accident). The muscles were dissected, observing their proximal and distal insertions macroscopically, together with their topographic relationships to the arteries and nerves. The muscles studied are considered muscles of the tibia. The cranial tibial muscles, brevis, longus, long digital extensor and lateral extensor digitorum are craniolaterally distinct in the tibia, and the gastrocnemius muscles, lateral flexor of the fingers, popliteus, flexor digitorum, flexor digitorum and medial tibial flow are located in the caudal region of the tibia. The muscles of this group act as flexors and extensors of the hock joint and as flexors and extensors of the digital joints, except the popliteal muscle that acts as a flexor of the knee joint. The muscles studied were compared with their muscles in domestic carnivores, like the dog and cat, and great similarity was found.

The Procyon cancrivorus, as well as its entire family, is an endemic species of the Americas. It is widely found throughout the Brazilian territory and it inhabits all biomes, particularly the cerrado. This study used five adult specimens of P. cancrivorus for the characterization of the leg muscles. The animals were collected on roads (i. e. they had been killed by accident). The muscles were dissected, observing their proximal and distal insertions macroscopically, together with their topographic relationships to the arteries and nerves. The muscles studied are considered muscles of the tibia. The cranial tibial muscles, brevis, longus, long digital extensor and lateral extensor digitorum are craniolaterally distinct in the tibia, and the gastrocnemius muscles, lateral flexor of the fingers, popliteus, flexor digitorum, flexor digitorum and medial tibial flow are located in the caudal region of the tibia. The muscles of this group act as flexors and extensors of the hock joint and as flexors and extensors of the digital joints, except the popliteal muscle that acts as a flexor of the knee joint. The muscles studied were compared with their muscles in domestic carnivores, like the dog and cat, and great similarity was found.