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In this guide we present taxonomic keys for the 12 subfamilies and 117 genera of ants known to occur in Brazil, along with an illustrated glossary of technical terms. The identification keys presented here are accompanied by high-resolution photographs of representative specimens for each taxon covered, including details that aid in the understanding of complex characters. Additionally, we provide comparative information for each genus, including diagnostic morphological traits, predominant habitat occurrence, nesting and foraging strata, collection frequency, and reproductive strategy. We also provide a synopsis of the taxonomic status of each genus, including the number of known species in Brazil in comparison to their global distribution, as well as the occurrence of the ant genera across biomes and the most recent study including taxonomic tools for species identification. The main objective of this guide is to facilitate the accurate identification of ants in Brazil, providing a systematic and practical approach in accessible language for researchers, students, and entomology enthusiasts. We hope to contribute to the advancement of taxonomic, ecological, and applied knowledge of Brazilian ants, as well as provide a tool for diversity studies and environmental education, contributing to the understanding and preservation of ants in the country with the highest biodiversity on the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tocantins-Araguaia River basin hosts an elevated number of fish species, and new species have been continuously described. In this basin, we investigated patterns of endemic fish species descriptions examining their association with species distribution range, altitudinal gradient, fluvial hierarchy of watercourses, and sampling effort. For each species, we collected its year of taxonomic description, geographical coordinates of its holotype, body size (a proxy for species range), fluvial hierarchy of watercourses, and both altitude and sampling effort related to the locality of the holotype. The number of taxonomic descriptions was positively correlated to sampling effort, and better-sampled regions accumulated more descriptions over time. Moreover, altitude was positively correlated to the year of species description, whereas body size was negatively correlated to it. While species with recent descriptions were more associated to first to third order streams, species with recent and older descriptions were associated to high-order rivers. Therefore, fish species with broader distributions tend to have older descriptions in regions of lower altitude, whereas species with restricted distributions recent descriptions at higher altitudes. Increasing efforts in the upper regions of the Tocantins-Araguaia basin seems to be a good and fruitful strategy for reducing the Linnean shortfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal 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.)

A new species of Ancistrus is described from the rio Vacacaí drainage, rio Jacuí basin, laguna dos Patos system, southern Brazil. The new species differs from A. brevipinnis, the common species in the laguna dos Patos system, by having a dark brown to black background body color and dorsal and caudal fins plain dark, without lighter spots or bands. A morphometric and molecular comparison of different populations of A. brevipinnis from the laguna dos Patos system suggests that previously undetected species diversity is present in that basin. The typelocality of A. brevipinnis, originally described as Rio Grande do Sul State, is herein restricted to the rio Camaquã sub-basin of the laguna dos Patos system, and a redescription of A. brevipinnis is provided based on that population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper rio Paraná basin drains the most developed and environmentally degraded region in South America: the Brazilian southeast. While it is one of the most well-known Neotropical fish assemblages, it is also one of the most threatened by anthropic activity. Urbanization, deforestation, dam construction, invasive species, and water pollution not only reduce the living area of species but also alter our perception of the basin and its biotic elements. Such changes are so profound and pervasive that raise uncertainties about the native or non-native status of several species. This paper aims to offer a detailed picture of the native diversity and historical biogeography of the fishes in the upper rio Paraná basin, which we hope will offer a solid foundation for future conservation policies. We update the list of native species, analyze geographical distributions, and identify biogeographical patterns, emphasizing areas requiring recognition as distinct biotas for conservation efforts. Over the past 15 years, more than 100 additional species have been described or recorded, expanding the total to 341 native species belonging to six orders and 30 families, making it the richest river basin in Brazil outside the Amazonian region. Unlike most neotropical basins where Characidae dominates, loricariids make up nearly one-fourth of the total fish diversity in the region. Species and clades concentrate in the central basin, while endemics are confined to peripheral areas due to the complex biogeographical history shared with neighboring basins. Eighteen distinct biogeographical regions are identified, discussing their composition, histories, and conservation implications. The upper rio Paraná basin has 10% of its fish fauna ranked as endangered and present 128 non-native species, including three hybrids. This places it as the major drainage with the largest number of endangered taxa in the neotropics and at the same time the one with the most numerous non-native elements. Existing protected areas are deemed ineffective in preserving diverse assemblages and fail to safeguard the majority of threatened and narrowly-endemic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

The Brazilian state of Acre is located in the southwestern Amazon and it is characterized by a humid tropical forest vegetation that covers plains and mountains. Up to this point, the composition of termite species in the state is not known. The aim of this study was to provide a checklist of termite species or recognizable taxonomic units for the state of Acre. Sampling was conducted through field expeditions at the Serra do Divisor National Park, Chandless State Park, Humaitá Forest Reserve, and Chico Mendes Environmental Park using a standardized rapid termite inventory protocol in the first two areas and active searching collections in the others, without a specific protocol. This study also included occurrence records published in the scientific literature. A total of 128 species and morphospecies of termites were found in Acre, distributed across 59 genera and four families. The most frequently occurring species in Acre was Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen, 1858). The study also identified six new species records for Brazil. The predominant feeding groups were soil-feeders and wood-feeders, as expected from data obtained from surveys in humid tropical forests. Despite the significant number of new records for Acre (112), it is concluded that a larger sampling effort is still required, as many areas of the state have not yet been studied for termites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, northern Minas Gerais, is located in the Cerrado, a global hotspot, and the literature lacks information about its communities of social wasps, insects that perform numerous services for the functioning of ecosystems. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct an inventory of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, and compare its richness and composition with three other fully protected conservation units in northern Minas Gerais and Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais. A total of 41 species of 14 genera of social wasps were recorded, including a new occurrence in the state: Mischocyttarus campestris Raw, 1985. The presence of distinct social wasp communities in the Cerrado and Caatinga conservation units analyzed in this study, reinforces and justifies the creation of these fully protected areas, which ensure the conservation of this biological heritage and the environmental services provided by these taxa, besides providing subsidies for the management and sustainable use of the natural resources of these conservation units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Northeast has a rich native flora used for therapeutic purposes in folk medicine. National Policies and Programs encourage the use of folk medicine plants in their Health System, prioritizing local species as a strategy to make herbal medicine more credible among users. However, the lack of knowledge of plants by health professionals, the emphasis on allopathic medicine and the lack of knowledge of plant species on official lists in different regions of the country are some of the factors identified as barriers to the success of such programs. In this perspective, the present research reviewed the literature on ethnobotany in order to know the main species of native medicinal plants used in this region and with potential for phytotherapy. After consulting the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and PubMed, 58 articles published between January/2015 and December/2019 were selected, with 590 species of medicinal plants cited in ethnobotanical studies being recorded. Of these species, 129 (22%) were cited between 5 to 35 studies and 35 (27%) of the species have authorization for use as herbal medicines, of which only 11 species (31.43%) are native. It was found that of the 71 species listed in the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the Unified Health System in Brazil, 60 are used by human communities in the Northeast, reinforcing the region's contribution to the theme. 57 native species are presented that still do not have authorization for simplified registration as herbal medicine, but are used in folk medicine. These data seek to minimize the lack of knowledge about native species and value their use in regional phytotherapy. It is suggested to encourage research in partnership with local communities that analyze the therapeutic action of medicinal plants and encourage their use in Primary Health Care, in accordance with Law 13.123/2015, in order to protect access to traditional knowledge and guarantee the benefit sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The length-weight relationship parameter is important for obtaining fish weight and biomass data with relevant implications about species role on ecosystem functioning. Here we report the length-weight relationship (LWR) for 24 fish species from three streams located in the Atlantic Forest in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Fish were collected with electrofishing and standard length (cm) and wet weight (g) were measured to obtain the a and b parameters of the Log (W) = Log (a) + b Log (SL) equation. Length-weight relationships for seven out of 24 species (Hypostomus punctatus, Deuterodon taeniatus, Deuterodon hastatus, Deutorodon janeiroensis, Characidium vidali, Characidium interruptum and Rineloricaria zawadiskii) are reported for the first time. The length-weight relationships reported here contribute to the database that can support fish diversity conservation, fisheries management plans and studies on fish biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iguaçu National Park is the second largest (1852.62 km²) protected area in the Atlantic Forest domain and harbors the largest area of semideciduous seasonal forest in Brazil. In this study, we present 795 subspecies and 787 species of butterflies that occur in this protected area and its surrounding areas, collected over 15 years and ten months using different non-standardized sampling methods. We also searched for additional records in the literature, entomological collections, and citizen science platforms on the internet. Among the sampled taxa, six are recorded for the first time in Brazil: Emesis orichalceus Stichel, 1916, Theope p. pakitza Hall & Harvey, 1998 (Riodinidae), Elbella v. viriditas (Skinner, 1920), Apaustus gracilis ssp. n. (Hesperiidae), Deltaya sp. n. (Nymphalidae), and Symbiopsis sp. n. (Lycaenidae). Another six are listed as endangered in lists of butterflies of conservation concern. The records for some species significantly increase previously documented distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first list of Aetalionidae and Membracidae species for western Acre is presented, including the Alto do Juruá regions of Serra do Divisor National Park and the Campus Floresta of the Federal University of Acre. In total, 94 species of treehoppers were collected, of which Centrotinae (Membracidae) is recorded for the first time for Brazil (Abelus maculatus Schimidt), another 16 species are new Brazilian records, and 69 species (Aetalionidae and Membracidae) are new records for Acre. Data on type locality, geographic distribution and images of all species are presented. The males of Lophyraspis fenestrata Sakakibara & Creão-Duarte and Erechtia sanguinolenta (Fairmaire) are known for the first time. The species diversity was compared to four other treehopper surveys in the Amazon region, with similarity indices of about 43.6% for Colombian Amazon (at least 650 km away), 27.6% for Panguana Biological Research Station, Peru (250 km), 20.2% for Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Brazil (1,600 km) and 8.5% for Villa Carmen Biological Station/Los Amigos Biological Station, Peru (600/700 km). The estimated richness of Serra do Divisor National Park was just over 70%, suggesting that local diversity could be significantly higher than that presented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the diversity of animal groups distributed in Brazil provides countless research opportunities, the current scenario does not follow this demand. The reasons for the disconnections range from inequality in the availability of resources for teaching and research to the focus of researchers on specific groups of animals, while others remain neglected. Training new potential Brazilian researchers interested in Zoology is essential for a greater understanding of this diversity, as well as exposing those potential new researchers to new groups and different work possibilities. Thus, the Summer Course in Zoology (in Portuguese, CVZoo) promoted by the Graduate Program in Zoology at the University of São Paulo, over the last ten years, has been seeking to contribute to this training of new researchers in the field of Zoology, as well as in updating teachers through university extension activities. In order to assess the impacts caused by CVZoo on the academic and professional training of the participants, Google forms were sent to participants in the ten editions of the course, as well as compiled information available on the Lattes Platform. Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed the profile of graduates, their expectations, and perceptions about the course. Based on these data, we demonstrate the CVZoo’s efficiency in popularizing Zoology throughout the country in contributing to the decentralization of knowledge as well as in meeting the urgent concerns of making access to knowledge more egalitarian and socially fair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanical gardens are important centres o fleisure, culture, science and conservation be sides being extremely relevantto our history. Since the time of colonial Brazil, botanical gardens have existed for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Today, they serve to preserve various endangered species. Inaddition to that, visiting the gardens helps the population to understand the importance of Brazilian flora. In order for the botanical gardens to fulfil the irroleproperly, good management is necessary. The presente work, through a literature review, points out abrief history of the botanical gardens and some importante points for this management to be carried out in the best possible way, thus making good use o fall the possibilities that a botanical Garden provides for society and for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ipomoea L. is the largest genus in Convolvulaceae with approximately 150 species reported from Brazil, more than 50% of which are from the northeastern region of the country. The genus is represented by 48 species in Pernambuco state, occurring in Atlantic Forest and Caatinga vegetation as well as areas impacted by human activities. We present here an identification key, photographic documentation, taxonomic comments, and the geographical distributions of species in Pernambuco. New records of Ipomoea cearensis O'Donell, I. hirsutissima Gardner and I. squamosa Choisy for the state are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floristic treatment is presented for Cunoniaceae in the Caparaó National Park (PNC), located in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, on the border of the Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states. This conservation unit comprises the highest mountain peak in southeastern Brazil, Bandeira Peak, at 2,890 m of elevation. Its vegetation encompasses different phytophysiognomies, including Dense Ombrophilous Forests, Montane Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, and High-Altitude Grasslands. Cunoniaceae was represented in the PNC by four species: Lamanonia ternata, L. ulei, Weinmannia humilis, and W. paulliniifolia. To contribute to further taxonomic studies and species conservation in the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, morphological descriptions, identification keys, photographs in vivo, and comments on the taxonomy, geographic distribution of the recorded species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research were studied fungi on the litter of Andreadoxa flava and Nectandra membranacea, in a remaining area of the Atlantic Forest in Ilhéus, BA. The mycota of those plants had not been studied. Samples were obtained in three collections between October 2018 and July 2019, during which 20 leaves at different stages of decomposition were collected per plant species. The leaves were washed and stored in wet chambers. Fungal preparations were used for microscopic analysis and identification of species. A total of 25 genera and 32 fungal species were found, 26 in the litter of A. flava and 22 of N. membranacea. Sixteen genera were associated with both plants. Microcallis was identified for the first ever associated with A. flava, a species native to the Atlantic Forest, and the taxon Thozetella falcata, was found for the first time in Bahia in the same plant. This is the first report of Parasympodiella lauri on N. membranacea in Brazil. The mycota found was analyzed taxonomically and for its diversity. Further studies on the mycota associated with the two plants must be carried out, particularly for A. flava as it is nearly extinct in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a scientometric review based on urban floristic inventories published in Brazilian scientific journals between 2000 and 2020 to determine the diversity and conservation status of trees used in urban forestry in Brazil. The floristic inventories were divided according to five Brazilian geographic regions. Tree species were divided into native and exotic species. We identified 71 floristic inventories of urban forestry, most of which were concentrated in the South and Southeast regions. In total, 473 species and 125 botanical families were identified. The largest number of species and families was found in the Southeast region, but most species/inventories were found in the North and Central-West regions. The ratio of native to exotic tree species was approximately 1:1; however, when the five most commonly used species were analyzed, the ratio of native to exotic species was less than 0.6, regardless of the geographic region. Regarding vulnerability, most of the species included in this study were not assessed for threat (86%), whereas only 1.7% of the species were vulnerable and 1% were endangered. We emphasize the urgent need to increase the number of tree species included in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria in urban forestry programs in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabanidae is a family of the order Diptera composed of insects popularly known as horse flies. Compared to the current knowledge about other insects, tabanids can be considered a well-studied group in Brazil, however, little is known about the Tabanidae fauna in the Tocantins state, since only 44 species had been recorded for the state, which is not a very significant number among the 488 species recorded for the country. Thereby, we aimed to enlarge the knowledge of tabanids present in the state by identifying the specimens collected over the last decade in an important transition area between the Cerrado and Amazon domains. We accounted 302 specimens distributed in three subfamilies (Pangoniinae, Chrysopsinae, and Tabaninae), four tribes (Scionini, Chrysopsini, Diachlorini, and Tabanini), 12 genera, 29 species, and two varieties. Of these, only eight species and the two varieties had been recorded in the Tocantins state, numbering 21 new records for the state. Thus, we updated the records of Tabanidae for the Tocantins state for 65 known species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The butterflies diversity in the Amazon is still poorly known, although there is an expectation that new species will be discovered and recorded in this region. The information generated in field work has as its central point the knowledge of the species and their ecological relationships. For the systematization of this information, it is necessary that it be available in reference collections. Thus, biological collections are essential for the historical record of animal diversity of a given ecosystem, besides serving as a tool in practical classes, as a deposit of voucher species, and as an aid in the correct comparison and identification of collected specimens. The aim of this study was to know the diversity of butterflies deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Universidade Federal do Acre - Campus Floresta, municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre state, Brazil, in order to identify the butterflies deposited in this collection at the taxonomic family level. A total of 419 individuals were counted, being possible to identify 379 specimens, distributed among the families Nymphalidae (83%), Pieridae (12%), Papilionidae (3%) and Hesperiidae (2%). The lack of preventive maintenance of this collection resulted in 40 damaged specimens, which were not in a condition to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, very distinctive species of Pareiorhaphis is described from the rio Uruguai basin, in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. Pareiorhaphis pumila, new species, is a small bodied hypoptopomatine catfish with a maximum standard length barely reaching 50 mm. The specimens were captured from rockbottomed habitats in various localities in the rio Ijuí basin. Despite occurring in rock-bottomed fast-flowing headwater stream tributaries as the other species of Pareiorhaphis, this is the first species collected also in the main channel of the middle stretch of a large tributary to the rio Uruguai. The new species is promptly diagnosed from all its congeners by the reduced number of anal-fin branched rays, possession of well-developed dorsal-fin spinelet, comparatively lower number of plates in median lateral series, and low number of teeth in each dentary. In addition, osteological features related to the caudal skeleton are also useful to distinguish the new species from most congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolvulus linarioides has frequently been confused with E. saxifragus due to overlap of their morphological characters. A careful morphological analysis of herbarium specimens and protologues evidenced no support for considering the two taxa as distinct entities. We therefore propose here the synonymization of E. linarioides under E. saxifragus, and we propose a neotype for the name now synonymized. In addition, we found that the morphotype often cited as E. linarioides from Bahia State, Brazil, cannot be included among the morphological variations of E. saxifragus, being distinguished by leaf size, prominence of the main vein, the length of the peduncle in relation to the pedicel, the presence of epidermal vesicles on anthers, the lengths of the styles, and the shapes of their stigmas and papillae. We therefore propose this morphotype as a new species, E. longipedicellatus, endemic to the Caatinga domain. A complete morphological description, illustrations, taxonomic and ecological comments, conservation status, morphoanatomical data, and a distribution map are provided. Evolvulus linarioides tem sido frequentemente confundida com E. saxifragus, devido à sobreposição de seus caracteres morfológicos. A partir de análises morfológicas cuidadosas de espécimes em herbários e dos protólogos, nós interpretamos que não há caracteres para considerar os dois táxons como entidades distintas. Com isso, nós propomos aqui a sinonimização de E. linarioides sob E. saxifragus, e propomos um neótipo para o nome agora sinonimizado. Além disso, constatamos que o morfotipo do estado da Bahia, frequentemente nomeado como E. linarioides, não pode ser incluído na variação morfológica de E. saxifragus. Tais espécimes podem ser diferenciados pelo tamanho das folhas, proeminência da nervura principal, comprimento do pedúnculo em relação ao pedicelo, presença de vesículas epidérmicas nas anteras, comprimento dos estiletes e forma dos estigmas e de suas papilas. Considerando isso, propomos esse morfotipo como uma nova espécie, E. longipedicellatus, até o momento endêmica da Caatinga. Nós fornecemos descrição morfológica, ilustrações, comentários ecológicos e taxonômicos, status de conservação, dados morfoanatômicos e mapa de distribuição. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ECO92, a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, hosted by Brazil in 1992 was a catalyst for much activity on biodiversity in the State of São Paulo and eventually led to the establishment of BIOTA-FAPESP. BIOTA-FAPESP quickly evolved into a world-leading research program that has broadened to cover all aspects of biodiversity in the State from genes through species and to ecosystems and the interactions between them. Through the funding of multi-disciplinary projects, the development of collaborative links within the State, nationally and internationally, and the astute use of databases to link the program's project outputs it has set a platform for filling the biodiversity knowledge gaps. Having achieved much in the last two decades, it still has some way to go, but the stage is set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability of the organisms living in a given area constitute what is referred to as biodiversity, one of nature's fundamental properties, responsible for the balance and stability of ecosystems. The loss of biodiversity has been of great concern to scientists, especially because of the role played by human activities in this regard, able to lead to irreversible circumstances. The São Paulo Research Foundation (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, FAPESP) plays a major role in supporting research efforts in the most diverse branches of science. In the late 1990's, FAPESP launched a major program to promote research on biodiversity, named BIOTA/FAPESP. So far, this program has financed the conduction of 26 projects, involving research activities in most of Brazil, while focusing mainly the State of São Paulo. These projects have generated about 1140 publications in peer-reviewed journals of high standard, providing relevant information, including the original description of 1187 species and 76 genera, the complementary description of 350 species, as well as a number of inventory works, biological studies, etc. The program has also been instrumental in the establishment or adequacy of research facilities and training of new taxonomists. Most extensively studied groups of terrestrial invertebrates include Insecta of the orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera, and Arachnida of the subclasses Araneae and Acari. Distinct projects have also contributed to the detection of organisms potentially useful as biological control agents and in the determination of maps of major interest for the establishment of public policies. In the future, priority groups for study should include the Annelida and the Nematoda, for the potential both have as beneficial organisms, or for the potential some Nematoda have as organisms harmful to plants and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

speciesLink is a large-scale biodiversity information portal that exists thanks to a broad collaborative network of people and institutions. CRIA's involvement with the scientific community of Brazil and other countries is responsible for the significant results achieved, currently reaching more than 15 million primary biodiversity data records, 95% of which are associated with preserved specimens and about 25% with high-quality digital images. The network provides data on over 200,000 species, of which over 110,000 occur in Brazil. This article describes thematic networks within speciesLink, as well as some of the most useful tools developed. The importance and contributions of speciesLink are outlined, as are concerns about securing stable budgetary support for such biodiversity data e-infrastructures. Here we review the value of speciesLink as a major source of biodiversity information for research, education, informed decision-making, policy development, and bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sites located in Tocantins State, Brazil, were selected for the bee's community survey. One of them was mostly covered by Cerrado vegetation and the other one is located in the Cerrado-Amazon Rainforest ecotone. Five expeditions were performed in each site throughout a 12-month period, between 2019 and 2020. The total of 771 bee specimens were collected and distributed into four families. Apidae presented the greatest species abundance and richness, it was followed by Halictidae, Megachilidae and Andrenidae, respectively. Trigona pallens (Fabricius) (Apidae) was the species presenting the greatest abundance in both sites, it totaled 118 specimens, which corresponded to 26.9% of the total abundance of individuals belonging to tribe Meliponini. In general, the community presented several species with few individuals and few species with many individuals. Bee collections were performed by using three different methodologies, among them one finds sampling based on the entomological net method, which allowed collecting the largest number of both individuals and species in comparison to the other used methods. Based on the frequency and abundance classes, only few species were classified as very frequent (VF) and very abundant (VA) in both sites based on the frequency and abundance classes. Most species were constant (W) in both regions, and there was a small number of dominant species (D); moreover, more than 70% of the sampled species were considered accidental (Z). According to the present study, either Cerrado or Cerrado-Amazon Rainforest studied sites presented higher species richness than other sites in these biomes sampled in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Ammoglanis is described from the rio Aruri Grande, rio Jamanxim drainage, a right bank tributary to the middle rio Tapajós, Pará State, Brazil. The new species is identified and defined through morphological characters such as color pattern, consisting of eight or nine transverse dark bars regularly spaced along the dorsum; skeletal morphology; numbers of premaxillary teeth, vertebrae, and dorsal- and pectoral-fin rays; presence of cranial fontanel and two small, finger-like papillae on chin anterior to the gular apex. The new species probably is an additional example of endemism in the rio Tapajós basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Tatia is described from rio Tapajós, upstream of the rapids of São Luiz do Tapajós, Pará State, Brazil. The new species is identified and diagnosed from its congeners through morphological characteristics such as the absence of an adipose fin, which is shared with T. akroa and T. britskii; the composition of the cranial roof elements; the color pattern consisting of dorsolateral dark dots formed by both dermal and epidermal pigments; as well as several morphometric measures. The new species is a Centromochlinae fish that feeds on insects on the surface of the water at night and it is probably endemic to rio Tapajós basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia 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 Revista Tellus is the property of Revista Tellus 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.)

We describe a new extant species of freshwater turtle from Brazil: Mesoclemmys sp. nov., a medium-sized toad-headed turtle (mean carapace length = 189.5 ± 25.8 mm), which to date has only been found in the Brazilian Amazon Basin, western Pará State, Central Amazon, and the lower Amazonas River Basin. It is easily distinguished from its sympatric congeners by differences in body size, head size, carapace shape, and coloration. The head is triangular and completely black, with large red eyes positioned anteriorly and a pair of long, light yellow barbels positioned anteriorly close the mandible. The carapace is oval and colored dark reddish brown. The plastron is black in the central region and burnt-yellow along the edges and ventral aspects of the marginal scutes and bridge, with dark seams. The plastral formula is 3-5-7-4-1-6-2. The new species inhabits temporary rainwater ponds under closed-canopy rainforest and has a known geographic range of 2183 km2. Sequences of fragment mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S) of the new species were determined and compared with the available GenBank sequences. Our phylogenetic results indicate that the specimens represent a divergent taxon within Mesoclemmys and a robust analysis of morphological data corroborates the existence of a new distinct species of Mesoclemmys, described herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Rhyacoglanis is described from the rapids of Jatobal, Pará State, Brazil. This species differs from the congeners by fusing hypurals 3, 4, and 5 (vs. hypural 5 free). It also differs from the other species, except for Rhyacoglanis epiblepsis, by the color pattern with numerous dark spots on the body, short postcleithral process, rounded pectoral and caudal fins, and incomplete lateral line. This species is known only from the type locality, which is currently flooded by the Tucuruí reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lophiosilurus is a monotypic genus represented by L. alexandri, a species endemic to the São Francisco river basin, Brazil. In previous phylogenetic analyses, the genus has been recovered as the sister group of Cephalosilurus. However, few species of Cephalosilurus or few characters were included in those studies. Thus, the current study aims to test the monophyletic hypothesis of the genera Lophiosilurus and Cephalosilurus with a more comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, including all Cephalosilurus species and a representative number of characters. Phylogenetic analyses of 18 terminal taxa (15 ingroups and three outgroups) were conducted based on a combined 75 character matrix, including 70 discrete morphological characters concerning osteology and neuroanatomy, four continuous characters, and the geometric morphometry of the head. The monophyly of the family Pseudopimelodidae was highly supported, and Cephalosilurus is synonymized with Lophiosilurus. The recovered phylogeny of the genus was (L. albomarginatus (L. nigricaudus (L. apurensis (L. fowleri, L. alexandri)))). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Araguaia River basin has the highest fish biodiversity within the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savannah), with many endemic and threatened species by human activities. Despite growing efforts to catalog Neotropical freshwater fish biodiversity, many regions are still undersampled. Our objective is to complement the information about stream fish in two hydrographic basins in the Cerrado. We sampled 72 streams with 50 m stretch in the Upper Araguaia (n = 32) and Middle Rio das Mortes (n = 40) basins. We collected 14,887 individuals distributed in 137 species, 81 genera, 30 families, and six orders. Characidae, Loricariidae, and Cichlidae were the families richer in species. We found a high diversity of rare fish species in the streams sampled, ca. 71.5% of the species had at least five individuals collected, and 18 species had only one collected specimen. The most frequent species were Astyanax cf. goyacensis, Knodus cf. breviceps, and Characidium cf. zebra. Both basins shared around 43% of the species. We caught 76 species in Upper Araguaia and 120 species in Middle Rio das Mortes. Seventeen exclusive fish species occurred in Upper Araguaia, whereas 61 were found in the Middle Rio das Mortes basin. Our analysis showed lower diversity of fish in Upper Araguaia than in the Middle Rio das Mortes basin. Considering the exclusive fish species of both basins, the human threats in those regions, and the few existent protected areas, we need a better look at the aquatic biodiversity conservation of this ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South America ichthyofauna encompasses the highest diversity of the world, however is highly threatened by anthropogenic actions. The fish fauna of nine low-order streams, tributaries of the Piquiri River and impacted by aquaculture, agriculture and urbanization were sampled in the present study. Samplings were done quarterly from December 2017 to September 2018 at three sites in each stream, using a portable electric fishing device in 50-meter segments. A total of 14,507 individuals were collected, belonging to six orders, 20 families, 46 genera, and 70 species. The highest richness and abundance were found for the orders Characiformes and Siluriformes. In this study, nine species that had not been recorded were found, totaling 163 for the basin. In addition, 14 non-native species were captured. The presented list of species contributes to the existing database of ichthyofauna distribution in Neotropical streams, denoting that it is underestimated in the region, mainly in low-order tributaries. The present study reinforces the importance of inventories and monitoring in environments with high biodiversity and sensitive to anthropogenic actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To meet the growing demand for electricity, considerable effort has been invested in the construction of hydroelectric stations in Brazil. The environmental impacts caused by these projects have been significant, especially on fauna. To evaluate the biodiversity of edaphic invertebrates, a study was performed in an area surrounding a small hydroelectric station of Flor do Sertão, in the Santa Catarina state, Brazil, covering three distances (5, 15 and 30 meters) from the flooded region of the reservoir. From December 2010 to June 2011, surveys of edaphic invertebrates were performed by pitfall traps. The invertebrates collected at each distance were compared and their diversity was calculated through Hill numbers. The dynamics were analyzed through the Shannon index exponential and the inverse Simpson index, and correlated climatic variables to invertebrate diversity. A total of 14,074 specimens were collected from 24 taxonomic groups (Order). The analyses according to size and sample coverage showed few differences in invertebrate diversity between the distances. Values of richness and diversity of common groups are similar for all distances. There is a trend decrease in diversity dynamics for common individuals, with a strong decline in June. The diversity of edaphic invertebrates exhibited high correlation with temperature and no correlation with pluviosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotropical Ichthyology promotes the Special Issue (SI) “Human impacts and the loss of Neotropical freshwater fish diversity” with the purpose of publishing relevant scientific articles on the current biodiversity crisis and the loss of Neotropical freshwater fishes in the Anthropocene. The SI is composed of 22 publications, being two review articles and 20 original articles. A total of 107 researchers contributed to these papers, involving 44 institutions based in Brazil and six other countries. Published articles investigated main anthropic activities and their impacts on fish diversity, with special focus on river regulation, mining, land use changes, aquaculture, and fisheries. Studies provided evidence about the loss of fish diversity in the Neotropics, including fish kill events, demographic changes, contamination, changes in assemblage structure, loss of taxonomic and functional diversity, besides the degradation of ecosystem functions and services, and the lack of effective protection and conservation. Studies were conducted in rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs from different Neotropical systems. The studies published in this SI represent a relevant sample of the current worrisome situation of freshwater fishes in the Neotropical region and call for urgent revision in environmental policies, management and conservation initiatives, and socioeconomic priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantanal Biome occupies 20% of the Brazilian territory extending its distribution over two Brazilian States, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. This Biome is one of Brazil's poorly known regions concerning insect gall and their interactions with host plants. In this study, we characterized for the first time the gall morphology, identified host plants and the gall makers from an area of Brazilian wetlands from Mato Grosso State, known as Pantanal Matogrossense. We sampled Pantanal Biome areas in Poconé municipality, along the Transpantaneira Road, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, in two expeditions, July 2012 and January 2013, with a total effort of 2 hours. We characterized 91 morphotypes of insect galls in 54 host plant species; 28 gall makers in 24 host plant species; the richest host plant families are Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Sapindaceae. Psidium guineense Sw. is the super host species. This area in Pantanal Matogrossense is the second in the richness of gall morphotypes (N=91) and average morphotypes/plant species (1.7), comparing phytophysiognomies. Additionally, 15 plant species are new record as host in galler-host plant interaction in the world. This number represents 30% of the total of host plant species sampled in Poconé. This inventory is new knowledge to the Pantanal Matogrossense and representing a unique testimony of insect-plant interactions consumed by the unprecedented fire that occurred in Pantanal Biome in the dry season of 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Midwest region of Brazil possesses large areas dominated by the Cerrado that is poorly known concerning insect gall and their interactions. In this study, we inventory the gall morphology, host plants, and the gall makers from Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso State, in areas of natural vegetation from Cerrado, for the first time. Samplings occurred in two expeditions, July 2012 and January 2013. We characterized 295 morphotypes of insect galls in 140 host plant species, with 89 gall makers; the richest family in host plants was Fabaceae (16.7%), and the species was Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand (Burseraceae, 3.7%). Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães is the richest Brazilian cerrado area in gall morphotypes (295) and the second in average morphotypes/host plant species (2.1). Additionally, six genera and 38 species are new records as host plants; two of them, Bernardia similis Pax and K.Hoffm and Ormosia macrophylla Benth., are new occurrences for Mato Grosso State, and other two, Vochysia petraea Warm. and Talisia subalbens (Mart.) Radlk. are listed in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN. This inventory data represents a testimony of insect-plant interactions in a Brazilian Cerrado area that was consumed by an unprecedented fire in the dry season of 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This is a systematic review of scientific articles reporting the biodiversity of endophytic fungi isolated from endemic Cerrado plants in Brazil and exposes the potential applications of these microorganisms in the production of known and new metabolites. The “Portal de Periódicos” (CAPES), Science Direct, PubMed, Scielo, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) databases were used. A total of 418 articles were found using the following sets of keywords: Endophytic, fungi, and Cerrado; endophytic, fungi, rupestrian, and grass lands; endophytic, fungi, Brazilian, and savanna; among these, 14 articles were selected. The articles were grouped into studies on the biodiversity of Cerrado endophytic fungi, chemical studies, and other subjects. All the articles were found to be related to the diversity present in the Cerrado of the southeastern and midwestern regions, they show high fungal biodiversity with Diaporthe genus predominant in almost all plants studied. In all the studies on the chemical diversity of endophytic fungi, new compounds or new natural products were found associated with a range of bioactivity, especially antifungal. It shows the great potential of endophytes in the production of new and bioactive secondary metabolites, as well as the unexplored chemical diversity of endophytes isolated from endemic plant species. The review shows that rare studies performed in regions where the Cerrado biome are predominant, including the central, north, and northeast regions, representing an important niche that is still unexplored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent statements from the Brazilian federal government indicate thatimpacting economic activities, particularly commercial shrimp farming, are being encouraged inmangrove areas in the near future.Alterations of the NationalAction Plan and legal instruments that partially protected mangrove ecosystems have created an even weaker legal framework than previously existed. Such changes are leading Brazil far from the global call to conserve mangroves and from the Aichi targets and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Unfortunately, the loss of mangrove ecosystems and their ecosystem services will negatively impact living standards for Brazilians in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of miniature fish of the characid genus Priocharax is described from a small lake near the rio Ipixuna, rio Purus drainage, Amazonas State, Brazil. It is distinguished from all congeners except P. pygmaeus by the lower number of teeth on the maxilla and dentary. It differs from P. pygmaeus by the presence of two postcleithra and 22-27 branched anal-fin rays (vs absence and 19-22). The new species is further distinguished from other species of Priocharax by a combination of characters involving the number of pelvic-fin rays and branched anal-fin rays, the number of postcleithra, the shape of postcleithrum 3, and the absence of the claustrum. Molecular evidence based on COI sequences of all valid species of Priocharax also corroborates the validity of this new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With a huge variety of edible plants, native or exotic, Brazil's biodiversity is underexploited as far as food is concerned. Objective: To develop a Seasonality Calendar to promote further knowledge, use and preservation of these species that make up Brazil's biodiversity. Methods: Systematization of information about the harvest period of unconventional or neglected horticultural products, through a review of the scientific literature, by classifying them according to the parts used in human nutrition, such as fruits, fruit-vegetables, herbaceous vegetables and seeds. Results: The calendar includes 71 species, classified into 60 native and 11 exotic ones, subdivided into 59 fruits, 3 fruit-vegetables, 13 herbaceous vegetables and 6 seeds. Conclusions: There need to be more studies focused on this topic owing to its relevance and scarcity of works that present easily applicable tools to encourage the use of unconventional or neglected horticultural crops in cuisine and gastronomy. Therefore, the population and, especially, culinary professionals (when planning menus) are expected to use this knowledge with a view to valuing food culture and the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a checklist of the ferns and lycophytes from the Cerrado State Park, Jaguariaíva, Paraná, Brazil. This region represents the southernmost limit of Cerrado vegetation in Brazil. The park is located along the Devonian Escarpment, one of the most iconic geological formations in southern Brazil. The remnants of Cerrado in Paraná are relics of a colder and drier climate that occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum, about 5,600 years ago. They are now surrounded by natural grasslands and Araucaria Forest, which is typical of southern Brazil. We recorded 112 species (102 ferns and ten lycophytes), from 51 genera and 16 families. Ten species were first recorded in the Devonian Escarpment, and Ctenitis bigarellae and Tryonia areniticola are rare. None of the species are endemic to the Cerrado and most are typical of the humid forests of Eastern Brazil. We provide notes and illustrations for all species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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