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Based on preserved specimens from the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Flectonotus ulei Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 is resurrected from its synonymy with Flectonotus fissilis (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1920) and is redescribed. Analysis of osteological characters and brood pouch structure confirms that F. ulei belongs to Fritziana. The species is small for the genus (snout-vent length in males, 19.2-26.9 mm, n = 2; in females, 20.3-21 mm, n = 4) and was found in bromeliads. Flectonotus ulei is characterized by dorsal pattern consisting of interorbital pentagon or hexagon-shaped mark delimited by heavy dark line, diameter of tympanum smaller than that of disc of third digit, and a brood pouch covering the eggs dorsally except for a narrow longitudinal slit; eggs arranged in rosette.

The re-composition of deforested environments requires the prior acclimation of seedlings to full sun in nurseries. Seedlings can overcome excess light either through the acclimation of pre-existing fully expanded leaves or through the development of new leaves that are acclimated to the new light environment. Here, we compared the acclimation capacity of mature (MatL, fully expanded at the time of transfer) and newly expanded (NewL, expanded after the light shift) leaves of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Malvaceae) seedlings to high light., The seedlings were initially grown under shade and then transferred to full sunlight. MatL and NewL were used for chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange analyses, pigment extraction and morpho-anatomical measurements., After the transfer of seedlings to full sun, the MatL persisted and acclimated to some extent to the new light condition, since they underwent alterations in some morpho-physiological traits and maintained a functional electron transport chain and positive net photosynthesis rate. However, long-term exposure to high light led to chronic photoinhibition in MatL, which could be related to the limited plasticity of leaf morpho-anatomical attributes. However, the NewL showed a high capacity to use the absorbed energy in photochemistry and dissipate excess energy harmlessly, attributes that were favoured by the high structural plasticity exhibited by these leaves., Both the maintenance of mature, photosynthetically active leaves and the production of new leaves with a high capacity to cope with excess energy were important for acclimation of G. ulmifolia seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the litterfall of three areas in the tropical rain forest, in different successional stages, in the municipality of Siderópolis, Southern Santa Catarina state. Fifteen collectors of 0.25 m² each were used, distributed in three transects per study area (A1, A2 and AR). The highest litterfall production occurred in AR (8.13 Mg ha-1 yr-1), followed by A2 (4.26 Mg ha-1 yr-1) and A1 (2.74 Mg ha-1 yr-1). The AR area produced significantly more leaves, reproductive material and wastes. This can be explained by its more developed forest structure, with large trees, more closed canopy and greater number of epiphytes. On the other hand, areas A1 and A2 produced significant amounts of thin stems. These areas have a higher proportion of species in early successional stages, a higher density of thin trees and a more open canopy, being subject to winds, which could result in greater production and fall of branches. The results of this study highlight the importance of litterfall production in different successional stages, becoming necessary studies with this emphasis to understand the nutritional dynamics of ecosystems, especially those that have suffered strong impacts in the past, such as open-pit coal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the breeding system and pollination biology of Cattleya coccinea , C. intermedia , C. purpurata and C. tigrina in native populations from Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. At the State level, the three latter species are considered under risk of extinction and this work is intended to be a contribution towards their conservation and management. To date, their pollination needs and breeding system remain unknown. Breeding system was elucidated through controlled pollinations applied to isolated plants. Pollination was studied in the field, by means of photographic and filmic records. Cattleya purpurata, C. intermedia and C. tigrina are pollinated by large native Apidae bees of the genera Bombus , Xylocopa and Epicharis that bear the pollinaria on the scutellum and mesonotum. In spite of their differences in colour and perianth size, bee-pollinated species share a number of flower features which are absent in C. coccinea. The latter species is pollinated by the hummingbird Chlorostilbon lucidus (Trochilidae). In agreement, flowers of C. coccinea present a set of flower features normally associated to ornithophily. All studied species lack rewards and deceive their food-seeking pollinators. All species are self-compatible but pollinator-dependent. Fruiting success following manual self-pollination and cross-pollination did not differ, except in C. coccinea . However, in all species fruit from cross-pollinations yielded significantly higher numbers of viable seed. All studied species displayed low visitation rates, low natural fruit set (ranging from 0.5 to 14%) and Nilsson’s male efficiency factor of less than one, indicating that less than one flower was pollinated per pollinarium removed. All these features are consistent with those of other orchid groups pollinated through generalized food-deception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial perches provide complexity to the landscape, a factor that can increase animal biodiversity. We tested the hypothesis that artificial perches used in ecological restoration promote increased birdlife diversity in a restored landscape in southern Brazil. The study was conducted in the southwest of Paraná State, on land used for years for agriculture and pasture. Estimates of species and diversity of avifauna in 12 experimental plots were obtained one year after the beginning of the restoration. Data from plots restored through nucleation, which consisted of inserting artificial perches, were used to create a data set analyzed with and without the records of birds obtained exclusively on artificial perches. These data were compared with those from experimental plots re-vegetated by either passive or active (i.e. high diversity planting) restoration. In addition, the ability of different restoration techniques to attract avifauna occurring in a nearby forest was investigated. Restored plots using nucleation had higher richness (42± 3.00SD species), abundance and diversity compared to passive restoration and high diversity planting. However, when the results obtained exclusively from artificial perches were disregarded, the pattern of the diversity components in the nucleation did not differ from that of the passive restoration. Thus, the artificial perches provided an additional niche and, in this study, represented 34% of the increase in the accumulated richness observed in nucleation. Thus, perches are an important natural engineering structure that can increase local bird richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species , Dichorisandra sagittata , is recognized based on field studies and analyses of herbarium and cultivated material. It is characterized by the presence of pilose trichomes throughout the plant, inflorescences perforating the sheath of the lowermost leaf of the lateral branch, and yellow sagittate anthers. A diagnosis, morphological description, illustrations, and comments on taxonomy and geographic distribution are presented here. Furthermore, Dichorisandra incurva var. glabrescens is segregated from Dichorisandra incurva and recognized as a distinct species. Characters that distinguish this species from other morphologically similar species are noted, and illustrations are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii . In the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR) it is transmitted by Amblyomma aureolatum ticks. In this region, annual lethality of the disease can reach 80% and spatial occurrence depends on environmental factors and more particularly on the presence and interaction of domestic and wild carnivores as well as the presence and characteristics of the remnant Atlantic Rain Forest patches. This study analyzed the association between forest fragmentation and its influence on the risk of occurrence of the disease in the human population. Domestic dogs tested for R. rickettsii antibodies in nine different areas under the influence of different patterns of Rain Forest fragmented landscapes and human occupancy. Landscape metrics were obtained by analyzing satellite images and high-resolution orthophotos. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine among the different landscape variables the one that could best explain the data variance, and the results were tested against canine seroprevalence in order to address disease occurrence risk levels. From 270 canine samples, the seroprevalence ranged from 0 to 37%. PCA showed an inverse correlation between functionally connected large forest patches and the canine seroprevalence for R. rickettsii (p = 0.030; Spearman’s R = −0.683), while there was a positive correlation between forest border effect and canine seroprevalence (p = 0.037; Spearman’s R = − 0.909). The further attributed disease occurrence risk level supported the real spatial prevalence of the disease reported for the last eight years (p = 0.023; Spearman’s R = 0.63). The results suggest an important relation of deforestation and fragmentation with the occurrence of BSF in the SPMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the Campyloneurum that occur entirely or primarily in the Atlantic Rain Forest of Brazil, three species have been previously referred to by the following six names: C. acrocarpon, C. crispum, C. herbaceum, C. lapathifolium, C. minus, and C. wacketii. We show that C. crispum and C. herbaceum are the correct names for two of the species, and we designate lectotypes for these two names. The third species, which ranges from Brazil to Argentina and Paraguay, lacks a name and is here newly described as C. atlanticum. Two of the previously used names, C. acrocarpon and C. wacketii, are considered synonyms of C. crispum. The remaining names, C. lapathifolium and C. minus, appear to be of uncertain application. Based on our field studies, C. atlanticum and C. herbaceum are primary hemiepiphytes. Our finding constitutes the first report of this growth habit in the genus. The third Brazilian species treated herein, C. crispum, varies in growth habit, being either terrestrial, primary hemiepiphytic, or holoepiphytic. The spores of the three species are uniform and typical of the genus; they do not provide any distinguishing characters for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many soils of the highlands of Serra do Mar, as in other mountain ranges, have thick histic horizons that preserve high amounts of carbon. However, the age and constitution of the organic matter of these soils remain doubtful, with possible late Pleistocene or Holocene ages. This study was conducted in three profiles (two in grassland and one in forest) in Serra da Igreja highlands in the state of Paraná. We performed δ13C isotope analysis of organic matter in soil horizons to detect whether C3 or C4 plants dominated the past communities and 14C dating of the humin fraction to obtain the age of the studied horizons. C3 plants seem to have dominated the mountain ridges of Serra da Igreja since at least 3,000 years BP. Even though the Serra da Igreja may represents a landscape of high altitude grasslands in soils containing organic matter from the late Pleistocene, as reported elsewhere in Southern and Southeastern Brazil, our results indicate that the sites studied are at least from the beginning of the Late Holocene, when conditions of high moisture enabled the colonization/recolonization of the Serra da Igreja ridges by C3 plants. This is the period, often reported in the literature, when forests advanced onto grasslands and savannas.Muitos solos dos picos da Serra do Mar, como em muitas outras serras, apresentam horizontes hísticos espessos com elevados estoques de carbono. No entanto, a idade e constituição da matéria orgânica destes solos ainda é pouco conhecida e não se sabe se é predominantemente proveniente de comunidades de plantas do final do Pleistoceno ou do Holoceno. Este estudo foi realizado em três perfis, dois em campos altomontanos sobre Organossolos (1.335 m s.n.m) e um em um colo (ponto de sela), onde a floresta altomontana sobre Gleissolos alcança seu patamar mais alto (1.325 m s.n.m). Foram realizadas análises isotópicas (δ13C) da matéria orgânica de horizontes do solo para saber se plantas C3 ou C4 dominaram comunidades vegetais passadas e datações por 14C da fração humina para se saber a idade destes horizontes. Todos os valores de δ13C revelaram valores indicativos de plantas C3 (indicativas de florestas e de campos ombrófilos), tanto nos horizontes dos solos do campo quanto nos solos da floresta. Apesar da Serra da Igreja provavelmente apresentar campos altomontanos com material orgânico do solo proveniente do final do Pleistoceno, como em outros estudos no sul e sudeste do Brasil, os sítios estudados, pela sua posição no relevo, são, pelo menos, do Holoceno tardio (3.000 anos AP), quando condições de maior umidade propiciaram a colonização/recolonização das cumeeiras da Serra da Igreja, coincidindo com o período, frequentemente documentado na literatura, de avanço de florestas sobre campos e cerrados.

Este trabalho é resultado do estudo da família Celastraceae na Reserva Biológica Municipal da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, SP. Está inserido dentro do projeto intitulado “Florística Vascular da Reserva Biológica Municipal da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, SP”, que, entre outras atribuições, procura elaborar uma lista florística das espécies coletadas e gerar dados para futuras ações de manejo. Foram coletadas sete espécies, pertencentes a quatro gêneros: Maytenus, com quatros espécies, Hippocratea, Peritassa e Pristimera, cada uma com uma espécie. São apresentadas chaves de identificação para gêneros e espécies, descrições morfológicas, ilustrações e comentários a respeito da distribuição geográfica, fenologia e caracteres diagnósticos de cada uma das espécies.This is a floristic survey of Celastraceae in the Reserva Biológica Municipal da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, SP. It belongs to the project “Florística Vascular da Reserva Biológica Municipal da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, SP”, in order to create a floristic list of the collected species, likewise to obtain new data for future managements. Seven species, belonging to four genera, were collected: Maytenus, with four species, Hippocratea, Peritassa and Pristimera, with one species each. Identification keys for genera and species, descriptions, illustrations and comments about geographical distributions, phenology and diagnostic characters are provided.

The Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems worldwide, is also among the most important hotspots as regards biodiversity. Through intensive logging, the initial area has been reduced to around 12% of its original size. In this study we investigated the genetic variability and structure of the mountain lion, Puma concolor. Using 18 microsatellite loci we analyzed evidence of allele dropout, null alleles and stuttering, calculated the number of allele/locus, PIC, observed and expected heterozygosity, linkage disequilibrium, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, F IS, effective population size and genetic structure (MICROCHECKER, CERVUS, GENEPOP, FSTAT, ARLEQUIN, ONESAMP, LDNe, PCAGEN, GENECLASS software),we also determine whether there was evidence of a bottleneck (HYBRIDLAB, BOTTLENECK software) that might influence the future viability of the population in south Brazil. 106 alleles were identified, with the number of alleles/locus ranging from 2 to 11. Mean observed heterozygosity, mean number of alleles and polymorphism information content were 0.609, 5.89, and 0.6255, respectively. This population presented evidence of a recent bottleneck and loss of genetic variation. Persistent regional poaching constitutes an increasing in the extinction risk.

O presente trabalho teve os objetivos de agrupar informações sobre a estrutura arbórea da floresta altomontana da Serra do Mar paranaense e de compará-las com as de florestas altomontanas de outras serras do Sul e Sudeste do Brasil. Foram realizados levantamentos fitossociológicos em diversas montanhas de quatro importantes serras (ou subserras) do Paraná. Nas quatro subserras foram amostrados 2294 indivíduos (PAP > 10 cm) pertencentes a 28 famílias, 43 gêneros e 78 espécies. Foi observada maior riqueza de espécies na amostragem da Serra Gigante (41 espécies), seguida pelas serras da Prata (37), da Igreja (34) e do Ibitiraquire (26). A altura média obtida para os indivíduos foi de 4,8 m, o PAP médio de 22,9 cm, a densidade média de 4779 ind/ha, a área basal média de 33,5 m²/ha e o índice de diversidade de Shannon total de 2,68 nat/ind. Agrupando informações de estudos realizados em outras subserras paranaenses, totalizando 11 levantamentos e 204 parcelas (10200 m²), obteve-se uma matriz com 75 espécies determinadas, onde as cinco com maior porcentagem de importância estrutural foram Ilex microdonta, Siphoneugena reitzii, Drimys angustifolia, Ocotea porosa e Ilex chamaedrifolia. Os trechos amostrados na Serra do Mar do Paraná, apresentaram menor riqueza e diversidade que os da Serra da Mantiqueira (MG) e maior que os dos Aparados da Serra Geral (SC). Tais diferenças, possivelmente, estão relacionadas às influências antrópicas, das distâncias geográficas, dos diferentes centros de endemismo, dos entornos tropicais ou subtropicais dominantes, das feições geomorfológicas, entre outros fatores.The aims of this study were: (1) to group information about the tree structure of the upper montane rain forest of Serra do Mar in the state of Paraná (PR), Southern Brazil; and (2) to compare this information with available data from other mountain ranges in Southern and Southeastern Brazil. In the four mountain ranges studied, 2294 tree individuals (perimeter at breast height - PBH > 10 cm) were sampled, which included 28 families, 43 genera and 78 species. The cloud forest sampled in Serra Gigante showed the highest richness (41 species), followed by Serra da Prata (37), Serra da Igreja (34) and Serra do Ibitiraquire (26). The mean tree height was 4.8 m, the PBH was 22.9 cm, the tree abundance was 4779 in/ha, the basal area was 33.5 m²/ha and the Shannon diversity index was 2.68 nats/ind. Combining our data with the published data on the Serra do Mar region, resulting in a total of 11 surveys and 204 plots (10200 m²), a matrix with 75 identified species was obtained. In this matrix, the five most important species in the structure of the forest were Ilex microdonta, Siphoneugena reitzii, Drimys angustifolia, Ocotea porosa and Ilex chamaedrifolia. The cloud forests sampled in Serra do Mar showed lower richness and diversity indexes than the cloud forests in Serra da Mantiqueira (Southeast) and higher richness and diversity than cloud forests in Aparados da Serra Geral (South). These differences are possibly related to the anthropic influences, geographic distances, different centers of endemism, the tropical and subtropical surroundings, and geomorphology, among other factors.

In this paper, we present the new records of Dendropsophus pseudomeridianus in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, obtained through field samplings in several areas of the Atlantic Rain Forest in that state. Herein are also presented the color variations of the species. Dendropsophus pseudomeridianus was collected in the costal lowlands of northern Rio de Janeiro and the capital’s metropolitan region, in the state’s northwest inland localities, in Serra do Desengano and Vale do Paraíba do Sul near the border with the state of Minas Gerais. This species was found in swamps in areas of semideciduous seasonal forest and dense ombrofilous forest. The new records provide a significant enhancement of the known geographic distribution of D. pseudomeridianus, filling in its gaps and providing evidence that the species is widely distributed throughout the state. The collected specimens exhibited color variation, dorsally they had only punctuations and small brown spots, oblique bars, and interocular stain or an extensive “X” shaped stain, and the upper lip adorned with white color punctuations, bars, or circular spots.

Serra do Tabuleiro State Park, located in the central-eastern region of the state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, has 85,000ha and a wide diversity of habitats (mangrove, restinga, dense and mixed rain forest, cloud forest and fields). From 1991 to 2010, 22 studies on its mammalian fauna were conducted, which used the following methods: live trapping (Young and double-door), pitfall traps, nesting boxes, mist nets, camera traps, direct observation and indirect evidence. Seventy-five autochthonous species (about 54% of the terrestrial mammal species known from Santa Catarina), belonging to nine orders and 25 families, were recorded. Fifteen of these species are considered threatened at the state, national or global level. General aspects about the conservation of the mammals in the park, and the possibility of other species occurring in this area, are discussed.

Florestas secundárias estão seriamente ameaçadas pela expansão urbana na região metropolitana. Alguns remanescentes são protegidos, principalmente em parques estaduais e municipais, mas a maioria dessas florestas está sob risco de supressão pela contínua expansão de áreas urbanas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a composição florística do componente arbóreo de trecho de floresta, em estágio médio a avançado de regeneração no Parque Estadual da Cantareira, São Paulo (SP). Foram realizadas caminhadas nos traçados antigo e novo da Linha de Transmissão Guarulhos–Anhanguera, num total aproximado de 11 km de extensão. A amostragem foi realizada no período de 2006 a 2010. No levantamento florístico, foram identificadas 179 espécies, pertencentes a 54 famílias e 127 gêneros. As famílias com maior riqueza de espécies foram Fabaceae (19 espécies), Myrtaceae (18), Lauraceae (16) e Rubiaceae (15) e os gêneros mais ricos, Ocotea e Myrcia (6), Eugenia (5) e Maytenus, Mollinedia e Nectandra com quatro espécies cada. Foram registradas dez espécies consideradas ameaçadas de extinção, sendo quatro espécies na lista de São Paulo e seis na lista da IUCN. Uma delas, Mollinedia oligotricha, é considerada presumivelmente extinta. A similaridade florística encontrada com outros remanescentes florestais da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo e arredores variou entre 11% a 38%. Florestas secundárias apresentam uma considerável riqueza de espécies, incluindo espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Foram discutidas as pressões incidentes sobre esses remanescentes florestais, bem como possíveis estratégias para a sua conservação.Secondary forests are seriously threatened by urban expansion in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. Some remnants are protected, mainly in state or municipal parks, but most of these forests are in immanent danger of being destroyed by the continual expansion of urban areas. The aim of this study was to describe the floristic composition of a stand of an old secondary forest in the Cantareira State Park in São Paulo, south-eastern Brazil. A total of approximately 11km of trail along the old and new power line routes were sampled between 2006 and 2010. A total of 179 species belonging to 54 families and 127 genera were identified in the floristic survey, with the richest families being Fabaceae (19 species), Myrtaceae (18), Lauraceae (16) and Rubiaceae (15) and the richest genera Ocotea and Myrcia (6), Eugenia (5) and Maytenus, Mollinedia and Nectandra with four species each. Ten of these species are considered threatened, four of them in the São Paulo state list and six in the IUCN list. One of these, Mollinedia oligotricha, was considered to be probably extinct. The floristic similarity with other forest remnants in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region and surrounding areas ranged from 11% to 38%. Threats to existing areas are discussed, together with possible conservation strategies.

Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker var. lindenii (Bromeliaceae-Bromelioideae) ocorre em restingas e Floresta Pluvial de Encosta Atlântica em Santa Catarina e Nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul, BR. Pode ser encontrada total ou parcialmente exposta à irradiação solar e em distintas formas de vida - terrícola, rupícola e epifítica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar morfoanatomicamente às características de folhas de A. lindenii var. lindenii em distintas condições ambientais. Foram coletadas, na Ilha de Santa Catarina (Florianópolis, SC), folhas de plantas terrícolas em restinga herbácea (alta irradiação solar), rupícolas de costões rochosos (alta irradiação solar), terrícolas e epifíticas de sub-bosques (baixa irradiação solar) de restinga arbórea e rupícolas de sub-bosque (baixa irradiação solar) de Floresta Pluvial de Encosta Atlântica. Foram mensurados comprimento, largura, área da lâmina e bainha foliar, densidade estomática, comprimento e largura das células-guarda, espessura total e das estruturas constituintes na lâmina foliar. As características anatômicas qualitativas são semelhantes nas distintas condições analisadas. A baixa irradiação solar determina maior expansão da área foliar, decorrente do alongamento da lâmina. Lâmina e bainha foliares têm maior largura sob alta irradiação. A densidade estomática foi maior em folhas de plantas sob alta irradiação solar. A espessura total da lâmina foliar foi menor em plantas terrícolas sob alta irradiação, porém não mostrou diferenças estatísticas significativas entre as outras condições.Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker var. lindenii (Bromeliaceae-Bromelioideae) occurs in restingas and hillside Atlantic rain forest in Santa Catarina and northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is found totally or partially exposed to solar radiation and in different life forms - terricolous, rupicolous and epiphytes. The aim of this work was to compare morphoanatomical leaf characteristics of A. lindenii var. lindenii in distinct environmental conditions. On Santa Catarina Island (Florianópolis, SC), the following were collected: leaves of terricolous plants in the herbaceous restinga (high solar radiation), rupicolous from rocky coast (high solar radiation), terricolous and understory epiphytes (low solar radiation) in the arboreal restinga and understory rupicolous (low solar radiation) from hillside Atlantic rain forest. We measured length, breadth and area of leaf blade and sheath, stomatal density, length and breadth of guard-cells; width of leaf blade and structural components. Qualitative anatomical characteristics are similar in the distinct conditions analyzed. Low solar radiation determined greater expansion of the leaf area, due to stretching of the blade. Leaf blade and sheath have greater breadth under high solar radiation. Stomatal density was greater in leaves of plants in high solar radiation. Total blade leaf width was smaller in leaves of terricolous plants under high solar radiation, nevertheless, statistically significant differences were not found among other conditions.

The resilience, ecological function and quality of both agricultural and natural systems were evaluated in the mountainous region of the Atlantic Rain Forest of Rio de Janeiro through Rapid Assessment Methods. For this goal new indicators were proposed, such as eco-volume, eco-height, bio-volume, volume efficiency, and resilience index. The following agricultural and natural systems have been compared according: (i) vegetables (leaf, fruit and mixed); (ii) citrus; (iii) ecological system; (iv) cattle, (v) silvo-pastoral system, (vi) forest fragment and (vii) forest in regeneration stage (1, 2 and 3 years old). An alternative measure (index) of resilience was proposed by considering the actual bio-volume as a function of the potential eco-volume. The objectives and hypotheses were fulfilled; it is shown that there does exist a high positive correlation between resilience index, biomass, energy efficiency and biodiversity. Cattle and vegetable systems have lowest resilience, whilst ecological and silvo-pastoral systems have greatest resilience. This new approach offers a rapid, though valuable assessment tool for ecological studies, agricultural development and landscape planning, particularly in tropical countries.Foram avaliadas, em região montanhosa da Mata Atlântica do Rio de Janeiro a resiliência, função ecológica e qualidade tanto do sistema agrícola como natural, através dos métodos de avaliação rápida ("rapid assessment methods"). Para este fim, foram propostos novos indicadores como eco-volume, eco-altura, bio-volume, eficiência volumétrica e índice de resiliência. Os seguintes sistemas agrícolas e naturais foram comparados: (i) hortaliças (folhas, frutos e mistos); (ii) citros; (iii) sistema ecológico; (iv) gado; (v) sistema silvo-pastoral; (vi) fragmento florestal; (vii) floresta em estágio de recuperação (1, 2 e 3 anos de idade). Uma forma alternativa de resiliência foi proposta considerando o bio-volume real como uma função do eco-volume potencial. Os objetivos e hipóteses foram alcançados; demonstrou-se que existe uma correlação altamente positiva entre índice de resiliência, energia da biomassa, eficiência energética e biodiversidade. Pecuária e sistemas de hortaliças apresentaram as mais baixas resiliências enquanto sistemas ecológico e silvo-pastoral tiveram maiores resiliências. Esta nova estratégia oferece uma rápida e valiosa ferramenta de avaliação para estudos ecológicos, desenvolvimento agrícola e planejamento paisagístico, especialmente em países tropicais.

Este estudo foi desenvolvido numa área de restinga localizada no Município de São Vicente (SP). O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a chuva de sementes em três condições diferentes de regeneração. Para tanto, foram selecionadas as seguintes condições: Floresta Alta de restinga em estágio médio de regeneração, uma área de clareira na mesma condição citada anteriormente e uma terceira em estágio inicial de regeneração. Em cada condição foram instalados 10 coletores de sementes confeccionados com madeira e tela sombrite 80% no fundo, mantidos a uma altura de 20 cm do solo. Foram avaliadas mensalmente, pelo período de um ano, as densidades de propágulos depositados nos coletores, sendo esses propágulos identificados e categorizados com base na sua síndrome de dispersão e na sua classe sucessional. Na Área de Floresta Alta de restinga foi realizado um levantamento fitossociológico de forma a identificar quais propágulos presentes na chuva poderiam ser oriundos dessas áreas. Foi verificado que as densidades de propágulos são relativamente baixas se comparadas com outras formações de florestas pluviais atlânticas, mas compatíveis com outros estudos realizados com a mesma formação vegetal considerada neste estudo. Com relação às síndromes de dispersão e classes sucessionais, houve predominância da síndrome zoocórica e de espécies de classes sucessionais secundárias. Os resultados permitem concluir que a área apresenta boa capacidade de manutenção da sua dinâmica sucessional.This study was conducted in an area of restinga in the municipality of São Vicente (SP). The study aimed to evaluate the seed rain in three different conditions of regeneration. Was selected the following conditions: High Forest of Restinga in the middle stage of regeneration, an area of clearing in the same condition mentioned above and a third in early stages of regeneration. In each condition were installed 10 seed collectors made of wood and screen with 80% of shade, supported to a height of 20cm of soil. They were evaluated monthly for one year, the densities of seed deposited in the collector, these seedlings are identified and categorized based on their dispersion syndrome and successional classes. The Area of High Forest area was carried out a phytosociological survey to identify which seedlings present in the rain could be from these areas. It was found that the densities of seedlings are relatively low compared to other formations of the Atlantic rain forest, but consistent with other studies of the same type of vegetation used in the study. Regarding dispersal syndromes and successional classes, there was prevalence of the zoocoric syndrome and species of secondary successional classes. The results indicate that the area has good ability to maintain their succession dynamics.

Foi realizado um estudo palinológico de 21 espécies da família Gesneriaceae reunidas em seis gêneros e três tribos: tribo Beslerieae -Besleria L. (4 spp.); tribo Episcieae - Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst. (3 spp.), Nematanthus Schrad. (5 spp); tribo Sinningieae -Paliavana Vand. (1 sp.), Sinningia Nees (6 spp.) e Vanhouttea Lem. (2 spp.) ocorrentes no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Objetivou-se caracterizar e ampliar os dados morfológicos da família, em nível genérico ou específico, contribuindo assim, para uma delimitação mais precisa dos táxons. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscopia de luz. Para observar detalhes da superfície e abertura, grãos de pólen não acetolisados foram analisados em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). Os grãos de pólen das espécies estudadas variaram de pequenos a médios, suboblatos a prolatos; apresentaram cólporos ou colpos e o número de aberturas foi constante para todas as espécies analisadas (3-aperturados). A ornamentação da sexina variou entre escabrada, perfurada, rugulada, microrreticulada e reticulada. Os resultados mostraram que a morfologia polínica é bem definida entre as espécies estudadas, variou dentro e entre as tribos e gêneros, podendo ser usada para identificar os táxons e sustentar o caráter euripalinológico de Gesneriaceae.This work deals with the study of pollen of 21 species from the family Gesneriaceae found in six genera, divided into three tribes: Beslerieae tribe - Besleria L. (4 spp.) Episcieae tribe - Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst. (3 spp.) Nematanthus Schrad. (5 spp); Sinningieae tribe - Paliavana Vand. (1 sp.), Sinningia Nees (6 spp.) and Vanhouttea Lem. (2 spp.), occurring in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. We aim to characterize and expand the morphological data of the family, at the general or specific level, thus contributing to a more precise delimitation of taxa. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described and illustrated using light microscopy. To see details of the surface and opening, non-acetolysed pollen grains were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pollen grains of the species studied ranged from small to medium, suboblate to prolate; they had colpores or colpes and the number of openings was constant for all species (3-aperture). Ornamentation of the sexine ranged from scabrous to perforated, rugulate, microrreticulate and reticulated. The results showed that pollen morphology is well defined for the species studied; it varied within and between tribes and genera, can be used to identify taxa and maintains the eurypalynological character of the family Gesneriaceae.

The Monimiaceae is represented in the Neotropical region by six genera. Macropeplus Perkins is a Brazilian genus comprising four species restricted to high-montane Atlantic Forest areas, which have not been properly examined from the anatomical point of view. This study characterizes the anatomical structure and histochemical aspects of the leaves of Macropeplus dentatus and M. ligustrinus, and adds to our taxonomic knowledge ofthe genus. The individuals studied were collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park and in the Caraça Natural Park in southeastern Brazil. Among the characteristics common to the two species, hypostomatic leaves, dorsiventral structure, paracytic stomata, a subepidermal layer, collateral vascular system in the form of an arc in the petiole, semicraspedobrochidodromous venation, and the presence of prismatic crystals were registered. Intracellular metabolites, such as phenolic compounds, lipids and mucilage, were identified. The petiole shape, occurrence and distribution of secretory cells and brachysclereids, in association with other morphological features, were relevant to species identification.A família Monimiaceae está representada na região Neotropical por seis gêneros. Macropeplus Perkins é um gênero, exclusivamente brasileiro, constituído por quatro espécies restritas às Florestas Alto-Montanas e que carecem de estudos anatômicos. O presente trabalho visa caracterizar a estrutura anatômica e a histoquímica da folha de Macropeplus ligustrinus (Tul.) Perkins e Macropeplus dentatus (Perkins) I. Santos & Peixoto, a fim de ampliar o conhecimento sobre esses táxons e auxiliar na taxonomia do gênero. Os indivíduos amostrados estão localizados no Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (RJ) e do Parque Natural do Caraça (MG). Dentre as características observadas comuns às espécies destacam-se: estrutura dorsiventral, folha hipoestomática, estômatos paracíticos, estrato subepidérmico, sistema vascular colateral em forma de arco no pecíolo, padrão de venação do tipo semicraspedobroquidódromo e presença de cristais prismáticos. Alguns metabólitos especiais foram identificados como substâncias fenólicas, lipídios e mucilagem, sendo o último detectado pela primeira vez na família. O contorno do pecíolo, a ocorrência e distribuição das células secretoras e das braquiesclereídes, em associação com os dados morfológicos, são úteis na distinção dessas espécies.

The harvestmen subfamily Hernandariinae is reviewed and a new classification is proposed based on cladistic analysis using 67 morphological characters. The subfamily is composed of six genera and 23 species and occurs in south-southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. Fourteen new combinations are proposed: Hernandaria armatifrons (Roewer, 1917); H. una (Mello-Leitão, 1927); Acrogonyleptes granulatus (H. Soares, 1966); A. pectinifemur (Soares & Soares, 1947); Acanthogonyleptes alticola (Mello-Leitão, 1922); A. editus (Roewer, 1943); A. fallax (Mello-Leitão, 1932); A. fulvigranulatus (Mello-Leitão, 1922); A. marmoratus (Mello-Leitão, 1940); A. pictus (Piza, 1942); A. singularis (Mello-Leitão, 1935); A. soaresi (Mello-Leitão, 1944); A. variolosus (Mello-Leitão, 1944). Seven synonymies are proposed: Proweyhia Mello-Leitão, 1927 and Metaxundarava Mello-Leitão, 1927 = Hernandaria Sørensen, 1884; Apembolephaenus calcaratus Soares & Soares, 1945 = H. armatifrons (Roewer, 1917); Sphaerobunus Rower, 1917 and Paraproweyhia Soares & Soares, 1947 = Acrogonyleptes Roewer, 1917; Paraproweyhia curitibae Soares & Soares, 1947 = Acrogonyleptes exochus (Mello-Leitão, 1931); and Melloleitaniana curitibae B. Soares, 1943 = Acrogonyleptes spinifrons Roewer, 1917. Three species are revalidated: Acrogonyleptes granulatus (H. Soares, 1966), A. pectinifemur (Soares & Soares, 1947), and A. spinifrons Roewer, 1917. Seven new species are described: Hernandaria sundermannorum sp. nov. (São Paulo State, Brazil), Hernandaria anitagaribaldiae sp. nov. (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), Hernandaria zumbii sp. nov. (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), Hernandaria chicomendesi sp. nov. (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), Acrogonyleptes cheguevarai sp. nov. (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil), Pseudotrogulus pagu sp. nov. (São Paulo State, Brazil), Pseudotrogulus trotskyi sp. nov. (Paraná State, Brazil).

Na região serrana do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (bioma Mata Atlântica), pequenos agricultores praticam agricultura itinerante no sistema de corte e queima. Neste trabalho, amostras de horizontes superficiais (0 -15 cm) de um Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo sob cinco diferentes coberturas vegetais (Mata Atlântica, cultivo anual, café, banana e pastagem) foram coletadas para caracterização química dos teores de carbono nas diferentes frações de substâncias húmicas. As amostras obtidas sob mata e sob pastagem puderam ser nitidamente isoladas das demais pelo modelo discriminante construído. Aquelas representativas do grupo das culturas (banana, café e cultivo) foram superposicionadas, indicando haver semelhança entre os atributos relativos à matéria orgânica nos solos sob esses usos. O modelo obtido permitiu classificar corretamente 88% das amostras analisadas. Os atributos ácidos fúlvicos (AF), carbono orgânico (C), nitrogênio total (N) e relação C/N foram selecionados pelo modelo, sendo o teor de ácidos fúlvicos o atributo de maior peso relativo. Esse resultado indica que o fracionamento de substâncias húmicas permite a observação de alterações no solo que não são possíveis de serem identificadas pela simples determinação do teor de carbono orgânico total. Pelo padrão de agrupamento das áreas (mata-pastagem e banana-café-cultivo), denotou-se que o uso de fertilizantes pode se relacionar com alterações em atributos indicadores importantes, como o teor de ácidos fúlvicos.In the mountain region of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Atlantic Rain Forest biome), small farmers practice shifting cultivation in the slash and burn system. In this work, soil surfaces samples (0-15cm) of a Yellow Red Latossolo under five different vegetal coverings (Atlantic Rain Forest, annual culture, coffee, banana and pasture), had been taken in the small farming area of Bom Jardim RJ for soil chemical characterization and carbon content analysis in the different humic fractions. The samples taken under forest and pasture could be clearly isolated from the other groups for the discriminante model created. For the banana, coffee and culture groups, a certain overlapping was observed, indicating a similarity of the soil organic matter attributes between these coverings. The model allowed to correctly classify 88% of the analyzed samples. The fulvic acid (AF), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and the C/N ratio had been selected by the model, with the fulvic acids having the attribute of higher relative weight. This result suggests that the humic acids fractionation allows the detection of alterations in the soil that are not possible to be identified for the simple determination of the total organic carbon. The discriminate pattern of areas (forest-pasture and banana-coffe-culture) denotes that fertilizer could be related with changes in some important indicator attributes such as fulvic acids.

A anta Tapirus terrestris é o maior mamífero terrestre brasileiro. É considerada ameaçada de extinção na categoria vulnerável (VU) nas listas de espécies ameaçadas do Estado de São Paulo e da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza e dos Recursos Naturais – IUCN. Apresenta-se o primeiro registro da espécie para a Reserva Florestal do Morro Grande, Estado de São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil; discutem-se as ameaças à conservação dessa espécie nessa área especialmente protegida e sugere-se a transformação dessa Reserva Florestal em Parque Estadual, para melhor proteção de sua fauna ameaçada e adequação ao Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação – SNUC.The tapir Tapirus terrestris is the largest Brazilian land mammal. It’s considered a species vulnerable to extinction in the São Paulo State and in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources – IUCN threatened species lists. This paper presents the first tapir record for the Morro Grande Forestry Reserve, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil, discusses the threats to conservation in this specially protected area and suggests the transformation of the Forest Reserve in a State Park, for better protection of threatened fauna and to adequate it to the ConservationUnit National System.

This work assessed data from 32 forest sites in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, using multivariate analysis to answer the question: Are there floristic patterns of the Atlantic Forest tree-shrub layer related to the Serra do Mar and the width of coastal plains in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo? Three multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between the tree-shrub flora and environmental variation in these 32 study areas. Our analyses demonstrated the influence of geo-climatic variation on floristic differentiation of tree and shrub species in Atlantic Forest regions generating groups of areas based on similar biotic and abiotic characteristics. These groups support the existence of floristic patterns within the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and reflect tree-shrub species substitution between the study areas as a consequence of annual rainfall, altitude, and mean annual temperature variation linked to a change in the position of the Serra do Mar and an increase in coastal plain width. Preferential species were cited for each group and should be considered in restoration and conservation programs for the phytoecological regions represented by the groups.O presente trabalho analisou dados de 32 remanescentes florestais nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, através de análises multivariadas para responder a pergunta: Existem padrões floristicos do estrato arbóreo-arbustivo da Floresta Atlântica relacionados a Serra do Mar e alargamento das planícies costeiras nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo? Foram utilizadas três análises multivariadas para investigar as relações entre a flora arbóreo-arbustiva e a variação ambiental das 32 áreas. As análises demonstraram influência de alterações geo-climáticas sobre a diferenciação florística das espécies arbóreas e arbustivas da Mata Atlântica. Este fato permitiu gerar grupos com as áreas analisadas baseados em características bióticas e abióticas, sustentando a existência de padrões florísticos nos estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo. Os grupos formados refletem a substituição das espécies arbóreo-arbustivas entre as áreas analisadas como conseqüência de variações da precipitação, altitude e temperatura média anual à medida que modifica o posicionamento da Serra do Mar e cresce a planície costeira. Para cada grupo foram designadas espécies preferenciais que devem ser consideradas em programas de restauração e conservação das regiões fitoecológicas por eles representadas.

Agaricaceae é a família tipo da ordem Agaricales e apresenta espécies de reconhecida importância nutricional e econômica. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi o levantamento das espécies de Agaricaceae em trechos de Mata Atlântica da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, nas delimitações do Município de Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro. Serão apresentadas as espécies dos gêneros Agaricus, Cystolepiota e Lepiota coletados nas diferentes formações vegetais na Reserva Biológica do Tinguá. Foram registrados os seguintes táxons: Agaricus subrufescens Peck., A. dulcidulus Schulzer., Lepiota lilacea Bresadola., L. tepeitensis Murril., L. forquignoni Quélet., L. echinela var rhodorhiza (Romagn. & Locq. ex. Orton) Hardtke & Rödel., L. subincarnata Lange e Cystolepiota seminuda (Lasch) Bon. São apresentadas chaves dicotômicas para identificação de espécies; descrições, fotos de hábito, imagens de microscopia, ilustrações, distribuição, habitat, dados relativos às épocas de surgimento dos basidiomas e importância das espécies quando conhecida.Agaricaceae is the type family of Agaricales and its species are of nutritional and economic importance. The main aim of this survey was to describe the Agaricaceae species of rain forest patches in the Tinguá Biological Reserve, located in the vicinity of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Species of the genera Agaricus, Cystolepiota and Lepiota, collected in different plant formations, are presented. The following taxa were recorded: Agaricus subrufescens Peck., A. dulcidulus Schulzer., Cystolepiota seminuda (Lasch) Bon, Lepiota. lilacea Bresadola., L. tepeitensis Murril., L. forquignoni Quélet., L. echinela var rhodorhiza (Romagn. & Locq. ex. Orton) Hardtke & Rödel and L. subincarnata Lange.A species key, descriptions, habit photo, microscopic features, distribution and species importance (when known) are given.

The tadpole of Hypsiboas atlanticus (Caramaschi & Velosa, 1996) is described from the municipality of Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil. At stage 36 the larvae have an overall elliptical body in lateral and dorsal views, oral disc anteroventral, spiracular tube sinistral, and labial tooth row formula 2(1,2)/3(1). The oral disc is surrounded, almost completely (anterior medial gap present) by a single row of marginal papillae. Described tadpoles of the H. punctatus species group can be differentiated by a combined disc oral features. Additional descriptions of H. punctatus (Schneider, 1799) tadpoles from populations throughout South America may be helpful in determining the status of these populations.O girino de Hypsiboas atlanticus (Caramaschi & Velosa, 1996) é descrito a partir de indivíduos coletados em Maceió, Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. No estágio 36 o corpo é elíptico em vistas lateral e dorsal, o disco oral é anteroventral e o espiráculo é sinistro. A fórmula dental é 2(1,2)/3(1). O disco oral é rodeado por uma única fileira de papilas marginais, ausentes anteriormente. Os girinos do grupo de H. punctatus podem ser diferenciados por um conjunto de características do disco oral. Descrições adicionais de girinos de populações de H. punctatus (Schneider, 1799) em toda América do Sul poderá ser útil em determinar seus status.

In this study three new Brazilian species of Hymenoepimecis are described and illustrated. The specimens were collected using sweeping the vegetation and Malaise traps in areas of Atlantic forest in southeastern Brazil. The material described is figured with digital images.Neste estudo são descritas e ilustradas três novas espécies brasileiras de Hymenoepimecis com espécimes coletados por meio de "varredura" da vegetação e armadilhas Malaise em áreas de mata Atlântica no sudeste do Brasil.

Lianas são importantes componentes estruturais das florestas tropicais, apesar disso a anatomia destes vegetais é pouco estudada. A família Leguminosae é relatada como a segunda maior em número de espécies de lianas, contudo pouco se conhece da diversidade anatômica das lianas desta família. O presente estudo descreveu e analisou a anatomia do lenho de oito espécies de lianas da família Leguminosae, ocorrentes no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, localizado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, região Sudeste do Brasil, local inserido no bioma Floresta Atlântica. As espécies apresentaram características comuns ao hábito liana, como: elementos de vaso com diâmetro elevado, com duas categorias de diâmetro; e maior proporção de parênquima axial em comparação às fibras. Quatro espécies do gênero Senegalia apresentaram variações cambiais produzidas por um único câmbio, normal em produto mas anormal em conformação. A anatomia do lenho das espécies estudadas é muito semelhante por compartilharem o mesmo hábito e pertencerem à mesma família. Apesar disso, as oito espécies estudadas puderam ser diferenciadas. As espécies com variações cambiais e Dalbergia frutescens são facilmente diferenciadas das demais. Contudo Senegalia tenuifolia, Piptadenia micracantha e Piptadenia adiantoides necessitam ser examinadas com muita cautela para identificá-las exclusivamente pela anatomia do lenho.Lianas are important structural component of tropical forests and even though the anatomy of these plants is poorly studied. Leguminosae family is reported as the second larger family in number of liana species, but little is know about the anatomical diversity of lianas from this family. The present study described and analyzed the wood anatomy of eight liana species of Leguminosae family, from Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, located in Rio de Janeiro State, Southeast region of Brazil and included in Atlantic Rain Forest Biome. The species show common features with the liana habit, as: wide vessels, vessel dimorphism, and high proportion of parenchyma when compared with fibers. Four species of Senegalia genus showed cambial variants made by a single cambium, normal in products but abnormal in conformation. The studied species have similar wood anatomy, many of which are because they belong to the same family and share the same habit. Nevertheless, the eight species studied could be distinguished. The species with cambial variants and Dalbergia frutescens are easy distinguished from the others. However Senegalia tenuifolia, Piptadenia micracantha and Piptadenia adiantoides require much wariness examination to identify the species exclusively by wood anatomical features.

Durante o período de novembro/2003 a novembro/2004, coletas trimestrais de amostras de água e solo foram realizadas na Reserva Biológica de Paranapiacaba, importante fragmento de Mata Atlântica localizado no estado de São Paulo, para estudo da diversidade de oomicetos. Para o isolamento destes organismos, as amostras foram tratadas pelo método de iscagem, que resultou na identificação de 35 espécies, das quais uma pertence a Leptomitales, quatro a Peronosporales, duas a Rhipidiales, e 28 a Saprolegniales, sendo descritas, comentadas e ilustradas neste trabalho as de ocorrência relatada no Brasil, das quais três são citadas pela primeira vez para o estado de São Paulo, Leptolegnia eccentrica Coker & Matthews, Pythiopsis humphreyana Coker e Pythiopsis irregularis Seymour, e 20 para a Reserva.From November/2003 to November/2004, water and soil samples were collected every three months in the Paranapiacaba Biological Reserve, an important fragment of Brazilian Atlantic rain forest, to study Oomycota diversity. To isolate these organisms, the samples were treated by the baiting technique, which resulted in the identification of 35 species: one belongs to Leptomitales, four to Peronosporales, two to Rhipidiales and 28 to Saprolegniales; in this paper we describe and illustrate, with comments, the species already mentioned for Brazil. Three are cited for the first time for São Paulo state, Leptolegnia eccentrica Coker & Matthews, Pythiopsis humphreyana Coker and Pythiopsis irregularis Seymour, and 20 for this area.

The present work aims at knowing the faunal composition of drosophilids in forest areas of southern Brazil. Besides, estimation of species richness for this fauna is briefly discussed. The sampling were carried out in three well-preserved areas of the Atlantic Rain Forest in the State of Santa Catarina. In this study, 136,931 specimens were captured and 96.6% of them were identified in the specific level. The observed species richness (153 species) is the largest that has been registered in faunal inventories conducted in Brazil. Sixty-three of the captured species did not fit to the available descriptions, and we believe that most of them are non-described species. The incidence-based estimators tended to give rise to the largest richness estimates while the abundance based give rise to the smallest ones. Such estimators suggest the presence from 172.28 to 220.65 species in the studied area. Based on these values, from 69.35 to 88.81% of the expected species richness were sampled. We suggest that the large richness recorded in this study is a consequence of the large sampling effort, the capture method, recent advances in the taxonomy of drosophilids, the high preservation level and the large extension of the sampled fragment and the high complexity of the Atlantic Rain forest. Finally, our data set suggest that the employment of estimators of richness for drosophilid assemblages is useful but it requires caution.O presente estudo tem como objetivo conhecer a composição da fauna de drosofilídeos em áreas de floresta no sul do Brasil. Além disso, a estimativa da riqueza de espécies desta fauna é brevemente discutida. As amostras foram realizadas em três áreas bem preservadas da Mata Atlântica no estado de Santa Catarina. Neste estudo, 136.931 espécimes foram capturados e 96,6% destes foram identificados em nível específico. A riqueza de espécies observada (153 espécies) é a maior já registrada em inventários faunísticos realizados no Brasil. Dentre as espécies capturadas, sessenta e três não se adequaram às descrições disponíveis e a maioria destas provavelmente não foi descrita. Os estimadores baseados em incidência de espécies tenderam a gerar as mais altas estimativas de riqueza enquanto aqueles baseados em abundância geraram as menores. Tais estimadores sugerem a presença de 172,28 a 220,65 espécies na área estudada. Baseando-se nestes valores, de 69,35 a 88,81% da riqueza de espécies esperada foi amostrada. Sugere-se que a alta riqueza registrada neste estudo é uma conseqüência do grande esforço amostral, do método de captura, de recentes avanços na taxonomia de drosofilídeos, do alto grau de preservação e ampla extensão do fragmento amostrado e da alta complexidade da Mata Atlântica. Finalmente, os dados obtidos sugerem que a aplicabilidade de estimadores de riqueza para assembléias de drosofilídeos é útil, mas requer cautela.

The genus Johnsonius Marsh includes five species, most of them known from Costa Rica and one known from Venezuela, Peru and Costa Rica. Two of these species and two new species were recently collected in Atlantic rain forest. Description of the new species, illustrations of some morphological characters, a key for identification of all known species and the new geographic records are presented.O gênero Johnsonius Marsh inclui cinco espécies, a maioria delas conhecidas na Costa Rica e uma conhecida na Venezuela, Peru e Costa Rica; duas destas espécies e duas novas espécies foram recentemente coletadas na Floresta Atlântica ombrófila. Descrição das novas espécies, ilustrações de alguns caracteres morfológicos, uma chave para identificação de todas as espécies conhecidas e os novos registros geográficos são apresentados.

As espécies do gênero Megasoma sãobesouros naturalmente raros e pouco conhecidos.Megasoma gyas (Herbst, 1775), espécie restrita aoterritório brasileiro e considerada ameaçada deextinção, foi encontrada no Parque Estadual CarlosBotelho em maio de 2007. O presente trabalhorevisa a distribuição da espécie no Estado de SãoPaulo, detalha a sua simpatria com outra espéciedo gênero e discute aspectos comportamentais eameaças à sua sobrevivência.The elephant beetle Megasoma spp. arenaturally scarce and poorly known species.Megasoma gyas (Herbst, 1775), Brazilian endemicand threatened species, was recorded in CarlosBotelho State Park, in May 2007. The speciesdistribution in the State of São Paulo, southeasternBrazil, is reviewed and the simpatry with anotherMegasoma species, behavioral aspects and threatsfaced by this species are shown.

O Parque Estadual de Ibitipoca (PEIB) está situado no sudeste do estado de Minas Gerais, entre os municípios de Santa Rita de Ibitipoca e Lima Duarte, a 21º40'-21º44'S e 43º52'-43º55'W. Apresenta em sua área um mosaico de formações vegetais, das quais o campo rupestre ocupa a maior extensão, sendo também encontradas em seus domínios diversas formações florestais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o levantamento das espécies de Orchidaceae ocorrentes no PEIB. Foram registrados 118 táxons distribuídos em 47 gêneros. Os gêneros mais numerosos são Pleurothallis sensu lato (13 spp.), Oncidium (12 spp. e um possível híbrido), Epidendrum (10 spp.) e Maxillaria (9 spp.). O estudo da distribuição geográfica dos táxons revelou quatro novos registros para a flora de Minas Gerais e ampliou o conhecimento sobre a distribuição de muitas espécies. Uma comparação com as espécies de orquídeas ocorrentes em outras áreas de campo rupestre conhecidas até o momento demonstra que o PEIB, embora com área relativamente pequena, é uma das regiões com maior número de espécies.Ibitipoca State Park (PEIB) is located in southeastern Minas Gerais, in Santa Rita de Ibitipoca and Lima Duarte municipalities (21º40'-21º44'S; 43º52'-43º55'W). It has a variety of vegetation types, with a predominance of "campo rupestre" (rocky grasslands) mixed with forests. This work aimed to survey Orchidaceae species growing at PEIB. One-hundred-and-eighteen taxa belonging to 47 genera were found. The largest genera are Pleurothallis sensu lato (13 spp.), Oncidium (12 spp. and one probable hybrid), Epidendrum (10 spp.), and Maxillaria (9 spp.). Four species are new records for the flora of Minas Gerais state. Compared to other areas of "campos rupestres", PEIB is one of the most species-rich sites, in spite of having a relatively small area.

As espécies de Orchidaceae ocorrentes no Parque Natural Municipal da Prainha são apresentadas. O Parque está localizado no município do Rio de Janeiro e abrange uma área total de 126 hectares. A cobertura vegetal predominantemente é floresta pluvial atlântica, com uma pequena faixa de restinga e diversos afloramentos rochosos. Foram encontrados na área 18 gêneros e 26 espécies: Bifrenaria (1 sp.), Brassavola (1 sp.), Catasetum (1 sp.), Cattleya (2 sp.), Cyclopogon (1 sp.), Cyrtopodium (2 sp.), Eltroplectris (1 sp.), Epidendrum (4 sp.), Gomesa (1 sp.), Isochilus (1 sp.), Maxillaria (2 sp.), Oeceoclades (1 sp.), Oncidium (1 sp.), Pleurothallis (3 sp.), Polystachya (1 sp.), Prescottia (1 sp.), Sarcoglottis (1 sp.) e Sophronitis (1 sp.). Várias as espécies de Orchidaceae registradas na área apresentam ampla distribuição geográfica, porém 14 têm sua ocorrência associada ao domínio atlântico. São apresentadas chave de identificação, descrições, ilustrações e comentários sobre forma de vida, floração e frutificação, distribuição geográfica e habitat.The Orchidaceae species that occur in Prainha Municipal Natural Park are presented. The Park is located in Rio de Janeiro Municipality and has126 hectares. Park vegetation is mainly Atlantic Rain Forest, with a small portion of sandy coastal plain vegetation and several rocky outcrops. Eighteen genera and 26 species of Orchidaceae were found in the area: Bifrenaria (1 sp.), Brassavola (1 sp.), Catasetum (1 sp.), Cattleya (2 sp.), Cyclopogon (1 sp.), Cyrtopodium (2 sp.), Eltroplectris (1 sp.), Epidendrum (4 sp.), Gomesa (1 sp.), Isochilus (1 sp.), Maxillaria (2 sp.), Oeceoclades (1 sp.), Oncidium (1 sp.), Pleurothallis (3 sp.), Polystachya (1 sp.), Prescottia (1 sp.), Sarcoglottis (1 sp.) and Sophronitis (1 sp.). Several species are widely distributed geographically, but 14 occur only in the Atlantic Rain Forest domain. A species key, descriptions, illustrations, and comments on life form, flowering and fruiting, geographic distributions and habitats are included.

Estudos sobre o sucesso de acasalamento em anfíbios anuros mostram que determinadas características morfológicas e/ou comportamentais, como o tamanho, as vocalizações e o número de noites de participação no coro podem influenciar o sucesso reprodutivo dos machos. Este estudo teve como objetivos (1) descrever o comportamento reprodutivo de machos e fêmeas de Dendropsophus bipunctatus, (2) examinar o sucesso de acasalamento dos machos, bem como (3) verificar as preferências das fêmeas a certas propriedades acústicas exibidas por machos através de testes de playback. Durante as atividades de corte, machos apresentaram períodos de imobilidade seguidos de pequenos deslocamentos que pode ser interpretado como uma forma de aumentar suas chances de atrair uma fêmea, pois os sinais acústicos podem, dessa forma, ser emitidos em diferentes direções. Machos maiores ou mais pesados não obtiveram um maior número de fêmeas e o número de noites de participação no coro foi a única variável que foi significativamente correlacionada com o sucesso reprodutivo dos machos. Acasalamentos por classe de tamanho e massa foram observados nesta espécie e altas taxas de fertilização foram encontradas em todas as razões de tamanho e massa dos casais em amplexo coletados no campo. Os resultados dos experimentos com cantos (playback) mostraram que fêmeas exibem uma preferência por sinais acústicos emitidos a uma elevada taxa de repetição do que aqueles emitidos a uma baixa taxa.Studies on sexual selection in anuran amphibians show that some morphological and/or behavioral characteristics, such as size, vocalizations, and chorus tenure can influence male mating success. The goals of this study were (1) to describe the breeding behavior of males and females of Dendropsophus bipunctatus, (2) to assess male mating success, and (3) to verify the female preferences for specific acoustical properties performed by males through the two-choice calls trials. During courtship activities, males performed a stationary calling position followed by frequent small switches of calling sites that could enhance mating success, as signals were emitted from different directions. Larger or heavier males did not obtain a larger number of females, whereas chorus tenure was the only variable significantly related to the reproductive success of males. We observed high percentage fertilization rate among all size and mass ratios of males and females, as well as size and mass assortative mating. The results of the two choice trials show that females of D. bipunctatus prefer signals produced at high call-rate than lower ones.

No Estado do Rio de Janeiro a família Pilotrichaceae está representada por 35 espécies, compreendidas em 11 gêneros. O trabalho é parte dos estudos realizados com a família no Estado, tratando de 18 espécies pertencentes aos gêneros Brymela Crosby & B.H. Allen, Callicostella (Müll. Hal.) Mitt., Crossomitrium Müll. Hal., Cyclodictyon Mitt., Hookeriopsis (Besch.) A. Jaeger, Hypnella (Müll. Hal.) A. Jaeger e Trachyxiphium W.R. Buck. São apresentados para cada espécie descrições diagnósticas, ilustrações, comentários, distribuição geográfica e o status de conservação.Pilotrichaceae is represented in Rio de Janeiro State by 35 species and 11 genera. This work is part of a larger study on the family in the state, and presents a taxonomic treatment of 18 species in the genera Brymela Crosby & B.H. Allen, Callicostella (Müll. Hal.) Mitt., Crossomitrium Müll. Hal., Cyclodictyon Mitt., Hookeriopsis (Besch.) A. Jaeger, Hypnella (Müll. Hal.) A. Jaeger and Trachyxiphium W.R. Buck. Descriptions, illustrations, comments, distribution, and conservation status for each species are presented.

A família Pilotrichaceae está bem representada no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, onde ocorrem 11 gêneros e 35 espécies. O trabalho trata das 17 espécies dos gêneros Lepidopilidium (Müll. Hal.), Lepidopilum (Brid.) Brid., Pilotrichum P. Beauv. e Thamniopsis (Mitt.) M. Fleisch. presentes no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. São apresentadas descrições diagnósticas, ilustrações, comentários taxonômicos, distribuição geográfica e status de conservação para cada espécie.The family Pilotrichaceae is well represented in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where 11 genera and 35 species occur. The study includes 17 species of Lepidopilidium (Müll. Hal.), Lepidopilum (Brid.) Brid., Pilotrichum P. Beauv. and Thamniopsis (Mitt.) M. Fleisch. from Rio de Janeiro State. Diagnostic descriptions, illustrations, floristic comments, geographic distribution and conservation status are provided for each species.

A 3 000 m² area of seasonally inundated forest on the island of Ilha do Mel (25º30" S 48º23" W) in Paraná, Brazil, was sampled by collecting plants from all strata, using climbing equipment when necessary. The area harbors 103 species of epiphytes, in 49 genera and 20 families, of which 28 species are pteridophytes and 75 magnoliophytes (64 Liliopsida, 11 Magnoliopsida). The most common families are Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Polypodiaceae and Araceae, and frequent genera are Vriesea, Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Pleurothallis and Prosthechea. Eight families were represented by one species each. Most species were classified as obligatory holoepiphytes (62 %), followed by the relatively more rare preferential holoepiphytes (13 %), facultative epiphytes (11 %), hemiepiphytes (9 %) and accidental epiphytes (6 %). Rev. Biol. Trop. 54 (3): 935-942. Epub 2006 Sept. 29.Se muestreó plantas de todos los estratos en una área de 3 000 m² de selva estacionalmente inundada en Ilha do Mel (25º30 "S 48º23’ W), Paraná, Brazil. El área tiene 103 especies de epífitas en 49 géneros y 20 familias, de las cuales 28 especies son pteridófitas y 75 magnoliófitas (64 Liliopsida, 11 Magnoliopsida). Las familias más comunes son Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, Polypodiaceae y Araceae, y los géneros más frecuentes Vriesea, Epidendrum, Maxillaria, Encyclia y Pleurothallis. Ocho familias solamente están representadas por una especie cada una. La mayoría de las especies son loepífitas obligadas (62 %), seguidas de las relativamente escasas holoepífitas preferenciales (13 %), epífitas facultativas (11 %), hemiepífitas (9 %) y epífitas accidentales (6 %).

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species diversity and mycorrhizal inoculum potential were assessed in areas representative of stages of secondary succession in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. Within each stage - pioneer, 'capoeirinha' and 'capoeirão'- four transects were established and three soil samples were taken along each transect. The plant community was dominated by Pteridium aquilinium in the pioneer stage, while Dodonaea viscosa and P. aquilinium were co-dominants in the 'capoeirinha' stage. In capoeirão, Miconia cinnamomifolia was dominant followed by Euterpe edulis. Total spore number per 100 g soil was significantly larger in the 'capoeirinha' stage than in the other stages, although the number of viable spores was similar among stages. Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae were the predominant families accounting for 83% of the total spores recovered. Of the 18 spore morphotypes, 10 were allocated to known species, with Acaulospora sp. and Glomus sp. being the dominants recovered in all samples. Simpson's index of diversity and evenness for AMF species were not significantly different among the successional stages and AMF species richness was negatively correlated with plant species richness. Soil from 'Capoeirinha" showed the highest inoculum potential (37%). Dominance of the mycorrhizal community by few sporulators and the relationship between plant and fungal diversity are discussed.A diversidade de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) e o potencial de inóculo micorrízico foram determinados em estádios de sucessão secundária da Floresta Atlântica. Dentro de cada estádio - pioneiro, capoeirinha e capoeirão - quatro transectos foram estabelecidos e três amostras de solo foram obtidas por transecto. A comunidade vegetal foi dominada por Pteridium aquilinium no estádio pioneiro e Dodonaea viscosa e P. aquilinium foram co-dominantes na capoeirinha. No capoeirão, Miconia cinnamomifolia foi dominante seguida por Euterpe edulis. O número total de esporos foi significativamente maior na capoeirinha do que nos outros estádios, embora o número de esporos viáveis permaneceu constante entre os estádios sucessionais. Acaulosporaceae e Glomeraceae foram as famílias predominantes e perfizeram 83% do total de esporos recuperados. Dos 18 morfotipos de esporos recuperados, 10 foram alocados para espécies conhecidas, com uma espécie de Acaulospora sp. e uma de Glomus sp. sendo os esporuladores predominantes e presentes em todas as amostras. O indíce de diversidade de Simpson e a eqüitabilidade para as espécies de FMAs não diferiram significativamente entre os estádios sucessionais e a riqueza específica de FMAs foi negativamente correlacionada com a riqueza específica vegetal. O solo da Capoeirinha apresentou o maior potencial de inóculo (37%). A dominância da comunidade micorrízica por poucos esporuladores e a relação entre diversidade fúngica e vegetal são discutidos.

This work contributes to the knowledge of the fern and lycophytes diversity in the Picinguaba and Santa Virginia Nuclei, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, as well as to provide subsidies to identification of the found taxa in these areas. In total, 30 collecting expeditions were conducted and the vouchers were deposited at UEC Herbarium. We have identified 135 species distributed in 53 genera and 19 families for both areas. The most representative families were Polypodiaceae (28 species) and Dryopteridaceae (19 species), whereas Asplenium (12 species), Blechnum and Elaphoglossum (8 species each) were the most important genera. Epiphytic species predominated (62 overall), probably due to the presence of favorable habitats. Among the taxa, 41 are considered endemic from Brazil, 35 of them endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Five species are classified as vulnerable according to the "Official list of endangered species in the State of São Paulo": Elaphoglossum macahense (Fée) Rosenst., Anetium citrifolium (L.) Splitg., Asplenium muellerianum Rosenst., Cyathea glaziovii (Fée) Domin, and Thelypteris angustifolia (Willd.) Proctor, which emphasizes the importance of preservation areas such as the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar. An identification key has been elaborated to help with the recognition of these groups in Picinguaba and Santa Virgínia Nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subtribe Goodyerinae comprises 32 genera and 744 species, occurring in both New and Old World. It is represented in the New World by three native genera, two of which occur in Brazil: Aspidogyne and Microchilus. In Paraná State, the reports indicated the occurrence of these two genera, with a total of 16 native species. Was also recorded the occurrence of Zeuxine strateumatica, exotic invasive species of Asiatic origin. Three species are considered critically endangered (CR), seven are endangered (EN), three are vulnerable (VU) and three are not considered at risk of extinction (LC). Aspidogyne schlechteriana is synonymized under A. bidentifera and A. serripetala is restabliched with autonomous taxon. An artificial key to the species is presented, as well as morphological descriptions, comments, conservation status, and illustrations of the taxa studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ambiente e Água is the property of Revista Ambiente e Agua 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 present the origins and the first results of a graduate study experience for the expansion of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) located on the coast of State of Paraná. The Academic Masters Studies in Sustainable Territorial Development was created from a differentiated pedagogical political project and after eight years of consolidation. Its challenge is to perform inter and multidisciplinary research that contribute to the regional development and to understand the constant tensions between conservation and degradation of the region's nature, a remarkable remnant of the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. Paradoxical issues permeate the entire territory because -- in addition to its rich biodiversity, it preserves unique cultural traits and, at the same time, stands out as an industrial export center of agribusiness commodities and provision of services for the exploitation of the pre-salt oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aureliana and Athenaea (Withaniinae, Solanaceae) are two genera of shrubs or small trees with centres of diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. They are difficult to distinguish using gross morphology, and are traditionally segregated based on differences in fruiting calyx size. Pollen grains of all taxa were acetolysed, treated and examined with light and scanning electron microscopy, with the aim of identifying diagnostic characters. Microphotographs and illustrations of pollen grains are presented. The species analysed present small- to medium-sized monad pollen grains of varying morphology with long to extremely long colpi, and lalongate endoapertures. The analysis showed that the pollen grains of both genera are very similar, differing in size-related characters. These data contributed to the synonymisation of Athenaea within Aureliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Herein we describe the vocal repertoire of Scinax v-signatus, compare it to the other species belonging to the S. perpusillus species group and discuss the bioacoustical synapomorphies proposed for the group. We recorded an advertisement call and an aggressive call of S. v-signatus. The advertisement call is similar to the one described for others species of the Scinax perpusillus group. Similarly to Scinax cosenzai, the first note in the advertisement call of S. v-signatus is the longest. The aggressive call was preceded by a series of advertisement calls. We suggest that bioacoustical parameters proposed as synapomorphies for the Scinax perpusillus group are not valid, as they are also observed in species belonging to other groups within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus plantations have become increasingly common in Latin America. However, because Eucalyptus is an exotic species, its presence has raised concerns about changes in the environment, especially to soil properties. The objective of this study was to investigate possible changes in selected soil enzyme activity after several years of Eucalyptus cultivation. Soil samples were collected from four locations: a native forest (Atlantic Forest) used as a reference for the original soil conditions and three E. grandis plantations aged 2, 3 and 5 years, established in 2008, 2007 and 2005, respectively. The native vegetation had been removed and the soil graded and ploughed to establish these plantations. We evaluated soil enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase, urease and arylsulfatase) at each location. The activity of β-glucosidase, phosphatase, dehydrogenase and urease was improved after 5 years, whereas arylsulphatase was impacted negatively. The multivariate analysis showed that the majority of enzyme activities reached the values observed in native forest after the third year of reforestation. The activity of β-glucosidase was crucial in differentiating the area with 2 years of reforestation from the native forest. The removal of native vegetation in order to establish commercial plantations raises concerns about the real impacts of this practice on the soil. In the present study, plantations of Eucalyptus improved most of the selected enzyme activities after the third year of reforestation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]