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The maintenance of green areas within cities is essential for promoting urban biodiversity and species interactions. Here, we evaluated the interactions between hummingbirds and their visited plants over the course of a year in an urban park in Barreiras, western Bahia, Brazil. Each month, from October 2018 to September 2019, we recorded hummingbird species, the plants they visit, and their agonistic interactions. We recorded 748 legitimate visits by six hummingbirds to five plant species. Most plant species (60%) flowered continuously, and most visits were recorded in the rainy season when the network was also more specialized (H2' = 0.821). Chionomesa fimbriata was the only hummingbird recorded during all studied months. This species performed 70% of all visits recorded and was involved in most agonistic interactions (n = 68). The availability of resources affected the number of visits (p = 0.016). Tree species producing many flowers increased hummingbird diversity and concentrated most of the agonistic interactions. Plant species with continuous flowering represented a persistent supply of resources, favoring the residence of C. fimbriata within the study site. Despite the low diversity of resources, the richness of hummingbirds recorded attests to the importance of maintaining green spaces in cities to promote urban biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural environments have undergone significant alteration and devastation, often becoming immersed in a matrix of anthropogenic activities. Therefore, it is imperative to ascertain whether mammals inhabit these modified areas. We present the composition of medium and large-sized terrestrial mammal species in a Cerrado area surrounded by a eucalyptus matrix. Our study area comprises a 363 ha Cerrado fragment. Surveys were conducted using 10 camera traps from December 2015 to April 2017, totaling 125 sampling stations and a sampling effort of 3,018 trap-days. We identified 19 mammal species, seven of them regionally threatened (37 %), representing 61 % of the potential species pool in the region. Omnivores and insectivores accounted for most of the recorded species. Notably, records include the Priodontes maximus, Tapirus terrestris, and Ozotoceros bezoarticus, cubs and a predation record. Given that T. terrestris was recorded only in our study and P. maximus in a single other study in the region, our findings suggest that these species can inhabit small vegetation fragments. Additionally, we include O. bezoarticus in the list of mammals inhabiting the region. Our study underscores the capacity of Cerrado fragments surrounded by silviculture to harbor a rich diversity of medium and large-sized mammals, especially considering those threatened with extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pequi is a native and popular fruit in Cerrado biome. The internal yellow-orange mesocarp is the edible fraction of the fruit, but its shell (peel and external mesocarp), which comprises 80% of the fruit, is not used by the agro-industry during fruit processing. There is a growing interest in the reduction of food loss and waste because of environmental, economic, and social impacts. So this study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro prebiotic activity of pequi shell flour. Pequi shell flour was obtained from the lyophilization and milling of pequi shell. The content of dietary fibers, oligosaccharides, sugars, organic acids, total phenolics and tannins, polyphenol profile, and antioxidant capacity was determined in pequi shell flour. In addition, its prebiotic activity was evaluated on growth and metabolism of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Pequi shell flour has a high content of dietary fibers (47.92 g/100 g), soluble fibers (18.65 g/100 g), raffinose (2.39 g/100 g), and phenolic compounds (14,062.40 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g). For the first time, the polyphenols epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 were identified in this by-product. Pequi shell flour promoted greater growth of Lacticaseibacillus casei L-26 (at 24–48 h) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12, as well as higher prebiotic activity scores than fructooligosaccharides (standard prebiotic). Pequi shell flour is rich in prebiotic compounds and has a high antioxidant and prebiotic potential. The promising results encourage its use as an ingredient with antioxidant and potential prebiotic properties to elaborate new functional foods and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vereda is a wetland ecosystem typical of the Cerrado biome characterized by diverse vegetation with dynamic and transitional areas of riparian forests, gallery forests, flooded forests, and humid grassland. In general, they are associated with controlling the flow of the water table, carbon storage, and high biodiversity and are essential to the maintenance of most rivers in the Cerrado biome. Besides that, Vereda is poorly studied, especially zooplanktonic groups. To lessen this knowledge gap, we evaluated the effects of seasonality and environmental predictors on the zooplanktonic community of Vereda. For that, we sampled zooplanktonic assemblages in the Veredas in the dry and wet seasons. We found environmental influence but not for the zooplankton community. The characteristic low conductivity seems to be an important environmental filter for zooplankton species occurrence in these systems, since the Veredas that registered major levels of richness and density were those with high electrical conductivity. Highlighting that some zooplankton species with a more restricted distribution were detected in this study: Acroperus tupinamba, which occurs in Brazil and Ecuador; Monospilus sp., for which only two species of this genus were registered in Brazil, both with restricted distribution, found thus far in only two protected areas of the Cerrado biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of water and energy cycles from the estimation of water balance is a fundamental instrument to assess the water potential of a region. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the probable monthly water deficit and surplus in Cerrado river basins and the trend of monthly data on climatic water balance (CWB) and its input variables in the study region. Monthly data on precipitation (P) and reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from January 2003 to December 2019 were used. The deficit and the probable monthly water surplus were obtained from the CWB for each of the 4531 ottobasins. For this, the frequency equal to or greater than 80% of permanence in time was used as a reference. Trend analysis was applied. In the rainy season, most ottobasins showed positive CWB. On the other hand, in the period of lower water availability, most ottobasins showed a negative balance. In all months, there was some ottobasin with a significant trend both for CWB and for P and ETo. In most situations, these trends were a decrease in CWB and monthly P and an increase in monthly ETo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notes on three nests of the large carpenter bee Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) frontalis (Olivier) (Apidae) attacked by the parasitoid Leucospis leucotelus Walker (Leucospidae) are presented. We observed that host brood cells contained from four to 12 parasitoids (adults or immature) which allowed us to identify this Leucospis species as a gregarious parasitoid. This was the first record of a gregarious Leucospis species attacking X. frontalis nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their ecological importance, little is known about butterflies in the state of Goiás. Thus, we aimed to inventory butterflies in an urban area of Santa Helena de Goiás, Brazil. Sampling was carried out at the Turmin Azevedo Water Park from January to December 2021, using active collection methodologies with an entomological net and passive collection with Van Someren-Rydon traps. The rarefaction curve and species richness estimate were prepared using abundance and sampling days. We recorded 133 individuals of 42 species belonging to five Lepidoptera families: Nymphalidae family as the most abundant (18 species, 78 individuals), followed by Hesperiidae (13, 21), Pieridae (6, 25), Lycaenidae (3, 6) and Riodinidae (2, 3). There was a greater richness of nectarivorous species (n = 33) than frugivorous ones (n = 9). The rarefaction curve did not reach the asymptote indicating the occurrence of more species, a fact also predicted by species richness estimators. The abundance of the Nymphalidae family and the presence of some of its representatives such as Anartia jatrophae (Linnaeus), Anartia amathea (Linnaeus), Hamadryas februa (Hübner), Tegosa claudina (Eschscholtz), Junonia evarete (Cramer) and Opsiphanes invirae (Hübner) reveal evidence of anthropization effects in the study area as well as in the butterfly community. Although been urban area, Turmin Azevedo Park contributes to the maintenance of butterfly species in the region. [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.)

The Optimal Defense Theory (ODT) postulates that reproductive structures should be more heavily defended because they contribute the most to a plant's fitness and have the highest probability of being attacked by herbivores. Ants can provide indirect defense to plants through their mutualistic interactions with hemipteran insects. In this well-studied interaction, ants provide protection to hemipterans against their natural enemies (e.g., predators and parasitic wasps) in exchange for the sugar-rich honeydew secreted by hemipterans. In turn, ants attending hemipterans can indirectly benefit plants by suppressing other harmful herbivores. Despite the numerous investigations of this ant-hemipteran mutualism, patterns of optimal allocation to indirect plant defenses mediated by this mutualistic interaction have not been previously investigated. In this study, we evaluated whether allocation to indirect plant defenses mediated by ant-hemipteran interactions and the effectiveness of such indirect defenses differ between vegetative branches (with only leaves) and reproductive branches (with leaves and inflorescences) of the tropical shrub Solanum lycocarpum. For this, we selected plants with aggregations of the ant-tended hemipteran Enchenopa brasiliensis in both reproductive and vegetative branches. We then estimated indirect defenses (measured as the production of sugar in the plant sap and hemipteran honeydew, as well as ant attraction), and their effectiveness in terms of plant protection by ants (measured as the damage and survival of leaf-chewing herbivores). Supporting ODT predictions, we found that the sugar concentration in the plant sap, and consequently in hemipteran honeydew, was higher in reproductive than in vegetative branches. However, the increase in sugar concentration in hemipteran honeydew did not result in greater ant attraction to reproductive branches. Additionally, contrary to ODT predictions, we found that ants attending hemipterans did not enhance plant protection against leaf-chewing herbivores on reproductive branches. Overall, our study demonstrated that the patterns of allocation to indirect defenses mediated by ant-hemipteran interactions in S. lycocarpum plants did not support the predictions of the ODT. • Patterns of resource allocation to the indirect defense of plants may not support the Optimal defense theory premises. • Differences in sugar concentration do not affect ant abundance and protection. • Ant-hemipteran interaction increases herbivory. • Ant-hemipteran interaction increases herbivore survival. • Specialist herbivores disrupt the effects of indirect plant defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Northern Cerrado, increasing pressure from Society on Nature has intensified existing problems, such as the loss of soil in productive areas. This article evaluates the spatial and temporal variability of soil loss in the periurban area of São Desidério (BA), one of the largest grain producers in the country, and its relationship with the land tenure structure and the consolidation of agribusiness in the region. For this purpose, the Revised Universal Land Loss Equation – RUSLE – was calculated for the years 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020, for each rural property, classified by rural module size. Small properties have higher soil loss rates, followed by micro, medium and large properties. During the period, there was a general trend towards an increase in soil loss around 50%. The micro and small properties had average rates twice as high compared to the medium and large ones, showing the need to improve soil management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have recorded new species of freshwater planarians in caves of the biomes Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga. Herein we contribute to enhancing this knowledge by describing three new cave-dwelling species of Girardia from three different cave systems situated in two biomes (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) in eastern Brazil. Girardia spelaea sp. n., from a limestone cave, is eyeless and shows a whitish body. The other two species, G. asymmetrica sp. n. and G. ibitipoca sp. n., from limestone and quartzite caves, show pigmented bodies and eyes. The three species are characterized by dorsal and/or dorsoventral testes and a bulbar cavity with forked ental portions, varying from round or ovoid to elongate. Each new species is easily recognized by a unique combination of characters of their external morphology and reproductive system. Girardia spelaea is probably a troglobitic species and the two other species may be trogrophiles, all of them with a restricted known distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Cerrado biome (BCB) is among 25 biodiversity hotspots identified worldwide, and covers the recharge area of important aquifers and rivers in South America. The increase in deforestation has been threatening water availability in this region. In order to assist in the water-resource management of the BCB, this study models the daily streamflow in a basin of the Cerrado, using two approaches: a process-based model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool - SWAT) and the data-driven model (Artificial Neural Network - ANN). The performance of the models was evaluated by the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE), coefficient of determination (R2) and flow-duration-curves (FDC). The results indicate that SWAT (NSE > 0.61; R2 > 0.68) and ANN (NSE > 0.91; R2 > 0.79) models are suitable tools in daily streamflow modeling of the studied basin, with the ANN model being the most accurate. Based on FDC, the ANN model was also better than the SWAT model for all frequencies evaluated. Thus, the ANN model is a promising new approach for daily streamflow modelling in this region. Moreover, the results of this study can help water-resource managers in planning and implementing appropriate water allocation and conservation measures in the Brazilian Cerrado biome.

We aim to review how the process of occupation and consolidation of the agricultural frontier in the Brazilian Cerrado occurred, as well as to verify the environmental impact of the productive systems in this region and to indicate the contribution of the public policies to the agrarian advance of this Biome. The expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Cerrado Biome began in the 1960s as an alternative to the growth of the Brazilian economy. The search for economic improvement, provided economic growth, however, generated social exclusion and environmental degradation. The changes in landscapes and the threat status of many Cerrado species led to the emergence of conservation initiatives by the government. What is expected of this biome is that strategies and initiatives that contribute to rural progress must broaden development objectives to encompass not only economic growth but also environmental aspects.

The species of Berothidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) collected in an area of Brazilian savannah at the Parque Nacional Chapada dos Veadeiros, Alto Paraíso de Goiás municipality, Goiás state, Brazil were documented based in a survey using Malaise traps between February 2018 and May 2019. Were captured four specimens of Spiroberotha tocantinensis Machado & Krolow, 2016 and one specimen of Lomamyia trombetensis Penny, 1983. Both species have their extension of the geographical range expanded to Goiás state.

We describe the first Neotropical troglobitic species of the genus Perigona Castelnau, 1835 from specimens collected in eight caves located in the Arcos-Pains-Doresópolis speleological province (APD), southeastern Brazil. Perigona spelunca sp. nov. is the fourth known microphthalmous species of the genus, and the second of the subgenus Neoperigona. Other specialisations to the subterranean environment include brachyptery, elongation of appendages and orangish brown body coloration. The new species has an umbilicate series of punctures on the 8th stria with 15 setae arranged linearly and not divided in three groups. We also provide historic biogeographical remarks on the new species.

Abstract The assessment of ecosystem functions in Cerrado is important to implement practices of conservation. Recently, a ‘rapid ecosystem function assessment’ (REFA) for measuring ecosystem functions has been proposed and tested as a suitable method. Thus, this study aimed to assess the proxies of ecosystem functions of three physiognomies of Cerrado through REFA. This method was applied in three different preserved physiognomies of Cerrado from Northeastern, Brazil, namely: Campo Graminoide (CG), Cerrado Stricto Sensu (CSS), and Cerradão (CD). All proxies for the selected ecosystem functions differed between sites and seasons. The above- and belowground primary productivity and microbial biomass C were higher in CD than in CSS and CG. The above- and belowground secondary productivity and decomposition were higher and similar in CD and CSS as compared to CG. The principal component analysis explained 89.8% of the data variation and clustered the majority of ecosystem functions with CD, in both seasons and CSS in the wet season. The proxies of ecosystem functions measured through REFA showed differences between the physiognomies of Cerrado. Since each physiognomy of Cerrado presents different plant richness and diversity, and soil conditions, these characteristics contribute to influencing multiple ecosystem functions.

ABSTRACT: The Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) is a biome of great socio-economic and environmental importance to Brazil. The rapid agricultural expansion in the Cerrado biome areas promoted biogeochemical cycles that affect nitrogen and carbon dynamics, leading to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Brazil, nitrous oxide (N2O) is the main gas in agriculture, and agricultural practices increase emissions into the atmosphere. This review aimed to assess the influence of agriculture on N2O emissions in the Cerrado region, based on existing data in the literature, and extract patterns of direct N2O emissions in different agricultural systems in the Cerrado from existing data. A systematic review of data from 36 scientific publications in the Cerrado region with several crop systems revealed that N2O emissions varied from 0.15 kg ha-1 in native cerrado to 4.84 kg ha-1 in conventional tillage. Agricultural systems, nitrogen fertilizer application, and crop residues influence N2O emissions. One of the strategies to mitigate emissions is the sustainable intensification of farming systems. Cumulative N2O emissions in the Cerrado range from 0.001 to 4.84 kg ha-1 in different land-use scenarios. Soil under the conventional tillage system (CT) had the highest emissions, with an overall average of 1.58 kg ha-1 of N2O, compared to no-till system (NT) (0.82 kg ha-1) and native Cerrado 0.15 kg ha-1. Integrated crop-livestock (ICL) systems in the Cerrado had emissions with an overall average of 1.68 kg ha-1, integrated crop-livestock-forest systems (ICLF) had 1.20 ha-1, and eucalyptus plantations had 0.48 kg ha-1.

Abstract 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 Brazil is the world's richest country in biodiversity, including mammal species. In the Brazilian Cerrado biome, mammalian diversity is vast, with about 251 species, 32 of them are endemic and 22 listed as threatened species. In this work, we investigated species diversity of medium- and large-sized mammals in the private protected area RPPN Pontal do Jaburu (RPPN-PJ) and its surroundings, which is a flooded area located in an important biological corridor in the Cerrado-Amazon ecotone zone, a priority area for biodiversity conservation in Brazil. We used camera-trapping, active search (night and day), and track survey during dry season (Apr – Aug 2016). We recorded 29 mammal species, being the Carnivora order the most representative with 11 species. Regarding threat status, 35.7% of the recorded species were listed as threatened in Brazil and 32.1% worldwide. We highlight the high relative frequency of threatened species records such as Tapirus terrestris, Panthera onca, Blastocerus dichotomus, Pteronura brasiliensis, Priodontes maximus, and other, as well as the presence of the newly described aquatic mammal species Inia araguaiaensis. We stress the importance of RPPN-PJ and its surroundings for mammal conservation, which include complex habitats (wetlands) located in an important ecotone zone.

The Cerrado domain is the most diverse savannah biome in the world and a biodiversity hotspot for conservation. Only a few areas of the domain remain well preserved, among them the Jalapão region in Tocantins State, currently is considered the best preserved area of the Brazilian Cerrado. Listed in a recent Angiosperm checklist for the region, there were two species of Polygala series Trichospermae, which were recognized as new by the first author. Polygala bringelii sp. nov., endemic to the Jalapão region, is diagnosed by its obclavate seeds without a ring of trichomes at their base, keel with the crest shorter than the cuculus, and the internal sepals (wings) longer than the capsule. Polygala tocantinensis sp. nov., endemic to Tocantins state, is distinguished by its internal sepals (wings) with two glands near to the rounded apex, and a ring of convergent trichomes at the base of the seeds. The two species are morphologically closest with Polygala trichosperma of sect. Timutua, series Trichospermae, but differs in its corolla and seeds shape and pubescence. An identification key, photographic plates, photos of floral parts under magnification, preliminary conservation assessments, and ecological comments of both species are also provided.

Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish, commonly known as candeia, is a threatened tree species that occurs in Seasonal Semideciduous Forests in Brazil. The tree is valued for the durability of its wood and essential oil production, from which the active agent (alpha-bisabolol) is used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Due to its high economic value, E. erythropappus has been exploited for several decades. Natural populations have been reduced, with the subsequent ecological and genetic negative impacts. We aimed to use a landscape genetics approach to identify if natural features influence the genetic diversity of E. erythropappus. In order to assess the genetic variability and provide information for the conservation of the species, genetics analyses were carried out for 200 individuals from ten natural populations of E. erythropappus. Nine ISSR primers produced 72 bands, of which 57 (79%) were polymorphic. Genetic diversity ( H E ) was 0.30 and gene flow was 1.4 migrants per population. The Bayesian clustering model indicated the occurrence of four genetically distinct populations (K = 4). Results of AMOVA showed high genetic differentiation between populations (30.8 %) and there was positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances (r = 0.632, P = 0.001). Based on a Mantel correlation and the genetic discontinuity among populations, we recommend the implementation of four operational units to support the conservation of this species. [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]

Hydroelectric power plants are the principal source of electricity in Brazil. Small hydroelectric plants (SHPs), which generate less than 30 MW, are important components of the national grid, and have been installed in the country at an increasing rate over the past 20 years. Operations of this type are regulated by environmental agencies, which require preliminary studies of environmental impact and posterior monitoring for the mitigation of potential impacts. The present study evaluated the impact of a SHP on the structure and dynamics of the local bat community in central Brazil. The study was based on the capture of bats in mist nets during eight field campaigns, four of which were conducted prior to the impoundment of the river, and four after the formation of the reservoir. Seventeen bat species were identified. The occurrence of species shifted following the impoundment, reflecting considerable changes in the structure of the local bat community caused by the installation of the dam, with negative effects on both species richness and bat abundance. The study also discusses specific aspects of the impacts of the dam on the different bat guilds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Here, by the first time, was quantified the predation of seeds of Protium ovatum Engl. (Burseraceae) by Bracon zuleideae Perioto & Lara (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a phytophagous seed eater, in Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. B. zuleideae is now mentioned for the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which extends its geographical distribution about 900 km north of its type locality, its only previous record, and new data about host plant phenology are provided. Bracon zuleideae Perioto & Lara (Hymenoptera, Braconidae): potencial de predação de sementes, expansão da distribuição geográfica e novos dados de fenologia da planta hospedeira Resumo. A predação de sementes de Protium ovatum Engl. (Burseraceae) por Bracon zuleideae Perioto & Lara (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) foi quantificada pela primeira vez no Parque Nacional Grande Sertão Veredas, em Minas Gerais, Brasil. A distribuição geográfica de B. zuleideae é estendida para o Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, a cerca de 900 km ao norte da localidade tipo, o único registro anterior, e novos dados sobre a fenologia da planta hospedeira são fornecidos.

Abstract. Here are described and ilustrated Szelenyiopria loiaconae sp. nov., Szelenyiopria jataiensis sp. nov., and the male of Szelenyiopria distinguenda (Loiácono) (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae). Novas espécies de Szelenyiopria Fabritius e descrição do macho de Szelenyiopria ditinguenda (Loiácono) (Hymenoptera: Diapridae) Resumo. Neste estudo, são descritas e ilustradas Szelenyiopria loiaconae sp. nov., Szelenyiopria jataiensis sp. nov., e o macho de Szelenyiopria distinguenda (Loiácono) (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae).

ABSTRACT The answers to when and how much to irrigate orchards can be obtained based on the measurements of plants' transpiration and leaf temperature. This study aims to determine the leaf temperature and sap flow of the pequi tree (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), both with and without water restriction. Further, the leaf temperature was measured by infrared thermometry and estimated transpiration using the Granier method, where the thermal dissipation probes are inserted into the plant stems. The experiment was conducted in a 120-plant orchard located in Goiânia-GO, Brazil, from which seven of the plants (3 irrigated and 4 non-irrigated; aged 6.6–7.4 years) were evaluated for eight months (October 2015 to May 2016). The soil was characterized as a dystrophic red latosol, and its water content was determined using the EC-5 capacitance sensors. The results denoted that the leaf temperature of the irrigated plants was lower than the median air temperature during summer and the transition period into the dry season, and the non-irrigated plants exhibited shortage of water availability during the dry season. In dryland conditions, the average transpiration was 24.09 L plant−1 day−1 and, when irrigated, became 42.29 L plant−1 day−1.

This study focused on Mantispidae species (Neuroptera) from Tocantins state in Brazil. Herein we provide nine new records to this state, increasing the total number of mantidflies from Tocantins to 12. New records are as following: Anchieta fumosella (Westwood, 1867); Dicromantispa moulti (Navás, 1909); Entanoneura batesella (Westwood, 1867); Haematomantispa sp.; Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002; Plega hagenella (Westwood, 1867); Trichoscelia varia (Walker, 1853); Zeugomantispa compellens (Walker, 1860); Z. virescens (Rambur, 1842). We also provide the first list of Mantispidae species from Tocantins, including general notes for each one, and identification key for these species.

Insects are important ecosystem agents, however, in general, a decline in the composition and abundance of these animals around the globe has been observed. In the urban environment, this characteristic has been more critical, due to the lack of diversity and quality of habitats in these environments, which feature fragmentation of habitats. Thus, processes that naturally affect the composition of animals in the environment can be observed, shaping the abundance of species in their environments, processes such as seasonality, especially in tropical regions, with well-defined rain and dry seasons. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the seasonality and abundance of insects in urban fragments in the Cerrado, for this purpose four urban fragments were sampled in Campo Grande MS, during the months of January to December 2012 using Malaise traps. 26,890 individuals of 19 orders were collected, where the abundance of insect orders stands out Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemipetera and Trichoptera. A peak in general insect abundance was found in November, and there were significant differences over the months between different orders. However, no difference was found between the fragments, however, there was a trend towards changes in the diversity of orders related to the size of the fragments. The different strategies to deal with water stress well marked for the Cerrado is an important factor for the composition of the insect fauna of the domain and variations in the habitat, such as area size and phytosocionomic composition directly affect the orders found.

Continuous exploratory use of tree species is threatening the existence of several plants in South America. One of these threatened species is Myracroduron urundeuva, highly exploited due to the high quality and durability of its wood. The chloroplast (cp) has been used for several evolutionary studies as well traceability of timber origin, based on its gene sequences and simple sequence repeats (SSR) variability. Cp genome organization is usually consisting of a large single copy and a small single copy region separated by two inverted repeats regions. We sequenced the complete cp genome from M. urundeuva based on Illumina next-generation sequencing. Our results show that the cp genome is 159,883 bp in size. The 36 SSR identified ranging from mono- to hexanucleotides. Positive selection analysis revealed nine genes related to photosystem, protein synthesis, and DNA replication, and protease are under positive selection. Genome comparison a other Anacardiaceae chloroplast genomes showed great variability in the family. The phylogenetic analysis using complete chloroplast genome sequences of other Anacardiaceae family members showed a close relationship with two other economically important genera, Pistacia and Rhus. These results will help future investigations of timber monitoring and population and evolutionary studies. [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]

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.)

Copyright of Labor & Engenho is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos 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.)

Agonandra brasiliensis is a tree from tropical forests, with a wide occurrence in the Brazilian Savannah region. Despite its potential as wood and for reforestarion, efficient protocols for its seedling production are still lacking. This study aimed to assess morphological characteristics for the seedling quality of A. brasiliensis, under nursery conditions, as a function of container volume and controlled-release fertilizer dose. The experiment was carried out in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, testing two container volumes (1.8 L and 2.2 L) and five doses (0 g L-1, 1 g L-1, 2 g L-1, 4 g L-1 and 8 g L-1) of the encapsulated fertilizer Forth Cote™ (formulation NPK 15-09-12). The plots consisted of five homogeneous seedlings transplanted in polyethylene bags (15 cm x 35 cm) with washed medium sand substrate. The following characteristics were measured: shoot length; stem diameter; increases in length and diameter; total dry matter; shoot and root dry matters and the ratio between them. The Dickson Quality Index was also obtained. The seedling quality for morphological traits, such as shoot length, stem diameter and total dry matter, was especially favoured by treatments combining the controlled-release fertilizer at a dose around 5.0 g L-1 and container volume of 2.2 L.

The Brazilian Savannah region presents a great potential for the expansion of upland rice crops. However, studies are necessary to identify practices that can improve the crop performance, especially in no-tillage systems. This study aimed to assess the effect of cover crops in association with corn on the development and yield of rice cultivated in rotation and cover fertilized with nitrogen doses. The sprinkler irrigation system was used and the experiment was developed in the 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 harvest years, using a randomized block design, in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of the crop remains combinations of single corn crop, corn + Crotalaria spectabilis, corn + pigeon pea, corn + jack bean and corn + Urochloa ruziziensis, as well as cover nitrogen doses (0 kg ha-1, 40 kg ha-1, 80 kg ha-1 and 120 kg ha-1) in the rice. The cultivation of upland rice in rotation with corn + pigeon pea was favored by the greater soil cover and nitrogen supply via cycling, if compared to the rotation with single corn crop. The intercropped corn + pigeon pea cultivation in the previous summer resulted in a 15 % increase in the yield of rice grains seeded in the rotation, when compared to the single corn crop. The cover nitrogen application positively influenced the grain yield with the maximum estimated doses of 46 kg ha-1 and 105 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, respectively in the 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 harvest years.

Abstract Background Both diarrhea in calves and mastitis in cows limit cattle production. The bacteria involved in these diseases have shown multi-resistance to antimicrobials, however plant metabolites therefore can provide an alternative method of control. This study selected and characterized Cerrado plant extracts showing inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. from cattle. Thirteen leaf extracts were initially screened and diameters of inhibition zones produced against the pathogens were recorded using an agar disk diffusion method. Total condensed tannin contents were determined and antibacterial activities were analyzed after tannin removal from the five selected extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were evaluated by macro-dilution antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and the extracts were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography. Results Inter- and intra-specific bacterial variations in the susceptibility to the extracts were detected. The aqueous extract (AE) from Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. leaves produced larger inhibition zones against E. coli strains than did other selected extracts. However, the AE from Schinopsis brasiliensis was the most effective against Staphylococcus spp. strains (P

Further progress in reducing biodiversity loss relies on the improved quantification of the connections between drivers of habitat loss and subsequent biodiversity impacts. To this end, biodiversity impact metrics should be able to report linked trends in specific human activities and changes in biodiversity state, accounting for both the ecology of different species and the cumulative effects of historical habitat losses. These characteristics are not currently captured within a single metric.Here, we develop a globally applicable methodological framework that uses freely and publicly available datasets to quantify the relative impacts of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity. We use species‐specific habitat suitability models to link specific land uses to ensuing changes in the likelihood that local populations of those species will persist. To illustrate our approach, we assess the impacts of soy expansion and other land uses within the Brazilian Cerrado on over 2,000 species of amphibians, birds, mammals and plants for three periods between 2000 and 2014.Our results showed that mammals and plants suffered the greatest overall reduction of suitable habitat. However, among endemic and near‐endemic species—which face greatest risk of global extinction from habitat conversion in the Cerrado—birds and mammals were the most affected groups. While conversion of natural vegetation to grassland and planted pastures were together responsible for most of the biodiversity impact of recent changes, soy expansion (via direct conversion of natural vegetation) had the greatest impact per unit area. The total biodiversity impact of recent land‐use change was concentrated in the southern states of the Cerrado—Minas Geráis, Goiás and Mato Grosso—but the impact on biodiversity of production of soy was greatest within the agricultural frontiers of Bahía and Piauí.The flexibility of our approach to examine linkages between biodiversity loss and specific human activities has clear potential to better characterize the pathways by which habitat loss drivers operate. Its capacity to incorporate species‐specific ecological needs, through a globally applicable methodology, can improve the tangibility of biodiversity loss assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local attitudes towards carnivores often reflect the degree of damage they are perceived to cause. Consequently, understanding the interactions between people and these species is essential to conservation efforts. This study investigated local perceptions of three Cerrado canid species and current chicken management practices, to identify the potential damage they cause and how this relates to peoples' attitudes towards these species. Results from structured interviews at 50 ranches in Goiás, Brazil, highlighted that general knowledge about Cerrado canids differed significantly by species, with interviewees unable to correctly answer questions about the hoary fox Lycalopex vetulus and crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous in comparison to the maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus. Chicken coops were identified as the most effective method for preventing predation, yet only 44% of respondents employed this method. Using a perceived predation measure, interviewees reported chicken predation by all three Cerrado canids even though most of these events were stated to occur during the day, outside the species' active periods. Reported predation events were a strong predictor of attitude. Participants who experienced predation events reported they did not like having a Cerrado canid on their property. However, 86% of the respondents agreed that Cerrado canids should nevertheless be protected. Our findings support the need to incorporate the human dimension in canid and broader carnivore conservation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study accomplished a knowledge survey of the Bororo indigenous on the birds of natural occurrence in their territory, Meruri village, who is located in the Mato Grosso State, Brazil, in the Savannah biome, and also the relationship of the indigenous with these birds. As the method for collect, the data were used open and semi-structured interviews. Twenty-two indigenous were interviewed, both genres and different ages. The interviewees mentioned 96 species of birds and they showed wide ecological knowledge regarding these birds. Such relationships are complex, being evidenced by a mythical interaction between the man and the elements of nature. These birds are important elements in the creation of stories, legends, in the Bororo ceremonies and arts. The oral transmission of knowledge occurs across generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Ciência Florestal (01039954) is the property of Ciencia Florestal 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.)

This study focused on Mantispidae species (Neuroptera) from Tocantins state in Brazil. Herein we provide nine new records to this state, increasing the total number of mantidflies from Tocantins to 12. New records are as following: Anchieta fumosella (Westwood, 1867); Dicromantispa moulti (Navás, 1909); Entanoneura batesella (Westwood, 1867); Haematomantispa sp.; Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002; Plega hagenella (Westwood, 1867); Trichoscelia varia (Walker, 1853); Zeugomantispa compellens (Walker, 1860); Z. virescens (Rambur, 1842). We also provide the first list of Mantispidae species from Tocantins, including general notes for each one, and identification key for these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Cerrado, a hotspot and the largest savannah in the world, has been undergoing intense changes in land use for urbanization. The creation and maintenance of urban parks and public squares is one efficient biodiversity conservation strategy in urbanized landscapes. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the potential of urban parks with native vegetation for conservation of flower chafer beetles (Coleoptera: Cetoniinae), a beetle group usually used as a bioindicator in African landscapes, in Brazilian Cerrado. We sampled Cetoniinae beetles using aerial fruit-baited traps, every 2 wk from January to December 2014 in 10 areas of Cerrado in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. We compared the species richness, abundance, biomass, and species composition between six 'natural reserve' areas (outside the urban matrix) and four 'urban park' areas (within the urban matrix), and identified specialist species of each habitat type. A total 508 individuals of nine species were captured. The abundance, species richness, and biomass were similar between natural reserve and urban park. However, species composition differed among the habitats. Gymnetis flava (Weber) was classified as an urban park specialist, while Euphoria lurida (Fabricius), and Hoplopyga liturata (Olivier) were classified as natural reserve specialists. Our results demonstrate that urban parks conserve the abundance, biomass and species richness of flower chafer beetles in the Brazilian Cerrado. In this context, our results suggest that the maintenance of the urban park with native vegetation can be an efficient strategy for the conservation of Cetoniinae beetles in the urban matrix in the Brazilian Cerrado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cerrado is the second largest Brazilian biome and only 2.8% is represented by protected areas. Considering the relevance of the Cerrado and Conservation Units in preserving the mammalian diversity, we provided the first assessment of the diversity of medium- and large-sized mammal species in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (CVNP) and surroundings. We tested the effectiveness of the CVNP by assessing the difference in species composition within the park and its surroundings. We sampled CVNP in the rainy (October-December 2013) and dry seasons (March-June 2014) in order to characterize the seasonality within the community. We selected 36 sampling sites to evaluate the composition of the medium and large mammals in the CVNP and its surroundings, 18 in the CVNP and 18 in the park surroundings. We ordered mammalian composition and frequency of individuals data by using a Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling analysis (NMDS). We assessed the effect of season (dry and rainy seasons) and locality (within the CVNP and surroundings) on mammalian species richness with a two-way analysis of variance (Two-way ANOVA). We recorded 23 species, 13 within the CVNP and 17 species in its surroundings. Composition and frequency of records differed between dry and rainy seasons, with higher richness in the rainy season. Species' composition and the frequency of records were also different between within the CVNP and its surroundings, with higher richness in the surroundings. These results provide information for the increase of the knowledge of mammalian ecology but also is useful as a tool for future strategies to the conservation of these species. More attention should be given to the monitoring of these species in the long term because this area still harbor some viable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of researches that evaluate the development and nutrient accumulation in super early genotypes of common bean for the elaboration of fertilization programs. This study aimed at characterizing the development; N, P, K, Ca and Mg accumulation by leaves; grain yield; and yield components of super early genotypes of common bean. Field experiments were conducted in a randomized blocks design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the IPR Colibri (control), CNFC 15873, CNFC 15874 and CNFC 15875 genotypes. Plants were sampled throughout the common bean development, being divided into leaves, stems and pods. After determining the dry matter, the contents of N, P, K, Ca and Mg accumulated in leaves were estimated. At harvesting, the grain yield and yield components were evaluated. The biomass accumulation in stems and leaves occurred until the flowering stage, and then it started in the pods until harvesting. The genotypes that absorbed more nitrogen and phosphorus had a higher grain yield. The average growing season of super early genotypes was 70 days (winter) and 63 days (summer). CNFC 15874 was the most productive genotype in the winter, with grain yield similar to the IPR Colibri cultivar (control). In the summer, CNFC 15873 and CNFC 15875 achieved grain yield similar to the IPR Colibri cultivar.

The presence of cover crop straw and early application of total N at sowing may provide significant changes in the microbial population, reflecting on the N dynamics in the soil and in upland rice plants. This study aimed at determining the effect of the early application of nitrogen doses as mineral N and microbial biomass carbon in the soil, as well as in the activity of nitrate reductase, and grain yield of upland rice plants cultivated under no-tillage system (NTS). A randomized blocks design, in a split-plot scheme, with four replications, was used. The treatments consisted of N doses (0 kg ha-1, 40 kg ha-1, 80 kg ha-1 and 120 kg ha-1) and the presence or absence of U. brizantha cover straw. Maintaining the straw on the soil surface reduces the ammonium levels and increases the microbial biomass carbon content of the soil. The application of increasing doses of N in the soil provides increases in the levels of nitrate and ammonium in the soil up to 28 days after emergence. The activity of the nitrate reductase enzyme in the plants increases and the contents of ammonium and nitrate in the soil decrease with the crop development. The number of panicles and grain yield of upland rice increase with the increase of the nitrogen fertilization, but decrease in the presence of U. brizantha straw. Thus, it is recommend the use of early N fertilization in upland rice crop.

The environmental heterogeneity may reflect the different morphological and phenotypic traits of individuals belonging to a single species. We used 14 morphological traits of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. to understanding the relation between environment and phenotypic traits. Twenty-five fruits were collected from each of the 10 individuals sampled in each study site: Chapada dos Guimarães (CG), Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade (VB), and Alta Floresta (AF). We analyzed the genetic divergence, using the standardized Euclidean distance, the sequential method of Tocher, unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), and the projection of the distances onto 2D plane, and calculated the relative importance of the traits evaluated. The analysis showed the partition of individuals into three main groups: Two groups comprising the majority of individuals. Fresh fruit weight, pulp rate, fresh pulp weight, and moisture rate were the traits that most helped explaining the difference between materials. The results shown in the current study evidenced the influence of these three different environments on the biometric traits of M. flexuosa. Such influence has led to the formation of Alta Floresta and Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade individuals in different groups, whereas the Chapada dos Guimarães individuals were able to permeate the two other groups, although they showed stronger tendency to group with individuals from Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade.

ABSTRACT The development of effective monitoring tools depends on finding sensitive metrics that are capable of detecting the most important environmental impacts at a given region. We assessed if metrics derived from stream fish assemblages reflect physical habitat degradation and changes in land cover. We sampled the ichthyofauna and environmental characteristics of 16 stream sites of first and second order in the Upper Tocantins River basin. The streams were classified according to their environmental characteristics into reference (n = 5), intermediate (n = 4), and impacted (n = 7). A total of 4,079 individuals in five orders, 12 families, and 30 species were collected. Of the 20 metrics tested, eight were non-collinear and were tested for their performance in discriminating among groups of streams. Three metrics were sensitive to the gradient of degradation: Berger-Parker dominance index, percentage of characiform fish, and percentage of rheophilic individuals. Some commonly used metrics did not reflect the disturbances and many others were redundant with those that did. These results indicate that the metrics derived from fish assemblages may be informative for identifying the conservation status of streams, with the potential to be used in biomonitoring.

Bletia catenulata is a native Brazilian orchid whose populations have suffered from predatory collection. Aiming at elucidating aspects of its reproductive biology and the relation with seed germination, pollination tests were carried out in flowers of plants cultivated in a greenhouse. Manual cross and self-pollination resulted in high percentage of fructification (76.7-86.7 %), being only 26.7 % for natural pollination, in which the absence of pollinators, due to flower isolation, resulted in absence of fruits. In vitro seed germination for all fruits from the different pollination processes was low, being 8.6 % the highest percentage for protocorms. Thus, B. catenulata is selfcompatible, resulting in viable seeds, but pollinator-dependent for sexual reproduction.