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To enable long-term coexistence, species need to differentiate at least one of the three main dimensions of the ecological niche (temporal, spatial, or trophic dimension). Here, we investigated whether mammalian predators (Chrysocyon brachyurus, Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, and Puma concolor) follow the prediction of trophic niche partitioning, which is expected when partitioning of food resources represents an important mechanism for coexistence. We predicted low niche overlap in general and low between P. concolor and the other species. We analyzed 207 fecal samples collected at a landscape composed of forest remnants immersed in Eucalyptus plantations. Food items (animals and plants) were identified using exoskeletons, feathers, scales, teeth, hair, and seeds. We calculated the frequency and percentage of occurrence of food items, niche breadth, and niche overlap between pairs of species. Prey size was similar among all predators, consuming mainly small-sized prey (

É indiscutível a contribuição do Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID) na formação dos futuros professores e na melhoria do ensino das escolas que são contempladas com o programa. No entanto, poucos relatam se essa integração entre a educação superior e a educação básica populariza a ciência e se desperta os estudantes para a pesquisa, pois os relatos em sua maioria são sobre a promoção de eventos vinculados aos projetos e percepção dos alunos bolsistas do PIBID. Este trabalho investigou a percepção dos alunos do ensino médio sobre popularização da ciência em duas escolas estaduais, sendo uma contemplada com o programa PIBID e outra não. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários aplicados aos estudantes e comparados com o índice de participação desses estudantes em uma feira de ciências, cujo objetivo principal foi o de popularizar a ciência. Os resultados evidenciam que os estudantes das escolas contempladas pelo PIBID compreendem a popularização da ciência e que há um crescente interesse na participação desses alunos em eventos popularizadores tais como feiras de ciências. Desta forma verificou-se que a presença do PIBID nas escolas é capaz de unir ensino e pesquisa, contribuindo assim para uma educação integrada e de qualidade.

EnglishAbstract Cerrado is one of the largest Brazilian biomes and one of the richest and most endangered savannas in the world. In the state of Sao Paulo, it originally covered about 14% of the state territory in a domain that reached 33%. A historical evaluation shows that from 1962 to 2001 88.5% of paulista Cerrado were lost. This percentage corresponds to 1,625,229 hectares of Cerrado. The conservation units hold only 0.51% of the State's original Cerrado, therefore defining priority areas for conservation is a relevant and urgent strategy to maintain the biodiversity of this biome in the state. In this sense, a critical analysis of the biome situation in Sao Paulo, the existing public policies and the representativeness of the existing conservation units were carried out. It is recommended that the public authorities urgently define conservation strategies portuguesO Cerrado e um dos maiores biomas brasileiros e uma das savanas mais ricas e ameacadas do mundo, e no estado de Sao Paulo cobria originalmente cerca de 14% do territorio estadual em um dominio que chegava a 33%. Uma avaliacao historica mostra que de 1962 a 2001 foram perdidos 88,5% do Cerrado paulista, correspondendo a cerca de 1.625.229 hectares de vegetacao. As unidades de conservacao (UC) detem apenas 0,51% do Cerrado original do estado, sendo as UCs uma estrategia relevante e urgente para manutencao da biodiversidade deste bioma no estado. Neste sentido foi realizado uma analise critica da situacao do bioma em Sao Paulo, das politicas publicas existentes e da representatividade das unidades de conservacao existentes. Recomenda-se desta forma urgencia ao poder publico na definicao de estrategias de conservacao

As conservation agents, biologists play a central role in nature preservation as information-gatherers, promoters of environmental education, lobbyists, and members of societies. Consequently, it is important to understand what factors determine their attitudes towards conservation. We aimed to assess which taxa and recovery measures students from biology core courses consider priorities for conservation and to determine the value students associate with conservation compared to other topics. We asked students (n = 122) from two private universities in Sao Paulo State, Brazil to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. They highlighted rarity, vanishing habitats and endemism as important criteria in prioritizing species. Carnivores were identified as the most threatened mammals and habitat recovery was deemed to be the most efficient conservation action. Students valued healthcare, cultural heritage and science over conservation. Our results reveal a two-sided perspective of conservation among students from biology core courses; they possess knowledge of conservation issues but are greatly influenced by anthropocentric and utilitarian views of nature.

Anomalous coloration is defined as the excess or deficit of pigmentation in some region(s) or throughout the entire body of an animal, and have been classified as piebalism, leucism, or albinism. The first record of anomalous coloration for the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) was a leucistic cub captured in dense ombrophilous Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Sao Jose dos Pinhais, state of Parana, southern Brazil, which was subsequently raised by residents until it was an adult. Collared peccarys’s behaviors are well documented in literature, but there is no published scientific information about the behavior of leucistic individuals. Here we report the second case of anomalous coloration of the collared peccary (P. tajacu) in Brazil and the Neotropical region, and comment on its social interaction with pigmented conspecifics. For a period of 27 months of monitoring, cameras trap captured 109 records (47 videos and 62 photos) distributed among 21 days. We retrieved 22 independent events from the records, of which 54.5% were of the leucistic collared peccary alone and 45.5% with it interacting with pigmented conspecifics. During interactions it displayed both affiliative and agonistic behaviors. Collared peccaries live in stable herds of five to 25 individuals, with temporary sub-herds of one to three individuals that forage separately for several hours during the day. Considering that animals with an absence of body pigmentation are more susceptible to predation, the survival of the leucistic collared peccary may be associated with its social interaction with pigmented conspecifics.

Nature conservation can only be an efficient process if involving different society actors, especially those that have long-term and multiplying effects on how society relates with nature, such as children/students. To delineate nature conservation strategies, we need to understand the drivers that shape peoples’ behaviors and attitudes towards nature; for students this is mostly determined by their past experience and influence of their socio-economic and familiar context. To test these assumptions, we develop a study focused on elementary school students from Portugal and Brazil. In each country we selected two student’s groups representing two distinct socio-environmental contexts: rural and urban populations. Based on a written questionnaire, we aimed at understanding the effect of parental and socio-environmental contexts, gender, prior contact with nature and online news-associated environmental information, on how students prioritize taxa to be conserved. Furthermore, we analyzed how health, economic and touristic values constrain pro-conservation attitudes. Students from urban areas and from Portugal showed a lower probability of having a pro-conservation attitude. Brazilian and rural students may have a more frequent contact with nature and live in regions of higher biodiversity, two factors that may act synergistically to produce those patterns. Positive attitudes towards conservation seem to be over-ruled by health (i.e. self-preservation) and economical (i.e. financial subsistence) interests and values. Moreover, students prioritize for conservation species that are commonly mentioned in the online news, particularly mammals, and plants. Acknowledging that students rank higher health and economical values over conservation ones, as well as the perceptible importance of contacting with nature and the apparent relevance of online news as information vehicles, may increase the chances of improving the efficacy of nature conservation strategies. Furthermore, this information can lead to an improvement of environmental awareness and literacy.

The presence of small terrestrial mammals along the commercial cycle of Eucalyptus plantations indicates that silvicultural landscapes can be considered as their habitat. In the present study we evaluated the temporal variation of small terrestrial mammals for more than 10 generations during the first commercial cycle of Eucalyptus in Southeast Brazil. During this period we carried out forty-four monthly campaigns, totaling 10,560 bucket.nights in pitfall traps. Thirteen species (four marsupials and nine rodents) were collected in the Eucalyptus plantations, seven of which (Akodon montensis, Calomys tener, Cryptonanus agricolai, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Necromys lasiurus, Oligoryzomys flavescens, and Oligoryzomys nigripes) persisted for the entire study period. In general, they have an explosive population growth during the first two years of collection followed by a decline in all environments, and an apparent regrowth trend in the fourth year for some species with a trend in dominant species from Cerrado to forest dwellers. Marsupials exhibited a similar trend, but slower and later. The spatio-temporal patterns of variation detected in this study strongly suggest that for most of the remaining species of small rodents and marsupials, silvicultural landscapes have distinct habitats including the Eucalyptus plantations. This means that they should be evaluated in terms of its habitat quality not only its permeability. The perception of the Eucalyptus plantations as habitat should stimulate the development of wildlife-friendly management techniques, which improve their carrying capacity, food web complexity and biological diversity without compromising their primeval mission of biological production. Fil: Verdade, Luciano Martins. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Moral, Rafael de Andrade. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Calaboni, Adriane. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: do Amaral, Marcus V. S. G.. Maynooth University; Irlanda Fil: Martin, Paula S.. Itaiti Consultoria Ambiental; Brasil Fil: Amorim, Luana S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Gheler Costa, Carla. Ecologia Aplicada: Pesquisa, Ensino e Serviços Ambientais; Brasil Fil: Piña, Carlos Ignacio. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina

Although the concept of optimal foraging has been extensively discussed, foraging efficiency is difficult to assess in vertebrates. In this study, we determined the foraging efficiency of the Brazilian cormorant,NannopterumbrasilianusGmelin, 1789, by the direct,ad libitumobservation of a group of four to thirteen individuals in an artificial pond at the University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Although this study was carried out in a highly anthropic environment, we can still conclude that the Brazilian cormorant is a relatively efficient browser and short-term diver. In anthropic environments, foraging success depends on the amount of time these birds spend diving, and stealing food is less common. Stealing occurs at relatively low rates but tends to be an efficient way to get food.

In Sao Paulo State, in Southeastern Brazil, the Eucalyptus plantations have been replacing large areas which were formerly occupied by pastures used for livestock production. Such land use change may affect the habitat use by wildlife in these anthropic landscapes. In this region, the commercial Eucalyptus plantations of the paper and cellulose industry usually take from 6 to 7 years to be harvested. During its production cycle, the Eucalyptus stands vary from an open savanna-like environment just after plantation, when plants still resemble bushes, to a forest-like environment with densely distributed 18-meter high trees. Previous studies show that the Eucalyptus plantations in Southeastern Brazil are used by generalist species including medium and large sized mammals. However, the possible influence of such dramatic temporal environmental heterogeneity on the wildlife habitat use in Eucalyptus plantations is still unknown. In this study, which follows a classic stratified design, we evaluate the influence of the Eucalyptus stand age on the local patterns of distribution and abundance of middle to large-sized wild mammals. Our results show an increase not only in their species richness, but also in their frequency of occurrences along the commercial cycle of the Eucalyptus plantations with a steep decline in both before harvest. This pattern may be related to weed control practices which significantly reduce the understory vegetation, in especial at the end of the commercial cycle while preparing for harvest. Future studies should prioritize the possible variation on the trophic structure in the Eucalyptus plantations along commercial cycles as a response of wildlife friendly silvicultural/agricultural management practices.

Studies carried out in Brazil revealed that Eucalyptus plantations shelter numerous species of small-size non-flying mammals. However, their distribution pattern inside the Eucalyptus plantations remains unknown. This study aimed at the identification of possible influence of distances from the remaining native revegetation areas and riparian systems, on spatial distribution and abundance of small-size mammals in Eucalyptus plantations. This study was carried at Eucalyptus stands recently planted (0–3 years) at the municipality of Angatuba, Sao Paulo state, Brazil between August 2007 and July 2009. The survey was carried out using pitfall traps at 14 sampling units inside Eucalyptus plantations 60–1130 m away from the borders. With a sampling effort of 2,449 bucket night, the experiment captured 680 individuals belonging to 12 species of small-size mammals (rodents and marsupials). The colonization process of Eucalyptus plantations was apparently initiated by generalist species from open Cerrado. In the present study, we did not find any clear correlation between specific richness and abundance of individuals and the distance from native revegetation areas or closer riparian systems. The study suggests that Eucalyptus plantations are permeable matrices to, at least, more generalist species present in the silvicultural landscapes (i.e. composed by an Eucalyptus plantation as the matrix and native vegetation patches). However, further studies must prioritize analyzing the influence of agricultural/sivilcultural practices (e.g., plantation structure and harvest frequency) on habitat quality and carrying capacity of agricultural/silvicultural landscape matrices, as well as implementing long-term monitoring programs to assess the impact of complete production cycles (some years) and along cycles of Eucalyptus plantations (some decades), on rodents population’s diversity and dynamics patterns.

From February 2009 to February 2010 the small mammal assemblage in sugarcane fields from Usina Santa Elisa Vale, in Sertaozinho, northern Sao Paulo state (Brazil), with four different time spans of pre-harvest burning suspension (0, 3, 5 and 10 years) was surveyed. Six species of rodents and one species of marsupial were captured, in a total of 399 individuals, with a total capture success of 7.7%. Species richness was similar in all treatments; however, the marsupial Gracilinanus agilis was only detected in sugarcane plots where pre-harvest burning has been suspended for 10 years. In addition, small rodents were more abundant in plots where pre-harvest burning was still used every year, followed by areas where fire events were suppressed for 10 years. Considering that high densities of small rodents are usually associated with the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., hantaviroses and leptospirosis) and also with the possible use of highly polluting agrochemicals (i.e., rodenticides), a decrease in small rodents abundance can be considered another positive environmental impact of pre-harvest burning suspension of sugarcane fields.

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

Brazil has become one of the top producers and exporters of food, fibre, and bionergy in the world.The expansion of livestock and soybean production in the Amazon basin appears to be independent of the sugarcane expansion in southeastern Brazil whereas the impact of sugarcane expansion over areas of soybean plantation in previous Cerrado biome is still unknown. However, the expansion of sugarcane production in the state of S?o Paulohas been shown to cause an increase in the local abundance of rodents and result in the emergence of infectious diseases such as hantaviruses and leptospirosis in humans. In addition, with an increase in the use of agrochemicals there will be an increase in euthrophication of watercourses and soil pollution. Considering that S?o Paulo has a population of approximately 40 million people, these local impacts are relevant. Environmental law should be improved and enforced in Brazil to ensure that sugarcane production is not only economically profitable but also environmentally responsible.

A bacia do Corumbataí possui importância regional por ser a principal fonte de abastecimento da região Centro-leste do Estado de São Paulo. Estudos realizados nesta paisagem agrícola priorizaram os remanescentes, hidrologia, matas ciliares, a matriz agrícola, fauna e suas relações, e muitas vezes desconsideram a população rural local. A fim de conservar o ecossistema, principalmente relacionado às questões da água, muitos estudos ecológicos propõem como alternativas o fortalecimento de políticas públicas, corredores florestais, educação ambiental ou de um mero cumprimento das leis ambientais. No entanto, entendemos que não incluindo a população rural em busca da melhor qualidade ambiental, não há nenhuma garantia da conservação na prática. Por meio de uma pesquisa interdisciplinar este estudo assume o caráter utilitário das relações dos moradores das zonas rurais com problemas ambientais, especialmente de água, e como esta relação pode ser incorporada em propostas de conservação para resolver a atual crise “verde” na bacia do rio Corumbataí. Os resultados mostram que os estudos sobre a relação entre a população rural na bacia do rio Corumbataí e o meio ambiente são extremamente importantes para entender a relação entre o homem e a natureza em paisagens agrícolas no Estado de São Paulo, e que a conservação deve ser realizada na prática. Então deve atentar que o conhecimento e a experiência dos pequenos agricultores são essenciais para a sua manutenção no campo, bem como para pesquisa e autopreservação. Assim, os resultados indicam perspectivas reais para o desenvolvimento social rural e ambiental na conservação em paisagens agrícolas.

Os carnívoros são importantes componentes ecológicos dos ecossistemas, pois controlam a abundância, a distribuição e a diversidade das populações de suas presas. Desta forma, são considerados como espécies-chaves na manutenção e restauração da diversidade e da resiliência dos ecossistemas. Nesse grupo, a onça-parda (Puma concolor) é a espécie de mamífero silvestre mais amplamente distribuída do hemisfério ocidental, porém, suas exigências em tamanho de área de vida e alimentação mostram-se um fator de restrição para sobrevivência da espécie por fatores como pressão de caça, diminuição de presas e desmatamento. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a dieta do P. concolor em uma paisagem silvicultural no Estado de São Paulo. A paisagem é formada pela presença de remanescentes de cerrado, plantações de eucalipto e áreas de pastagens. Para análise da dieta foram coletadas, triadas e analisadas 103 amostras de fezes de P. concolor. Os resultados indicam grande consumo de aves e mamíferos de pequeno porte, diferindo da alimentação da espécie em ambientes naturais onde os mamíferos são o principais itens alimentares. Esta variação na dieta confirma a onça-parda como predador generalista, que consume as presas disponíveis sem apresentar preferência por determinadas espécies.

A Floresta Atlântica, principalmente sua porção localizada no interior do Estado de São Paulo, encontra-se altamente fragmentada e seus remanescentes, em sua maioria, encontram-se envoltos por uma matriz essencialmente agrícola. Este estudo foi realizado no Campus "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, localizado no município de Piracicaba, Estado de São Paulo. O mesmo encontra-se inserido no perímetro urbano da cidade de Piracicaba, tendo como limite duas rodovias e o Rio Piracicaba. A paisagem da área de estudo caracteriza-se por um mosaico de pequena áreas florestais envoltas por áreas de pastagens, agricultura e florestamento com espécies exóticas. Os objetivos principais do presente estudo foram: levantamento de mamíferos não-voadores, em escala local, incluindo sua distribuição e abundância de acordo com o mosaico de ambientes resultantes do expressivo impacto causado pelo desenvolvimento humano na área. A coleta de pequenos mamíferos ocorreu durante nove meses, entre fevereiro e outubro de 2001, com um esforço de 7056 armadilhas/dia, tendo sido amostrados sete dos ambientes mais representativos do Campus(florestamento de Eucalyptus e Pinus, fragmento florestal nativo, várzea, plantio de seringueira, área de agricultura e área de pastagem). Para o registro de mamíferos de médio e grande portes foi construída uma trilha pelo Campus, que foi percorrida durante 12 meses, entre novembro de 2000 e outubro de 2001, no período da manhã e da tarde. Em todo o Campus foram registradas 16 espécies de mamíferos não-voadores, sendo dez de médio e grande portes e seis de pequeno porte, sendo a capivara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) e o coati (Nasua nasua) as espécies mais abundantes. The remaining portion of the Atlantic Forest within the State of Sao Paulo is highly fragmented and most of the remainders are wrapped up in an essentially agricultural mosaic. This study aims local surveying of non-flying mammals, including their distribution and relative abundance within the humanimpacted environments of Campus "Luiz de Queiroz", University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, an urbanized area bordered by two highways and the Piracicaba River. The landscape of the study area is characterized by a mosaic of small forest fragments surrounded by pastures, agriculture, and planted forests. Small mammals were captured from February to October, 2001, with an effort of 7056 traps.day -1 , sampling seven of the most representative environments of the Campus - planted Eucalyptus and Pinus forests, native forest fragments, meadow, rubber tree plantation, agriculture and pasture areas. Occurrence of medium and large frame mammals was recorded daily (morning and afternoon) from November of 2000 to October of 2001 along a trail set up to merge the studied environments. Sixteen species of non-flying mammals were recorded, ten of medium or big frames, and six of small frame. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) and coati (Nasua nasua) were the most abundant species.

The remaining portion of the Atlantic Forest within the State of Sao Paulo is highly fragmented and most of the remainders are wrapped up in an essentially agricultural mosaic. This study aims at the local surveying of non-volant mammals, including their distribution and relative abundance within the human-altered environments of campus "Luiz de Queiroz", University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, an urbanized area bordered by two highways and the Piracicaba River. The landscape of the study area is characterized by a mosaic of small forest fragments surrounded by pastures, agriculture, and planted forests. Small mammals were captured from February to October, 2001, with an effort of 7056 day-traps, sampling the most representative environments of the campus: planted Eucalyptus (L'Héritier) and Pinus (Shaw) forests, native forest fragment, meadow, rubber tree (Hevea sp.) plantation, agriculture and pasture area. Occurrence of medium and large frame mammals was recorded daily (morning and afternoon) from November of 2000 to October of 2001 along a trail set up to merge the studied environments. Sixteen species of non-volant mammals were recorded, ten of medium or big body-size, and six of small body-size. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766)) and coati (Nasua nasua (Linnaeus, 1766)) were the most abundant species.

Agricultural landscapes are formed by a matrix of agricultural fields (i.e., agroecosystems) more or less interspersed by remaining fragments of native vegetation, water courses, roads, and human habitations. Although their presumptive mission is the production of domesticated species or their commodities, agricultural landscapes always support some wild species, which can demand human efforts to be conserved, controlled, used, or simply monitored. Such efforts can only be effective if public policy recognizes the multifunctionality of agricultural landscapes, which should be based on the following principles: (a) The conservation value of agricultural landscapes is more related to the landscape β-diversity than to the matrix α-diversity; (b) the agricultural impacts on biodiversity transcend the limits of agricultural landscapes affecting water courses and nature reserves outside them; and (c) agriculture depends on ecosystem and evolutionary services provided by biodiversity in order to be sustainable.

Human-induced changes have drastically modified pristine environments, and the replacement of natural ecosystems constrained the composition and structure of communities that they are made of, due to the modification of ecological processes. Survey and monitoring sampling schemes have been defined and mostly applied to natural environments, which are characterized by a spatial and structural heterogeneity. However, their application to agroforestry areas should take into consideration that these environments are spatially more homogeneous, but present a temporal heterogeneity linked with the production cycles. In this chapter, we present a description of the assumptions, weaknesses, and strengths of the main methods used in surveying and monitoring medium and large mammals. Moreover, we advise researchers to the need to take into consideration the particularities of agroforestry landscapes and adapt the mentioned methods to assure the representativeness of the collected data and the accuracy of the detected patterns.

The conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes depends on information about the ways in which species are affected by the conversion of native habitats into novel anthropogenic environments and the strategies that the species use to persist in these altered ecosystems. Here, we investigate how small mammals occupy the different agroecosystems of an agricultural landscape in the state of S a o Paulo, Brazil. From August 2003 through January 2005, we surveyed small mammals using Sherman traps at 16 sampling sites in each of the four predominant environments of the local agricultural landscape: remnant fragments of semideciduous forest, Eucalyptus plantations, sugarcane plantations, and pastures. With a total effort of 23,040 trap-nights and a capture success of 0.8 % , we captured 177 rodents and marsupials belonging to eight species. The assemblage represented by these mammals is essentially composed of generalist species, which are common in degraded areas. Sugarcane plantations had the highest abundance, whereas pastures had the lowest species richness. Our results suggest that the loss of forest species can be related to the loss of native forest. The results also indicate that to improve the conservation value of agricultural landscapes, native forest fragments should be conserved, extensive monocultures should be avoided and agricultural impacts should be mitigated.

Características microestruturais dos pêlos vêm sendo usadas para identificação de espécies em pesquisas taxonômicas, ecológicas, paleontológicas, arqueológicas e forenses. Este estudo tem como objetivo a descrição da estrutura dos pêlos de algumas espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores comumente encontrados em agroecossistemas do Estado de São Paulo. Os pêlos foram coletados do dorso de espécimes previamente identificados coletados em áreas de agricultura (canavial), pastagens, silvicultura (plantio de eucalipto) e fragmentos de vegetação nativa (floresta semidecídua e cerrado). O microscópio óptico apresentou limitações para a descrição do formato e borda das escamas, os quais foram descritos através do uso de microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Uma chave de identificação dicotômica é apresentada para 11 espécies de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores (sete roedores e quatro marsupiais). Hair microstructure characteristics have been used for species identification in taxonomic, ecological, paleontological, archeological and forensic research. This study aims to describe the hair structure from small mammals commonly found in agroecosystems of the São Paulo State. The hairs were collected from the dorsal region of previously identified specimens collected in agricultural areas (sugar-cane plantations), pasture areas, silviculture areas (eucalyptus plantation) and fragments of native vegetation (semideciduos Atlantic Forest and Cerrado). Optic microscope was not effective for describing the form and the border of scales, which were described using scanning electronic microscope. A dichotomic key of identification is presented for 11 species of non-volant small mammals (seven rodents and four marsupials).

A Bacia do Corumbataí é usada como principal fonte de abastecimento de água para os municípios de Piracicaba e Rio Claro, sendo o Rio Passa-Cinco seu principal tributário. A Bacia do Passa-Cinco pode ser considerada um modelo conveniente para o estudo de conservação de biodiversidade por conter os principais agroecossistemas existentes no estado de São Paulo. Para que sejam estabelecidas estratégias conservacionistas, são necessárias informações de como a biodiversidade é afetada e quais estratégias as populações de espécie silvestres lançam mão para se manter em remanescentes florestais alterados. Pequenos mamíferos tais como roedores e marsupiais, podem ser considerados um bom grupo para ajudar a responder essas questões, pois esse grupo desenvolve um importante papel ecológico em ambientes florestais, através da predação e dispersão de sementes. De agosto de 2003 a janeiro de 2005 foram realizados levantamentos de pequenos mamíferos utilizando 160 armadilhas do tipo Sherman distribuídas em linhas, em 16 sítios amostrais, sendo 4 em cada tipo de ambiente predominante na paisagem: floresta nativa, plantações de Eucalyptus, plantações de cana-de-açúcar e pastagens. Durante esse período, foram capturados 177 indivíduos de roedores e marsupiais distribuídos em oito espécies, com um sucesso de captura de 0.77%. Houve diferença significativa entre os ambientes estudados em termos de abundância, mas não em termos de riqueza de espécies, podendo-se observar uma clara separação entre habitats florestais e não-florestais. Os remanescentes florestais nativos da região, aparentemente, perderam as espécies mais exigentes com relação à qualidade do habitat, de forma que a comunidade atual é formada basicamente de espécies generalistas e características de áreas degradadas. A perda de espécies florestais não somente altera a comunidade de pequenos mamíferos, como favorece o aparecimento de espécies de áreas não-florestais que podem trazer, entre outras coisas, problemas de saúde pública. Ainda assim, a comunidade de pequenos mamíferos da bacia do Rio Passa-Cinco é meritória de esforços conservacionistas, que devem priorizar estudos relacionando o cumprimento das leis ambientais com as alterações que isto possa gerar na comunidade de pequenos mamíferos. The Corumbataí Basin is used as the main source of water supply for the municipal districts of Piracicaba and Rio Claro, being the Passa-Cinco River its main tributary. The Passa-Cinco river basin can be considered as a convenient model for the study of the conservation of biodiversity for it contains the main existing agroecosystems in the state of São Paulo. So that conservationist strategies can be established, some information is required, such as how biodiversity is affected, and which strategies the population of wild species use to keep themselves in the altered forest remainings. Small mammals, such as rodends and marsupials can be considered a good group to help answer these questions, for this group develops an important ecological role in forest environments, through the predation and dispersion of seeds. From August 2003 to January 2005 surveys on small mammals were carried out using 160 Sherman type traps distributed in lines, in 16 sample country properties, being 4 in each type of environment that is predominant in the landscape: native forest, Eucalyptus plantation, sugar-cane plantation and pastures. In this period, 177 rodend and marsupial individuals were captured, which were distributed in 8 species, with a 0,77% rate of success in capture. There was significative difference among the studied environments in terms of abundance, but not in terms of the richness of the species. Also, we could observe a clear distinction between forest and non-forest habitats. Apparently, the native forest remainings in the region lost their species which are the most demanding in relation to the quality of habitat, in such a way that the current community is basically formed of generalists, which are a characteristic of degraded areas. The loss of forest species not only alters the community of small mammals, but also favors the occurrence of species from non-forest areas which can bring, among other things, problems related to public health. Eventhough, the small mammal community from the Passa-Cinco river basin is worth conservationist efforts which must give priority to studies relating the environmental law enforcement to the changes this might generate to the community of small mammals.

The remaining portion of the Atlantic Forest within the State of Sao Paulo is highly fragmented and most of the remainders are wrapped up in an essentially agricultural mosaic. This study aims at the local surveying of non-volant mammals, including their distribution and relative abundance within the human-altered environments of campus "Luiz de Queiroz", University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, an urbanized area bordered by two highways and the Piracicaba River. The landscape of the study area is characterized by a mosaic of small forest fragments surrounded by pastures, agriculture, and planted forests. Small mammals were captured from February to October, 2001, with an effort of 7056 day-traps, sampling the most representative environments of the campus: planted Eucalyptus (L'Héritier) and Pinus (Shaw) forests, native forest fragment, meadow, rubber tree (Hevea sp.) plantation, agriculture and pasture area. Occurrence of medium and large frame mammals was recorded daily (morning and afternoon) from November of 2000 to October of 2001 along a trail set up to merge the studied environments. Sixteen species of non-volant mammals were recorded, ten of medium or big body-size, and six of small body-size. Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766)) and coati (Nasua nasua (Linnaeus, 1766)) were the most abundant species.

A baixa taxa de sucesso de captura pode ser um fator limitante ao êxito de diversos estudos com fauna. Sendo assim, é necessário o aprimoramento de técnicas de captura, de forma especial em relação a predadores. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atratividade de quatro tipos diferentes de iscas sobre predadores de médio e grande porte. O estudo foi desenvolvido nas Fazenda Três Lagoas e Arca, que é parte do Núcleo Angatuba do Programa de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade (PPBio), no município de Angatuba - Estado de São Paulo, e teve a duração de cinco meses. Para os predadores de grande porte foram usadas armadilhas do tipo curral iscadas com frangos, porcos, cabras ou carneiros, em um delineamento em Quadrado Latino. Para a amostragem de canídeos e felídeos de médio porte foram utilizadas armadilhas do tipo gaiola de arame galvanizado, com tamanho de 115x40x60 cm, iscadas com alimento processado para cães, alimento processado para cães com essência de camarão, alimento processado para gatos ou alimento processado para gatos com essência de camarão. A metodologia foi adaptada a partir daquela utilizada pelo PPBio: 30 unidades amostrais distantes 1 km entre si e distribuídas sistematicamente em uma grade. Dos 30 pontos disponíveis na grade, 24 pontos foram escolhidos, sendo 12 pontos na matriz de eucalipto e 12 pontos nas áreas de vegetação nativa. O monitoramento da aproximação dos animais tanto nas armadilhas do tipo curral quanto nas de tipo gaiola foi feito por armadilhamento fotográfico, utilizando-se câmeras Bushnell Trophy Cam® programadas para funcionar 24 h/dia e filmar por 15 segundos, com um minuto de intervalo entre os vídeos. Os resultados foram analisados por Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e Análise de Médias (ANOM). As espécies de carnívoros de médio e grande porte que foram recorrentemente capturadas tanto nos vídeos provenientes dos currais quanto naqueles oriundos das gaiolas são espécies oportunistas com tolerância a ambientes modificados e à presença humana, como o cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous), o graxaim-do-campo (Lycalopex gymnocercus) e o lobo-guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Os felinos tiveram baixa taxa de captura, e apenas duas espécies foram detectadas (onça-parda e jaguatirica) ainda no período pré-experimental. Em relação ao experimento com armadilhas do tipo curral, os lobos-guará foram significativamente mais atraídos por galinhas do que por qualquer uma das outras iscas (carneiros, porcos ou cabras). As demais espécies de predadores não responderam significativamente às iscas oferecidas. Além disso, as câmeras localizadas na face Oeste de todos os currais detectaram um número significativamente menor de espécies visitantes. Para as armadilhas do tipo gaiola, a interação entre o número de espécies, o número de ocorrências de vídeos, as iscas (i.e., alimento processado para de cães e de gatos, com e sem essência de camarão) e o ambiente (i.e., matriz e vegetação nativa) foi marginalmente significativa. Além disso, as espécies de canídeos e felídeos silvestres da área não responderam à nenhuma das iscas oferecidas; no entanto, cães domésticos (Canis lupus familiaris) foram significativamente atraídos por alimento processado para gatos sem essência de camarão. The low success rate of capture may be a limiting factor to the success of several wildlife studies. Therefore, the improvement of capture techniques, especially in relation to predators, is necessary. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the attractiveness of four different types of baits on medium and large predators. The study was developed at Fazenda Três Lagoas and Arca, which is part of the Angatuba Center of the Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio), in the municipality of Angatuba - State of São Paulo, and lasted five months. For large predators corral traps baited with chicken, pork, goats or sheep were used in a Latin Square design. For the sampling of medium-sized canids and felids, 115x40x60 cm galvanized wire cage traps were trapped with dog food, shrimp-scented dog food, cat food or shrimp-scented cat food. The methodology was adapted from the one used by PPBio: 30 sampling units were systematically distributed in a grid, 1 km apart from each other. From the 30 points in the grid available, 24 were chosen, 12 points in the eucalyptus matrix and 12 points in native vegetation areas. Animal approach was monitored in both corral and cage traps by photographic trapping using Bushnell Trophy Cam® cameras programmed to operate 24 hours a day and shoot for 15 seconds with a one-minute interval between the videos. The results were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Mean Analysis (ANOM). The medium and large carnivorous species that have been recurrently captured in both corral and cage videos are opportunistic species which are tolerant to modified environments and human presence, such as the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), the Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and the maned-wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Felines were captured at a low rate, with only two species being detected - puma and ocelot - during the pre-experimental period. Regarding the corral trap experiment, the maned wolves were significantly more attracted to chickens than to any other bait (sheep, piglets or goats); the other species of wild predators did not respond significantly to the baits offered. Moreover, the analysis of the number of recorded videos that each side of the corrals obtained shows that the cameras located on the west face of all corrals detected a significantly smaller number of visiting species. For wire cage traps, the interaction between the number of species, the number of video occurrences, the baits (ie, dog and cat food, with and without shrimp essence) and the environment (ie, matrix and native vegetation) was marginally significant; in addition, wild canids and felids species in the area did not respond to any of the baits offered. However, domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were significantly attracted to cat food without shrimp essence.

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is a disease caused by Hantavirus, which are negative-sense RNA viruses in the family Bunyaviridae. These viruses are highly virulent to humans, taking about 50% of infected people to death. The main Hantavirus reservoir is constituded by generalist rodents species, which increase in abundance in agricultural and fragmented landscapes, potencially augmenting the transmission risk of the disease. Climate can also affect rodent population dynamics and the virus survival in the environment, as well as the time it remains virulent, while social factors may regulate the processes of transmitting viruses from reservoirs to humans. However, despite the high virulence of these viruses and the lack of vaccine is not yet well established how these different factors linked to landscape structure, climate and social conditions affect the dynamics of transmission of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) identify which social and ecological factors affect the transmission of HCPS, identifying the areas of greatest risk in the state of São Paulo and 2) predict how climate change (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and expansion of sugarcane scenarios influence the transmission of HCPS. To answer these questions the study system corresponded to the 645 municipalities that compose the state of São Paulo. To achieve our goals, in a first chapter, we conducted a literature review to understand how landscape structure and climate variables affect the risk of HCPS. In a second chapter we used a Bayesian model to quantify the association between HCPS annual incidence in the state of São Paulo, obtained by the number of cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health, between the years 1993-2012, and climate variables (total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature), landscape structure (percentage of native vegetation, number of fragments and percentage of area occupied with sugarcane), chosen in the literature review, and social factors (number of rural men over 14 years - risk population, and the Human Development Index - HDI). We build separate models for the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. In both biomes, the risk of HCPS increased mainly with the proportion of land cultivated with sugarcane and the HDI, but the proportion of native habitat, mean annual temperatures and risk population also showed positive relationships to Atlantic Forest. The average risk of HCPS for the state of São Paulo was 1.3%, with 6% of the municipalities being classified as medium to high risk (>= 5%). In a third chapter we used sugarcane expansion and extracted temperature anomalies of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios of general circulation models (GCMs) of IPCC5 to predict HCPS risk. With sugarcane expansion, average risk for HCPS increases from 1.3 to 1.5%, while RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios increased the risk to 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively. RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios alone are responsible for the largest increase in the maximum risk of infection (46.1% to 51.4% and 51.7%), while the sugarcane expansion combined with climate scenarios are causing the larger expansion in the number of municipalities at high risk, which goes to 7%. Our analyzes provide the first evidence on the action of landscape, climate and social factors in HCPS incidence in the Neotropics. Moreover, our risk maps can be used to optimize the correct allocation of resources, allowing actions to be taken to reduce the impacts of sugarcane expansion and climate change over this disease propagation A Síndrome Cardiopulmonar por Hantavirose (HCPS) é uma doença causada por Hantavírus, um conjunto de vírus com RNA negativo pertencentes à família Bunyaviridae. Esses vírus são altamente virulentos para os seres humanos, levando cerca de 50% dos infectados a óbito. O principal reservatório de HCPS é constituído por espécies de roedores generalistas, que aumentam em abundância em paisagens agrícolas e fragmentadas, potencialmente elevando o risco de transmissão dessa doença. O clima também pode afetar a dinâmica populacional dos roedores e a sobrevivência do vírus no ambiente, assim como o tempo em que este se mantém virulento, enquanto que fatores sociais podem regular os processos de transmissão dos vírus dos reservatórios para os seres humanos. No entanto, apesar da alta virulência destes vírus e da falta de vacina, não está ainda bem estabelecido como esses diferentes fatores ligados à estrutura da paisagem, ao clima e às condições sociais afetam a dinâmica de transmissão dessa doença. O presente trabalho teve assim como objetivos: 1) identificar quais fatores ecológicos e sociais afetam a transmissão de HCPS, identificando as áreas de maior risco no estado de São Paulo e 2) prever como cenários de mudanças climáticas (RCP4.5 e RCP8.5) e de expansão de cana-de-açúcar influenciam a transmissão de HCPS. Para responder aos nossos objetivos, o sistema de estudo compreendeu os 645 municípios que compõe o estado de São Paulo. Num primeiro capítulo, realizamos uma revisão bibliográfica para entender como as variáveis de paisagem e de clima afetam o risco de HCPS. Num segundo capítulo, utilizamos um modelo Bayesiano para quantificar a associação entre a incidência anual de HCPS no estado de São Paulo, obtida através do número de casos confirmados pelo Ministério da Saúde, entre os anos de 1993 a 2012, e as variáveis de clima (precipitação total anual e temperatura anual média), estrutura da paisagem (porcentagem de vegetação nativa, número de fragmentos e porcentagem de área ocupada com cana-de-açúcar), escolhidas na revisão bibliográfica, além de fatores sociais (número de homens rurais acima de 14 anos - população de risco, e o Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano - IDH). Construimos modelos separados para a Mata Atlântica e o Cerrado. Em ambos os biomas, o risco de HCPS aumentou principalmente com a proporção de terra cultivada com cana-de-açúcar e com o IDH, mas a proporção de habitat nativo, temperatura anual média e população de risco também mostraram relações positivas para Mata Atlântica. O risco médio de HCPS para o estado de São Paulo foi de 1.3%, com 6% dos municípios sendo classificados como de médio a alto risco (>= 5%). Num terceiro capítulo, utilizamos cenários de expansão de cana-de-açúcar e anomalias de temperatura extraidas dos cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 de 32 modelos de circulação geral (GCMs) do IPCC5 para prever os riscos futuros de HCPS. Com a expansão de cana-de-açúcar, o risco médio de HCPS para o estado aumenta de 1.3 para 1.5%, enquanto que os cenários RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 aumentam o risco para 1.6% e 1.7%, respectivamente. RCP4.5 e RCP8.5 sozinhos são os cenários que mais aumentam o risco máximo de infecção (46.1% para 51.4% e 51.7%), enquanto que a expansão de cana-de-açúcar combinada com os cenários climáticos são os que mais provocam o aumento da expansão do risco no estado de São Paulo, expandindo o número de municípios em alto risco para 7%. Nossas análises fornecem as primeiras evidências sobre a ação de fatores da paisagem, climáticos e sociais na incidência de HCPS nos Neotrópicos. Também, nossos mapas de risco podem ser utilizados para otimizar a correta alocação de recursos, permitindo que ações sejam tomadas para reduzir os impactos da expansão da cana e das mudanças climáticas sobre a propagação da doença

Studies in agricultural landscapes have shown that anthropogenic environments may be relevant to wildlife species. Given the extent of these areas efficient research methods are needed to assess its ecological value in terms of local diversity, such as the use of biological indicators. The main goal here was to evaluate the possible relationship between the native vegetation biomass and diversity of small mammals in a silvicultural landscape of São Paulo. The study was developed at Fazenda Três Lagoas, which is part of the \"Programa de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade\" (PPBio), at Angatuba municipality, State of São Paulo, and lasted nine months. From May 2015 to March 2016 nine sampling campaigns were carried over a grid of 15 pitfall traps, five in Eucalyptus plantations, five in native vegetation and five in abandoned pastures. In the Chapter 1 the distribution and abundance patterns of small mammals on a silvicultural landcape during the early second cycle of Eucalyptus plantation in Southeastern Brazil was evaluated. A total of 672 individuals from 15 species of the orders Rodentia (9 spp.) and Didelphimorphia (6 spp.) were captured and five new species were detected in the study area in comparison to the first cycle. Although these species are predominantly generalists, there were differences in the abundance of small mammals in the three environments. The presence of native vegetation patches associated with riparian areas and abandoned pastures and the role of small mammals as a food resource for predators on a trophic structure, gives a certain conservation value to silvicultural landscapes in southeastern Brazil. In the Chapter 2 the relationship between landscape metrics and patterns of diversity, distribution and abundance of small mammals in a silvicultural landscape were evaluated. The species richness and family diversity of small mammals have been predominantly determined by the percentage of native vegetation. However, the abundance of small mammals can be determined by an indirect estimate of the native vegetation biomass (i.e., NDVI), which can be considered a 3D landscape metric as it is related to volume. Therefore, to succeed in assessing the value of agricultural landscape, future studies should consider landscape context, as well as the landscape metrics associated with geospatial data analysis and the distinct responses of species. Estudos em paisagens agrícolas têm mostrado que ambientes antrópicos podem ser relevantes para muitas espécies selvagens. Dada a extensão destas áreas, são necessários métodos eficientes de pesquisa para avaliar seu valor ecológico em termos de diversidade local, tais como o uso de indicadores biológicos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo geral avaliar a possível relação entre a biomassa de vegetação nativa e a diversidade de mamíferos de pequeno porte em uma paisagem silvicultural do estado de São Paulo. O estudo foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Três Lagoas, que é parte do Núcleo Angatuba do Programa de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade (PPBio), no município de Angatuba, Estado de São Paulo e teve a duração de nove meses. De maio de 2015 a março de 2016, foram realizadas campanhas mensais de amostragem em uma grade amostral com 15 conjuntos de armadilhas de interceptação e queda (pitfall), sendo cinco nas plantações de Eucalyptus spp., cinco em vegetação nativa e cinco em pasto abandonado. No Capítulo 1 foram avaliados os padrões de distribuição e abundância de pequenos mamíferos em uma paisagem silvicultural ao início do segundo ciclo de plantações de Eucalyptus no Sudeste do Brasil. Um total de 672 indivíduos de 15 espécies das ordens Rodentia (9 spp.) e Didelphimorphia (6 spp.) foram capturados e cinco novas espécies foram detectadas na área de estudo em relação ao primeiro ciclo. Embora as espécies presentes sejam predominantemente generalistas, houve diferença na abundância de pequenos mamíferos nos três ambientes. A presença de fragmentos de vegetação nativa associados a áreas ripícolas e pasto abandonado e o papel dos pequenos mamíferos como recurso alimentar para predadores em uma estrutura trófica, atribui um valor de conservação às paisagens silviculturais no sudeste do Brasil. No Capítulo 2, o objetivo foi avaliar a relação entre métricas da paisagem e padrões de diversidade, distribuição e abundância de pequenos mamíferos em uma paisagem silvícultural. A riqueza de espécies e a diversidade de famílias dos pequenos mamíferos tem sido predominantemente determinada pela área porcentual de vegetação nativa. No entanto, a abundância de pequenos mamíferos pode ser determinada por uma estimativa indireta da biomassa da vegetação nativa (e.g., NDVI), que pode ser considerada uma métrica de paisagem 3D, pois está relacionada ao volume. Portanto, para ter sucesso na avaliação do valor da paisagem agrícola, os estudos futuros devem considerar o contexto da paisagem, bem como as métricas da paisagem associadas à análise dos dados geoespaciais e as distintas respostas das espécies.