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Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T17:23:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-03-14 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Semiterrestrial tadpoles live on wet rock surfaces and have evolved independently in at least seven anuran families. They have a flat venter, laterally compressed keratinized jaws and elongated, largely finless tails. When threatened, they can jump. Here, we describe the kinematics of locomotion for semiterrestrial tadpoles of the genera Cycloramphus and Thoropa (Cycloramphidae). Forward locomotion can be accomplished solely by the upper jaw cyclically engaging and disengaging from the substrate. Undulating tail movements, in contrast, cause the tadpoles to move laterally, like sidewinding snakes, rather than forwards. Jumping is an explosive escape behaviour with an unpredictable trajectory. Jumping requires rapid elevation of the head and extension of the torso and tail. This is made possible by epaxial musculature that extends onto the cranium and movement of the tail in the sagittal plane. Tadpoles near metamorphosis extend their hindlimbs symmetrically when jumping, even when the limbs are too small to provide thrust. The rapid rostral elevation of the snout, extension of the trunk and symmetrical extension of the hindlimbs is a kinematic pattern shared with post-metamorphic frogs when they jump. This suggests that semiterrestrial tadpoles use essentially the same neural programme as that used by frogs to jump. Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biodiversidade, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Ctr Aquicultura CAUNESP, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Parana UFPR, ACF Ctr Politecn, BR-81531980 Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, Brazil Fac Med, Dept Cellular & Physiol Sci, 2350 Hlth Sci Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biodiversidade, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Ctr Aquicultura CAUNESP, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2013/50741-7 FAPESP: 2013/20420-4 FAPESP: 2015/11239-0 CNPq: 306623/2018-8 CAPES: 88887.511397/2020-00

It is well known that environmental temperature influences several biological functions of ectotherms, notably in amphibians. The high permeability of anuran skin, associated with the effect of elevated environmental temperature, potentiates the dehydration process and this combination may restrict locomotor performance. Thoropa taophora is an endemic species from the Atlantic Rainforest whose tadpoles are semiterrestrial and predominantly diurnal, and are found in rocky seashores where they are exposed to sea spray and high temperatures. In this study we investigated how temperature and salinity conditions affect the locomotor performance in Thoropa taophora tadpoles. We also assessed how different osmotic concentrations affect the activity of the metabolic pathways that support muscle function. We measured the sprint speed of tadpoles of various sizes at different temperatures and salinities in the field. We also measured the activity of the enzymes pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and citrate synthase (CS) in different temperatures and osmotic concentrations, and calculated the thermal sensitivity and the activity constants for each osmolality. Our results showed that, in general, sprint speed decreased with increasing temperature and salinity. However, whereas the effect of increased salinity was similar in smaller and larger tadpoles, increased temperature had a higher negative impact on sprint speed of larger tadpoles, thus indicating low thermal sensitivity of small tadpoles. PK and LDH thermal sensitivities and LDH constant of activity decreased as the osmolality increased. In conclusion, the locomotor capacity of tadpoles was decreased by temperature and salinity, which may be related to a decrease in anaerobic metabolism both in terms of sensitivity and total energy turnover through enzymatic activity. We discuss the ecological consequences, including the potential impacts on predator escape behavior promoted by changes in metabolism and locomotor performance in an early stage of development of this species.

In this study, we evaluate the role of local and regional factors in shaping the anuran assemblages in the Cerrado biome by contributing to the knowledge on the diversity patterns of different Cerrado vegetation types in southeastern Brazil. We measured richness and abundance of ground dwelling frogs in a gradient of vegetation structural complexity, varying from grassland (campo sujo) to forest (cerradao), using pitfall traps with drift fences and standardized efforts. We also measured vegetation structure by directly counting its components in the field. We found differences in richness and abundance among vegetation types, with richness being higher at more open vegetation types, and abundance being higher at the forest due to the extremely high number of captures of Rhinella ornata, a species from the Atlantic Forest biome. A concordant pattern in anuran diversity and vegetation structure suggests an important role of the habitat in structuring diversity in this group, with open vegetation types sharing both more similar anuran assemblages and vegetation. The higher diversity of Cerrado anurans observed in the open vegetation types in southeastern Brazil is in phase with diversity accounts for other groups of the herpetofauna throughout the biome, and it supports a prevalence of the regional processes over local determinism, a hypothesis that should be formally tested for amphibians with large-scale standardized sampling.

The Atlantic Forest is a heterogeneous and complex vegetation mosaic caused by variety of climatic, geomorphological, and edaphic conditions. It has long been known that the Atlantic Forest has one of the most diversified biotas on the planet, presenting high levels of endemism. Here, we update the knowledge regarding terrestrial vertebrates occurring in the Atlantic Forest, focusing on endemic species and presenting its main spatial patterns of diversity. We also analyzed the main knowledge gaps associated with these species. We identified 2,645 species of Tetrapoda in the Atlantic Forest, being 719 species of amphibians, 517 species of reptiles, 1,025 species of birds, and 384 species of mammals. The uniqueness of its fauna is impressive even in a global scale, as 2.8% of the world’s Tetrapoda species occurs only in the Atlantic Forest. For reptiles, this percentage is 1.3%, while for both birds and mammals, it hovers around 1.9%, but for amphibians, it reaches an impressive 6.6%. Spatially, most groups exhibit their highest species richness at the core of the Atlantic Forest, and this pattern becomes more evident when only endemic species are considered. Even with all its impressive diversity, 157 new Tetrapoda species were described in the Atlantic Forest in the last decade, mostly from poorly sampled regions or environments. An increase of sampling effort on these regions might increase the number of species on this biome, which already is one of the most diverse in the world.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-01 Species delimitation can be challenging and affected by subjectivity. Sibling lineages that occur in sympatry constitute good candidates for species delimitation regardless of the adopted species concept. The Thoropa miliaris + T. taophora species complex exhibits high genetic diversity distributed in several lineages that occur sympatrically in the southeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We used 414 loci obtained by anchored hybrid enrichment to characterize genetic variation in the Thoropa miliaris species group (T. saxatilis, T megatympanum, T. miliaris, and T. taophora), combining assignment analyses with traditional and coalescent phylogeny reconstruction. We also investigated evolutionary independence in co-occurring lineages by estimating gene flow, and validated lineages under the multispecies coalescent. We recovered most previously described lineages as unique populations in assignment analyses; exceptions include two lineages within T. miliaris that are further substructured, and the merging of all T. taophora lineages. We found very low probabilities of gene flow between sympatric lineages, suggesting independent evolution. Species tree inferences and species delimitation yielded resolved relationships and indicate that all lineages constitute putative species that diverged during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, later than previously estimated. Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP) Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva Universidade Federal de São Paulo, 09972-270 Diadema Department of Biological Sciences Florida State University Department of Scientific Computing Florida State University Departamento de Biodiversidade e Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP) Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:48:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-05-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) The Brazilian Atlantic coastal forest is one of the most heterogeneous morphoclimatic domains on earth and is thus an excellent region in which to examine the role that habitat heterogeneity plays in shaping diversification of lineages and species. Here we present a molecular phylogeny of the rock frogs of the genus Thoropa Cope, 1865, native to the Atlantic forest and extending to adjacent campo rupestre of Brazil. The goal of this study is to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the genus using multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses. Our topology reveals 12 highly supported lineages among the four nominal species included in the study. Species T. saxatilis and T. megatympanum are monophyletic. Thoropa taophora is also monophyletic, but nested within T. miliaris. Populations of T. miliaris cluster in five geographically distinct lineages, with low support for relationships among them. Although all 12 lineages are geographically structured, some T. miliaris lineages have syntopic distributions with others, likely reflecting a secondary contact zone between divergent lineages. We discuss a biogeographic scenario that best explains the order of divergence and the distribution of species in Atlantic forest and adjacent areas, and outline the implications of our findings for the taxonomy of Thoropa. Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Ctr Aquicultura CAUNESP, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, Brazil Cornell Univ, Dept Ecol & Evolutionary Biol, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA Univ Fed Vicosa, Dept Biol Anim, Museu Zool Joao Moojen, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, BR-36571000 Vicosa, MG, Brazil Univ Fed Vicosa, Inst Ciencias Biol & Saude, BR-35690000 Florestal, MG, Brazil Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Lab Vertebrados Terr, BR-29932540 Sao Mateus, ES, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biociencias, Grp Hist Nat Vertebrados, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, BR-09972270 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Ctr Aquicultura CAUNESP, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo, Brazil FAPESP: 08/50928-1 FAPESP: 13/50741-7 FAPESP: 2014/50342-8 CNPq: 564955/2010-8 CNPq: 302518/2013-4

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:23:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-04-03 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Physalaemus centralis is distributed over open areas of eastern South America. Herein, we perform an extensive review of occurrence records and propose a potential distribution based on ecological niche modeling. In order to confirm species identification, as well taxonomic status along its distribution, we provide morphological and molecular data from analysed specimens. To reach our goals, we compiled data available in the literature and from scientific collections, as well as unpublished data. We identified records of P. centralis in 123 localities, 86 of those records remain unpublished. Consequently, it is possible to extend its range of distribution to the state of Rondônia, Brazil, and also to the Caatinga formation. The Maxent algorithm provided a model of potential distribution consistent with the distribution proposed here. Results indicate that P. centralis has a large distribution associated to open areas of South America (Cerrado, Caatinga and Pantanal), with no evidence that this is a case of species complex. The multiple approach proposed herein, that combines occurrence data from different sources and molecular data to confirm species identification, provided consistent results. Therefore, we recommend that this framework be used as a protocol to assess species distribution in future studies, especially in the case of widely distributed species. Laboratório de Vertebrados. Av. Itália Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, km 8, Vila Carreiros Laboratório de Herpetologia Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av 24 A, 1515, Bela Vista, Caixa Postal 199 Laboratório de Ecologia e Sistemática Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Instituto de Ciências Ambientais Químicas e Farmacêuticas Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Prof. Artur Riedel, 275, Eldorado Laboratório de Herpetologia Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Av 24 A, 1515, Bela Vista, Caixa Postal 199

Dendrophryniscus brevipollicatus Jiménez de la Espada is a Neotropical bufonid endemic to a small range of the Brazilian Coastal Atlantic Forest, with reduced body size for the family and bromeligenous habit. We reviewed the taxonomic status of populations of D. brevipollicatus from states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, including some continental islands, based on external morphology. We tested our morphological species by a DNA-barcoding approach with sequences of 16S RNA ribosomal gene fragment. DNA-barcoding analysis included other recognized Dendrophryniscus species and was concordant with morphological species diagnosed in our review. Intraspecific genetic distances ranged from 0 to 2.72 % (± 0.91 %). Interspecific distances ranged from 3.35 % (± 0.90 %) to 20.15 (± 2.23 %). Optimal threshold values ranged from 2.8 % to 3.0 % and barcode gap analysis showed that for all individuals the furthest intraspecific distances was always lower than the closest non-conspecific individual. Seven distinct species were recognized. A neotype for D. brevipollicatus was designated and described; the type locality was determined for the Açude da Solidão (22º57’S, 43º17’W, Datum WGS 84; 410 m altitude), Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two species were revalidated: D. imitator (Miranda-Ribeiro), with designation of a lectotype and descriptions of the lectotype and of a topotype from the restricted type locality, Alto da Serra (23o46’S, 46o19’W, Datum WGS 84, 800 m altitude), Municipality of Paranapiacaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil; and D. lauroi (Miranda-Ribeiro), with descriptions of the lectotype and of a topotype from the type locality, Municipality of Angra dos Reis (22o54’S, 44o20’W, Datum WGS 84; 25 m altitude), State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four new species were described: D. davori sp. nov., from Baixo Caledônia (22º21’S, 42º35’W, Datum WGS 84; 1600 m altitude), Municipality of Nova Friburgo, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; D. haddadi sp. nov., from Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virgínia (23o21’S, 45o08’W, Datum WGS 84; 970 m altitude), Municipality of São Luís do Paraitinga, State of São Paulo, Brazil; D. izecksohni sp. nov., from Campo de Fruticultura da Bocaina (currently Núcleo Senador Vergueiro), Municipality of São José do Barreiro (22º38’S, 44º34’W, Datum WGS 84, 540 m altitude), State of São Paulo, Brazil; and D. jureia sp. nov., from Estação Ecológica da Juréia-Itatins—Núcleo Rio Verde (24º22’S, 47º04’W, Datum WGS 84; 32 m altitude), Municipality of Iguape, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Geographical distributions of all species are provided.

Egg attendance imposes costs on parents, including decreased food intake and increased mortality risks. By concentrating parental activities when egg predation is greater and abiotic conditions are less stressful, parents may decrease these costs. Here, we quantify the costs and benefits of temporary egg desertion in the frog Thoropa taophora, whose males care for eggs on rocky shores. We tested hypotheses on the effect of the period of the day (day vs. night) and breeding site (exposed vs. protected from sunlight) on the frequency of temporary desertion, water loss, and egg predation. Using naturalistic observations, we show that parental males deserted their clutches more often during daytime and in exposed sites. Using a field experiment with agar models simulating adult males, we show that water loss was greater during daytime and in exposed sites. Finally, using field observations and a male removal experiment, we show that male presence improves egg survival and that egg predation was higher during the night, with no effect of breeding site. Because the main egg predators are conspecifics, which are mostly inactive when parental males are not attending their clutches, the costs of temporary desertion in terms of egg loss are relatively low when compared with the benefits related to decreased exposure of parental males to stressful abiotic conditions. In conclusion, we predict that temporary offspring desertion should be found especially among ectotherms, when periods of harsher environmental abiotic conditions for the parents are coincident with periods of low offspring demand for protection against predators. To take care of eggs is costly for the parents because they are exposed to predators or stressful environmental conditions. In order to avoid these costs, parents may leave the eggs temporarily unattended. Although temporary egg desertion has been reported for many species, the selective forces favoring its evolution are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the costs and benefits of temporary egg desertion in a frog whose males care for eggs on rocky shores, an extreme environment for animals with permeable skin. Our findings lead us to conclude that temporary egg desertion should evolve when periods of harsher environmental conditions for the parents are coincident with periods of low offspring demand for protection against predators.

We describe a new species of Physalaemus from central Brazil. It is characterized by the following combination of traits: medium-sized; snout subelliptical in dorsal view, varying between rounded and protruding in lateral view; head longer than wide; snout long; dorsolateral fold present; small inguinal gland associated with dark ocellus present; tarsal tubercle present; poorly developed tarsal fold present and supernumerary tubercles on feet absent. The advertisement call is a single note with eight harmonics lasting 0.7–1.0 s in duration and emitted at intervals of 0.6–5.8 s. The dominant frequency varies from 1.9 to 3.1 kHz. The occurrence of the new species is in open habitats (disturbed or preserved) in central Brazil.

The theory of island biogeography is most often studied in the context of oceanic islands where all island inhabitants are descendants from founding events involving migration from mainland source populations. Far fewer studies have considered predictions of island biogeography in the case of continental islands, where island formation typically splits continuous populations and thus vicariance also contributes to the diversity of island populations. We examined one such case on continental islands in southeastern Brazil, to determine how classic island biogeography predictions and past vicariance explain the population genetic diversity of Thoropa taophora, a frog endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Forest. We used nuclear microsatellite markers to examine the genetic diversity of coastal and island populations of this species. We found that island isolation has a role in shaping the genetic diversity of continental island species, with island populations being significantly less diverse than coastal populations. However, area of the island and distance from coast had no significant effect on genetic diversity. We also found no significant differences between migration among coastal populations and migration to and from islands. We discuss how vicariance and the effects of continued migration between coastal and island populations interact to shape evolutionary patterns on continental islands.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:17:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-11-23 Villanova Univ, Dept Biol, Villanova, PA 19085 USA Museu Nacl Hist Nat & Ciencia, Lisbon, Portugal Univ Brasilia, Dept Zool, Inst Ciencias Biol, BR-70910900 Brasilia, DF, Brazil Smithsonian Inst, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC 20560 USA Sorbonne Univ, Museum Natl Hist Nat, ISYEB, Paris, France Univ Nacl Tucuman, San Miguel De Tucuman, Argentina King Saud Univ, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY USA Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Diadema, Brazil Upper Austrian Museum, Ctr Biol, Linz, Austria Villanova Univ, Villanova, PA 19085 USA Univ Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria Plazi, Bern, Switzerland Univ Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil Zool Forsch Museum A Koenig, Bonn, Germany Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belem, Para, Brazil Russian Acad Sci, St Petersburg, Russia Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Museo Reg Sci Nat, Turin, Italy Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Royal Museum Cent Africa, Tervuren, Belgium Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Mexico City, DF, Mexico Univ Innsbruck, Inst Ecol, Innsbruck, Austria Hasselt Univ, Hasselt, Belgium Univ Fed Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil Univ Nacl Misiones, Felix De Azara, Argentina Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa Natl Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa Senckenberg Nat Hist Sammlungen, Dresden, Germany Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Stephen F Austin State Univ, Nacogdoches, TX 75962 USA Landesmuseum, Leonding, Austria Univ Camerino, Camerino, Italy Univ Fed ABC, Sao Bernardo, Brazil Univ Estadual Londrina, Museu Zool, Londrina, Parana, Brazil Senckenberg Res Inst, Frankfurt, Germany Museo Civ Storia Nat, Carmagnola, Italy Polskiej Akad Nauk, Muzeum & Inst Zool, Warsaw, Poland Museo Civ Storia Nat, Genoa, Italy Russian Acad Sci, Inst Zool, St Petersburg, Russia Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Vicente, Brazil Sorbonne Univ, ISYEB, Museum Natl Hist Nat, Paris, France Port Elizabeth Museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Sam Noble Museum, Norman, OK USA Harvard Univ, Museum Comparat Zool, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA North West Univ, Potchefstroom, South Africa Museu Nacl, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Nat Hist Museum, Basel, Switzerland Senckenberg Nat Kundemuseum, Gorlitz, Germany North Carolina Museum Nat Sci, Raleigh, NC USA Univ Rennes 1, Rennes, France Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Amer Museum Nat Hist, New York, NY 10024 USA Univ Huddersfield, Huddersfield, W Yorkshire, England North Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND USA Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Fac Sci Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia DPTC PC, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Louisiana State Univ, Museum Nat Sci, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA Zool Survey India, Kolkata, India Univ Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN USA Ohio State Univ, Columbus, OH 43210 USA Univ Luterana Brasil, Museu Ciencias Nat, Canoas, Brazil Univ Firenze, Florence, Italy Univ Ovidius Constanta, Constanta, Romania Univ Mississippi, Oxford, MS USA Royal Belgian Inst Nat Sci, Brussels, Belgium Univ New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA Inst Nacl de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Univ Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil CIBIO Ctr Invest Biodiversidade & Recursos Genet, Vairao, Portugal Museum Hist Nat, Geneva, Switzerland Univ Fed Mato Grosso, Cuiaba, Brazil Univ Austral Chile, Valdivia, Chile Univ Malaysia, Sarawak, Malaysia Indian Inst Sci, Bangalore, Karnataka, India Scottish Assoc Marine Sci, Oban, Argyll, Scotland Sam Houston State Univ, Huntsville, TX 77340 USA Museo Nacl Ciencias Nat, Madrid, Spain Sorbonne Univ, CR2P, Museum Natl Hist Nat, Paris, France Drexel Univ, Acad Nat Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA Univ Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173 USA Ctr Pesquisas Cacau, Itabuna, Brazil Univ Torino, Turin, Italy Soc Hist Nat Alcide dOrbigny, Aubiere, France Wolfden Sci Consulting, Murcia, Spain Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Macae, Brazil Univ Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA Inst Humboldt, Villa De Leyva, Colombia Escuela Politec Nacl, Quito, Ecuador Calif Acad Sci, San Francisco, CA 94118 USA Museum Dept Hist Nat Var, Toulon, France Nat Environm & Wildlife Soc, Angul, India Univ Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA Kyoto Univ, Kyoto, Japan Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Museo Argentino Ciencias Nat Bernardino Rivadavia, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina Univ Fed Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil Univ Fed Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Nat Hist Museum Narodini Museum, Prague, Czech Republic Nat Hist Museum Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Ateneo Manila Univ, Quezon City, Philippines Pontificia Univ Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia RACINE, St Maugan, France Univ Paris 06, Sorbonne Univ Paris, ISYEB, Paris, France Ocean Univ China, Qingdao, Peoples R China Museo Nacl Hist Nat Paraguay, San Lorenzo, Paraguay Univ Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela Natl Ctr Biol Sci, Bengaluru, India Univ Nebraska, Lincoln, NE USA CENAK Ctr Nat Kunde, Hamburg, Germany Ohio Hist Connect, Columbus, OH USA Univ Fed Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Univ Malaga, Malaga, Spain Chinese Acad Sci, Qingdao, Shandong, Peoples R China Benemerita Univ Autonoma Puebla, Puebla, Mexico Natl Polytech Inst, Ctr Res & Adv Studies, Irapuato, Mexico Field Museum Nat Hist, Chicago, IL 60605 USA Univ Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968 USA Univ Fed Lavras, Lavras, Brazil Nat Hist Museum, Vienna, Austria La Sierra Univ, Riverside, CA USA Univ San Francisco Quito, Quito, Ecuador Univ Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China CUNY, New York, NY 10021 USA CAS, Inst Vertebrate Biol, Brno, Czech Republic Sorbonne Univ, MECADEV, Museum Natl Hist Nat, Paris, France Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil Zool Staatssammlung Munchen, Munich, Germany Univ Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA Smithsonian Inst, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC USA Helmholtz Ctr Environm Res, Leipzig, Germany Santa Rosa Jr Coll, Santa Rosa, CA USA George Washington Univ, Washington, DC 20037 USA Inst Teknol Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia Earlham Coll, Richmond, IN USA Senckenberg Forschungsinst & Nat Museum, Frankfurt, Germany Univ Estadual Londrina, Londrina, Parana, Brazil Univ Koblenz Landau, Koblenz, Germany Nat Hist Museum, London, England Ditsong Natl Museum Nat Hist, Pretoria, South Africa Bombay Nat Hist Soc, Bombay, Maharashtra, India Philipps Univ Marburg, Marburg, Germany Hess Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany Smithsonian Conservat Biol Inst, Washington, DC USA Univ Pannonia, Keszthely, Hungary Staatliches Museum Nat Kunde, Stuttgart, Germany UFT, Tocantins, Portugal Museum Nat Kunde, Berlin, Germany Nat Hist Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden Hikarigaoka, Munakata, Japan Inst Agr & Environm Sci, Tartu, Estonia Univ Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela Bat Jungle, Monteverde, Costa Rica Texas A&M Univ, College Stn, TX USA Yale Univ, New Haven, CT USA Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, Brazil Museo Nacl Hist Nat, Montevideo, Uruguay Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Fdn Miguel Lillo, San Miguel De Tucuman, Argentina Roger Tory Peterson Inst Nat Hist, Jamestown, VA USA Univ Fed Reconcavo Bahia, Cruz Das Almas, Brazil South China Normal Univ, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong, Peoples R China Museu Ciencias Tecnol PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Tocantins, Porto Nacl, Brazil Univ Toronto, Scarborough, ON, Canada Univ Nacl Colombia, Inst Ciencias Nat, Bogota, Colombia Natl Museum Philippines, Manila, Philippines NOVA Univ Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Regina, SK, Canada Deutsch Zentrum Marine Biodiversitatsforsch, Hamburg, Germany Ctr Invest Biol Noroeste, La Paz, Mexico Naturalis Biodivers Ctr, Leiden, Netherlands Univ Douala, Douala, Cameroon Vet & Farmaceut Univ Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Univ Swaziland, Kwaluseni, Eswatini Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Univ Claude Bernard, Lyon, France Museum Vertebrate Zool, Berkeley, CA USA Smithsonian Inst, Washington, DC 20560 USA Nat Hist Museum & Inst, Chiba, Japan Senckenberg Biodiversitat & Klima Forschunsgzentr, Frankfurt, Germany Marquette Univ, Milwaukee, WI 53233 USA Univ Firenze, Museo Storia Nat, Florence, Italy Univ Fed Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil Fed Univ ABC, Sao Bernardo, Brazil Univ Fed Goias, Goiania, Go, Brazil Univ Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, AK USA Egerton Univ, Egerton, Kenya Museo Hist Nat, Lima, Peru IKIAM Univ Reg Amazon, Tena, Ecuador Univ Hyogo, Sanda, Japan Inst Rech Dev, Paris, France Univ Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil Niedersachs Landesbetrieb Wasserwirtschaft Kusten, Hannover, Germany Univ Complutense Madrid, Madrid, Spain Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Ctr Nacl Patagon, Puerto Madryn, Argentina Roosevelt Univ, Coll Profess Studies, Chicago, IL 60605 USA Western Kentucky Univ, Bowling Green, KY 42101 USA Univ Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy Univ Fed Acre, Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil Inst Bio & Geociencias Noroeste Argentino, Salta, Argentina Inst Venezolano Invest Cient, Caracas, Venezuela Umweltbundesamt, Vienna, Austria Penclen, Plumelec, France CNRS MNHN UPMC, Ctr Rech Paleobiodivers & Paleoenvironm, Paris, France Staatl Museum Nat Kunde, Stuttgart, Germany Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Museo Argentino Ciencias Nat Bernardino Rivada, Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina Ctr Biol Gest Populat INRA, Montferrier Sur Lez, France Loyola Univ Chicago, Chicago, IL USA Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Durban Museum Nat Sci, Durban, South Africa Univ Estado Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Brigham Young Univ, Provo, UT 84602 USA Museo Hist Nat La Salle, Caracas, Venezuela Univ Vet Med Hannover, Hannover, Germany Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW, Australia Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, TX 79409 USA Francis Marion Univ, Florence, SC USA Univ Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA Univ Connecticut, Groton, CT USA Fed Univ ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil Fed Univ Para, Belem, Para, Brazil Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT USA Univ Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 USA Senckenberg Deutsch Entomol Inst, Muncheberg, Germany CSIRO, Natl Res Collect, Canberra, ACT, Australia Univ Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa Univ Ulsan, Ulsan, South Korea Univ Estadual Sao Paulo, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Senckenberg Forsch Inst & Nat Museum, Frankfurt, Germany Ocean Univ China, Inst Marine Biodivers & Evolut, Qingdao, Shandong, Peoples R China Univ Fed Para, Altamira, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Assis, Brazil UPMC, Ctr Rech Paleobiodiversite & Paleoenvironm, CNRS, MNHN, Paris, France Tech Univ Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany Charles Univ Prague, Dept Zool, Prague, Czech Republic Univ Nacl Expt los Llanos Occident Ezequiel Zamor, Guanare, Venezuela Long Isl Univ, Brooklyn, NY USA Univ Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan Pontificia Univ Catolica Ecuador, Museo Zool, Escuela Ciencias Biol, Quito, Ecuador Indiana Univ Penn, Indiana, PA USA IRD, Dakar, Senegal State Museum Nat Hist Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany Univ Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France Univ Ghent, Ghent, Belgium Univ Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium Karlsruhe Inst Technol, Karlsruhe, Germany Ctr Cellular & Mol Biol, Hyderabad, India Univ Fed ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil Yale Peabody Museum Nat Hist, New Haven, CT USA Univ Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria Bethune Cookman Univ, Daytona Beach, FL USA Natl Museum Nat & Sci, Tokyo, Japan Zool Garten Koln, Cologne, Germany Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Vicente, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Assis, Brazil

Aim We investigated how Pleistocene refugia and recent (c. 12,000 years ago) sea level incursions shaped genetic differentiation in mainland and island populations of the Scinax perpusillus treefrog group. Location Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Sao Paulo state, south-eastern Brazil. Methods Using mitochondrial and microsatellite loci, we examined population structure and genetic diversity in three species from the S. perpusillus group, sampled from three land-bridge islands and five mainland populations, in order to understand the roles of Pleistocene forest fragmentation and sea level incursions on genetic differentiation. We calculated metrics of relatedness and genetic diversity to assess whether island populations exhibit signatures of genetic drift and isolation. Two of the three island populations in this study have previously been described as new species based on a combination of distinct morphological and behavioural characters, thus we used the molecular datasets to determine whether phenotypic change is consistent with genetic differentiation. Results Our analyses recovered three distinct lineages or demes composed of northern mainland Sao Paulo populations, southern mainland Sao Paulo populations, and one divergent island population. The two remaining island populations clustered with samples from adjacent mainland populations. Estimates of allelic richness were significantly lower, and estimates of relatedness were significantly higher, in island populations relative to their mainland counterparts. Main conclusions Fine-scale genetic structure across mainland populations indicates the possible existence of local refugia within Sao Paulo state, underscoring the small geographic scale at which populations diverge in this species-rich region of the Atlantic Coastal Forest. Variation in genetic signatures across the three islands indicates that the populations experienced different demographic processes after marine incursions fragmented the distribution of the S. perpusillus group. Genetic signatures of inbreeding and drift in some island populations indicate that small population sizes, coupled with strong ecological selection, may be important evolutionary forces driving speciation on land-bridge islands.

Climatic oscillations throughout the Pleistocene combined with geological and topographic complexity resulted in extreme habitat heterogeneity along the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Inferring how these historic landscape patterns have structured the current diversity of the region's biota is important both for our understanding of the factors promoting diversification, as well as the conservation of this biodiversity hotspot. Here we evaluate potential historical scenarios of diversification in the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil by investigating the population genetic structure of a frog endemic to the region. Using mitochondrial and nuclear sequences, we generated a Bayesian population-level phylogeny of the Thoropa miliaris species complex. We found deep genetic divergences among five geographically distinct clades. Southern clades were monophyletic and nested within paraphyletic northern clades. Analyses of historical demographic patterns suggest an overall north to south population expansion, likely associated with regional differences in habitat stability during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene. However, genetic structure among southern populations is less pronounced and likely represents more recent vicariant events resulting from Holocenic sea-level oscillations. Our analyses corroborate that the Atlantic Coastal Forest has been a biogeographically dynamic landscape and suggest that the high diversity of its fauna and flora resulted from a combination of climatic and geologic events from the Pliocene to the present.

We characterized eight microsatellite loci for snouted treefrogs in the Scinax perpusillus species group, a group of hylid frogs endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil, and tested their utility in mainland and island species of the complex. All eight loci were polymorphic in one population of S. perpusillus; four of the loci showed excess homozygosity and three of those deviated from Hardy–Weinberg expectations, possibly due to null alleles, inbreeding, or population structure in sampled individuals. Six loci amplified and were polymorphic in S. arduous, S. argyreornatus, and S. faivovichi, but only one in S. alcatraz. These markers will be useful for quantifying effects of habitat fragmentation on population genetic diversity and connectivity in coastal and island populations of this threatened species group.

Recent studies indicate that populations historically called Leptodactylus fuscus (Schneider, 1799) comprise at least three well‐differentiated lineages. Herein, we describe the reproductive ecology of a southeastern clade population of L. fuscus, and review the characters of the reproductive ecology for several populations of the northern and southeastern clades. Most reproductive activity occurred in December and January, which coincided with the highest rainfall period. Males had an aggregated spatial distribution in the central area of the ponds. Three courtship interactions were observed. A female was observed closing the entrance to a burrow with moist sand after oviposition. This behaviour is described for the first time in L. fuscus. The review of the reproductive biology of the northern and southeastern clades indicates a relatively high plasticity in L. fuscus. Furthermore, the results corroborate the suggestion, based on molecular data, that the northern and southeastern clades of L. fuscus rep...

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T20:36:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-01 We describe a new species of Cycloramphus of the eleutherodactylus group from the Ilha dos Alcatrazes, southeastern Brazil, with descriptions of advertisement and territorial calls and notes on natural history. Additionally, we describe the advertisement and territorial calls of C. eleutherodactylus. The new species is diagnosed by the following set of characters: snout truncate in lateral and dorsal views; head wider than long; eyes protruding; tibia shorter than thigh; and distinct advertisement call. The new species is known from a single population on the Ilha dos Alcatrazes, a 149 ha island about 35 km off São Paulo State coast where these frogs are scattered in a small valley. The very restricted range of the new species of Cycloramphus and the declining quality of its habitat qualify this frog as critically endangered. © 2007 by The Herpetologists' League, Inc. Museu de História Natural Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, 13083-000 Campinas, São Paulo Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista, C.P. 199, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo Laboratório de Herpetologia Instituto Butantan, Avenida Dr. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, São Paulo Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, 13083-000 Campinas, São Paulo Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista, C.P. 199, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo

Thome, M.T.C. & Brasileiro, C.A. Sexual Dimorphism, habitat use and seasonal abundance of Elachistocleis cf. ovalis (Anura: Microhylidae) in a Cerrado remnant of Sao Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. Jan/Apr 2007 vol. 7, no. 1 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n1/pt/abstract?article+bn00307012007 ISSN 1676-0603. Elachistocleis ovalis is a species presenting taxonomical problems and wide distribution throughout South America. We provide information on sexual dimorphism, calling site, habitat use and seasonal abundance of E. cf. ovalis in a preserved Cerrado area in Sao Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. Sampling was carried out primarily with pitfall traps. Traps were placed in areas characterized by three different physiognomies: campo sujo, campo cerrado, and gallery forest edge. We found sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. Similar dimorphism has already been documented for other populations and congeneric species. The calling site of males was also in agreement with the literature on other populations and species. Habitat use was different among the three environments, with higher abundance in gallery forest edges. This population showed a clear pattern of seasonal activity, in which abundance was higher during rainy seasons, as well as other Cerrrado anuran species. Abundance was related to relative air humidity and maximum temperature, two variables whose influence on anurans has already been documented. We found no variation in the abundance patterns of the population between the two years in which samples were carried out.

Physalaemus centralis is widely distributed in areas of cerrado vegetation in South America. Here we describe the temporal variation in activity and explore eventual effects of climatic conditions on activity, calling sites, territorial behaviour; courtship behaviour, egg clutches and tadpole development of P. centralis in southeastern Brazil. Field observations were made from January 1996 to February 1997. Vocalisations and reproductive activity were restricted to the rainy season, with a peak of activity in October. The number of calling males was significantly correlated with relative humidity, mean air temperature, and air pressure values of the previous day. Courtship is simple and did not include any physical contact before amplexus; furthermore, females seem to choose their mates. Amplectant pairs were observed from mid-October to mid-December. Most foam nests observed were anchored within the vegetation. The number of eggs in the foam nests ranged from 1549 to 2405. Tadpoles were mainly found in shallow parts of the water from October to midJanuary. The reproductive biology of P. centralis is similar to that of closely related species of the P. cuvieri group, suggesting conservatism in this lineage.

The Cerrado encompasses ca. 2 million km² in Brazil. Most Cerrado areas have been greatly disturbed in the past decades. Only 20% of this biome remain undisturbed, and only 1.2% is protected. Knowledge on the biology and diversity of Cerrado amphibian assemblages is still incipient. Here we present natural history information (habitat use and reproductive activity) of 28 species of frogs from the Estação Ecológica de Itirapina (EEI), and compare the composition of this assemblage with those of other Cerrado areas, other open areas, and a few forest areas throughout Brazil. We demonstrate that the Itirapina assemblage is more similar to those of other open areas than to those of forests, even when the latter are geographically closer. Six species occurred in the gallery forest at varying levels of dependence (three independent, two semi-dependent, and one totally dependent) while all other species occurred exclusively in open areas. For most species at EEI, reproduction was strongly synchronized with the onset of the rainy season, with the exception of Hypsiboas lundii, which called throughout the year, and Proceratophrys sp. which started calling prior to the beginning of the rainy season. The spatial and temporal patterns observed in this assemblage seem to reflect both ecological (e. g. hydroperiod of water bodies) and historical factors (e. g. early breeding in leptodactylids, late breeding in hylids, both phylogenetically constrained).

Here we characterize nine microsatellite loci for Thoropa taophora collected from a coastal and an island population in southeastern Brazil. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 11 for the coastal population and from two to eight for the island population. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.308 to 0.778 for the coastal population and from zero to 0.737 for the island population. One locus did not conform to Hardy-Weinberg expectations on the coast, while two were in disequilibrium on the island. These markers are currently being used to examine genetic differentiation and patterns of dispersal in T. taophora.

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2013-08-22T18:43:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 S1676-06032012000100020.pdf: 9995192 bytes, checksum: 05e293e9b2f56c8268af5e5c90bb32c5 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-22T18:43:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 S1676-06032012000100020.pdf: 9995192 bytes, checksum: 05e293e9b2f56c8268af5e5c90bb32c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-01 Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T17:55:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032012000100020.pdf: 9995192 bytes, checksum: 05e293e9b2f56c8268af5e5c90bb32c5 (MD5) S1676-06032012000100020.pdf.txt: 52811 bytes, checksum: 920528fafb82178e871a1062884c6994 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T13:15:45Z No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032012000100020.pdf: 9995192 bytes, checksum: 05e293e9b2f56c8268af5e5c90bb32c5 (MD5) S1676-06032012000100020.pdf.txt: 52811 bytes, checksum: 920528fafb82178e871a1062884c6994 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T13:15:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032012000100020.pdf: 9995192 bytes, checksum: 05e293e9b2f56c8268af5e5c90bb32c5 (MD5) S1676-06032012000100020.pdf.txt: 52811 bytes, checksum: 920528fafb82178e871a1062884c6994 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Ambientes insulares são considerados ideais para estudos biogeográficos, já que representam ambientes quase fechados cujo tempo de formação é conhecido. Embora o estado de São Paulo possua um grande número de ilhas continentais e oceânicas, faltam estudos de base que determinem a composição faunística de cada localidade. Tais estudos são cruciais para se determinar a estrutura de comunidades e fazer inferências biogeográficas e filogenéticas que a expliquem. Durante os meses de fevereiro de 2007 a janeiro de 2009 inventariamos a comunidade de anuros de ambientes de restinga em quatro municípios do Lagamar Paulista: Cananéia, Ilha Comprida, Iguape e Pariquera-Açu, estado de São Paulo. Inserida no complexo estuarino Cananéia-Iguape, esta região caracteriza-se pela presença de três ilhas continentais: Ilha de Cananéia, Ilha Comprida e Ilha do Cardoso e porções continentais adjacentes a estas ilhas nos municípios de Iguape e Pariquera-Açu. Através da metodologia de procura ativa e armadilhas de interceptação e queda foi registrado um total de 32 espécies de anuros em todas as localidades: 17 espécies na Ilha Comprida, 21 na Ilha de Cananéia, 26 na Ilha do Cardoso, 27 em Iguape e 23 em Pariquera-Açu. A análise dos índices de riqueza revelou valores mais altos nas áreas continentais, resultado comumente observado em comparações entre ilhas e continente. Este resultado pode ser um reflexo de um efeito de isolamento promovido pelo evento de formação das ilhas, ou pode ser resultado de origem e tempo distintos em que as ilhas foram formadas. Os resultados aqui apresentados são de fundamental importância, pois fornecem subsídios tanto para estudos de padrões de distribuição de anfíbios em formações insulares do litoral paulista como para o entendimento de como eventos de transgressão e regressão marinha atuaram sobre as comunidades de anfíbios locais. Insular habitats are considered ideal for biogeographic studies, as they represent almost closed habitats with known formation timelines. Although São Paulo state in Brazil has a large number of continental and oceanic islands, few studies have examined the composition of the fauna in each locality. These studies are crucial to determine the community structure and to make biogeographic and phylogenetic inferences. From February 2007 to January 2009, we surveyed the anuran community of sandy coastal plains in four municipalities of the Lagamar Paulista: Cananéia, Ilha Comprida, Iguape and Pariquera-Açu, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. This region is located in the Cananéia-Iguape estuary complex, comprising three continental islands: Ilha de Cananéia, Ilha Comprida, and Ilha do Cardoso, and the continental portions adjacent to these islands in the municipalities of Iguape and Pariquera-Açu. Through the use of pitfall traps and active search, we registered a total of 32 anuran species: 17 in Ilha Comprida, 21 in Ilha de Cananéia, 26 in Ilha do Cardoso, 27 in Iguape, and 23 in Pariquera-Açu. The analysis of the richness indices of the study sites revealed higher values in continental areas. This result is very common in comparative studies between islands and continents. This may be caused by an island effect and may reveal the historical process of island formation in the Lagamar. Our findings provide important information for identifying patterns of amphibian distribution in insular areas of the São Paulo coast, and for examining how events of marine transgression and regression have affected the local amphibian communities. Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual Paulista Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal Universidade Estadual Paulista Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Zoologia CNPq: 471106/2010-0 FAPESP: 09/12013-4 FAPESP: 08/50928-1 FAPESP: 01/13341-3 FAPESP: 06/55482-6

Submitted by Guilherme Lemeszenski (guilherme@nead.unesp.br) on 2013-08-22T18:43:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 S1676-06032011000500004.pdf: 1376920 bytes, checksum: f705a230fc5a74f7c108bfffbbe86d11 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-22T18:43:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 S1676-06032011000500004.pdf: 1376920 bytes, checksum: f705a230fc5a74f7c108bfffbbe86d11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-01 Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T19:30:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032011000500004.pdf: 1376920 bytes, checksum: f705a230fc5a74f7c108bfffbbe86d11 (MD5) S1676-06032011000500004.pdf.txt: 113926 bytes, checksum: 0bf2ec0386240506198c15aa01609d3a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T14:03:29Z No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032011000500004.pdf: 1376920 bytes, checksum: f705a230fc5a74f7c108bfffbbe86d11 (MD5) S1676-06032011000500004.pdf.txt: 113926 bytes, checksum: 0bf2ec0386240506198c15aa01609d3a (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T14:03:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 S1676-06032011000500004.pdf: 1376920 bytes, checksum: f705a230fc5a74f7c108bfffbbe86d11 (MD5) S1676-06032011000500004.pdf.txt: 113926 bytes, checksum: 0bf2ec0386240506198c15aa01609d3a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-01 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) A última lista de espécies do Estado de São Paulo foi atualizada, totalizando 236 espécies de anfíbios, das quais 230 são anuros e seis são Gymnophiona. Foram removidos da lista Bokermannohyla gouveai e Sphaenorhynchus surdus por não ocorrerem no Estado de São Paulo. O número de espécies de anuros registrado representa 27% da riqueza de espécies do país e um aumento de 31% em relação ao número de espécies registradas para o Estado em 1998, demonstrando que, a despeito do Estado de São Paulo ser a região brasileira onde os anuros foram mais estudados, o número de espécies conhecidas deve aumentar nos próximos anos. Foram evidenciadas duas lacunas geográficas importantes: a região sudoeste do Estado, principalmente na bacia hidrográfica do rio Paranapanema e a região nordeste, principalmente na divisa entre os Estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Apesar de ambas terem sido amostradas recentemente, ainda há carência de informações. O estado atual do conhecimento e perspectivas nas áreas de taxonomia, sistemática, ecologia e conservação são avaliados. The last list of species of the state of São Paulo State was updated and totaled 236 species of amphibians, 230 of which are anurans and six are caecilians. Bokermannohyla gouveai and Sphaenorhynchus surdus were removed from this list, because they did not occur in the State of São Paulo. The number of anuran species recorded comprise 27% of the species richness of the country and an increase by 31% in the number of species recorded for the state since 1998. Thus, despite the State of São Paulo be the Brazilian region where the anurans have been most studied, these data show that the number of known species tends to increase in the next years. We have identified two major geographical gaps of inventory: the southwest of the state, especially in the Paranapanema river basin and the northeast region, mainly at the border between the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Although both have been sampled recently, information is still lacking. The current state of knowledge and perspectives in the areas such as taxonomy, systematics, ecology and conservation are evaluated. Universidade Estadual Paulista Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Gestão Ambiental Universidade Estadual Paulista

The rock frog (Thoropa taophora) dwells from rocky seashores to rocky outcrops within the Atlantic rainforest on coastal areas of the state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil. In this study, we provide data on the food habits of a rock frog population focusing on ontogenetic, sexual, and seasonal variation. The study was based on the examination of 356 individuals (154 adults, 82 juveniles and 120 froglets). A total of 26 invertebrate types were found in the diet of T. taophora. The commonest prey types in the three size classes (adults, juveniles and froglets) of rock frogs were ants, both in frequency and number. Prey composition differed significantly among size classes, except for beetles and spiders. Prey composition of males and females also differed significantly: females had a high proportion of marine isopods, caddisfly nymphs, and orthopterans in the diet, whereas males had a high proportion of ants and caterpillars. Seasonal changes in diet (all significant) in the three size classes i...

Made available in DSpace on 2013-08-28T14:08:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WOS000266111700008.pdf: 298107 bytes, checksum: 05cd0a995215a4eeee5e27939d388eb0 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-09-30T18:46:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000266111700008.pdf: 298107 bytes, checksum: 05cd0a995215a4eeee5e27939d388eb0 (MD5) WOS000266111700008.pdf.txt: 31727 bytes, checksum: 4c8e769dc0e79b6f48bba59d499e9f0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-01 Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-20T13:55:49Z No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000266111700008.pdf: 298107 bytes, checksum: 05cd0a995215a4eeee5e27939d388eb0 (MD5) WOS000266111700008.pdf.txt: 31727 bytes, checksum: 4c8e769dc0e79b6f48bba59d499e9f0b (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-20T13:55:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 WOS000266111700008.pdf: 298107 bytes, checksum: 05cd0a995215a4eeee5e27939d388eb0 (MD5) WOS000266111700008.pdf.txt: 31727 bytes, checksum: 4c8e769dc0e79b6f48bba59d499e9f0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-01 Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Biodiversitas/CEPAN Karyotypic analyses on three species of the Leptodactylus from Brazil showed 2n=24 in L. cf. marmoratus, 2n=23 in Leptodactylus sp. (aff. bokermanni), and 2n=26 in L. hylaedactylus, with distinct numbers of bi and uni-armed chromosomes. Leptodactylus cf. marmoratus presented a variation as regard to the morphology of pair 12. All specimens of L. cf. marmoratus had Ag-NOR in pair 6, confirmed by FISH, but the sample from one of the localities presented additional Ag-NOR, in one of the chromosomes 8. In Leptodactylus sp. (aff. bokermanni) and L. hylaedactylus the chromosome pairs bearing Ag-NOR are 11 and 7, respectively. The C banding patterns are predominantly centromeric, but only in L. marmoratus this heterochromatin appeared very brilliant with DAPI. on the other hand, bright labelling was noticed with CMA(3) in the three species, on the Ag-NOR site. The data obtained here are in accordance with the proposed phylogeny to the genus, and the chromosomal analyses in these Leptodactylus showed that the karyotype evolution was based mainly in centric fusion and pericentric inversion. UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biol, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Francisco, BR-12900000 Braganca Paulista, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Museu Hist Nat, Campinas, SP, Brazil Votorantim Celulose & Papel SA, Dept Meio Ambiente, Santa Branca, SP, Brazil UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biol, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil IBAMA: 02010.000253/04-21 IBAMA: 02010-003315/05-38 IBAMA: 02010.002059/06-42

This study presents a list of anurans in the northern region of the Tocantins River Basin (states of Tocantins and Maranhão), with information regarding seasonality, habitat, and microhabitat. We recorded 38 species in 15 genera and seven families. Most species (47 %) occurred exclusively in open areas and only 11 % of the species were found in forest habitats. Around 82 % of species were observed in ponds and only 7 % occurred in streams. Regarding seasonality, 54 % were observed both in the rainy and dry seasons. The northern area of the Cerrado has being rapidly converted in monocultures and information on its anuran fauna is limited. Additional information on its biodiversity is neeed in order to provide the framework for conservation strategies.

We describe a new species of hylid frog, Scinax peixotoi, from Queimada Grande Island, southeastern Brazil. The new species belongs to the Scinax perpusillus species group, in which all known forms inhabit bromeliads, and is diagnosed by the following set of characters: moderate-size (males 18.8–20.7 mm SVL, females 22.4–25.1 mm SVL); canthus rostralis distinct; dorsal skin slightly rugose; and a distinct advertisement call with relatively low dominant frequency. The new species is known from a single population on Queimada Grande, an island of 43 ha, approximately 33 km distant from the coast of São Paulo State, where it inhabits scattered patches of bromeliads. The highly specialized and patchy habitat of S. peixotoi, associated with its small range size, make this species highly susceptible to stochastic or anthropogenic habitat disturbances, which could lead it to extinction.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T20:17:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-06-01 A new species of hylid frog, from the genus Scinax, is described from Ilha de Porcos Pequena at the southern coast of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil. The new species belongs to the Scinax perpusillus species group and is diagnosed by the following set of characters: moderate-size (males 16.2-18.8 mm SVL, female 18.8-20.6 mm SVL); canthus rostralis distinct and well defined; V-shaped depression between nostrils; eyes protruding and prominent, glandular skin surface of legs. This new species is found only on Ilha de Porcos Pequena, an island of approximately 24 ha and, therefore, is threatened because of restricted range size and susceptibility to habitat modification. Copyright 2007 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Museu de História Natural Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, 13083-000 Campinas, São Paulo Departamento de Ecologia Universidade de São Paulo, C.P. 11461, 05422-970 São Paulo, SP Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual Paulista, C.P. 199, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual Paulista, C.P. 199, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo

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The geographic distribution of Leptodactylus furnarius Sazima and Bokermann, 1978 comprises Argentina, Brazil (southern, southeastern, and west-central regions), Paraguay, and Uruguay. Herein, we report for the first time the occurrence of L. furnarius in northeastern and north regions of Brazil, at the states of Bahia and Tocantins, respectively.

Bokermannohyla izecksohni is a medium-size hylid frog (about 45 mm in snout-vent length) described by Jim and Caramaschi (1979). Since its description it has never been found anywhere but the type locality: a small remnant of Mesophytic Semideciduos Forest (22°53'34" S, 48°29'13" W, approximately 900m a.s.l.), in Rubiao Junior, municipality of Botucatu, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil (Jim and Caramaschi 1979). For this reason, it has been considered critically endangered in the official Brazilian red-list (Haddad 2005). Males of this species were considered voiceless as they do not have vocal sacs (Jim and Caramaschi, 1979); however, the distress call has been recently recorded (L. F. Toledo, unpubl. data).

Field work was carried out between 1999-2002 at Estacao Ecologica de Itirapina (EEI; 22°12'53" S, 47°54'41" W; 720-750 m), municipalities of Itirapina and Brotas, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil, where some individuals of O. moratoi were recorded. The Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente and Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (IBAMA) issued collection permits for the field work (02027.010426/99-21). The EEI is composed by well preserved natural Cerrado vegetation such as cerrado sensu stricto, campo cerrado, gallery forest, marshes, and mainly campo sujo and campo limpo (sensu Eiten 1972). Specimens of O. moratoi were recorded only in a campo sujo area near a gallery forest.

Parâmetros ambientais podem influenciar o estabelecimento de variáveis fenotípicas durante o desenvolvimento de um organismo. Em particular, a literatura vigente relata associações entre a temperatura do ambiente de desenvolvimento e a formação de diversas estruturas em vertebrados que apresentam uma fase larval aquática, como anuros. A sensibilidade térmica e os efeitos resultantes de variações na temperatura ambiental diferem entre espécies de Anura, e fatores ecológicos e filogenéticos podem explicar como o desenvolvimento larval é influenciado pelos regimes térmicos em girinos de determinadas espécies. O presente trabalho avaliou respostas morfológicas no desenvolvimento em diferentes regimes térmicos em 3 espécies de Rhinella (Rhinella schneideri, Rhinella icterica e Rhinella ornata) e 1 espécie de Leptodactylus (Leptodactylus labyrinthicus). Os girinos foram expostos a 5 ambientes térmicos de desenvolvimento diferentes, com o objetivo de avaliar a sensibilidade dos processos de desenvolvimento a temperatura nas espécies estudadas, inferindo acerca de possíveis relações com aspectos ecológicos e filogenéticos. Os resultados sugerem que espécies expostas a uma maior variação térmica sazonal em seu habitat natural (espécies exclusivas da mata atlântica - Rhinella icterica e Rhinella ornata) possuem maior sensibilidade, em relação ao desenvolvimento, crescimento e plasticidade morfológica, a variações térmicas no ambiente de desenvolvimento, enquanto espécies com ampla distribuição e que ocupam diferentes biomas (caatinga, cerrado e mata atlântica - Rhinella schneideri e Leptodactylus labyrinthicus) exibem respostas plásticas apenas nos regimes térmicos envolvendo diminuição gradual da temperatura. Este trabalho contribui para discussões acerca da sensibilidade dos processos de desenvolvimento a temperatura em espécies de Rhinella e Leptodactylus, disponibilizando informações que podem indicar a vulnerabilidade das espécies estudadas às mudanças climáticas relacionadas com o aquecimento global Environmental parameters may influence the establishment of phenotypic traits during the development of a given organism. More specifically, current literature provides evidence for associations between the thermal environment and the development of several traits in vertebrate animals exhibiting aquatic larval stages, such as anurans. The thermal sensitivity and associated effects elicited by variations in the environmental temperature differ among species of anurans, and ecological and phylogenetic factors may explain how larval development is affected by the thermal regimes in tadpoles of a given species. The present study evaluated morphological developmental responses to the thermal environment in 3 Rhinella species (Rhinella schneideri, Rhinella icterica and Rhinella ornata) and 1 species of Leptodactylus (Leptodactylus labyrinthicus). We raised tadpoles in 5 different developmental environments in order to evaluate the sensitivity of developmental processes to temperature in the studied species, inferring likely associations with phylogenetic and ecological aspects. Results suggest that species from thermal environments of greater sazonal thermal variation (species exclusive to the atlantic forest - Rhinella icterica and Rhinella ornata) are more sensitive, in relation to development, growth and morphological plasticity, to temperature variation in the developmental environments, whereas species having a wide distribution, which occupy several biomes (caatinga, cerrado and atlantic forest - Rhinella schneideri and Leptodactylus labyrinthicus), only exhibit plastic morphological responses when raised in developmental environments comprising temperature decreases. This study contributes for discussions regarding the sensitivity of developmental processes to temperature in species of Rhinella and Leptodactylus, and provides information that may access the vulnerability of the studied species to climatic changes derived from global warming

O aquecimento climático apresenta um impacto sem precedentes na biodiversidade, afetando o desempenho fisiológico e a tolerância dos organismos, particularmente para ectotermos terrestres, que funcionam perto dos seus limites fisiológicos superiores. No entanto, estas relações entre clima e biodiversidade têm sido estudadas principalmente em grandes escalas que não explicam o microclima, entendido como clima numa escala individual. Atualmente o microclima é considerado essencial para compreender o impacto de suas alterações sobre a diversidade biológica com interesses focais sobre dado táxon. A Mata Atlântica do Brasil apresenta uma diversidade fisionômica e biológica que são causa e efeito do clima. Essas relações amplas não são suficientes para explicar as opções de termo e hidro regulação disponíveis para pequenos animais, que é particularmente importante para anfíbios anuros, um táxon particularmente diversificado. Portanto, o objetivo deste projeto foi investigar os microclimas que os anuros da Mata Atlântica podem experenciar em diferentes fisionomias, estratos e habitats fragmentados (áreas abertas, borda e interior da floresta). Todos esses fatores devem influenciar variação hidrotermal numa escala espaço temporal, compatível com o tamanho do corpo dos adultos. Para definir estas relações, usamos um conjunto de indicadores (modelos de ágar com sensores e imagens infravermelhas) que estimam a temperatura operativa e disponibilidade de água no ambiente. Este estudo foi baseado em dados de tamanho corporal real que incluem a maioria dos gamas de tamanhos e permeabilidade de pele de anuros presentes no Parque Estadual Intervales. Usamos como unidade amostral pares de modelos de ágar que simulam a forma e extremos de tamanho corpóreo (pequena vs. grande) e tipos de permeabilidade (totalmente permeáveis vs. impermeáveis). Em geral, modelos permeáveis, especialmente de tamanhos menores, apresentam maior perda de água em áreas de vegetação mais baixa, especialmente no dossel, áreas abertas e em mata de altitude. Os dados obtidos permitiram propor hipóteses de impacto diferencial de altas e baixas temperaturas e baixa umidade relativa, de acordo com a faixa microambiental ocupada pelos anuros. Estas informações ajudam no entendimento da paisagem hidrotermal e do impacto das mudanças climáticas sobre a história natural, em interpretação de dados eco-fisiológicos, modelagem climática e previsão do impacto do clima sobre anuros, particularmente no contexto da dinâmica térmica e do balanço hídrico em escalas espaciais e temporais Climate warming presents an unprecedented impact to global biodiversity, affecting physiological performance and tolerance of organisms, particularly for terrestrial ectotherms, which function near their upper physiological limits. However, the relationships between climate and biodiversity have been studied mainly at large scales that do not explain microclimate, understood as climate at individual scale. Microclimate is currently considered essential to understand the impact of climate on biological diversity with focal interests on given taxa. Atlantic Forest of Brazil presents physiognomic and biological diversity that are cause and effect of climate. These relationships are not enough to explain options of thermo and hydro-regulation available for small animals, particularly important for anuran amphibians, a particularly diverse taxon. Therefore, the aim of this project was to investigate the microclimates from Atlantic Forest experimented by anurans in different physiognomies, stratums and fragmented habitats (open areas, edge and inside forest). All these factors should influence hydrothermal variation at temporal-space scale compatible with the body size of adults. To define this diversity, we used a set of indicators (agar models with sensors and infrared images) that estimate the operative temperature and water availability. This study was based on actual body size data to include most ranges of size and of skin\'s permeability. We used as sampling unit; pairs of agar\'s models that simulate shape and two body size extremes (small vs. large) and two types of permeability (fully permeable vs. impermeable). In general, permeable models especially of smaller sizes have a higher water loss in lower vegetation areas, especially in Canopy, Open Area and High-Altitude Forest. The data collected allowed to propose hypotheses regarding differential impact of high and low temperatures, and low relative humidity, according to the micro-environmental range occupied by anurans. This information will help to understand hydrothermal landscapes and impact of climate on natural history, interpretation of eco-physiological data, climate modeling and prediction of the impact of climate change on anurans, particularly in the context of thermal dynamics and water balance in spatial and temporal scales

Um dos principais desafios no estudo da biodiversidade é o mapeamento de grupos faunísticos megadiversos. O mapeamento da biodiversidade auxilia na avaliação dos padrões de distribuição e riqueza de espécies e de suas comunidades, na compreensão de características ambientais e, consequentemente, dos fatores ecológicos por trás da especialização das espécies ao meio. Nesse trabalho foi avaliada a diversidade de aranhas (Araneae) coletadas em cavernas do Brasil, com o objetivo de determinar e classificar a araneofauna de cavernas. Um banco de dados composto por 29261 aranhas adultas oriundos de 3455 cavernas do Brasil foi elaborado. Foram determinadas 179 espécies nomeadas e 428 morfoespécies, totalizando 607 espécies, distribuídas em 59 famílias. Apresentamos os dados históricos dos estudos bioespeleológicos no Brasil com ênfase em aranhas entre 1972-2015, uma nova listagem das espécies nominadas e o mapeamento da distribuição dessas espécies, sendo este disponível para consulta em uma ferramenta virtual, o AppBio. Foi avaliada a diversidade funcional das espécies determinadas com base nos comportamentos de forrageamento conhecidos para as aranhas. Uma análise de guildas foi elaborada e as espécies foram classificadas ecológico-evolutiva em grupos funcionais, determinados pelo grau de relação das populações-fonte com o ambiente cavernícola (acidental, trogloxeno, troglófilo e troglóbio), categorias clássicas propostas por Schiner-Racovitza para as espécies subterrâneas. Características morfológicas que indicam preferência pelo ambiente hipógeo (ex. anoftalmia e despigmentação corporal) e especialização à vida no ambiente subterrâneo também foram avaliadas. Os padrões de riqueza tanto dos grupos funcionais como macroecológicos (ex. latitude e altitude) foram avaliados e discutidos de forma sucinta. A riqueza regional também foi avaliada sendo agrupada pela ocorrência das espécies em cavernas de diferentes Biomas brasileiros. Uma boa base de dados e um modelo de mapeamento e disponibilização desses dados de forma virtual foram elaborados para auxiliar nos estudos da fauna de aranhas cavernícolas e para definir propostas para preservação da fauna e conservação dos ambientes subterrâneos One of the main challenges in the study of biodiversity is the mapping of megadiverse faunal groups. Biodiversity mapping assists in assessing patterns of distribution and species richness and their communities, understanding environmental characteristics and, consequently, ecological factors behind the species\' specialization to the environment. This work evaluated the diversity of spiders (Araneae) collected in caves in Brazil, with the objective of determining and classifying the araneofauna of caves. A database consisting of 29261 adult spiders from 3455 caves in Brazil was prepared. There were 179 named species and 428 morphospecies, totaling 607 species, distributed in 59 families. We present the historical data of the biospeleological studies in Brazil with a spider focus between 1972-2015, a new listing of the nominated species and the mapping of the species distribution, being available for consultation in a virtual tool, AppBio. It was evaluated the functional diversity of the determined species based on the known foraging behaviors for the spiders. An analysis of guilds was elaborated and the species were classified ecologically-evolutionary in functional groups, determined by the degrees of relation of the source populations with the cave environment (accidental, trogloxene, troglophile and troglobite), classical categories proposed by Schiner-Racovitza for subterranean species. Morphological characteristics indicating preference for the hypogeum environment (eg. anophthalmia and body depigmentation) and specialization in life in the underground environment were also evaluated. The richness patterns of both the functional and macroecological groups (eg. latitude and altitude) were evaluated and discussed succinctly. The regional richness was also evaluated by separating by the occurrence of the species in caves of different Brazilian Biomes. A good database and a model for mapping and making this data available in a virtual way were developed to assist in the study of cave spider fauna and to define proposals for preserving fauna and conserving underground environments

In some species with uniparental care, when the parental individual deserts the offspring or dies, its mate may adopt the parental responsibilities, a behaviour known as flexible compensation of uniparental care. However, for most of the species in which this behavioural response has been reported in the literature, there was no thorough investigation of its effects upon offspring fitness to support it. In the Neotropical harvestman Serracutisoma proximum, a species with female uniparental care, harem-owning males stand on unattended clutches when the egg-tending females desert or die. Here, we investigate if this species constitutes an actual example of flexible compensation of uniparental care by evaluating the effects of ecological (namely climatic conditions and mate availability) and life-history factors (namely male attractiveness, clutch size and filial cannibalism) on males\' behaviour and, ultimately, on offspring survival. We expect unfavourable climatic conditions, as well as low mate availability and male attractiveness, to negatively affect the exhibition of compensatory behaviours, but a positive effect of clutch size. Moreover, we expect an increase in the extent of filial cannibalism to be a strategy that alleviates the costs of compensation. However, males\' behaviour towards unattended offspring has no effect on offspring survival, and other results were inconsistent with our predictions except for climatic conditions affecting the extent of both the presumed behaviour of standing on unattended clutches and filial cannibalism. Our results, therefore, do not support the existence of flexible compensation of uniparental care in S. proximum. Rather than a parental activity, we argue that males’ behaviour corresponds to a mating tactic that increases fertilization and mating success with the returning egg-tending females or newcomer mates foraging on the unattended offspring. This study demonstrates that for presumed cases of flexible compensation of uniparental care it is necessary to evaluate the effects on offspring fitness since not always an apparent parental behaviour is what it seems to be Em algumas espécies com cuidado uniparental, quando o individuo parental deserta a prole ou morre, seu parceiro pode adotar as responsabilidades parentais, um comportamento conhecido como compensação flexível do cuidado uniparental. No entanto, para a maioria das espécies em que esta resposta comportamental tem sido relatada na literatura, não houve uma investigação completa de seus efeitos sobre a aptidão da prole para apoiá-lo. No opilião Neotropical Serracutisoma proximum, uma espécie com cuidado uniparental da fêmea, os machos donos de harem ficam sobre desovas desatendidas quando as fêmeas que deveriam cuidar dos ovos desertam ou morrem. Aqui, investigamos se esta espécie constitui um exemplo real de compensação flexível do cuidado uniparental, avaliando os efeitos de fatores ecológicos (condições climáticas e disponibilidade de parceiras) e de história de vida (atratividade do macho, tamanho da desova e canibalismo filial) sobre o comportamento dos machos e, em última instância, sobre a sobrevivência da prole. Esperamos que condições climáticas desfavoráveis, assim como baixa disponibilidade de parceiras e atratividade do macho, afetem negativamente a exibição de comportamentos compensatórios, mas que o tamanho da desova tenha um efeito positivo. Além disso, esperamos que um aumento na intensidade do canibalismo filial seja uma estratégia que alivie os custos da compensação. Entretanto, o comportamento dos machos em relação à prole desatendida não tem efeito sobre a sobrevivência da prole, e os outros resultados foram inconsistentes com nossas previsões, exceto pelas condições climáticas que afetam tanto a intensidade do comportamento dos machos sobre as desovas quanto o canibalismo filial. Nossos resultados, portanto, não apoiam a existência de compensação flexível do cuidado uniparental em S. proximum. Ao invés de uma atividade parental, argumentamos que o comportamento dos machos corresponde a uma tática de acasalamento que aumenta o sucesso de fertilização e de acasalamento com as fêmeas que retornam às suas desovas ou com novas fêmeas que se alimentam dos ovos desprotegidos. Este estudo demonstra que, para os casos em que se pressupõe compensação flexível de cuidado uniparental, é necessário avaliar os efeitos sobre a aptidão prole, uma vez que nem sempre um aparente comportamento parental é o que parece ser

Anfíbios anuros representam um grupo de vertebrados cujo plano corpóreo apresenta uma série de modificações associadas ao desempenho locomotor através de saltos, sendo estas especializações muito antigas e conservadas filogeneticamente. Embora estudos comparativos venham demonstrando associações entre desempenho de salto e diversidade de habitat e história de vida para esse grupo filogenético, as relações entre o desempenho locomotor e o comportamento antipredatório dentro do contexto da diversificação do uso do micro-habitat permanecem inexploradas. Primeiramente, nós testamos modelos adaptativos de evolução morfológica associados com a diversidade do uso do micro-habitat (aquático, arborícola, fossorial, reofílico e terrestre) em espécies de anuros e foi examinada a relação da distância máxima do salto como uma função dos componentes das variáveis morfológicas e do uso do micro-habitat. Nós também investigamos, tanto em nível intra quanto interespecífico a influência da complexidade do microambiente (arena vazia, arena com folhiços ou arena com folhiço e arbustos) e do tipo de estímulo (aproximação versus toque) na manifestação do comportamento antipredatório em anuros. Adicionalmente, nós investigamos o efeito do uso de diferentes tipos de refúgio pelos anuros quando sujeitos aos testes de simulação predatória no laboratório. Nossos resultados demostram a existência de múltiplos ótimos adaptativos para os comprimentos dos membros associados aos diferentes usos do micro-habitat, com uma tendência de aumento dos membros posteriores em espécies reofílicas, arborícolas e aquáticas quando comparadas com espécies terrestres e fossoriais, as quais evoluíram em direção ao ótimo adaptativo com membros posteriores mais curtos. Além disso, espécies reofílicas, arborícolas e aquáticas apresentaram maior desempenho para o salto e membros posteriores mais longos quando comparadas com espécies terrestres e fossoriais. Em seguida foi abordada a influencia da complexidade do ambiente no comportamento antipredatório e nossas análises intraspecíficas mostraram que o número de respostas ativas (salto) e passivas é fortemente dependente do tipo de estímulo e varia de acordo com a complexidade estrutural do ambiente. Simultaneamente, nossas análises comparativas interespecíficas mostraram que anuros modulam a distância saltada em resposta ao toque do predador de acordo com a complexidade ambiental, e nós ressaltamos uma variação interespecífica associada ao uso de micro-habitat. Por fim, foi investigado o uso de refúgios pelos anuros expostos a testes de simulação predatória. Nossos resultados mostram que os anuros usam a vegetação arbustiva, o folhiço e a água como areas de refúgio quando sujeitadas a simulação predatória. Além disso, ocorreu variação interespecífica na escolha de refúgios potencialmente associados à diversificação do uso de microhábitat Anuran amphibians represent a group of vertebrates whose body plan presents a series of changes associated with jumping locomotor performance; these specializations are very old and phylogenetically conserved. Although comparative studies have shown associations among jumping performance, habitat diversity and life history for this phylogenetic group, the relationship between locomotor performance and antipredator behavior remains unexplored within the context of diversification of microhabitat use and habitat. First, we tested adaptive models of morphological evolution associated with the diversity of microhabitat use (aquatic, arboreal, fossorial, torrent and terrestrial) in species of anurans and examined the relation of the maximum distance jumped as a function of components of morphological variables and microhabitat use. We also investigated, both at intra and interspecific levels, the influence of the complexity of microenvironment (empty arena, with leaf litter or bushes) and stimulus type (approach versus touch) on the manifestation of antipredator behavior in anurans. In addition, we investigated the effect of the use of different types of refuges by anurans when subjected to simulated predator tests in the laboratory. Our results demonstrate the existence of multiple optima of limb lengths associated to different microhabitats, with a trend of increasing hindlimbs in torrent, arboreal, aquatic species whereas fossorial and terrestrial species evolve toward optima with shorter hindlimbs. Moreover, arboreal, aquatic and torrent anurans have higher jumping performance and longer hindlimbs, when compared to terrestrial and fossorial species. Then, was addressed the influence of the complexity of environment on antipredator behavior and our intraspecific analyzes showed that the number of active responses (jump) and passive responses is strongly dependent on stimulus type and varies according to the structural complexity of the environment. At the same time, our interspecific comparative analyzes showed that anurans modulate the distance jumped in response to the predator\'s touch according to environmental complexity, and we highlight an interspecific variation associated with the use of microhabitat. Lastly, was investigated the use of refuges by anurans exposed to simulated predation events. Our results show that anurans use bushes, leaf litter and water as refuge areas when subjected to simulated predator. Moreover, there is interspecific variation in the choice of refuges potentially associated to diversification of microhabitat use

A exibição do comportamento vocal em muitas espécies de anfíbios anuros é relacionada aos níveis de hormônios esteroides gonadais e interrenais. Esses hormônios poderiam mediar a relação entre intensidade de sinais e imunidade, pois estão envolvidos no desenvolvimento das características sexuais secundárias, comportamento de corte e mobilização de reservas energéticas durante a atividade reprodutiva, enquanto apresentam também efeitos imunomoduladores. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi explorar as relações entre comportamento reprodutivo, imunidade e níveis plasmáticos de testosterona e corticosterona em machos do sapo do semiárido brasileiro, Rhinella granulosa, em atividade reprodutiva e após manipulação hormonal. A precipitação foi o principal determinante ambiental para o aumento dos níveis de testosterona e corticosterona circulantes em machos de R. granulosa, estimulando o comportamento de vocalização. As relações fisiológicas encontradas indicam que os altos níveis plasmáticos de testosterona nos primeiros dias após a chuva devem promover o início do turno vocal, porém a corticosterona deve modular o esforço de vocalização. De forma geral, a exacerbação do comportamento vocal de R. granulosa tem efeitos negativos sobre a imunocompetência, porém alguns indivíduos que apresentam maiores concentrações plasmáticas de corticosterona apresentam concomitantemente alto esforço vocal e alta imunidade. De acordo, a aplicação transdérmica de corticosterona promoveu elevação aguda dos níveis plasmáticos deste glicocorticoide, bem como um aumento da função imune. Assim, apesar de a atenção principal ser comumente colocada no papel da testosterona na mediação de sinais honestos, nossos resultados corroboram a importância da corticosterona na mediação da expressão do comportamento de corte e imunocompetência em machos R. granulosa In most anuran species, vocal behavior is usually related to plasmatic levels of gonadal and interrenal steroid hormones. These hormones could mediate the relationship between signal intensity and immunocompetence, since they are involved in the development of sexual traits, courtship behavior and energetic mobilization during reproductive activity and also exert immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study was to explore relations among vocal behavior, immunity and plasmatic levels of testosterone and corticosterone in males of a toad species from Brazilian semi-arid, Rhinella granulosa, during reproductive activity and after hormonal manipulation. Precipitation was the main environmental determinant to increase circulating levels of testosterone and corticosterone in R. granulosa males, stimulating vocal behavior. Physiological relations indicate that high circulating testosterone levels in the days right after rain may promote the initiation of vocal behavior, while corticosterone may modulate vocal effort. In general, exacerbation of vocal behavior in R. granulosa has negative effects on immunocompetence, however, some individuals with higher plasmatic levels of corticosterone can present both high vocal effort and good immunocompetence. Corroborating this interpretation, acute increase in glucocorticoid plasmatic levels after hormonal manipulation was accompanied by raised immune function. Despite the emphasis on androgens influence on sexual selected male traits, our results corroborate greater influence of corticosterone in the mediation of expression of courtship behavior and immunocompetence in R. granulosa

O objetivo deste estudo foi coletar e reunir informações sobre a diversidade de anfíbios e répteis nas bacias hidrográficas do Alto e Médio Paranapanema, estado de São Paulo e avaliar os impactos que o pastoreio de gado pode provocar na riqueza e abundância de anuros e lagartos de formações abertas de Cerrado. A riqueza de anuros registrada no Alto Paranapanema é muito superior a encontrada no Médio Paranapanema, existindo um gradiente decrescente na riqueza de espécies partindo da porção sul e sudeste do Alto Paranapanema, onde predominam a floresta ombrófila, em direção ao Médio Paranapanema que apresenta formações de Cerrado e floresta estacional. O pastoreio de gado não causou efeitos negativos na riqueza e abundância total dos anuros e lagartos amostrados. É possível que a intensidade de pastoreio ocorrida nestas formações não foi suficiente para promover modificações consideráveis na estrutura das fitofisionomias, o que pode ter minimizado alterações nos nichos ecológicos das espécies. The aim of this study is to collect information on the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the hydrographic basins of the Upper and Middle Paranapanema, São Paulo state and assess the impact that cattle grazing can provoke on the species richness and abundance of anurans and lizards of open Cerrado formations. The species richness of anurans reported in the Upper Paranapanema is far greater to that found in the Middle Paranapanema, with a decreasing gradient in the richness from the southern and southeastern portion of Upper Paranapanema, where the ombrophilous forest predominates, towards the Middle Paranapanema in which Cerrado formations and seasonal forests are dominant. Cattle grazing did not cause negative effects on the species richness and total abundance of the anurans and lizards sampled. It is possible that the intensity of grazing was insufficient to cause significant changes in the structure of the phytophysiognomies, which could have minimized alterations in the ecological niches of the species.

Cavidades naturais constituem um recurso reprodutivo monopolizável, cuja disponibilidade determina a intensidade da competição macho-macho que, por sua vez, pode influenciar os custos do cuidado paternal, pois quanto maior o risco de perda do recurso, menor deve ser a freqüência de forrageio dos machos. Fêmeas do opilião Magnispina neptunus utilizam cavidades naturais como sítios de nidificação, que são monopolizados por machos em um sistema de poliginia por defesa de recursos. Após a oviposição, as fêmeas abandonam os ninhos e todo o cuidado parental é exercido pelos machos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da disponibilidade de ninhos sobre a competição intrassexual e os custos do cuidado paternal em M. neptunus. Dois grupos experimentais foram estabelecidos em laboratório: alta (8 ninhos) e baixa (4 ninhos) disponibilidade de sítios reprodutivos. Cada grupo era composto por sete terrários contendo 12 machos e 12 fêmeas. Apesar da redução dos sítios de nidificação ter reduzido o número de machos detentores de ninhos, o tamanho dos indivíduos não exerceu nenhum efeito sobre o sucesso de monopolização de ninhos. Aparentemente, o pequeno diâmetro de entrada dos ninhos experimentais reduz a importância do tamanho dos machos sobre sua probabilidade de monopolizar um sítio de nidificação. Apenas a residência prévia parece determinar o resultado das disputas entre machos e, portanto, os custos de abandonar os ninhos devem ser altos. De fato, machos guardiões permanecem quase todo o tempo dentro dos seus ninhos em ambos os grupos experimentais, o que aumenta os custos do cuidado. Como conseqüência, o canibalismo filial é freqüente, pois os custos em termos de redução no tamanho da desova são menores do que os benefícios de manter a posse do ninho e dos ovos, que sabidamente aumentam a atratividade dos machos e suas chances de obterem novas desovas Natural cavities are a reproductive resource that can be monopolized, and their availability determines the intensity of male-male competition, which in turn may influence the costs of paternal care since the higher the risk of loosing the resource, the low should be male foraging frequency. Females of the harvestman Magnispina neptunus use natural cavities as nest site, which are monopolized by males in typical resource defense polygyny mating system. After oviposition, females leave the nests and all parental activities are in charge of males. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of nest site availability on the intrasexual competition and the costs of paternal care in M. neptunus. Two experimental groups were established in the laboratory: high (8 nests) and low (4 nests) nest site availability. Each group was composed of seven terraria containing 12 males and 12 females. Although the reduction of in the number of nests sites has indeed reduced the number of males holding nests, male size did not influence the probability of acquiring and maintaining a nest. Apparently, the small diameter of entrance in the experimental nests reduces the importance of male size on their resource holding power. Only previous residence seems to influence the output of agonistic interactions between two males and, therefore, the costs of leaving the nest to forage are likely to be high. In fact, guarding males remain almost all the time inside their nests, which increases the costs of paternal care. As a consequence, filial cannibalism is frequent in both experimental groups because the costs in terms of reduction in clutch size are likely to lower than the benefits of holding a nest containing eggs, which is known to increase male attractiveness and his chance of acquiring additional eggs

A maioria dos estudos sobre biodiversidade realizados no Brasil é desenvolvida em remanescentes de vegetação nativa. Entretanto, estudos recentes sugerem que paisagens agrícolas suportam uma considerável biodiversidade. O estado de São Paulo, região sudeste do Brasil, apresenta extensas áreas de pastagens, ainda sendo este o seu principal uso de solo, seguido por canaviais e eucaliptais. Este estudo foi desenvolvido nas Fazendas Três Lagoas e Arca, localizadas na bacia do Alto Paranapanema. A área inicialmente utilizada como pastagem (Brachiaria spp.) foi parcialmente substituída por plantações de eucalipto durante o período de agosto de 2006 a fevereiro de 2008. Neste estudo foram levantados anfíbios e répteis em 30 unidades amostrais contendo armadilhas de interceptação e queda distando um quilômetro uma das outras. Foram amostrados três ambientes distintos: eucaliptal (18 unidades amostrais), vegetação nativa (7 unidades amostrais) e pastos abandonados (5 unidades amostrais), resultando num esforço total de 4.977 armadilhas·dia em 23 campanhas mensais, entre agosto de 2007 e julho de 2009. Para análises dos dados foram consideradas como variável independente os ambientes (eucaliptais, pastos abandonados e vegetação nativa) e como variáveis dependentes a riqueza e abundância de anfíbios coletados nas armadilhas. Foram detectadas nas armadilhas 23 espécies, sendo 18 de anfíbios anuros (13 nos eucaliptais, 11 nos pastos abandonados e 10 na vegetação nativa) e cinco de répteis (três nos eucaliptais, três nos pastos abandonados e três na vegetação nativa). Surpreendentemente, a vegetação nativa apresentou menor riqueza de espécies que o eucaliptal e o pasto abandonado, possivelmente em função de seu precário estado de conservação. Esta relação foi marginalmente significativa para abundância. A distribuição temporal das espécies foi heterogênea, concentrando os encontros na época quente e chuvosa. Adicionalmente, foram complementadas as listas de espécies por meio de busca ativa e encontros ocasionais, totalizando assim 49 espécies para a área de estudo, sendo 31 de anfíbios e 18 de répteis. Nos eucaliptais, a distância em relação ao corpo dágua e vegetação nativa mais próximos não tiveram influência na distribuição das espécies. Os resultados obtidos, aliados ao atual contexto alteração do uso da terra, demonstram que as paisagens silviculturais, cuja matriz são eucaliptais, podem ter um razoável valor conservacionista. Most studies on biodiversity conducted in Brazil are accomplished in remnants of native vegetation. However, recent studies suggest that agricultural landscapes support a considerable biodiversity. The state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, has extensive grassland areas which is still its primary land use, followed by sugar cane crops and eucalyptus forests. The present study was conducted in Três Lagoas and Arca farms, located in the Upper Paranapanema basin. The area originally used as pasture (Brachiaria spp.) was partially replaced by eucalyptus plantations from August 2006 to February 2008. During the present study amphibians and reptiles were surveyed in 30 sampling units containing pitfall traps one kilometer apart from each other. Three different environments were sampled: eucalyptus forest (18 sampling units), native vegetation (seven sampling units) and abandoned pastures (five sampling units), resulting in a total effort of 4977 trap-days in 23 monthly campaigns between August 2007 and July 2009. Concerning data analysis the environments (eucalyptus, abandoned pastures and native vegetation) were considered as independent variable and as dependent variables richness and abundance of trapped amphibians and reptiles. 23 species were detected in traps, 18 amphibians (13 in eucalyptus, 11 in abandoned pastures and 10 in native vegetation) and five reptiles (three in eucalyptus, three in abandoned pastures and three in native vegetation). Surprisingly, native vegetation environment presented lower species richness than plantation and abandoned pasture environments, possibly due to its precarious conservation condition. This relationship was marginally significant for abundance. The temporal distribution of species was heterogeneous, concentrating the encounters during the hot and rainy season. Additionally, the lists of species were supplemented through active search and occasional encounters, totaling 49 species for the study area (31 amphibians and 18 reptiles). In eucalypt plantations, the distance from water body and closest native vegetation did not influence the distribution of species. The results coupled with the current context of land use change, demonstrate that silvicultural landscapes, whose matrix are eucalyptus forests may have a reasonable conservation value.

A Mata Atlântica é um dos ecossistemas mais severamente afetados pelos processos de perda e fragmentação de habitats, e, apesar dessa intensa ameaça, abriga ainda grande diversidade de anfíbios e répteis. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal relacionar a diversidade de anuros e lagartos de serapilheira com o tamanho de fragmentos florestais, assim como com características ambientais dos fragmentos e da paisagem onde os mesmos estão inseridos. A amostragem da herpetofauna foi realizada em dois anos consecutivos durante a estação chuvosa numa paisagem fragmentada nos municípios de Capão Bonito e Ribeirão Grande, adjacentes ao Parque Estadual de Intervales e Fazenda Paraíso, utilizando a área da fazenda como controle, que representa a mata contínua. Os lagartos e anuros foram amostrados por meio de armadilhas de interceptação e queda (\"pitfall traps\") instaladas em 15 fragmentos e em seis localidades na área-controle. Além das características da estrutura e configuração da paisagem, como o tamanho dos fragmentos e a conectividade, outras variáveis ambientais que podem influenciar a distribuição e a abundância desses táxons também foram analisadas. A herpetofauna encontrada na região é típica de Floresta Ombrófila Densa, mas os resultados não esclareceram se a variação na composição da taxocenose de anuros entre as paisagens é uma resposta à continuidade ou à fragmentação da mata, ou se é uma resposta à distância geográfica entre as paisagens. De maneira geral, anfíbios anuros e lagartos de serapilheira são sensíveis à modificação de seus ambientes, porém a resposta a estas modificações é específica da espécie-, variando de acordo com aspectos particulares da história natural de cada espécie. A perda de habitat e a fragmentação florestal exercem efeitos negativos sobre algumas espécies de anfíbios e, conseqüentemente, sobre a diversidade local, sendo fatores importantes a serem considerados em estratégias de conservação e na formulação de diretrizes de conservação da diversidade biológica em paisagens fragmentadas do Planalto Atlântico de São Paulo The Atlantic Forest is severely affected by processes of habitat loss and fragmentation, but despite this intense threat it hosts an enormous diversity of amphibians and reptiles. The main goal of the present study was to correlate the diversity of leaf-litter anurans and lizards to the size of forest fragments, as well as to the environmental characteristics of the fragments and of the landscape in which they are inserted. The study area is a fragmented landscape inserted in the municipalities of Capão Bonito and Ribeirão Grande, adjacent to Parque Estadual de Intervales and Fazenda Paraíso. Sampling of the herpetofauna was conducted during the rainy season in two consecutive years. Fazenda Paraíso was used as the control and denotes continuous forest. Anurans and lizards were collected with pitfall traps installed in 15 fragments and six sites inside the control-area. Besides the characteristics of landscape structure and configuration, like the size of the fragments and their connectivity, other environment variables that may affect the distribution and abundance of these taxa were also analysed. The herpetofauna found in the region is typical of tropical rainforests, although the results did not elucidate whether the variation in the composition of the anuran assemblage found among the landscapes is a response to the continuity or fragmentation of the forest, or if it is related to the geographical distance among the landscapes. Overall, leaf-litter anurans and lizards are sensible to habitat modification. The response to such modifications is, nevertheless, species-specific and varies according to characteristics of the natural history of each species. Habitat loss and forest fragmentation exert negative effects over some species of amphibians and ultimately over the local diversity and should thus be considered as important factors in conservation strategies and in the development of conservation guidelines in fragmented landscapes of the Atlantic Plateau of São Paulo.