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Few studies that apply the theory of island biogeography have considered the functional and phylogenetic dimensions of diversity. However, the joint use of the three diversity dimensions, i.e. taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic, can help us to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we compare phyllostomid bat assemblages between five land-bridge islands off the south-east coast of Brazil and compare these islands with three sites on the mainland. For this, we have estimated the three dimensions of α- and β-diversity, nestedness and community indexes based on mean trait values for the islands and the mainland. The mainland showed higher species richness and taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. In addition, only species richness and phylogenetic diversity were positively related to island area. Taxonomically and functionally, the poorest assemblages (minor islands) were subgroups of the richer assemblages (mainland and larger islands). Taken together, our results show that bat assemblages of smaller islands tend to be more sensitive to changes in species richness than those of larger islands, with the larger islands working as a ‘source’ of species for small islands. These results demonstrate the high conservation value of the larger islands, which has direct consequences for local population dynamics of phyllostomid bats.

A fragmentacao e a supressao do habitat sao fatores que influenciam negativamente a ocorrencia dos morcegos, e uma das estrategias para a manutencao de suas populacoes e a preservacao dos ambientes via estabelecimento de Unidades de Conservacao (UCs). Estudos que identificam quais especies nao estao protegidas por UCs podem direcionar os esforcos para o planejamento de conservacao. Para tanto, avaliamos a quantidade de especies ameacadas de extincao de morcegos que ocorrem no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e estao protegidas pelo Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservacao (SNUC), e se ha diferencas no numero de especies ameacadas entre as regioes fitoecologicas. Neste estudo compilamos dados de ocorrencia de morcegos entre 1989 e 2018 em 30 UCs e 17 localidades que nao estao inseridas em UCs. Registramos tres especies ameacadas em nivel nacional, enquanto em nivel regional foram consideradas 11 especies. Natalus macrourus foi a unica especie ameacada de extincao nos dois niveis (regional e nacional) que nao esta protegida pelo SNUC no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Esta especie foi capturada nos municipios de Miracema e Cantagalo, que possuem importantes areas para conservacao e preservacao de morcegos, mas que nao estao sob protecao legal. A Gruta Pedra Santa no municipio de Cantagalo tem registros de tres especies ameacadas no nivel nacional, sendo assim consideramos ser uma localidade importante para a preservacao da biodiversidade, visto que esta em uma regiao de alta degradacao ambiental, e com poucos remanescentes de habitat. Algumas especies de morcegos ameacadas de extincao nao estao ou sao pouco protegidas pela rede de UCs do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, em especial as que ocorrem na regiao de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual. CURRENT PROTECTION STATUS OF THREATENED BAT SPECIES IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL Habitat fragmentation and obliteration are main factors negatively influencing the occurrence of bats, being the environmental preservation through the establishment of protected areas a fundamental strategy for maintaining bat populations. To identify which species are included in the Brazilian Conservation Units (CU’s) network generates some of the main data for conservation planning. Here we evaluate the number of threatened bat species occurring in Rio de Janeiro state and are protected by the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC), and whether there are differences in the number of threatened species among the phytoecological regions. We compiled bat occurrence data between 1989 and 2018 on 30 Protected areas and 17 sites that are not included in the SNUC. We recorded three threatened species at national level and 11 species at regional level. One species ( Natalus macrourus ) is the only with threatened status at both levels (regional and national) that is not protected by the SNUC in Rio de Janeiro state. This species was captured in Miracema and Cantagalo municipalities, which present important sites for bats conservation and/or preservation with no legal protection whatsoever. We also consider the Gruta Pedra Santa site in Cantagalo municipality an important site for biodiversity preservation: it presents records of three threatened species at national level in a region of high environmental degradation. Some threatened bat species are poorly or not protected by the CUs network established in Rio de Janeiro state, especially those occurring in the semideciduous seasonal forest region.

Faunal inventories provide quantitative and qualitative data for different sites and are relevant sources of information for identifying areas of high species richness and endemism. Biological collections are important in this context for increasing the precision of species identification. The objectives of this study were to update the list of bat species of Ilha Grande by analyzing specimens in zoological collections as well as records obtained in areas where no such studies had been undertaken before; to compare five different studies conducted on Ilha Grande using mist net sampling; and to compare the results of studies on Ilha Grande with sampling results from other areas in Rio de Janeiro state. The occurrence of 36 bat species was confirmed for Ilha Grande. Five studies on Ilha Grande formerly conducted by the authors were compared with 34 fauna inventories in Rio de Janeiro state. The studies on Ilha Grande had distinct objectives and sampling techniques applied to different locations in the same area. Ilha Grande is one of the regions in Rio de Janeiro state with more bat records both in terms of abundance and number of species, as well as one of the areas of highest bat capture effort.

Myotis lavali is an insectivorous bat that occurs along the South American Dry Diagonal, extending from the Brazilian Caatinga southward to Paraguayan Alto Chaco. This species was described recently and there is little information about its biology. Herein, we describe the conventional karyotype from three males captured in an arboreal savanna from Vale do Jequitinhonha, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The diploid number (2n) and the fundamental number of autosomes (FNa) were 44 and 50, respectively. Its karyotype, in Giemsa staining, is similar to others described for Neotropical Myotis, and it is not useful to identify specimens.

We analyzed the bat assemblages found in protected areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is the best-sampled region of the Atlantic Forest. We selected 24 strict nature reserves and nine sustainable-use protected areas. We used data from inventories and complemented with data from the literature. We compared strict and sustainable-use protected areas, and tested whether the bat assemblages varied between habitat types. We tested the effect of geographic distance on the dissimilarity between bat assemblages, as well as the relationship between species composition and the size, mean altitude of the protected area, and capture effort. We compiled a total of 34,443 capture records, involving 67 species. Three species were captured only once, which raises cause for concern. Bat assemblages did not vary between protected area categories, but did vary among habitats with less than 1,000 captures. Assemblages were more similar to one another in geographically proximate areas. The size of the protected area and capture effort did not affect the composition of the bat assemblages, but altitude did influence this parameter. The Atlantic Forest is a priority biome for research and conservation, and reliable data on species distributions are essential for the development of conservation strategies. RESUMO Analisamos as assembleias de morcegos encontradas em Unidades de Conservação (UCs) no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, que é a região melhor amostrada da Mata Atlântica. Selecionamos 24 UCs de Proteção Integral e nove de Uso Sustentável. Utilizamos dados de inventários e complementamos com dados da literatura. Comparamos as UCs de Proteção Integral e de Uso Sustentável e testamos se as assembleias de morcegos variavam entre os tipos de habitat. Testamos o efeito da distância geográfica na dissimilaridade entre as assembleias de morcegos, bem como a relação entre a composição das espécies e o tamanho, a altitude média das UCs e o esforço de captura. Compilamos um total de 34.443 registros de captura, de 67 espécies. Três espécies foram capturadas apenas uma vez, o que mostra motivos de preocupação. As assembleias de morcegos não variaram entre categorias das UCs, mas variaram entre habitats com menos de 1.000 capturas. As assembleias foram mais parecidas entre si em áreas geograficamente próximas. O tamanho da UC e o esforço de captura não afetaram a composição das assembleias de morcegos, mas a altitude influenciou esse parâmetro. A Mata Atlântica é um bioma prioritário para pesquisa e conservação, e dados confiáveis sobre a distribuição de espécies são essenciais para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de conservação.

A new coccidian species of the genus Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), is reported from the bat host Myotis riparius Handley from Ilha Grande, a large island off the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. Bats were captured in 13 mist nets (10 × 3 m), which were set within the experimental plots, and through active searches of the daytime roosts of Molossus molossus Pallas found in Vila Dois Rios. Containment was made in bags for the collection of feces and identification of coccidia. A survey was conducted on the coccidia species described so far (Table 2). The oocysts of Eimeria riparii n. sp. are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal with an extremely thin, bi-layered wall, slightly rough. Two polar granules are present, micropyle and oocyst residuum are both absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal, the sporocyst residuum is formed by sparse, rounded granules of varying sizes; the Stieda body is trapezoidal and a sub-Stieda body is absent. Sporozoites are banana shaped. With the new species described here, a total of 40 Eimeria spp. have been described infecting bat hosts, belonging to 30 species of 18 genera and 5 families. The subsequent increase in the known diversity of bats has been derived from the ongoing expansion of research in a number of different areas of taxonomy and ecology although the number of studies of the associated coccidian parasites of the family Eimeriidae has increased more slowly.

Foraging patterns and diet of different species can change during the year in relation to food resources availability, which can influence abundance and richness of organisms. The greater the abundance of a particular food resource, we expect greater abundance of species that feed on it, and the greater the diversity of food resources, we expect higher species richness. Fruit crops can attract frugivorous and nectarivorous that feed on these plants. In banana plantations it was found greater abundance of frugivorous and nectarivorous bats than in forest fragments. The aim of this study was to determine whether the abundance of food resources influences the abundance and richness of bats, and particularly frugivorous and nectarivorous guilds, in banana plantation areas. Twelve banana plantations were selected in the southwest of Rio de Janeiro State. Each area was sampled twice, at an interval which varied from five to seven months. Bat sampling was performed using mist nets opened all night and food resource was estimated using plots, in which the number of banana trees and inflorescences of banana were recorded. We obtained 1,606 captures of 22 bat species. The abundance of Glossophaga soricina , a nectarivorous species, and of all nectarivorous bats, as well as the abundance of the frugivorous species Artibeus lituratus and of all frugivorous bats, were positively related to food resources abundance. Bat richness in turn did not show this relationship. These results indicate that the amount of food available in these plantations influences their use by bats. Despite bat feeding preference for certain families of plants, these interactions are not unique and they are able to adapt to other foods source. This result further supports the hypothesis that resources diversity is more important to keep higher diversity of bats than high abundance of a single resource.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:35:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-12-01 Bats are the second most diverse mammal order and they provide vital ecosystem functions (e.g., pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient flux in caves) and services (e.g., crop pest suppression). Bats are also important vectors of infectious diseases, harboring more than 100 different virus types. In the present study, we compiled information on bat communities from the Atlantic Forests of South America, a species-rich biome that is highly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. The ATLANTIC BATS data set comprises 135 quantitative studies carried out in 205 sites, which cover most vegetation types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest: dense ombrophilous forest, mixed ombrophilous forest, semideciduous forest, deciduous forest, savanna, steppe, and open ombrophilous forest. The data set includes information on more than 90,000 captures of 98 bat species of eight families. Species richness averaged 12.1 per site, with a median value of 10 species (ranging from 1 to 53 species). Six species occurred in more than 50% of the communities: Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium, Artibeus fimbriatus, Glossophaga soricina, and Platyrrhinus lineatus. The number of captures divided by sampling effort, a proxy for abundance, varied from 0.000001 to 0.77 individuals·h−1·m−2 (0.04 ± 0.007 individuals·h−1·m−2). Our data set reveals a hyper-dominance of eight species that together that comprise 80% of all captures: Platyrrhinus lineatus (2.3%), Molossus molossus (2.8%), Artibeus obscurus (3.4%), Artibeus planirostris (5.2%), Artibeus fimbriatus (7%), Sturnira lilium (14.5%), Carollia perspicillata (15.6%), and Artibeus lituratus (29.2%). Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Department of Natural Resources Management and Museum Texas Tech University (TTU) Departamento de Biologia Animal Laboratório de Diversidade de Morcegos Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) Departamento de Biologia Geral Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas PPG-Zoologia Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada à Conservação Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC) Laboratório de Vertebrados Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) School of Biological and Chemistry Sciences Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) Departamento de Zoologia Centro de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) Centre for Virology Research School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto University of São Paulo (USP) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais Departamento de Hidrobiologia Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) Department of Biology Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Department of Microbiology Institute of Biomedical Sciences University of São Paulo (USP) Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

The aim of this study was to reevaluate the ecology of an area in the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, where Chagas disease (CD) has been found to occur. In a previous study, immediately after the occurrence of a CD case, we did not observe any sylvatic small mammals or dogs with Trypanosoma cruzi cruzi infections, but Triatoma vitticeps presented high T. c. cruzi infection rates. In this study, we investigated bats together with non-volant mammals, dogs, and triatomines to explore other possible T. c. cruzi reservoirs/hosts in the area. Seventy-three non-volant mammals and 186 bats were captured at three sites within the Guarapari municipality, Espírito Santo state. Rio da Prata and Amarelos sites exhibited greater richness in terms of non-volant mammals and bats species, respectively. The marsupial Metachirus nudicaudatus, the rodent Trinomys paratus, and the bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most frequently captured species. As determined by positive hemocultures, only two non-volant mammals were found to be infected by Trypanosoma species: Monodelphis americana, which was infected by T. cascavelli, T. dionisii and Trypanosoma sp., and Callithrix geoffroyi, which was infected by T. minasense. Bats presented T. c. cruzi TcI and TcIII/V, T. c. marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. rangeli B and D, and Trypanosoma sp. infections. Seven dogs were infected with T. cruzi based only on serological exams. The triatomines T. vitticeps and Panstrongylus geniculatus were found to be infected by trypanosomes via microscopy. According to molecular characterization, T. vitticeps specimens were infected with T. c. cruzi TcI, TcII, TcIII/V, and TcIV, T. c. marinkellei and T. dionisii. We observed high trypanosome diversity in a small and fragmented region of the Atlantic Forest. This diversity was primarily maintained by bats and T. vitticeps. Our findings show that the host specificity of the Trypanosoma genus should be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, our data show that CD cases can occur without an enzootic cycle near residential areas.

Some bat species are able to adapt to urban areas, where they find food and roosts. Despite the high number of parks in Brazilian cities, they did not yet raise the interest of most zoologists, except for some surveys of birds and butterflies. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to inventory the bat species of Quinta da Boa Vista (QBV), a large (25 ha) urban park centrally located in densely populated Rio de Janeiro, which is Brazil's second largest metropolis; (ii) to compare the species richness observed in roosts with the richness recorded through mist netting in flight routes and near fruiting fig trees; and (iii) to analyze recaptures of bats marked in this park and recaptured in other sites and vice-versa. Sampling totaled 104 sampling nights resulting in 3,256 captures (including 133 recaptures) between April 1989 and December 2004. We also sampled roosts and received some specimens from park visitors and city workers. We documented 21 bat species, predominantly large frugivores. The number of expected species for this park was 24.0 ± 4.6, and the total sampled represented 87.5% of the expected. The recapture of bats marked in surrounding forest fragments and in QBV shows the importance of urban parks for the maintenance of bat diversity. Inspection of roosts produced two species that had not been captured with other methods. Sampling near fruiting fig trees did not differ in terms of richness from sampling carried out far from these trees or during their non-fruiting periods. Algumas espécies de morcegos são capazes de se adaptar às áreas urbanas, onde encontram alimento e abrigo. Apesar do elevado número de parques nas cidades brasileiras estas ainda não despertaram o interesse dos zoólogos, exceção feita a inventários de aves e borboletas. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: (i) inventariar as espécies de morcegos da Quinta da Boa Vista (QBV), um grande (25 ha) parque urbano centralmente localizado na povoada cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a segunda maior metrópole do Brasil; (ii) comparar a riqueza de espécies observadas em refúgios com a riqueza registrada através de redes de neblina abertas em rotas de voo e perto de figueiras em frutificação; e (iii) analisar as recapturas de morcegos marcados neste parque e recapturados em outras localidades, e vice-versa. A amostragem totalizou 104 noites, resultando em 3.256 capturas (incluindo 133 recapturas) entre abril de 1989 e dezembro de 2004. Nós também amostramos abrigos e recebemos alguns exemplares de visitantes do parque e dos cidadãos. No total, nós documentamos 21 espécies de morcegos, com a predominância de grandes frugívoros. O número de espécies esperadas para este parque foi de 24,0 ± 4,6, e o total amostrado representado foi de 87,5% do esperado. As recapturas de morcegos marcados em torno dos fragmentos florestais e em QBV mostram a importância de parques urbanos para a manutenção da diversidade de morcegos. As buscas e amostragens em abrigos resultaram em duas espécies que não tinham sido capturadas com outros métodos. As amostragens perto de figueiras em frutificação não diferiram em termos de riqueza em relação às amostragens realizadas longe destas árvores, ou durante os seus períodos de não frutificação.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma lista de morcegos da região de Visconde de Mauá, município de Resende, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, em área de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana, localizada acima de 1.300 m de altitude. Foram realizadas sete noites de captura, em novembro de 2005, com amostragens em áreas de voo e forrageio e em abrigos. O total de 13 espécies foi obtido (10 Phyllostomidae, duas Vespertilionidae e uma Molossidae). Dessas, sete espécies são frugívoras, duas nectarívoras, uma hematófaga e três insetívoras. A espécie dominante foi Sturnira lilium com 79,6% das capturas.

Ecological aspects related to parasitism are one of the less studied issues in parasitology research, and the scarce evidence available supports that younger specimens present higher infestation rates. The purpose of this work is to establish if higher infestation rates are observed in nursing females and their young captured inside their roost. Bats were captured inside a shelter located in RPPN Estação Veracel, Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Bahia state, Brazil. A total of 56 individuals of Carollia perspicillata were observed, 17 captured inside the roost during the day and 39 in trails at night. Captures of C. perspicillata during the day in a shelter yielded similar infestation rates to bats netted in trails and higher prevalence. The hypothesis that young were more infected was confirmed, based on the higher infestation of nursing females with neonates and on the significant inverse relation between body weight and number of parasites in young and subadults.

The objective of the present study was to investigate activity time of the molossid bats Nyctinomops laticaudatus and Molossus molossus at the same locality, and to test whether activity of one species affects activity of the other. During January 2007-May 2009, we sampled for 15 nights over a stream in southeastern Brazil. Total sampling effort was 166 h and 693 m of nets. Time of capture was transformed into minutes in relation to sunset. First captures of M. molossus occurred just after sunset except for one individual that was captured before sunset. Total activity time of M. molossus ranged from 27 min before sunset to 743 min after sunset. Total activity time of N. laticaudatus ranged from 42 to 675 min after sunset and activity differed significantly between species. Activity of M. molossus was related to time of sunset, as expected based on behavior of other insectivorous species, whereas activity of N. laticaudatus seemed independent of sunset.

Uma lista das espécies de morcegos da Reserva Rio das Pedras, Município de Mangaratiba, foi elaborada através de capturas com redes de neblina, desde setembro de 1995 até junho de 2008, totalizando 242424 h.rede de esforço de captura. O total de 30 espécies de morcegos foi registrado em 1321 capturas e recapturas. As espécies predominantes foram Carollia perspicillata e Artibeus lituratus. Seis famílias foram registradas: Emballonuridae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Thyropteridae, Vespertilionidae e Molossidae. Comparando com seis listas de espécies disponíveis de locais distantes até 100 km, a Reserva Rio das Pedras apresentou alta riqueza, diversidade e abundância de Phyllostominae, comprovando a relevância do local para a conservação dos morcegos.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a primeira listagem de morcegos de um fragmento na região Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, no município de Miracema. Foram realizadas nove noites de capturas utilizando redes de neblina e buscas por abrigos para o registro dos morcegos. Um total de 678 capturas e recapturas de 29 espécies foi registrado. A espécie mais frequente foi Platyrrhinus lineatus, seguido por Carollia perspicillata e Desmodus rotundus. Várias espécies deste levantamento são dignas de nota, como Natalus stramineus, Micronycteris hirsuta e Lophostoma brasiliense, espécies raramente relatadas para o estado. Apesar do reduzido esforço de coleta, uma elevada riqueza foi alcançada, com mais de 90% das espécies esperadas para a região. Neste trabalho foi obtida uma riqueza considerável de Phyllostominae (duas espécies de carnívoros e quatro de catadores insetívoros). Nas regiões norte e noroeste do estado 32 espécies já foram registradas. The objective of this work is to present the first listing of bats collected in a fragment in Paraíso do Tobias located in the municipality of Miracema, Northwest of the Rio de Janeiro State. Nine nights of samplings were performed with mist nets and complemented with roosts search. A total of 678 captures and recaptures of 29 species were recorded. Platyrrhinus lineatus was the most abundant species, followed by Carollia perspicillata and Desmodus rotundus. Several species recorded, such as Natalus stramineus, Micronycteris hirsuta, and Lophostoma brasiliense, are rare in the Rio de Janeiro State. Despite the reduced sampling effort, we obtained a high richness, with more than 90% of the expected species. We obtained a considerable number of Phyllostominae (two carnivores and four predominantly gleaners insectivorous). In the areas north and northwest 32 species are now recognized.

Studies on bat richness and diversity in coastal sand dunes ('restinga') are still scarce. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to estimate bat richness in the restinga of Praia das Neves (state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil) and to analyze species abundance. Ten sampling nights were carried out in May and July 2008, resulting in a sampling effort of 21,847.5 h.m2. We captured 125 individuals from 17 bat species. In this study, Tonatia saurophila was recorded for the first time not only in the state of Espírito Santo but also in the restinga ecosystem. The most abundant species was Artibeus lituratus with 32% of all captures. Surveys in coastal restingas are urgently needed in order to obtain more information about the bats living in this environment.

Mesmo após a devastação de grande parte das suas matas, o Estado do Rio de Janeiro ainda abriga uma grande riqueza de mamíferos terrestres. Contudo, informações sobre abundância e distribuição da mastofauna do Estado ainda são escassas. Este estudo tem como objetivo inventariar os mamíferos do Parque Estadual do Desengano, localizado na região norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, uma das regiões menos amostradas e mais alteradas do Estado. O inventário foi realizado utilizando armadilhas do tipo Sherman e Tomahawk, e armadilhas de queda para os pequenos mamíferos não-voadores, redes de neblina para os morcegos, armadilhas fotográficas, avistamentos e relatos de moradores e funcionários do Parque para os mamíferos de maior porte. Nós registramos 56 espécies de mamíferos, das quais 15 constam na lista da fauna ameaçada de extinção do Estado do Rio de Janeiro e 10 na lista da fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção, incluindo Brachyteles arachnoides. As espécies mais abundantes foram o morcego Sturnira lilium e o roedor Akodon serrensis. Além disso, Thaptomys nigrita, roedor normalmente pouco capturado no Estado, foi relativamente abundante no Parque Estadual do Desengano. Nossos resultados indicam que o Parque abriga 33,7% das espécies de mamíferos com ocorrência conhecida para o Estado, destacando a importância da área para a conservação da fauna do Rio de Janeiro. Even after the devastation of large part of its forests, Rio de Janeiro State still harbors a rich terrestrial mammal fauna. However, information on the distribution and abundance of mammal species in the State is still scarce. This study aims to survey the mammals of the Desengano State Park, located on the northern part of Rio de Janeiro, one of the least studied and most altered regions of the State. The inventory was conducted using Sherman, Tomahawk, and pitfall traps for non-volant small mammals, mist nets for bats, camera traps, sightings and reports of residents and officials of the Park for large mammals. We recorded 56 species of mammals, of which 15 are on the list of threatened fauna of Rio de Janeiro State and 10 on the list of Brazilian threatened fauna, including Brachyteles arachnoides. The most abundant species were the bat Sturnira lilium and the rodent Akodon serrensis. Moreover, Thaptomys nigrita, a rodent not commonly captured in the State, was relatively abundant in the Desengano State Park. Results indicate that the park harbors 33.7% of the species of mammals known to occur in the State, highlighting the importance of the area for the conservation of Rio de Janeiro fauna.

Diaemus youngi é um morcego hematófago obrigatório que se alimenta preferencialmente do sangue de aves. Este morcego é considerado o menos freqüente entre as três espécies hematófagas ao longo de toda a sua distribuição geográfica. Entre 2000 e 2006, foram realizadas campanhas para a captura de morcegos hematófagos em sete localidades do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, onde ataques a aves haviam sido reportadas por proprietários de terra. Morcegos foram capturados em redes de neblina abertas durante duas ou três noites em cada localidade, geralmente próximas às aves atacadas. Um total de oito espécimes de D. youngi foi coletado nas sete localidades estudadas, e dois registros feitos por outros pesquisadores em outras duas localidades foram confirmados para o Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Diaemus youngi prefere, aparentemente, restringir seus ataques a aves domésticas e selvagens que apresentam o comportamento de se empoleirar. Esta espécie de morcego pode apresentar abundância e área de distribuição maiores do que as aqui descritas, a julgar pelo número de relatos de ataques em criatórios comerciais de aves ornamentais que criam animais em regime de semi-liberdade no Sudeste do Brasil. Diaemus youngi is a vampire bat that feeds preferentially on bird blood. This bat is considered as the least frequent among the three hematofagous species throughout its geographical distribution. From 2000 to 2006, surveys for vampire control were carried out in seven localities from the State of Rio de Janeiro where attacks to birds were reported by land owners. Bats were captured in mist nets opened during two or three nights in each locality, usually in the vicinity of attacked birds. A total of eight specimens of D. youngi were collected in the seven studied localities and two records from two other localities made by other researchers were confirmed for the State of Rio de Janeiro. Apparently, D. youngi prefers to prey on domestic and wild birds that rest on high perches. This bat species may present higher abundance and larger distribution range those described here, judging by the number of reports of attacks in commercial houses of ornamental birds that raise animals in semi-freedom in Southeastern Brazil.

Baseado em uma grande amostragem de morcegos realizada na Mata Atlântica, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil, nós analisamos a biologia reprodutiva de Platyrrhinus lineatus (E. Geoffroy, 1810). Os morcegos foram capturados com redes de neblina entre 1989 e 2005, em 27 das 41 diferentes localidades amostradas. O começo da época reprodutiva foi estimado 30 dias antes da data da captura da primeira fêmea grávida. Para determinação do término da época reprodutiva empregamos a data da captura da última fêmea lactante mais 40 dias. O total de 688 morcegos adultos foi analisado, sendo 58,3% representados por fêmeas. O maior número de capturas foi observado nos meses de fevereiro, janeiro e agosto. Machos com testículos escrotados foram observados em todos os meses. Fêmeas inativas sexualmente foram observadas com predominância em março e de maio a agosto. Fêmeas com fetos palpáveis foram observadas em todos os meses, exceto em abril, junho e julho com pico em agosto-outubro e janeiro-fevereiro. Fêmeas lactantes foram capturadas de novembro a junho, com pico em novembro e fevereiro. Fêmeas simultaneamente grávidas e lactantes foram capturadas em todos os meses exceto em junho, com pico em abril. O tamanho da época reprodutiva variou a cada ano, compreendendo de 8 a 12 meses, com média de 10,6 meses.

In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and intensity of Hectopsylla pulex infection in Molossus rufus and Molossus molossus, the parasite's choice of attachment site, and whether this host-parasite system varies with host size. Twenty-four bats were captured by hand from the roof of a house in Southeastern Brazil. M. rufus exhibited a prevalence of 71.4% and the mean intensity averaged 5 ectoparasites per bat. M. molossus exhibited a prevalence of 90%, and the average mean intensity was 2.11 ectoparasites. The attachment sites were: ear, tragus, shoulder blade and tibia, anus, wing, axilla, mouth and dactylopatagium. A positive correlation was observed between the bats' weight and the number of fleas.

Em 18 de julho de 2007, um indivíduo de Artibeus lituratus marcado com coleira plástica numerada foi recapturado no Parque Natural Municipal da Serra do Mendanha, município do Rio de Janeiro, 96 dias após ter sido capturado e marcado na Ilha de Itacuruça, no sul do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A distância linear entre os pontos de marcação e recaptura sugere um deslocamento de no mínimo 35 km, sendo 500 m sobre o mar. One individual of Artibeus lituratus, marked with a colored and numbered plastic color necklace was recaptured on July 18th, 2007 at the Parque Natural Municipal da Serra do Mendanha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 96 days after being captured and marked at Itacuruça Island, located on southern Rio de Janeiro State. The linear distance between the plots of marking and recapture suggests a minimum movement of 35 km, being 500 m oversea.

Previous results demonstrate that the hybrid synthetic pterocarpanquinone LQB-118 presents antileishmanial activity against Leishmania amazonensis in a mouse model. The aim of the present study was to use a hamster model to investigate whether LQB-118 presents antileishmanial activity against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, which is the major Leishmania species related to American tegumentary leishmaniasis. The in vitro antileishmanial activity of LQB-118 on L. braziliensis was tested on the promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms. The cell death induced by LQB-118 in the L. braziliensis promastigotes was analyzed using an annexin V-FITC/PI kit, the oxidative stress was evaluated by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) and the ATP content by luminescence. In situ labeling of DNA fragments by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to investigate apoptosis in the intracellular amastigotes. L. braziliensis-infected hamsters were treated from the seventh day of infection with LQB-118 administered intralesionally (26 µg/kg/day, three times a week) or orally (4,3 mg/kg/day, five times a week) for eight weeks. LQB-118 was active against the L. braziliensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, producing IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values of 3,4±0,1 and 7,5±0,8 µM, respectively. LQB-118 induced promastigote phosphatidylserine externalization accompanied by increased reactive oxygen species production and ATP depletion. Intracellular amastigote DNA fragmentation was also observed, without affecting the viability of macrophages. The treatment of L. braziliensis-infected hamsters with LQB-118, either orally or intralesionally, was effective in the control of lesion size, parasite load and increase intradermal reaction to parasite antigen. Taken together, these results show that the antileishmanial effect of LQB-118 extends to L. braziliensis in the hamster model, involves the induction of parasite apoptosis and shows promising therapeutic option by oral or local routes in leishmaniasis.

The Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro is extremely fragmented and reduced in its original extension. Although there are a great number of studies related to the biome, few lists are available for this region. The present study seeks to get information on the mammals of a remnant forest in Serra da Concórdia, an area from which no information is currently available. The rapid mammal's survey was accomplished by use of pitfalls, live traps, transects, mist nets, and camera traps. We recorded 37 terrestrial species that represent 22.3 % of Rio de Janeiro state mammal species. Among the recorded species, six are endemic of the Atlantic Forest, one is endemic of the state, and eight are in the state list of threatened or presumably threatened species. The area presents great mammal richness and an increasing effort will probably reveal the presence of additional species.

Few sites have been well sampled for bats, and samplings in islands are even scarcer. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: (1) to list the bat species of Ilha da Marambaia; (2) to compare richness, abundance and biomass of bat guilds found there; (3) to analyse abundance patterns of bat species; and (4) to compare richness, abundance and composition of the bat fauna among different kinds of environment. To capture bats we used mist nets set in five different environments, totalising 3559.2 net-hours, during 37 nights between October 2006 and August 2008. A total of 1,133 captures were accomplished, comprising 34 species from five families. The most abundant species was Molossus molossus. Frugivorous bats exhibited higher richness, abundance and biomass if compared to other guilds. Most species (N = 22) exhibited abundances between 1 to 10% of all captures. Sixteen species were restricted to just one of the environments sampled. The high richness may be attributed to sampling carried out in several environments, and to the capture of insectivorous species over water bodies.

Since the 1990s, attacks by hematophagous bats on humans and domestic animals have been reported both on the continent and on the islands on the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state. The density of vampire bats was investigated based on percentage of captures during control of Desmodus rotundus samplings and during bat diversity research. In the present work, 203 individuals of D. rotundus were captured from 1993 to 2009, which corresponds to 11.88% of all bat captures carried out for species control in local villages and 1.58% of all captures in faunistic inventories. The density of D. rotundus is high even on the recently occupied islands where domestic animals have been introduced. It is probable that this species dispersed from the continent to the islands due to the introduction of domestic animals.

Os fatores que influenciam a diversidade de artropodes ectoparasitos no morcego hospedeiro incluem o tipo de abrigo e o comportamento social da especie hospedeira. Aspectos como sexo, condicao reprodutiva e tamanho do hospedeiro podem influenciar a distribuicao e a abundância dos ectoparasitos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a variacao no parasitismo de estreblideos em Phyllostomus hastatus, considerando os sexos e diferentes abrigos. Os morcegos foram capturados em quatro casas na Ilha da Marambaia, municipio de Mangaratiba, e em uma casa na Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, municipio de Seropedica. Foram capturados 65 femeas e 50 machos de P. hastatus e 664 dipteros estreblideos distribuidos em quatro especies: Aspidoptera phyllostomatis, Strebla consocia, Trichobius complexo “dugesii” e Trichobius longipes. A especie T. longipes representou mais de 99% das capturas de Streblidae. Femeas de morcegos foram mais parasitadas que os machos, tanto em prevalencia quanto em intensidade media. O total de parasitos nao variou entre os morcegos residentes e os nao residentes. O modelo considerado entre o total de T. longipes, o sexo e o abrigo para individuos residentes mostrou-se significativo. O total de parasitos em machos nao difere entre aqueles oriundos de abrigos de machos solteiros e de abrigos heterossexuais. As diferencas entre os abrigos refletem a diferenca no parasitismo entre os sexos dos hospedeiros.

Departamento de Ecologia, IbRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20559-900, Rio de Janeiro, brasilCorrespondence to: Carlos Eduardo Lustosa Esberard, Departamento de Ecologia, IbRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Sao Francisco Xavier 524, CEP 20559-900, Rio de Janeiro, brasil, e-mail: cesberard@terra.com.brReceived February 23, 2005 – Accepted April 15, 2005 – Distributed August 31, 2006