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The main purpose of this study was to update the list of tree species monitored in an undisturbed forest at the Santa Lúcia Biological Station (SLBS), in the highlands of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. At this site, trees and palms with a DBH = 6.4 cm have been monitored by surveying permanent plots totaling 1.02 ha. Surveys were carried out in 1992-1993 (S1), 2003-2004 (S2), and 2017-2018 (S3), recording high levels of species richness and diversity. We also aimed to identify the threatened species among those monitored, present more accurate values for diversity measures, and compare species diversity across the different surveys. The study was supported by the speciesLink, Jabot, and Flora e Funga do Brasil databases and involved searching for updates on species determinations of 1,233 vouchers from 17 herbaria; updating synonyms and circumscriptions of families and genera; reviewing determinations by examining vouchers in person or through high-resolution images; and adjusting voucher arrangements into morphospecies. We compiled the threat categories of species from the list of threatened species in the state of Espírito Santo, the CNCFlora red list, and the IUCN red list. Richness (number of species), the Shannon diversity index (H'), and Pielou's evenness (J) for each survey were calculated from a species-based abundance matrix. The updated list includes 386 species, 168 genera, and 69 families. Myrtaceae (75), Lauraceae (46), Fabaceae (31), Sapotaceae (25), and Melastomataceae (22) were the richest families. Despite progress in resolving determination issues, 44 morphospecies remained unidentified, 24 of which lack fertile vouchers available for taxonomic evaluation. Richness, diversity, and evenness in each survey were as follows: 365 species, H' = 5.23, and J = 0.89 in S1; 363 species, H' = 5.18, and J = 0.88 in S2; and 358 species, H' = 5.18, and J = 0.88 in S3. Diversity remained high over time, with variation among surveys not being significant. We identified that 88 species (about 23% of the total) were assigned to a threat category in at least one of the consulted lists of threatened species. Surprisingly, 34 new species have been described from vouchers collected at SLBS plots, most of which have been recognized as endemic to the highlands of Espírito Santo. Data highlight SLBS as a refuge for endemic and threatened species in a region officially recognized as of very high priority for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O conhecimento ornitológico produzido no Brasil tem sido organizado historicamente nos níveis estadual e municipal, mas alguns municípios como São Lourenço da Serra, localizado no sudoeste da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP), ainda não havia passado por esse processo. Com isso, resgatamos, organizamos e avaliamos os dados disponíveis em publicações, coleções ornitológicas e bases de dados digitais, incluindo plataformas ornitológicas online. Foram obtidos dados sobre a ocorrência de espécies de aves para 18 localidades, totalizando 298 espécies, incluindo 81 táxons endêmicos da Mata Atlântica e 12 ameaçados de extinção. A maior parte do conhecimento disponível foi produzido por observadores e fotógrafos de aves, e concentra-se na região norte do município, que apresenta grandes lacunas de conhecimento principalmente nas regiões leste, oeste e sul. Apenas uma localidade está parcialmente inserida em uma reserva ambiental particular, sendo portanto, necessário criar unidades de conservação públicas, atualmente inexistentes nesse município. Os dados obtidos mostram um conhecimento ornitológico médio, sendo preciso investir em ações de pesquisa, educação, conservação e geração de renda através do turismo de observação de aves e o turismo de natureza.

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RESUMO O domínio Pampeano constitui um mosaico vegetacional de campo-floresta, que abriga uma alta riqueza de espécies, incluindo as plantas vasculares dispersas por esporos. O objetivo deste estudo foi inventariar as samambaias e licófitas em um fragmento do Pampa, localizado na Fazenda Estância da Quinta, no município de Rio Pardo, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A amostragem ocorreu através do método de caminhamento expedito, realizada em 15 viagens de campo. O material coletado foi identificado através de bibliografia especializada, com posterior incorporação no Herbário da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (HUCS). Atributos ecológicos, geográficos e de conservação das espécies foram registrados em campo e através de busca bibliográfica. O inventário resultou no reconhecimento de 46 espécies de samambaias e uma licófita (Isoetes weberi Herter), pertencentes a 13 famílias. O hábito terrestre (51%) foi predominante, bem como a ocorrência preferencial no interior dos fragmentos florestais (66%). Duas espécies constam em listas de espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Nossos dados reforçam a importância da preservação do mosaico paisagístico do Pampa para manutenção da diversidade deste grupo de plantas do RS.

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and aims: Serra do Itapetinga houses one of the most important remnants of Atlantic Forest in the macrometropolis of São Paulo, the most populous region of Brazil. In the context of monographic works on Brazilian Nothoscordum species, a new species with current distribution restricted to Serra do Itapetinga was identified, and is described and illustrated here. M&M: Recognition of the new species is based on morphological, molecular and cytological data. Descriptions and morphological comparisons were obtained from examination of herbarium collections or living plants. Based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid (ndhF and matK) DNA markers, a molecular phylogeny including the described species is presented. Its conservation status was assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Results: Nothoscordum itapetinga bears free staminal filaments, a typical morphological character of sect. Nothoscordum. Its placement in sect. Nothoscordum is also supported by molecular data and base chromosome number. We provide its chromosome count along with karyotype formula and DNA content. Comments on its distribution, habitat and conservation are furnished. Conclusions: With the data available the new species is considered Critically Endangered (CR). The localities of occurrence suffered decades of impacts resulting from intensive and uncontrolled use, in addition to human-induced fires, which modified the vegetation structure and floristic composition. Urgent measures are required to ensure the survival of the remaining populations of N. itapetinga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iguaçu National Park is the second largest (1852.62 km²) protected area in the Atlantic Forest domain and harbors the largest area of semideciduous seasonal forest in Brazil. In this study, we present 795 subspecies and 787 species of butterflies that occur in this protected area and its surrounding areas, collected over 15 years and ten months using different non-standardized sampling methods. We also searched for additional records in the literature, entomological collections, and citizen science platforms on the internet. Among the sampled taxa, six are recorded for the first time in Brazil: Emesis orichalceus Stichel, 1916, Theope p. pakitza Hall & Harvey, 1998 (Riodinidae), Elbella v. viriditas (Skinner, 1920), Apaustus gracilis ssp. n. (Hesperiidae), Deltaya sp. n. (Nymphalidae), and Symbiopsis sp. n. (Lycaenidae). Another six are listed as endangered in lists of butterflies of conservation concern. The records for some species significantly increase previously documented distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As áreas protegidas são reconhecidas como principal estratégia na conservação in situ da biodiversidade, sendo utilizadas como um indicador válido e mensurável do progresso na conservação da biodiversidade remanescente na esfera mundial. O objetivo deste artigo foi estruturar uma base de informações de ocorrência de mamíferos nas unidades de conservação (UC) do Pantanal e avaliar a efetividade das mesmas quanto à proteção da mastofauna presente no bioma. No levantamento de dados de mamíferos presentes nas UC de proteção integral do bioma, foram registradas 112 espécies. Somando-se os registros das UC de uso sustentável, obteve-se o total de 125 espécies. As UC de proteção integral apresentaram registro de aproximadamente 68% das espécies listadas para o bioma pantaneiro. Acrescidos dos registros das UC de uso sustentável, totalizou-se aproximadamente 76% das espécies. Quanto às espécies ameaçadas, foram contabilizadas 22 espécies presentes com pelo menos um registro na rede de UC de proteção integral do bioma. Uma abordagem voltada à construção de uma rede de UC com amplos objetivos de manejo e de conservação é a principal estratégia para garantir a sustentabilidade do bioma, ainda pouco representado no sistema nacional (4,65% de seu território protegido).

Ecotones generally present high diversity because they unite fauna that is characteristic of different biomes in a single location. Here, we inventoried medium and large-sized mammals at three sites (from 83 to 342 ha of native vegetation) in an ecotone between Atlantic Forest and Pampa in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, using complementary methods (camera trapping and active search). Between July 2017 and June 2018, we recorded 22 native mammals from seven orders and 15 families, representing 46.8 % of the species expected to occur in the region (N = 47). Eight species are threatened in Rio Grande do Sul, four in Brazil, and one globally. We also detected two exotic species (Sus scrofa and Lepus europaeus) and one domestic (Canis familiaris). The most recorded species were Cerdocyon thous, Mazama gouazoubira, and Dasypus novemcinctus, which accounted for 61 % of all detections. Species richness varied between 6 and 14 species among sampling sites, showing low similarity in species composition between pairs of sites (from 4 to 13 %), with only two species (C. thous, and Procyon cancrivorus) in common. Comparing our assemblages with others throughout the Atlantic Forest and Pampa of Rio Grande do Sul, we observed that small remnants of native vegetation still support the presence of regionally threatened species. Thus, despite anthropogenic pressures present at our study sites, such as poaching and roadkill, small remnants of native vegetation safeguard important mammal species and play an essential role in the long-term survival of the mammalian fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Após o fim da caça das baleias-francas, a interação com as atividades antrópicas, como a atividade pesqueira, é uma das principais ameaças à conservação desses animais no Sul do Brasil. De modo a identificar potenciais áreas de interação, foram realizadas entrevistas com pescadores artesanais ao longo da Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA da Baleia-Franca) identificando áreas de atividade pesqueira na unidade de conservação de uso sustentável. Utilizando estes dados, foram delimitadas as áreas de pesca através do método de estimador de densidade de kernel fixo (KDE) 95% e 50%. A partir de dados publicados de distribuição da baleia-franca, utilizando a mesma metodologia de estimação de áreas, foi analisada a sobreposição das áreas. Ao todo foram identificados 248,22 km² de áreas de interação, sendo 34,15 km² (KDE baleias 50% x KDE pesca 50%) considerados de alta interação e 214,07 km² de média interação (KDE baleias 95% x KDE pesca 50%).

The replacement of natural landscapes by anthropic environments has led to habitat loss and consequently, to the decline and extinction of many species populations. Several strategies, such as the creation of protected areas (PAs) and payment for ecosystem services have been adopted to mitigate the consequences of this biodiversity crisis. In Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil, a Water Producer Program (WPP) was established, which provides payment for ecosystem services for the maintenance of riparian vegetation in the region of the Ribeirão Abóbora, a river which supplies the city and metropolitan area. In the absence of environmental diagnostic studies in the region, this present study contributes to reducing some knowledge gaps, through the: (i) characterization of the landscape in the WPP area, (ii) characterization of species of fauna (amphibians, birds, fish, and medium and large terrestrial mammals) and woody flora that occur in this area, and (iii) comparison of species diversity (fauna and flora) found in our study area with the diversity observed in the Cerrado protected area network. Our results reveal a low native vegetation cover (~21% of total area), but we recorded 300 total species: 20 species of anuran amphibians, 100 birds, 10 fish, 16 terrestrial mammals (medium and large), and 154 woody plants. Our sample comprises species considered endemic to the Cerrado (e.g., Anuran - Barycholos terntezi and Mammal - Callithrix penicillata), threatened species (e.g., Mammals - Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Myrmecophaga tridactyla and Tapirus terrestris), and exotic invasive species (Mammal - Sus scrofa). The results presented in this study are relevant and may help in the proposal of management actions within the scope of this important program of payment for environmental services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular epiphytes represent a remarkable characteristic of the tropical cloud forests. The Serra da Mantiqueira (SM) represents one of the main highland areas of Brazil harboring vegetation remnants, and highlighting the cloud forests. We present a checklist of the vascular epiphytes found in the cloud forests of the SM, discussing the data about taxonomic representativity, distribution in the phytogeographic domains, habits, threatened status in Brazil and the states comprising the SM (Espírito Santo-ES, Minas Gerais-MG, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, São Paulo-SP). Field expeditions were performed between 2012 and 2019, as well as data gathering from scientific collections and published articles. We found 678 species, representing approximately 20% and 30% of the species found in Brazil and Atlantic forest, respectively. The richest families (Orchidaceae, 288 spp.; Bromeliaceae, 112 spp.; Polypodiaceae 65 spp.) corroborated the patterns found in different scales. Forty-one species are threatened nationally (and regionally, there are 149 in ES, 55 in MG, six in RJ, 31 in SP). These numbers of richness and threatened species highlight the relevance of directing efforts toward knowledge and conservation of both cloud forest remnants and SM as a whole, under pain of losing of a large part of the floristic diversity of Atlantic forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims to provide a discussed floristic treatment for Cuphea (Lythraceae) from the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Morphological, ecological and geographic distribution data were obtained through the revision of several herbaria and from collection expeditions. A morphological analysis of the seeds under scanning electron microscopy and a preliminary assessment of the conservation status of the species were included. As a result, 12 native species and one variety were recorded for Rio Grande do Sul, often found in wet to dry grasslands of the Pampa biome. Cuphea campylocentra, C. linifolia and C. lysimachioides were preliminarily classified as threatened according to the categories and criteria of IUCN, joining C. confertiflora, which was officially cited in the List of threatened flora in Rio Grande do Sul. This study provides an identification key, illustrations, maps, morphological descriptions, and comments on the ecology, taxonomy, and geographic distribution of the Cuphea species in Rio Grande do Sul state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemitrichia leiocarpa was collected in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, in 1968, and five decades passed before its second collection in the country. The species was rediscovered in the Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve, municipality of Quebrangulo, state of Alagoas, 225 km from the first location. A description of specimens that sporulated in moist chamber culture prepared with ground litter and deposited in the Myxomycetes collection of the UFP Herbarium is provided. Detailed and updated information on the worldwide geographical distribution of the species is provided, as well as information on substrates and microhabitats based on bibliographic sources and herbarium catalogues. The species can be considered near threatened (NT) based on IUCN criteria and its inclusion in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Species is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud forests usually occur at high-altitude sites of the Atlantic Forest in eastern Brazil, albeit scattered and fragmented along the mountain tops. In this habitat, the vegetation occurs at low-temperature conditions and is usually provided by additional water sources that arise due to the horizontal precipitation of the frequent fogs. Together with the more considerable air movement and higher luminosity, these factors are conditioning for singular floras at high elevations, mainly the vascular epiphytes, which are macro and microclimate dependent. In the mountains range at the center of the Espírito Santo state, Southeastern Brazil, some mountain tops such as Pedra Azul (PA) hold these environmental features. Here, we aimed to present the first checklist of vascular epiphytes in the Pedra Azul State Park and surroundings based on fieldwork and herbarium specimens. The checklist comprises 152 species, 65 genera, and 17 families, the main families being Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae, with the main genera represented by Vriesea, Acianthera, and Peperomia. The holoepiphytes were the main category among the epiphytes, although an unusually high number of facultative epiphytes were recorded. Asplenium theciferum and Octomeria cucullata are recorded in Espírito Santo for the first time, and we confirmed the occurrence of Rhipsalis cereuscula in the state. Overall, the richness recorded in PA is amongst the highest of the Atlantic Forest cloud forests. Six species are threatened at the national level and 32 at the state level. These results support the importance of the protected area for conserving the flora; however, several species - including threatened - were only recorded in the surroundings, demonstrating that the buffer zone of the Pedra Azul State Park must be included in the management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As Reservas Legais (RL) são áreas localizadas dentro de propriedades rurais e contribuem para manutenção da diversidade de espécies de mamíferos, bem como para a movimentação de espécies entre os fragmentos de vegetação. Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar a riqueza e analisar a frequência de ocorrência de mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte em uma área de RL de 76,5 ha, no município de Pedra do Indaiá, Minas Gerais, Brasil. O período de amostragem foi de 28 meses, com a utilização dos seguintes métodos de coleta: observação direta, indireta e armadilha fotográfica. Foram registradas 25 espécies, distribuídas em sete ordens e 14 famílias. As ordens mais representativas foram Carnivora, Cingulata e Rodentia, e as menos representativas foram Lagomorpha e Didelphimorphia. Das 25 espécies registradas, seis encontram-se ameaçadas de extinção na lista de espécies da fauna ameaçada no estado de Minas Gerais e, quatro na lista de espécies da fauna ameaçada de extinção no Brasil. A presença de animais em alguma categoria de ameaça sugere a necessidade de manutenção da RL, bem como de remanescentes de vegetação nativa na região a fim de manter a qualidade do habitat necessária à persistência das populações e os serviços ecossistêmicos prestados por ela.

The guitarfishes Pseudobatos horkelii and Pseudobatos percellens meet the criteria for threatened status as Critically Endangered (CR) and Endangered (EN), respectively. Both species occur in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Considering the lack of data on the genetic structure of these species, the present study evaluated the genetic variability and population structure of the P. horkelii and P. percellens in the southern region of Brazil and the northern coast of Argentina, based on sequences of mitochondrial DNA, Control Region (D-loop). Samples of P. horkelii (n = 135) were analyzed in six localities situated in Northern Argentina, along the Brazilian states' coast. The mean of nucleotide diversity was 0.0053, the FST was 0.4277 and demographic analysis of P. horkelii suggests the existence of stability of the populations, with D = 0.9929, FS = 2.0155, SSD = 0.0817, R = 0.2153. In P. percellens (n = 101) were analyzed from six Brazilian localities along the coast of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo. The mean nucleotide diversity was 0.0014 and FST value of 0.2921, the demographic analysis indicates a high migration rate of P. percellens among the localities evaluated, with D = 0.5222, FS = 0.3528, SSD = 0.01785, R = 0.3890. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic Forest north of the São Francisco River, known as the Pernambuco Endemism Center (PEC), comprises small, poorly-known and, consequently, highly threatened forest remnants, such as Refúgio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Matas do Siriji, a montane forest located in the municipality of São Vicente Férrer, state of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. We provide the results of the first inventory of the squamate fauna of the region with comments on the conservation status of some species, comparisons with other locations in Northeast Brazil and a brief discussion of biogeography. Time-constrained transects, pit-fall traps, occasional encounters and third-party records registered 18 lizard species and 25 snake species, with the rarefaction curve of the former tending to stability. The RVS Matas do Siriji possesses 39.81 % of the lizard and snake species known for the state of de Pernambuco, being the third richest area in species in the State, with a composition similar to that of other areas within PEC. Based on the lists of SEMAS, ICMBio and IUCN, some of the registered species are considered vulnerable to extinction while others have yet to be evaluated. The RVS Matas do Siriji includes a rich, threatened and underestimated fauna of squamate reptiles, indicating that more restrictive protection measures must be adopted in this Conservation Unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O Parque Botânico do Ecomuseu Ilha Grande (PaB) foi estabelecido em 2015 e retrata por meio das plantas, aspectos da história do homem na Ilha Grande e da história botânica da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O PaB contribui para o conhecimento e a divulgação das plantas nativas da Ilha Grande e para a conservação, principalmente, daquelas ameaçadas de extinção. Nesse sentido, o PaB realiza atividades de pesquisa, ensino e extensão, com destaque para as áreas de florística, educação ambiental, ecoturismo e serviços ambientais, em uma série de ações e projetos descritos neste artigo.

A Floresta Ombrófla Densa Atlântica é um dos biomas brasileiros com maior biodiversidade, endemicidade e ameaçado por intervenções antrópicas do planeta, sendo, portanto, considerado um “hotspot”, tornando relevante sua conservação. Por situar-se em região montanhosa de grande extensão latitudinal apresenta variações forísticas e estruturais, por infuências de clima e de solo. Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar forística e estruturalmente a vegetação secundária de uma Floresta Ombrófla Densa, com histórico de uso agrícola. O levantamento foi realizado em cinco parcelas de 10 x 25 m, onde as plantas de porte arbustivo-arbóreo, de altura ≥ 1 m, foram coletadas, sendo mensurado o perímetro do caule e estimada a altura. As espécies foram classifcadas em síndromes de dispersão e grupos sucessionais. A estrutura forestal foi analisada pelos parâmetros ftossociológicos: Valor de Cobertura - VC, Índice de Diversidade de Shannon - H’ e Equabilidade - J’. Foram levantadas 172 espécies e 56 famílias, sendo as de maior riqueza: Myrtaceae (29), Piperaceae (19), Fabaceae (18), Melastomataceae (13) e Rubiaceae (11). Predominaram espécies secundárias iniciais (30,23%) e tardias (29,65%) e zoocóricas (77,91%). Euterpe edulis, Tibouchina pulchra e Hyeronima alchorneoides apresentaram os maiores valores de VC, perfazendo 44,7% do total. A espécie com maiores densidades absoluta (1.696 ind./ha) e relativa (22,18%) foi E. edulis. E T. pulchra apresentou as maiores dominâncias absoluta (9,54 m²/ha) e relativa (27,89%). A diversidade (H’= 3,919 nat. ind-1) e a equabilidade (J’ = 0,761) obtidas estão no padrão esperado para áreas de vegetação secundária. A foresta estudada possui estrutura complexa e fora similar a outros estudos comparados.

A saúde florestal precisa ser considerada nas estratégias de conservação in situ da Araucaria angustifolia, e eventos climáticos extremos podem influenciar processos de estresse em árvores maduras, com baixo poder de recuperação. Apresenta-se um diagnóstico fitossanitário de pinheiros antigos em uma área de eminente valor ecológico em Palmas, PR, permitindo comparações futuras sobre a frequência dos pinheiros desvitalizados e mortos. Foi verificado o comportamento de variáveis meteorológicas, entre 2008 a 2018. Os dados foram organizados pela ANOVA e por testes de médias. Foi realizada uma Análise de Agrupamento, utilizando a distância euclidiana como medida de similaridade, e formados os grupos, foi realizado uma Análise de Componentes Principais, para ordenação das variáveis. As alterações aqui reportadas foram para os meses de inverno, onde no Sul do Brasil, as chuvas são provocadas principalmente pela interação entre as massas de ar polar, com as massas continentais condicionadas a eventos de El Niño. As mudanças foram cíclicas e padrões puderam ser verificados. O calor e a secura do ar precisam ser monitorados por mais tempo, para a constatação do aquecimento climático, porém, verificou-se que chuvas concentradas em períodos curtos podem ter influenciado a desvitalização e condicionado árvores à murchas por ressecamento, devido às falhas hidráulicas, o que aumentaria a mortalidade no longo prazo. Existem indícios de que os invernos de 2009 e de 2015 foram estressantes às araucárias maduras e de grande porte, dada à irregularidade na distribuição das chuvas e aos períodos de secas. Ainda, que uma próxima estiagem prolongada poderá ser verificada até o inverno de 2021.

Resumo Orchidaceae é a maior família de plantas vasculares, e constitui-se num grupo sob intensa ameaça devido à ação antrópica. Cattleya caulescens e C. endsfeldzii são espécies rupícolas endêmicas de Minas Gerais, Brasil, e figuram em listas vermelhas de espécies ameaçadas de âmbito estadual e nacional. Sendo assim, foram conduzidos estudos morfoanatômicos com o objetivo de incrementar os conhecimentos desses táxons, tendo em vista o potencial que esses estudos representam no manejo de espécies. Cattleya caulescens e C. endsfeldzii apresentam fortes similaridades morfoanatômicas, o que apoia estudos anteriores, que incluem ambas numa mesma seção do gênero. Diversas características anatômicas aqui descritas (epiderme unisseriada, folha hipoestomática, grandes campos de pontuações primárias no parênquima clorofiliano e a anatomia da raiz) são comuns a várias outras espécies de Orchidaceae. Os caracteres xeromórficos observados estão relacionados às condições edafoclimáticas, já que ocorrem em substrato rochoso, em constante exposição aos raios solares e restrição hídrica severa durante a maior parte do ano. Este trabalho contribui para se ampliar o conhecimento do gênero Cattleya e auxiliar na delimitação taxonômica destas espécies ameaçadas, ocorrentes em áreas de intensa atividade antrópica.

Foram avaliadas a magnitude, composição e padrões da mortalidade de vertebrados silvestres, a partir da colisão com veículo em estradas no Cerrado. Mesmo sendo próximas, estas diferem no tempo em que estão pavimentadas, volume de tráfego, paisagem e qualidade da cobertura asfáltica. Quatro trechos de 70 km de extensão localizados no Cerrado do sudoeste do estado de Mato Grosso foram amostrados mensalmente em junho de 2009 a maio de 2010, por dois observadores em um veículo com velocidade média de 40km/h. Sendo percorridos 840km por rodovia e 2.520km no total. Quando as carcaças eram avistadas o veículo era parado para que os dados sobre o animal fossem amostrados. Os dados de riqueza de espécies, número de indivíduos atropelados e por característica de faixa central da rodovia foram submetidos aos testes de Shapiro-Wilk, para testar normalidade, e ao de Bartlett para testar homocedasticidade. Para os dados que não apresentaram normalidade e/ou homocedasticidade, foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Kruskall-Wallys associado ao teste LSD. Onde os dados apresentaram os pressupostos de normalidade e homocedasticidade dos resíduos, foi realizado Anova (one way) juntamente com o teste de Tukey para averiguar diferenças entre os resultados obtidos. Foram registradas 483 mortes de 108 spp. Dos indivíduos atropelados nestas quatro rodovias, 7% são anfíbios, 15% répteis, 11% aves e 67% de mamíferos. Este trabalho apresenta dados suficientes para que medidas sejam tomadas nas rodovias que apresentaram altos índices de atropelamento, detectando quais espécies são mais afetadas, com isso se tem dados suficientes que embasem tomadas de decisão com o intuito de conservar a fauna silvestre.

A floristic survey of the Cactaceae family was carried out in the municipality of Santa Maria, Brazil, which is localized in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state. The study was conducted between August 2017 and November 2018, during which time 14 species were recorded. Five species are on the endangered species list of Rio Grande do Sul. The threatened species are Echinopsis oxygona (Link) Zucc. Ex. Pfeiff. & Otto, Parodia horstii (F. Ritter) N.P. Taylor, Parodia glaucina (F. Ritter), Hofacker & M. Machado, Parodia linkii (Lehm.), R. Kiesling, and Parodia ottonis (Lehm.) N. P. Taylor. This paper presents a complete list of the species with reference to conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional floristic lists are essential for defining biodiversity conservation strategies and are key to assist in filling knowledge gaps. They aim to provide a data source for applying tools to reduce extinction rates and to conserve ecosystems. Herein we present the results of an inventory of vascular plants in a rainforest in the Caparaó National Park (CNP) and approach their implications for conservation and management of this protected area and the surrounding communities. We conducted botanical expeditions between the years 2012 and 2017 in a montane and upper-montane forest of the CNP. We found 361 species distributed in 78 families and 181 genera. The study area is home to new species for science that have recently been described in other publications outside that location, and 4 new records for Espírito Santo State; also 43 species listed in different extinction threat categories (VU, EN and CR) and another 190 categorized with lesser concerns (LC and NT). The families with the highest species richness were: Melastomataceae (41 spp.), Lauraceae and Myrtaceae (30), Orchidaceae (26), Rubiaceae (24), and Asteraceae (20). Our results contribute to greater knowledge of the CNP flora, of the montane environments in Brazil and the vegetation of Espírito Santo state, in addition to demonstrate the importance of this protected area to the conservation Atlantic Forest biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was carried out from the assessment of the conservation status of the freshwater ichthyofauna from Bahia State. The inventory data and species distribution were obtained from the specialized scientific literature and representative ichthyological collections. A total of 281 native species was recorded in Bahia State, distributed in the Northeastern Mata Atlantica (NMA) and São Francisco (SFR) freshwater ecoregions. There was a larger number of species in the NMA (187 spp.), composed by several coastal basins, than in the SFR (134 spp.), composed by São Francisco river basin. Among the 30 families recorded, Characidae and Rivulidae were the most representative, with 53 and 48 species, respectively. The conservation status of 214 species was assessed and 33 of them (15%) were included in the IUCN threat categories. Of these, 11 species were classified as vulnerable (VU), 12 as endangered (EN), and 10 as critically endangered (CR). Most threatened species (n = 14) belongs to the family Rivulidae. The larger number of threatened species in the NMA: (n = 23) is mainly related to the high endemism of restricted-range species associated with the human occupation impacts along the coastal regions. In the SFR, most of threatened species are annual killifishes, which are locally disappearing due to increasing degradation of their temporary habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of São Paulo was visited by different naturalists in the 19th century, including the Austrian Johann Natterer. One of the regions explored by these naturalists, and later by other researchers, is known as Santo Amaro, and is located in the southern part of the city. However, the ornithological data produced during this period was never fully organized.Based on this scenario, we present a compilation of ornithological data from a period of 200 years, highlighting the importance of one of the last remaining forest in this region of the city of São Paulo. Based on bibliographic consultation, collections of natural history museums and field work carried out in the last 22 years by the authors, we present a total of 154 species of birds for the Santo Amaro region. From this total, at least 13 species have extinct local populations, due to habitat destruction, but the remaining avifauna is still representative and includes birds from little altered forest environments, migratory, winter visitors and a threatened taxon. The three protected areas in the region comprise 59% of the regional avifauna, but it is still necessary to protect other existing natural areas. One of these areas is Jardim Alfomares, a 60,000 m2 forest fragment with large trees that still maintains a relictualanurofauna and avifauna, with species that are uncommon in urban green areas. This fragment is threatened by the construction of a high-standard residential condominium in its direct surroundings, which will generate several environmental impacts, leading to its total degradation. The natural area of Jardim Alfomares is of extreme environmental, historical and cultural relevance for the Santo Amaro region and for the municipality of São Paulo, and needs to be fully protected in the form of a municipal protected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Xenarthra, which are endemic to the Americas, consist of two distinct clades, the Pilosa (anteaters and sloths) and the Cingulata (armadillos). The association between xenarthrans and humans dates back to ancient times. Although these associations do not appear to have negatively impacted all wild populations, hunting probably contributed to the extinction of some xenarthrans in archaeological-geological times and, more recently, to the depletion or extinction of local populations. Undoubtedly, human activities are increasingly impacting the wild populations of many xenarthran species. According to the last assessment for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 15 of the 30 species of Xenarthra are classified as Least Concern, five as Data Deficient, five as Near Threatened, and five are included in a threatened category, with one (Bradypus pygmaeus) being considered Critically Endangered, and four (Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Bradypus torquatus, Priodontes maximus, and Tolypeutes tricinctus) designated as Vulnerable. Here, we discuss the current taxonomic challenges of working with xenarthrans and the impacts of those challenges on the conservation of these animals. We evaluate the main threats affecting the Xenarthra now and in the future, we identify some successful conservation initiatives, and we highlight the importance of initiatives by individual experts. Our goals are to summarize the current status of xenarthrans and to facilitate the development and implementation of conservation strategies for these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O crescimento urbano tem alterado cada vez mais às características naturais dos ecossistemas em áreas povoadas, resultando na redução de áreas naturais e de biodiversidade. Para minimizar os impactos negativos da expansão urbana são criadas as áreas verdes e áreas protegidas. Neste contexto, este estudo objetivou analisar a importância do verde urbano existente na área urbana do município de João Pessoa, Paraíba, para a conservação da biodiversidade em um aglomerado populacional. O método consistiu na pesquisa exploratória e explicativa, com levantamento bibliográfico do acevo público e trabalho de campo em áreas verdes, parques, praças, remanescentes florestais, áreas de preservação e Unidades de Conservação. Foram identificadas 85 espécies arbóreas e palmeiras de 34 famílias diferentes, onde sete foram enquadradas em perigo de extinção. Também foram identificadas 36 espécies de aves, nove de répteis e oito mamíferos. Constatou-se uma interação entre grupos específicos da fauna com espécies da flora. O verde urbano de João Pessoa contribui para a conservação da flora nativa e espécies ameaçadas de extinção; existem grupos de aves, mamíferos e répteis utilizando o verde urbano para alimentação, abrigo ou alimentação, e; o município apresenta uma diversidade de espécies relevantes, mesmo assim, há a necessidade de criar áreas protegidas.

O Jardim Botânico FLORAS (JBFLORAS) foi instalado no campus Sosígenes Costa (CSC) da Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia e possui um remanescente de Mata Atlântica. Objetivou-se caracterizar tal remanescente de vegetação a partir da sua flora e fisionomia. As plantas foram coletadas em estágio fértil, durante o período de 2015 a 2018. Foram registradas 193 espécies, distribuídas em 142 gêneros e 53 famílias de angiospermas, sendo Leguminosae (34 spp.), Asteraceae (11 spp.), Malvaceae (10 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (9 spp.), Poaceae e Rubiaceae (8 spp. cada) as mais diversas. Quatro espécies estão ameaçadas de extinção e 15 espécies são endêmicas da Mata Atlântica, com Cranocarpus mezii Taub. (Leguminosae) restrita ao sul da Bahia e norte do Espírito Santo. O remanescente do CSC-JBFLORAS é uma Floresta Ombrófila Densa das Terras Baixas ou Floresta dos Tabuleiros e possui flora característica. É recomendada a conservação do remanescente devido à sua peculiaridade florística.

Resumo Com base em dados publicados sobre a ocorrência de espécies de plantas vasculares no estado de São Paulo, avaliamos a performance das unidades de conservação (UCs) na proteção dessas espécies, considerando especialmente aquelas endêmicas do estado e as ameaçadas de extinção. Das 648 espécies de samambaias e licófitas no estado, 71% ocorrem em UCs, 10 são endêmicas de São Paulo e 30 estão ameaçadas de extinção. Pouco menos da metade das espécies de samambaias e licófitas ameaçadas não foram registradas em UCs, e três são endêmicas do estado. Para as plantas com semente, das 8.521 espécies registradas, 48% ocorrem em UCs, 361 são endêmicas do estado e 676 estão ameaçadas de extinção. Entretanto, 65% das espécies ameaçadas estão desprotegidas, e 51 destas são endêmicas do estado, a maioria nativa da Mata Atlântica. Muitas UCs ainda possuem grande lacuna de conhecimento sobre a flora, de esforço de coleta de material botânico e de registro em herbários, com destaque para as Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPNs). Nossos dados reforçam a necessidade de ampliação de coletas botânicas em UCs, bem como a criação de novas áreas no estado, a fim de proteger espécies ameaçadas e endêmicas da flora paulista.

We present here the list of bird species from the Monumento Natural do Conjunto Espeleológico do Morro da Pedreira and adjacencies, located at the northwest part of the Federal District, Brazil. The list is followed by comments about geographic range and conservation status from species found in the region. The study was carried out from 2016 to 2018. To elaborate the species list we used data obtained in the field and information available on the WikiAves website. A total of 180 bird species were detected through the fieldwork and another 29 species were recorded through WikiAves, totaling 209 species for the region. Among the remarkable records for the area are Urubitinga coronata, Pseudastur albicollis, Streptoprocne biscutata, Ramphastos vitellinus, Celeus ochraceus, Cranioleuca semicinerea, Phylloscartes roquettei and Knipolegus franciscanus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Atlantic Forest in eastern South America harbors 849 bird species, of which 216 are endemic and 122 threatened with extinction. It is also one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots recognized throughout the world. Within this biome, the Serra do Mar stands out as an important area of endemism in South America. Nonetheless, ornithological knowledge of the Serra do Mar remains underestimated and incomplete. One lacunae of information for the Serra is a region called Curucutu, which is adjacent to the largest urban area in South America. The avifauna of Curucutu has been sampled occasionally since 1900, but all of the available data have yet to be published. Therefore, we compiled ornithological data published on Serra do Mar over the last 118 years and undertook a 16-year-long field inventory using 3 methods of data collection simultaneously (visual observations, point counts, and mist nets) for a total of 395 field days. Sampling was performed in forest and natural grasslands along an elevational gradient from 5 to 850 m.a.s.l. A total of 422 species of birds, 128 of which are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and 29 that are threatened with extinction, were documented, thereby illustrating the importance of this region. Of this total, 382 species occur in Núcleo Curucutu do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, demonstrating the importance of this reserve to the regional avifauna. We made several significant additions to the avifauna of the region, with only one species, the Black-necked Aracari (Pteroglossus aracari), being considered regionally extinct because of a lack of records since 1900—thus representing a kind of poorly studied extinction that has yet to be investigated and may be happening with much greater frequency in large forested areas of Serra do Mar. Even though the region is partially protected, being a state reserve, its proximity to the largest urban area in South America automatically puts the area under threat, especially considering the disorganized urban growth that has been encroaching upon natural areas of the region. The expansion of current reserves, and the establishment of new protected areas in this region of Serra do Mar is essential for guaranteeing the integrity of this very rich and threatened bird community of the Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide the first inventory of butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Serra de São José has elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,400 m above sea level; the butterflies were sampled using traps and entomological nets in seven plots along the altitudinal gradient. We recorded 647 butterflies belonging to 112 species and six families. We also recorded one threatened species and three endemic species for the Cerrado domain, which suggests that Serra de São José is an important refuge for butterfly conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muitas das áreas atualmente protegidas no interior do estado de São Paulo são relativamente pequenas e isoladas de outros remanescentes de vegetação nativa. Considerando que a composição da avifauna pode contribuir para avaliar a relevância dessas áreas para a conservação da biodiversidade no estado de São Paulo, o presente trabalho divulga as espécies de aves encontradas durante levantamentos efetuados em 14 destas localidades no período de 2007 a 2016. Considerando todas as áreas em conjunto foram registradas 339 espécies, 22 ameaçadas de extinção no estado, 53 com distribuição restrita à Mata Atlântica e seis restritas ao Cerrado. As quatro unidades de uso sustentável amostradas apresentaram totais de espécies ameaçadas e de distribuição restrita similares aos obtidos para as 10 unidades de proteção integral (estações ecológicas), o que justificaria a aplicação de uma mesma categoria mais restritiva para todas as 14 áreas. Many of the areas currently protected in the state of São Paulo are relatively small and isolated from other remnants of native vegetation. The composition of avifauna can contribute to evaluate the relevance of those areas for biodiversity conservation in the state of São Paulo, so this paper presents bird species found during surveys carried out in 14 of these sites between 2007 and 2016. Considering all areas together we recorded 339 species, 22 threatened in the state, 53 with distribution restricted to the Atlantic Forest and six restricted to Cerrado domain. The four sustainable use units sampled had total of threatened species and restricted distribution similar to those obtained for the 10 full protection units (ecological stations), which would justify the application of the same category for all 14 areas.

The Ibitinga protection area was created to preserve the ecosystem formed by the dam of the Ibitinga hydroelectric power plant, with 68,900 ha. The present work sought to evaluate the bird richness that occur in the ecosystem of the Jacaré-Pepira river, near the dam area of the plant. The transect method was used. The data were collected in the Jacaré-Pepira river and in a forest fragment along the river between January and June 2012, a period that included three months of floods and three of drought. In all, 133 bird species were recorded, of which 38 are dependent on wetlands. Of these species, eight are listed as endangered in the state of São Paulo: Busarellus nigricollis, Heliornis fulica, Herpsilochmus longirostris, Crotophaga major, Thalurania furcata, Campephilus robustus, Amazona aestiva, and Agelasticus cyanopus. To compensate for the loss of habitat, birds can often occupy the artificial wetlands, whose proper management can contribute to conservation. Therefore, the number of species, as well as the presence of endangered birds, highlights the importance of the study area for bird conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Medium to large-sized mammals are the most affected by habitat loss and hunting, while at the same time playing important roles in the ecosystem. The knowledge about this group in the Caatinga, the dry tropical forest of northeastern Brazil, however, is still scarce. In this study, we carried out the first systematic survey of medium to large-sized mammals in the Rio Grande do Norte state, with camera traps installed in 188 points distributed in 10 priority areas for the conservation of the Caatinga biodiversity. With a sampling effort of 7271 camera-days, we obtained 1607 records of 14 native medium to large-sized mammals, distributed in six orders and 10 families: eight species of the order Carnivora, two species of the order Cingulata, and one species for each of the other orders (Artiodactyla, Didelphimorphia, Pilosa e Primates). The richness recorded represents a third of the 45 large and medium-sized mammal species found in the Caatinga, and half of the large and medium-sized mammal species recorded in northern Caatinga dominium, significantly increasing the knowledge about the group in the region. Among the recorded species are three threatened felids, including a large top predator (Leopardus tigrinus, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, and Puma concolor). The low number of records of some species and the absence of others indicate the critical status of the mammal fauna in the state and highlight the importance and urgency of the creation of new protected areas in the Caatinga of the Rio Grande do Norte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of ferns and lycophytes in protected area Reserva Biológica Estadual Mata Paludosa (REBIO Mata Paludosa), municipality of Itati, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil is presented. During one year, a scan survey was made in all vegetation types where the species were collected and incorporated in the HUCS herbarium. The species were categorized by habit, threat level and distribution pattern on Rio Grande do Sul phytophysiognomies. A total of 79 species were recorded, including one lycophyte and 78 ferns. The families Polypodiaceae (12), Dryopteridaceae, Pteridaceae, and Thelypteridaceae (10 each) and Aspleniaceae (nine) were the richest. Terrestrial species were the most representative (64%) followed by epiphytes (28%), and hemiepyphytes (8%). Most of the recorded species present are widespread (75%). Populations of five locally endangered species were found. The REBIO Mata Paludosa represents important remnants of Atlantic Forest in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, because of its high richness of ferns and lycophytes, endangered species and species with locally restrict distribution patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil houses nearly 36,400 native terrestrial plant species. The country is a signatory of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and has to develop tools to achieve GSPC targets. Target 2 states that countries must undertake risk assessments of its entire known plant species by 2020. Here, we offer a panorama on how far has Brazil gone towards achieving this target. We compiled data on all risk assessments for plant species ever made in the country and produced the first synthesis of results with respect to these assessments. We found that the Brazilian Red List Authority for plants has assessed the extinction risk of 5,646 species so far, which corresponds to 15.5% of all known flora in Brazil. Among these species, 2,738 (48%) are currently threatened. Those species are distributed across all Brazilian Biomes and states. Families with the highest number of threatened species are Asteraceae and Bromeliaceae. We conclude that Brazil is far from achieving GSPC target 2 by 2020. However, given the enormous flora of the country and the huge amount of effort and resources put into this particular task, Brazil is following a good path towards a reliable assessment of it entire flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To control illegal wildlife-product trade and protect endangered species of animals, unambiguous identification of the captured specimens is essential. Forensic genetic tools have contributed to identify animal species for conservation purposes promoting accurate results for informing public policies and management of the biodiversity. The southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) is the largest non-human primate of the Neotropical region and is critically endangered (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), mainly due to the illegal hunting for bushmeat. In this study, we describe a molecular method using PCR/RFLP to differentiate between bushmeat of southern muriqui and the meat of the domestic animals most commonly consumed in Brazil (Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, and Sus scrofa). The method is based on the amplification and digestion with BanI restriction enzyme of the 16S mtDNA region. We also examine 16S mtDNA sequences of the southern muriqui and other 13 sympatric and parapatric wild species of mammals also hunted for bushmeat to examine whether homologies of the BanI restriction sites could lead to species misidentification. The results indicate the utility of this tool as it represents a simple and cost-effective method to differentiate southern muriqui samples from those of the examined domestic and wild sympatric and parapatric species. We hope this molecular tool will help public authorities in crime prevention, and enhance law reinforcement of illegal hunting of threatened animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation has been one of the most important subjects for conservation biology during the last years. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of forest fragmentation on bird communities of the Northeast Atlantic Forest. Here, we show the results of three campaigns in the Passo do Camaragibe municipality, about 70 km from the capital Maceió. We recorded 169 bird species, six species endemic to the Pernambuco Endemism Center, 4 species within the global threat criteria and 5 endangered species in national category. The dynamics of species and how they are distributed in this region of the biome will be important sources for future public conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]