ICB - Artigos publicados em periódicos

URI Permanente para esta coleçãohttp://200.137.215.59//handle/ri/1399

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Abiotic factors influencing anuran occupation of Neotropical Brazilian caves
(2025) Sperandei, Vinícius da Fontoura; Vaz-Silva, Wilian; Tejerina-Garro, Francisco Leonardo
Despite increasing research on the Neotropical underground environment, anurans remain poorly understood in this habitat. It was analyzed scientific literature records of anurans in Brazilian natural caves and performed a redundancy analysis (RDA) to identify the environmental, taxonomic, geographic, geological and land-use variables that influence their cave occupancy. It was examined a total of 247 literature records, encompassing 83 species/morphospecies, which revealed distinct cave-dwelling tendencies. Some anuran species occupy caves at altitudes between 5 to 21 meters above sea level (m asl), in areas characterized by rocky outcrops and grassland. Others are associated with caves surrounded by forest, savanna, pasture or mosaic of agriculture and pasture. A third group is linked to caves with varying lithologies. These findings highlight specific ecological scenarios for anuran occurrence in Neotropical caves. Conserving cave-dwelling anurans in the Neotropical region depends on understanding the factors influencing their subterranean occupancy. Preserving native vegetation and maintaining undisturbed landscapes are essential. This will safeguard these sensitive species and reinforce their role as bioindicators of ecological impacts in cave environments.
Accumulation and interactions of trace elements in tadpoles of Dendropsophus minutus(Peters, 1872) (Anura: Hylidae) in natural and soybean monoculture areas from Central Brazil
(2025) Gerolineto-Alves, Igor; Tejerina-Garro, Francisco Leonardo; Silva Júnior, Nelson Jorge da; Borges, Leonardo Luiz; Feitosa, Darlan Tavares; Pires, Matheus Godoy; Santos, Fernanda Sousa; Vaz-Silva, Wilian
The contamination of natural ecosystems by trace elements represents a growing environmental concern, particularly in regions under agricultural expansion. In the Brazilian Cerrado, soybean monocultures contribute to soil and water contamination through agrochemicals containing potentially toxic elements. Amphibians, especially tadpoles, are highly sensitive to such disturbances and are thus recognized as reliable bioindicators of environmental quality. This study investigated the accumulation and interaction of eight metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in Dendropsophus minutustadpoles collected from soybean cultivation areas and a preserved site on Cerrado biome, in Cezarina municipality, State of Goiás, Central Brazil. A total of 20 tadpoles were collected, equally divided between case and control areas, and analysed after the acid digestion of the whole tadpole, through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICPOES). Tadpoles from soybean areas exhibited significantly higher concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn compared with those from the preserved site, while Hg did not differ significantly, suggesting low environmental mobility or absence in local inputs. The most critical increases were detected for Cd, Cu, and Pb, with values exceeding those of the control site by 6378%, 13842%, and 1108%, respectively. Statistical analyses revealed strong positive correlations, notably Pb with Ba, Cd, Cr, and Cu, in addition to interactions involving Cd–Cr, Cd–Cu, Cr–Cu, and Zn–As. These associations suggest synergistic accumulation, with potential to intensify physiological stress in amphibians, including oxidative damage and developmental impairments.
Selection of priority areas for implementing effective mitigation actions on avifauna in power lines installed in southeastern Brazil
(2025) Vaz-Silva, Wilian; Andrade, Sheila Pereira de; Souza, Wesley Dias de; Silva, Emivânia Cavalcante da; Veríssimo, Pablo Henrique Rodrigues; Severino, Laura de Freitas; Garcia, Gisele; Paro, Paulo Renato Pereira
The continuous growth in the energy sector requires changes in the landscape that include the installa-tion of new transmission and distribution lines. In addition to the impacts arising from the fragmentation and loss of their habitats, birds are also exposed to the risk of death from collision and electrocution with these structures. To minimize this risk, back up the adoption of mitigation measures, and prioritize areas of greater susceptibility to these effects, we present a method for planning and select-ing areas based on data from potentially protected bird communities collected in field. Samplings were carried out along two high-voltage transmission lines already imple-mented in the southeastern region of Brazil along the 18 monitored stretches. The observations of bird f light behav-ior and use of airspace were evaluated at the taxonomic level of families, and we applied chi-square tests (α = 0.05) for these two risk variables. The results showed seven areas with potential for prioritizing mitigation actions, show-ing that the sampling design was effective and can apply to similar projects.
Indicadores de saúde ambiental e o processamento agroindustrial da cana-de-açúcar no Estado de Goiás, CO Brasil
(2025) Batista, Nayala Etina Ferreira dos Santos; Tejerina-Garro, Francisco Leonardo; Vaz-Silva, Wilian
Sugarcane is cultivated throughout the world as the main agricultural crop, due to its essential raw material for the production of sugar, ethanol and other derived products. The State of Goiás is the second largest producer of sugar and alcohol in Brazil. Although the cultivation of sugar cane is considered essential for the economic development of the state, however, it puts the health of the environment, human beings, and animals at risk. The expansion of this cultivation in Goiás can result in the loss of natural habitats, causing impacts on biodiversity, soil, and water resources. Furthermore, the sugarcane agro-industrial process is associated with the intensive consumption of agrochemicals. Therefore, it is necessary to survey the environmental health of the municipalities of Goiás where they do or do not house sugarcane plants. Since, environmental health always seeks to correlate the balance of ecosystems with the quality of life of local populations. To do this, we will use the Driving Force, Pressure, Situation, Exposure, Effect, and Action (FPSEEA) model, a multidimensional matrix used to investigate the factors involved in the healthdisease process at the interface between health and the environment. The objective of the study was to analyze environmental health indicators in municipalities that have a sugarcane production chain in the State of Goiás. Therefore, surveys were conducted in the DATASUS and Atlas Brasil databases considering some environmental health indicators of municipalities in Goiás with the presence and absence of sugarcane mills. The information from the indicators was used to create the FPSEEA model. This collected information was organized in a data matrix subjected to descriptive statistical analysis with the help of the Excel® program. According to the results obtained, it was possible to observe a significant link between economic, health, and sanitation indicators, with the causes of morbidity (≤ 2 years) and mortality (≤ 1 year) due to diarrheal diseases in children in the municipalities of the state of Goiás However, the results did not show a link between sugarcane mills and these indicators. Therefore, this study corroborates the importance of conducting investigations to monitor and prevent the consequences of environmental changes on the health of populations.
Ectoparasites of non-volant small mammals in a fragmented Cerrado landscape in central Brazil
(2025) Silva, Thaynara Lorrane Linhares da; Carvalho, Raimundo Wilson de; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal; Moreira, Jânio Cordeiro
The diversity of ectoparasites and their relationships with hosts in the fragmented landscape of central Brazil is still poorly understood. This study investigated the ectoparasite communities of mesostigmata mites, ticks, and fleas associated with non-volant small mammals in southern Goiás, Brazil. From January 2020 to May 2022, 10 quarterly field campaigns were conducted, with each lasting from 5 to 7 nights. The captured small mammals were screened for ectoparasites. Order Mesostigmata (n = 8 species) was the predominate group of parasites found on the small mammals, while Siphonaptera (n = 2 species) was found only on Gracilinanus agilis. Gigantolaelaps wolffsohni (n = 80 individuals) was the most frequently found parasitic species, occurring on 1 marsupial (Didelphis albiventris) and 3 rodent species (Calomys tener, Hylaeamys megacephalus, and Oecomys cleberi). This study addresses a knowledge gap by documenting the ectoparasite fauna associated with non-volant small mammals in a fragmented portion of the Cerrado in central Brazil. Knowing the identity of these ectoparasites is essential to understanding species distribution and richness patterns, especially in an anthropogenically altered ecosystems.
Novos registros de cachorro-vinagre em paisagens fragmentadas do sudoeste de Goiás, Brasil central
(2025) Oliveira, Seixas Rezende; Oliveira, Roniel Freitas; Cintra, Maria Cristina Rodrigues; Guilherme, Frederico Augusto Guimarães; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
First record of albinism in a Crab-eating Fox and review of anomalous coloration in Neotropical carnivores
(2025) Fontoura, Carolina Pereira; Dias, Ana Claudia Bernardes; Oliveira, Ana Kezia Mendes de; Ralla, João Paulo Barbosa; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
Hypopigmentation can lead to albinism or leucism in animal pelage. This study presents the first documented case of albinism in the Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) and explores anomalous coloration in Neotropical carnivores. An albino individual was observed in Nova Maringá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. A literature review identified 12 studies documenting 30 records of anomalous coloration across seven carnivore species, with the Tayra (Eira barbara) showing the highest occurrence (18 cases). Though rare, conditions like albinism and leucism can impact survival by reducing camouflage, communication, and reproduction, underscoring the need for further research into their causes and ecological implications.
Use of Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus) burrows by vertebrate species in central Brazil
(2025) Flores, Luana Silva; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
The Giant Armadillo is considered an ecosystem engineer due to its digging activities, which promote soil aeration and create new habitats. Additionally, its burrows offer thermal refuge, shelter from predators, food sources, and resting sites for other vertebrates. In this study, we investigated which vertebrate species use Priodontes maximus burrows in the Serra da Fortaleza Wildlife Refuge and its surroundings, in southern Goiás, central Brazil. From July 2023 to February 2024, we monitored 20 Giant Armadillo burrows with camera traps, each for approximately 30 days. With a total effort of 596 trap days, we obtained 654 records belonging to 32 vertebrate species (19 mammals, 10 birds, 2 reptiles, and 1 amphibian). Momotus momota, Dasypus novemcinctus, and P. maximus regularly entered the burrows, with M. momota often being observed carrying food and leaves, digging lateral tunnels, and exhibiting behaviors indicative of possible nesting. Rhinella diptycha, Cyanocorax cyanopogon, Cabassous squamicaudis, Dasyprocta azarae, Didelphis albiventris, Dicotyles tajacu, and Tamandua tetradactyla also used the burrows. A usage‐dependent pattern was observed, with D. novemcinctus and P. maximus entering burrows in more than 50% of the observations. We highlight the ecological importance of P. maximus, demonstrating that many species benefit from its excavations.
Global Roadkill Data: a dataset on terrestrial vertebrate mortality caused by collision with vehicles
(2025) Grilo, Clara Bentes; Matos, Tomé Neves de; Bates, Jennifer; Roux, Aliza le; Medrano Vizcaino, Pablo Mauricio; Quaranta, Mattia; Soanes, Inês Silva Kylie; Yun, Wang; Abate, Sergio Damián; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
Roadkill is widely recognized as one of the primary negative effects of roads on many wildlife species and also has socioeconomic impacts when they result in accidents. A comprehensive dataset of roadkill locations is essential to evaluate the factors contributing to roadkill risk and to enhance our comprehension of its impact on wildlife populations and socioeconomic dimensions. We undertook a compilation of roadkill records, encompassing both published and unpublished data gathered from road surveys or opportunistic sources. GLOBAL ROADKILL DATA includes 208,570 roadkill records of terrestrial vertebrates from 54 countries across six continents, encompassing data collected between 1971 and 2024. This dataset serves to minimise the collection of redundant data and acts as a valuable resource for local and macro scale analysis regarding rates of roadkill, road- and landscape-related features associated with risk of roadkill, vulnerability of species to road traffic, and populations at risk of local extinction. The objective of this dataset is to promote scientific progress in infrastructure ecology and terrestrial vertebrate conservation while limiting the socio-economic costs.
Diet of the ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Carnivora: Felidae), in the Neotropical region: a review analysis and new data from central Brazil
(2025) Lopes, Wellington Hannibal; Oliveira, José Silonardo Pereira de; Figueiredo, Valquiria Vilalba; Cabral Filho, Rafael Gabriel; Sampaio, Lucas de Oliveira; Oliveira, Kárita Gomes de; Claro, Hermes Willyan Parreira
This study reports new data on the diet of the ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, in the Brazilian Cerrado, and reviews the literature data on the diet of the species in the Neotropical region, based on 22 studies. One hundred and twenty-one vertebrate species, in addition to arthropods and plants, are consumed. The highest diversity of prey items, mainly small mammals, was revealed by scat analysis, the most common method used. Analysis of road killed specimens also revealed new dietary records. The wide prey selection, influenced by availability and habitat, enables the ocelot to thrive despite environmental disturbances. This dietary flexibility underscores the importance of diverse sampling methods to fully understand ocelot feeding behavior and habitat needs.
Diagnóstico da fauna recebida no CETRAS de Caldas Novas, Goiás, Brasil central
(2025) Carvalho, Rosalinda dos Santos Damasceno; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
Animals found in situations of road accidents, injuries, or fallen nestlings are rescued and taken to Wildlife Triageand Rehabilitation Centers (CETRAS). In this study, we analyzed the wildlife received at the CETRAS in Caldas Novas, central Brazil, between 2022 and 2023. We accessed the intake records of each specimen received at CETRAS and recorded data such as entry date, type of delivery, responsible agent, taxon, and length of stay at the center. A total of 447 animals, belonging to 80 vertebrate species, were recorded. Birds were the most representative group, with 303 individuals from 50 species, followed by mammals (81 individuals from 16 species) and reptiles (63 individuals from 14 species). Three species of psittacids (blue-and-yellow macaw, yellow-chevroned parakeet, and peach-fronted parakeet) presented injuries to the wings, thorax, beak, and legs. Opossums and tortoises with some type of injury showed damage to the thorax and limbs, and tothe legs and carapace, respectively. Most of these animal rescues occurred in urban areas. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the dynamics and challenges faced by wildlife.
A comprehensive survey of mammal collections and genetic resources in South America: challenges and directions
(2025) Weksler, Marcelo; D'Elía, Guillermo; Teta, Pablo Vicente; Rodríguez Bolaños, Abelardo; Bocchiglieri, Adriana; Delfraro Vázquez, Adriana Beatriz; Itati Olivares, Adriana; Araujo, Aldo Caccavo de; Portillo Guizado, Jose Alejandro; Bezerra, Alexandra Maria Ramos; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
Natural history collections serve as crucial infrastructure for both basic and applied scientific research, providing temporal and spatial specimen data needed to understand biodiversity, environmental change, and emerging pathogens. This study surveyed mammal collections across South America to assess the scope and quality of this infrastructure. A detailed questionnaire was distributed to curators and collection managers from May 2021 to February 2022, gathering information on institutional characteristics, collection size, taxonomic and geographical scope, preservation methods, genetic resource availability, percentage digitization, financial support, and challenges such as funding limitations. Our survey identified 141 collections; more than twice the number reported by the American Society of Mammalogists in 2018. South American collections house ∼746 000 catalogued specimens, including 452 primary type specimens, representing only a modest proportion of the vast mammalian diversity of South America. Collections are geographically concentrated in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, with a significant gap in the Guianas region and a decline in responses from Venezuela. The survey highlights four major challenges facing South American collections: staffing shortages, minimal cryogenic infrastructure, incomplete digitization, and sustainability issues. This initiative aims to raise awareness of collections in South America, plan for strategic growth, and strengthen research capacity to address pressing global issues, such as climate change, zoonotic disease transmission, and long-term conservation strategies.
Mamíferos atropelados em rodovias do Brasil central: contribuições para a ecologia de estradas e coleções científicas
(2025) Cabral Filho, Rafael Gabriel; Lima, Camilla Angélica de; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
Roadkills are one of the main causes of mammal mortality on highways, threatening the persistence of their populations in fragmented landscapes. In this study, we recorded road-killed mammals on highways and roads in central Brazil and enriched the CMUEG scientific collection with the collected carcasses. Over 267 field surveys, we recorded 88 road-killed mammals belonging to 18 species and collected the skulls of 17 individuals from 12 species. Cerdocyon thous(n = 24), Euphractus sexcinctus(n = 15), and Myrmecophaga tridactyla(n = 13) were the most roadkilledspecies. Among the road-killed animals were threatened species such as the lowland tapir, the maned wolf, the giant anteater, and the giant armadillo. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of the composition and structure of road-killed mammal fauna onstate and federal highways in a transitional area between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest, as well as providing important data for the mammal collection of the State University of Goiás.
Mammals in urban centers: a dataset from the perspective of the media in Brazil
(2025) Alves, Carolina; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
The continuous growth of the urban population, coupled with habitat loss, has resulted in unanticipated interactions between animals and humans in urban centers. In this study, we investigated the presence of mammals in urban centers through newspaper reports on websites. Specifically, we examined: i) the frequency of photographic records, ii) the temporal trends (2001 to 2021) and spatial trends (Brazilian Federative regions and states) of the records, and iii) the orders, families, and species most frequently reported in urban centers. On the Google platform (http://www.google.com.br), we used combinations of the keywords “mammals in urban centers,” “mammals found in the city”, and “mammals found in the municipality” to survey mammal records. We excluded repeated news items, sites that experienced technical problems during the search period, and those that did not cover the topic. We compiled a total of 733 websites. The records spanned from 2002 to 2021, with 73% occurring in the last four years. The Southeast, South, and Midwest regions stood out. The animals recorded belonged to 55 mammal species (16 vulnerable and 3 endangered), distributed in 22 families and 10 orders. The data indicate that the majority of mammal sightings in urban areas occur on streets, with some conflictual interactions. This is the first study that utilizes websites for diagnosing the mammal fauna present in urban centers in Brazil. The dataset generated here could aid in understanding the occurrence of mammal species in the urban environment.
Evaluating DNA damage in a South American marsupial through exfoliated cells of the buccal mucosa
(2025) Claro, Hermes Willyan Parreira; Silva, Daniela de Melo e; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
The edge effect alters microclimatic conditions and increases heavy metal pollution in monoculture landscapes, thereby exposing wildlife to toxic substances. This highlights the need for genotoxicity assessments in fragmented environments. The micronucleus test is a valuable biomarker for detecting DNA damage, though its use in wild mammals is recent. In this pioneering study, we applied the text to exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of Gracilinanus agilis, a South American marsupial, using the micronucleus test. Individuals were captured in a semideciduous forest in southern Goiás, central Brazil. We collected buccal cells from 41 individuals (13 females and 28 males) across 13 sampling sites. We identified six types of nuclear abnormalities: micronuclei, karyolysis, pyknosis, binucleated cells, karyorrhexis, and nuclear buds. Karyolysis, pyknosis, and binucleated cells were most frequent at the forest edge compared to the interior, indicating greater genotoxic stress in edge habitats. Our findings support the use of the micronucleus test as a non-invasive tool for monitoring DNA damage in wild populations and demonstrate that marsupials inhabiting forest edges are more susceptible to genotoxic effects.
Phenotypic plasticity of Miconia camissois Naudin (Melastomataceae) in a gallery forest and humid grassland of Central Brazil
(2025) Santos, Aline Bezerra da Silva; Morais, Isa Lucia de; Oliveira, Ana Paula de; Lopes, Wellington Hannibal
We investigated the influence of soil physicochemical parameters on variations in shrub architecture and foliar characteristics of Miconia chamissois Naudin in both a gallery forest and humid grassland in the southern region of the state of Goiás, central Brazil. Our study aimed to address the following questions: 1) Is there a difference in the shrub architecture and leaf characteristics of M. chamissois between gallery forests and humid fields? 2) What is the relative importance of soil physicochemical parameters in determining phenotypic patterns? We selected 30 individuals from each phytophysiognomy and analyzed their shoot system architecture and leaf characteristics. Soil samples were additionally collected to analyze physical-chemical parameters such as soil humidity, temperature, and slope of the land near each sampled specimen. Individuals from the gallery forest exhibited more significant variation in shrub architecture and leaf characteristics than those from the humid grassland. Specimens of M. chamissois in the gallery forest displayed higher leaf area, total height, canopy length, canopy width, and canopy area values, whereas those in the humid grassland exhibited longer leaves. However, variations between individuals were more pronounced between phytophysiognomies than within them, indicating an environmental effect on shrub architecture, particularly leaf characteristics. Soil physicochemical parameters were found to be primarily responsible for the observed variation in leaf traits. Our results reveal that specimens of M. chamissois from the gallery forest have different shrub architecture and leaf characteristics than those from the humid grassland, such as leaf area, crown length, and total height, among others. These results are associated with soil physicochemical parameters (moisture, slope, sand and silt) and corroborate the existence of phenotypic plasticity in M. chamissois populations in anthropic landscapes in Central Brazil.
Importance of plant galls to the diet and nutrition of a frugivorous primate, Varecia variegata
(2025) Nantenaina, Rindra Harilanto; Irwin, Mitchell T.; Raoelinjanakolona, Nasandratra Nancia; Rafidiso, Verohanitra Miarivelomalala; Rakotoarimanana, Vonjison; Araújo, Walter Santos de; Razafindratsima, Onja Harinala
Frugivorous primates may consume unusual food items, such as plant galls, to meet their nutritional requirements; yet, the contributions of these dietary components to their diet, nutrition requirements, and energy intakes are still unclear. We documented the importance of plant galls in these aspects for black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in a Malagasy rainforest. Using daily observation data of lemur foraging and nutritional analyses of their consumed items, we measured (1) the proportion of galls in their diet, (2) the rate at which they acquire nutrients and energy from galls compared to other food items, and (3) the changes in their diet patterns and acquisition of nutrients and energy with the consumption of galls. We also investigated whether they are more likely to consume fruits on trees with galls and characterized whether galls have similar characteristics as fruits. We found that plant galls constituted 12.96% of the lemur feeding occurrences; and on some days, lemur diets comprised galls only. Also, the lemurs acquired from galls higher protein than any other food items and higher sugar, fiber, and energy than leaves, but lower lipid than fruits and similar nutrients and energy as from flowers. The addition of galls in their diet significantly reduced their consumption of ripe fruits on a daily basis and increased the acquisition of protein, sugar, fiber, and energy. Also, lemurs were more likely to consume fruits on trees with galls than expected, likely due to similarities in color and nutrient components between galls and fruits in this system. These findings enhance our understanding of the nutritional needs and food selection behavior of primate frugivores. Such knowledge has implications for developing strategies to maintain primate populations in their natural environments and potentially to ensure the welfare of captive animals in ex-situ conservation settings.
Tri-trophic networks of plants, gall-inducers, and micro-hymenopterans in tropical forests of the Peruvian Amazon
(2025) Grandez Rios, Julio Miguel; Araújo, Walter Santos de; Coronado, Eurídice Nora Honorio; Baker, Timothy R.; Vásquez Martínez, Rodolfo; Monteagudo Mendoza, Abel Lorenzo; García Villacorta, Roosevelt; Flores Llampazo, Gerardo Rafael; Reyna Huaymacari, Jose Manuel; Azevedo, Maria Antonieta Pereira de
Interactions between host plants, insect herbivores, and parasitoids are fundamental to understanding ecosystem dynamics. In the present study, we describe the network structure of assemblages composed of host plants, galling insects, and micro-hymenopterans in four vegetation types in two protected areas in the Peruvian Amazon. In total, we recorded 13 host plant species, 20 species of galling insects and 31 taxa of micro-hymenopterans. The network of host plants and galling insects in the white sand-wet forest was very specialized, characterized by low connectance, low linkage density and higher modularity than expected based on the null model, compared to other vegetation types. The galling-micro-hymenopteran interactions in the terra firme and white-sand wet forest were characterized by lower connectance, lower linkage density and higher modularity than expected based on the null model. Our findings show that the high specialization in the plant-gall insect and gall insect-micro-hymenopteran networks reported in other biomes is also found in the Peruvian Amazon.
Tri-trophic networks of oak gall-inducing-insects and their parasitoids in Mexican avocado agrosystems: forest coverage and local climatic variables importance
(2025) Prieto Dueñas, Icauri Sofía; Cuevas Reyes, Pablo; Vaca Sánchez, Marcela Sofía; Ken, Oyama; Araújo, Walter Santos de; Borges, Magno Augusto Zaza; Fagundes, Marcílio; Fernandes, Geraldo Wilson Afonso; Maldonado López, Yurixhi
Despite trees of temperate forest ecosystems (TFEs) maintain a great diversity of biotic interactions, they are threatened by changes in land use. In Mexico, the main threat to TFEs is the conversion to avocado orchards, generating forest fragmentation affecting trophic networks, like gall-inducing insects (GII) and their parasitoids. We determined the changes in structure and diversity of trophic assemblages of GII and their parasitoids associated in Quercus castanea, Q. obtusata
The role of habitat simplification and seasonality in shaping interactions between ants, plants and herbivores in a neotropical savanna
(2025) Sá, Edvânia Costa de Oliveira; Camarota, Flávio de Carvalho; Morais, Poliane Neres; Freitas, Érica Vanessa Durães de; Silva, Tatianne Gizelle Marques; Neves, Frederico de Siqueira; Araújo, Walter Santos de
Protective interactions between ants and plants bearing extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are highly conditional, and changes in abiotic conditions, including environmental seasonality, are known to influence their outcomes by changing plant phenology. Yet, there is still much to uncover, and despite living in the Anthropocene, we still know little about the effects of anthropogenic activities in shaping ant-plant interactions. We evaluated the influence of chronic anthropogenic disturbances (CAD) and seasonality in shaping the outcomes of interactions between ants and EFN-bearing plants in the Brazilian cerrado. For this, we assessed the diversity of ants (total and arboreal ant fauna) and herbivorous insects in trees of Qualea grandiflora located in preserved cerrado and pasture areas. In addition, we assessed the activity of EFNs, the rate of leaf herbivory, and the number of leaves from different stages (sprouting, new, old) monthly for 1 year. Ant diversity in the pasture increased during the dry season, while herbivore diversity increased in the rainy season, coinciding with higher EFN activity and leaf flushing. In the cerrado, EFN activity also peaked in the rainy season, and leaf herbivory levels were higher than in the pasture. Although ant abundance did not influence herbivore presence, greater arboreal ant diversity (especially in the pasture) was linked to lower herbivore richness but had no effect on leaf herbivory. Our study shows that CAD interacts with seasonality to shape multiple aspects of ant-plant interactions, ranging from EFN secretion to leaf herbivory, with potential pervasive consequences for tropical ecosystems.

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