Diversity of medium and large neotropical mammals in an area ofmixed rain forest / Diversidade de mamíferos neotropicais de médio e grande porte em área de floresta ombrófila mista

Medium and large mammals (> 1 kg) were studied using camera traps with active sensors in a Conservation Unit located in an area of Mixed Rain Forest or Araucaria Forest (Atlantic Forest at altitude) in the South of Brazil, as a method for investigating the area’s conservation status and enabling comparison with other types of environments in which these mammals occur in the Neotropical region. From June 2005 to December 2010, a sampling effort of 10,844 trap-days yielded records of 21 species. A minimum sampling effort of 3000 trap-days was necessary to obtain records of all of these species. The species with the greatest frequency of photocaptures was Dasyprocta azarae (agouti), followed by Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Leopardus guttulus (southern oncilla or little spotted cat) and Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo). The species with the lowest numbers of records were Pecari tajacu (collared peccary) and Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf). Although the Conservation Unit studied has small physical dimensions, the diversity of species of medium and large mammals was comparable with what has been observed in other types of forests, in particular because there are still effective biological corridors in the area.

Mamíferos de médio e grande porte (> 1 kg) foram estudados com emprego de armadilhas fotográficas com sensores ativos em unidade de conservação em área de floresta ombrófila mista ou floresta com araucárias (Floresta Atlântica de altitude) no sul do Brasil com objetivo de averiguar o status de conservação e permitir a comparação entre diferentes áreas na região Neotropical. No período de junho de 2005 a dezembro de 2010, com esforço amostral de 10.844 armadilhas-dia, 21 espécies foram registradas. O esforço amostral mínimo de 3.000 armadilhas-dia foi necessário para detectar todas estas espécies. A espécie com a maior frequência de foto-capturas foi Dasyprocta azarae (cutia), seguida por Leopardus pardalis (jaguatirica), Leopardus guttulus (gato-do-mato-pequeno-do-sul) e Dasypus novemcinctus (tatu-galinha). As espécies com o menor número de registros foram Pecari tajacu (cateto) e Chrysocyon brachyurus (lobo-guará). Apesar das pequenas dimensões da unidade de conservação estudada, a diversidade de espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte foi comparável ao observado em outros tipos de florestas, especialmente devido à presença de corredores ecológicos na região.

Diversity of medium and large neotropical mammals in an area ofmixed rain forest / Diversidade de mamíferos neotropicais de médio e grande porte em área de floresta ombrófila mista

Medium and large mammals (> 1 kg) were studied using camera traps with active sensors in a Conservation Unit located in an area of Mixed Rain Forest or Araucaria Forest (Atlantic Forest at altitude) in the South of Brazil, as a method for investigating the areas conservation status and enabling comparison with other types of environments in which these mammals occur in the Neotropical region. From June 2005 to December 2010, a sampling effort of 10,844 trap-days yielded records of 21 species. A minimum sampling effort of 3000 trap-days was necessary to obtain records of all of these species. The species with the greatest frequency of photocaptures was Dasyprocta azarae (agouti), followed by Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Leopardus guttulus (southern oncilla or little spotted cat) and Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo). The species with the lowest numbers of records were Pecari tajacu (collared peccary) and Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf). Although the Conservation Unit studied has small physical dimensions, the diversity of species of medium and large mammals was comparable with what has been observed in other types of forests, in particular because there are still effective biological corridors in the area.(AU)

Mamíferos de médio e grande porte (> 1 kg) foram estudados com emprego de armadilhas fotográficas com sensores ativos em unidade de conservação em área de floresta ombrófila mista ou floresta com araucárias (Floresta Atlântica de altitude) no sul do Brasil com objetivo de averiguar o status de conservação e permitir a comparação entre diferentes áreas na região Neotropical. No período de junho de 2005 a dezembro de 2010, com esforço amostral de 10.844 armadilhas-dia, 21 espécies foram registradas. O esforço amostral mínimo de 3.000 armadilhas-dia foi necessário para detectar todas estas espécies. A espécie com a maior frequência de foto-capturas foi Dasyprocta azarae (cutia), seguida por Leopardus pardalis (jaguatirica), Leopardus guttulus (gato-do-mato-pequeno-do-sul) e Dasypus novemcinctus (tatu-galinha). As espécies com o menor número de registros foram Pecari tajacu (cateto) e Chrysocyon brachyurus (lobo-guará). Apesar das pequenas dimensões da unidade de conservação estudada, a diversidade de espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte foi comparável ao observado em outros tipos de florestas, especialmente devido à presença de corredores ecológicos na região.(AU)

Osteossíntese de fêmur em gato-do-mato-pequeno (Leopardus tigrinus) / Femur osteosynthesis in little spotted cat (Leopardus tigrinus)

O gato-do-mato-pequeno (Leopardus tigrinus) apresenta porte e proporção corporal semelhante ao gato doméstico e é a menor espécie de felídeo não doméstico do Brasil, sendo classificado com espécie da fauna brasileira ameaçada de extinção. Em gatos domésticos, o fêmur é o osso que mais sofre trauma e a porção distal é a mais acometida por fraturas. Uma fêmea de gato-do-mato-pequeno, com cinco meses de idade, apresentando fratura completa transversa supracondilar de fêmur direito foi tratada com sucesso por meio de osteossíntese com dois fios de Kirschner cruzados. Aos 60 dias de evolução do procedimento cirúrgico, a paciente recebeu alta do Hospital Veterinário, sendo devolvida ao seu local de origem. Segundo o conhecimento dos autores, este é o primeiro relato de osteossíntese de fêmur com o uso de fios de Kirschner em Leopardus tigrinus. Assim, o tratamento foi desenvolvido com base em dados referentes ao gato doméstico em função da similaridade anatômica entre as duas espécies. O método de osteossíntese escolhido, nesse relato, mostrou-se eficaz, promovendo retorno adequado à função do membro.(AU)

The little spotted cat or oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) is a wild feline that has size and body proportions similar to the domestic cat (Felis catus), but can be classified as the smallest wild feline all the way from Costa Rica to Brazil and Argentina threatened with extinction. In domestic cats, the distal portion of the long bone femur is more susceptible to fractures. The aim of this paper is to report the treatment of a complete, transverse, supracondylar fracture of the right femur on a five-month-old little female oncilla, by internal fixation by two crossed Kirschner wires. At 60 days after surgery, the patient was discharged from the veterinary hospital and returned to its place of origin. Considering the author's knowledge, this is the first report of osteosynthesis in L. tigrinus using this described technique. Due to similarities with species, anatomical, surgical and anesthetics data of domestic cats were considered. The fixation method was successful and limb function was achieved without any complication.(AU)

Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict

We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities.

Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict

We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities.

Abundance changes and activity flexibility of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora: Felidae), appear to reflect avoidance of conflict

We investigated the density and activity of the oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775), a threatened small cat, in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, using camera-trap data. We described differences in the activity of individuals occurring alone or in sympatry with larger cats. Oncilla presented low densities (7-13 ind./100 km²) and high flexibility in its activity. The oncillas were primarily nocturnal in the absence of other larger cat species - margay, ocelot and puma - but became more diurnal, with a cathemeral activity pattern, when the other cats were present. Oncilla is likely to be in a subordinate position in interactions with larger cats and changes its activity to decrease the chances for interspecific encounters. In this study, however, the presence of other cat species covaries with habitat changes (from coastal forest patches to dense evergreen forests). We also verified the highest oncilla relative abundance in an area with no sympatric larger cats, with abundance decreasing when it was in sympatry with margay, ocelot and puma. Our results, together with recent records of oncilla in other degraded landscapes of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, provide evidence that oncillas may thrive even in harsh environments where other cats have already been extinct. This raise interesting conservation insights, as in the absence of other cats, L. tigrinus may assume a top predator role of these impoverished vertebrate communities.