Annotated checklist of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) from South America.

The diversity of Rubus in South America is much understudied and a taxonomic framework needs to be established as a basis for future revisionary and phylogenetic work. Our review identified 110 names based on South American specimens which were published since 1767. Each name was then classified according to its botanical description and type material. Additionally, where necessary, we suggest appropriate lecto-, neo-, or epitypes. A comprehensive list of synonyms is provided and representative herbarium specimens for each country are cited to tentatively document geographical range. In total, we accept 46 species of Rubus recorded across South America, propose 19 new synonyms, restore R.organensis, previously a synonym of R.brasiliensis, provide a replacement name for the latter, and include new country records of R.azuayensis, R.laegaardii and R.rusbyi. This checklist serves as an essential starting point for future monographic and evolutionary studies on Rubus in South America.

Amazonian conservation across archipelagos of Indigenous territories.

Indigenous stewardship is essential to the conservation of biocultural diversity, yet conventional conservation models often treat Indigenous territories (ITs) as homogeneous or isolated units. We propose that archipelagos of Indigenous territories (AITs), clusters of ITs that span geographies but are connected through shared cultural or political ties maintained by Indigenous nations, are crucial for understanding and enhancing conservation strategies that recognize the complexity of Indigenous stewardship. We classified 3572 ITs in the Amazon into 4 categories-single or multiple nations with either singular IT or AIT-to assess their spatial heterogeneity, governance, and conservation potential. We then assessed species richness, carbon stocks, and pressures across these different categories. To examine how AITs can enhance biocultural conservation efforts, we conducted a case study of the Cofán Nation in Ecuador. AITs covered 45% of the Amazonian land area and had higher species richness and carbon stocks than single IT configurations. However, AITs faced greater pressures from development and extractive activities. In the case study, the Cofán AIT was shaped by colonization and land titling challenges, but their community-driven governance, cross-territorial collaboration, and adaptive responses-such as comanagement agreements and resisting extractive activities-enhanced their ecological and cultural resilience amid growing development pressures. Our findings suggest that AITs facilitate the exchange of resources, knowledge, and cultural practices, which strengthens social connectivity, reinforces governance structures, and enables adaptive management across ITs, thereby enhancing biocultural resilience across discontinuous spaces. This work advocates for a paradigm shift in conservation planning and practice that recognizes the vital role of AITs in sustaining Amazonian ecosystems and Indigenous lifeways, particularly in the face of increasing pressures.

Conservación amazónica en los archipiélagos de los territorios indígenas Resumen La custodia indígena es esencial para la conservación de la diversidad biocultural, pero los modelos convencionales de conservación suelen tratar los territorios indígenas (TI) como unidades homogéneas o aisladas. Proponemos que los archipiélagos de territorios indígenas (ATI), agrupaciones de TI conectados que abarcan geografías, son cruciales para comprender y mejorar las estrategias de conservación que reconocen la complejidad de la custodia indígena. Clasificamos 3,572 TI de la Amazonia en cuatro categorías ­naciones individuales o múltiples con TI singular o ATI ­ para evaluar su heterogeneidad espacial, gobernanza y potencial de conservación. A continuación, evaluamos la riqueza de especies, las reservas de carbono y las presiones en las distintas categorías. Realizamos un estudio de caso de la Nación Cofán en Ecuador para analizar cómo los ATI pueden mejorar los esfuerzos de conservación biocultural. Los archipiélagos de territorios indígenas cubrían el 45% de la superficie amazónica y presentaban una mayor riqueza de especies y reservas de carbono que las configuraciones de TI individuales. Sin embargo, los ATI se enfrentaron a mayores presiones por parte del desarrollo y las actividades extractivas. En el estudio de caso, el ATI de Cofán se vio afectada por la colonización y los problemas de titulación de tierras, pero su gestión impulsada por la comunidad, la colaboración interterritorial y las respuestas adaptativas ­como los acuerdos de cogestión y la resistencia a las actividades extractivas­ mejoraron su resiliencia ecológica y cultural en medio de las crecientes presiones del desarrollo. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que los TI facilitan el intercambio de recursos, conocimientos y prácticas culturales, lo que fortalece la conectividad social, refuerza las estructuras de gobernanza y permite la gestión adaptativa a través de los TI, mejorando así la resiliencia biocultural en espacios discontinuos. Este trabajo aboga por un cambio de paradigma en la planificación y la práctica de la conservación que reconozca el papel vital de los ATI en el mantenimiento de los ecosistemas amazónicos y los modos de vida indígenas, especialmente frente a las crecientes presiones.

A new species of Bonnetia Mart. (Bonnetiaceae) from the Pantepui of South America.

Bonnetia is the most representative genus of the Pantepui woody flora and is among the groups with the greatest endemism in the local flora. The genus has 28 currently recognized species in tropical America, 26 of them endemic to the Pantepui. Here we describe Bonnetiaayangannensis from the summit of Mount Ayanganna tepui in Guyana, providing a morphological description, illustrations, distribution maps, characterization of micromorphology under scanning electron microscopy and leaf venation, comments comparing the new species with closely related species, and a key for the identification of the species of Bonnetia occurring in Guyana. With its restricted distribution threatened by climate change, Bonnetiaayangannensis is assessed in the conservation threat category of Critically Endangered. Its description raises the number of endemic species of Bonnetia in the Pantepui to 27.

Carbon dioxide fertilization enhanced carbon sink offset by climate change and land use in Amazonia on a centennial scale.

The Amazon, the Earth's largest tropical forest, plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle, acting as a significant carbon sink. Recent studies, however, indicate a decline in its carbon sequestration capacity due to climate variability, intensive deforestation, and fires. This study aims to examine the impacts of these factors on the carbon dynamics of the Amazon over a centennial scale based on dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) of Trendy-v11. It was found that the Amazon region exhibited significant spatiotemporal variations in net land carbon (C) fluxes, and was a net C sink (40.02 ± 242.64 Tg C yr-1) during 1901-2021. The Amazonian net biome productivity (NBP) showed a 6-decades-scale shift from a decreasing trend (-3.78 Tg C yr-2) during 1901-1959 to an increasing trend (2.39 Tg C yr-2) during 1960-2021. The Amazonian NBP was negatively related to air temperature while positively related to dry-season precipitation during 1901-2021. Furthermore, the increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration during 1901-2020 enhanced Amazonian NBP by 36.40 ± 8.39 Pg C, which was largely offset by land use change (-18.84 ± 12.02 Pg C) and climate change (-10.03 ± 5.00 Pg C). Our findings underscore the critical need for sustainable management practices in the Amazon to enhance its C sink and preserve its function in the global climate system.

Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis in small mammals in Midwest Brazil.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacilli Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. In addition to humans, animals such as nine-banded armadillos and red squirrels are species naturally infected. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of M. leprae and M. lepromatosis in non-volant small mammals of the order Didelphimorphia and Rodentia through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. During 2015 and 2018, field expeditions were carried out in three municipalities, covering biotic elements of the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, in the Mato Grosso State, Midwest of Brazil. A specific primer for repetitive sequences of the genomic DNA of M. leprae and M. lepromatosis targeting the RLEP and RLPM gene, respectively, was used to screen for these agents. The molecular detection of M. leprae DNA in the samples was 13.8%. M. lepromatosis was not detected. The present study reports a description of M. leprae in small non-volant mammals in Brazil.

New Records of Sharpshooters (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) in Citrus Orchards in Amazonas State, Brazil.

This research study reports new records of eight species of Cicadellini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) across seven municipalities in Amazonas State, Brazil. Among these species, one is known as a vector of CVC (Provancherana corniculata). Additionally, five species are being reported for the first time in citrus for the State (Erythrogonia sexguttata, Hortensia similis, Provancherana corniculata, Scopogonalia amazonensis, and Scoposcartula oculata), and three species (Diedrocephala variegata, Macugonalia moesta and Xyphon reticulatum) are reported for the first time in the northern region. This research highlights the lack of information on sharpshooter occurrence in the Amazonas region, emphasizing the need for further investigations in this area.

COVID-19 y medidas de protección adoptadas en comunidades rurales amazónicas durante los primeros meses de la pandemia / COVID-19 and protection measures adopted in rural amazon communities during the first months of the pandemic

RESUMEN Objetivos. Analizar la evolución del COVID-19 en poblaciones rurales de Loreto y Ucayali en la etapa temprana de la pandemia. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio observacional longitudinal a nivel de comunidades basado en dos rondas de encuestas telefónicas con autoridades locales de más de 400 comunidades rurales indígenas y no-indígenas en Loreto y Ucayali, en julio y agosto de 2020, para recopilar información sobre casos y muertes por COVID-19 en sus comunidades, medidas de protección adoptadas y la recepción de asistencia estatal en la etapa temprana de la pandemia. Estadísticas descriptivas permiten evaluar la evolución de la pandemia después del brote inicial y comparar las tendencias de las dos regiones, así como entre poblaciones indígenas y no-indígenas. Resultados. En julio de 2020, el COVID-19 había llegado al 91,5% de las comunidades, aunque se reportaron muertes por COVID-19 en 13,0% de las comunidades, siendo la mortalidad rural mayor en Ucayali (0,111%) que en Loreto (0,047%) y en comunidades no-indígenas. Para agosto, la prevalencia disminuyó de 44,0% a 32,0% de comunidades, pero se volvió más frecuente en las comunidades indígenas, y aquellas en Ucayali. Viajar a la ciudad para recibir bonos estatales y las dificultades para mantener el distanciamiento social contribuyeron al contagio. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos mostraron la evolución del COVID-19 en comunidades rurales y señalan áreas importantes de atención en futuras políticas públicas, para la adopción de medidas de protección y reconsiderar estrategias para la distribución de asistencia ante pandemias futuras.

ABSTRACT Objectives. To analyze the evolution of COVID-19 in rural populations of Loreto and Ucayali in the early stage of the pandemic. Materials and methods. A community-level longitudinal observational study was conducted and based on two rounds of telephone surveys with local authorities of more than 400 indigenous and non-indigenous rural communities in Loreto and Ucayali, in July and August 2020. We collected information on cases and deaths by COVID-19 in their communities, protective measures adopted and if state assistance was received in the early stage of the pandemic. Descriptive statistics allowed us to evaluate the evolution of the pandemic after the initial outbreak and compare the trends of the two regions, as well as between indigenous and non-indigenous populations. Results. In July 2020, COVID-19 had reached 91.5% of the communities, although deaths from COVID-19 were reported in 13.0% of the communities, with rural mortality being higher in Ucayali (0.111%) than in Loreto (0.047%) and in non-indigenous communities. By August, prevalence decreased from 44.0% to 32.0% of communities, but became more frequent in indigenous communities, and those in Ucayali. Traveling to the city to receive state bonuses and difficulties maintaining social distancing contributed to the spread. Conclusions. Our findings show the evolution of COVID-19 in rural communities and point to important areas of attention in future public policies, for the adoption of protective measures and reconsidering strategies for the distribution of assistance in the face of future pandemics.

Planejamento e Políticas de Saúde na Amazônia / Health Planning and Policies in the Amazon

Na Amazônia, a política de saúde se encontra com um território de vida específico, caracterizado por um tecido social diverso, dinâmico e imigrante, transitando pelas águas e florestas. Nesse cenário, a vida é pujante, que vibra e faz acontecer um sistema de saúde amazônico, plural étnica e socialmente, biodiverso e culturalmente específico. Assim, é imperativo construirmos referencial teórico da saúde coletiva regional, bem como refletirmos e contextualizarmos o SUS com "DNA amazônico". Compreendemos ser esta uma referência para colaborar com o campo das ciências gerenciais que compõe o campo da saúde coletiva no Brasil, sem dissociar do desafio de realizar a gestão e as práticas das políticas de saúde por pesquisadores gestores da Amazônia. O 'fator amazônico' aqui apresentado roteiriza os desafios de se fazer saúde nessas diversas amazônias. Cenários de experiências promissoras no campo das políticas e planejamento aqui expressos podem contribuir com a comunicação entre gestore(a)s, pesquisadore(a)s e membros do controle social a vislumbrarem métodos e oportunidades de mudanças sistêmicas nas práticas assistenciais e nos modos de gerir a saúde na Amazônia.

Cartografia Social como Ferramenta de Análise do Território: os diferentes modos de fazer o cuidado em comunidades rurais e ribeirinhas na Amazônia / Social Cartography as a Territorial Analysis Tool: the different ways of care in rural and riverside communities in the Amazon

O livro "Nova Cartografia Social: Dinâmicas e Desafios na Amazônia" inaugura a subsérie Cadernos de Cartografia e Histórias da Amazônia, na Série Saúde & Amazônia, coordenada pelo Laboratório de História, Políticas Públicas e Saúde na Amazônia (LAHPSA) do Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane (ILMD/FIOCRUZ AMAZÔNIA. O trabalho que apresentamos faz parte do projeto de Educação Permanente em Saúde nos Municípios da Amazônia. O livro traz uma reflexão sobre a Nova Cartografia Social e apresenta oficinas práticas desenvolvidas no município de Iranduba-AM. A abordagem é inovadora porque vai para além dos mapas tradicionais que descrevem os territórios. A cartografia social tem tido destaque na saúde para identificar e intervir nos territórios de modo participativo, com o envolvimento da comunidade e dos trabalhadores da saúde. A obra oferece um olhar sobre os modos de produção de cuidado pelas populações ribeirinhas e a interação dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) com seus territórios. As narrativas dos trabalhadores revelam a relação com o lugar e o sentido de pertencimento e compreensão das necessidades locais. Assim, esta é uma contribuição significativa para o campo da saúde coletiva, apresentando uma ferramenta para subsidiar as ações de participação social nas políticas públicas. Assim, convidamos para um mergulho nos caminhos do trabalho em saúde na Amazônia por meio das lentes da Nova Cartografia Social.

Rabies virus circulation in a highly diverse bat assemblage from a high-risk area for zoonoses outbreaks in the Brazilian Amazon.

Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals and play a central role in ecosystem dynamics. They are also important reservoirs of potentially zoonotic microorganisms, of which rabies virus is the most lethal among the bat-transmitted zoonotic pathogens. Importantly, recent outbreaks of human rabies have been reported from the Brazilian Amazon. Here we present a survey of bat species and rabies virus (RABV) circulation in a bat assemblage in the Marajó region, northern Brazil. Using data from mist-net captures and bioacoustic sampling, 56 bat species were recorded along the Jacundá River basin over a 10-day expedition in November 2022. For the investigation of RABV, we used the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). In total, 159 bat individuals from 22 species were investigated for RABV. Five adults of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, showed RABV-specific antibodies in serum samples. Additionally, we report on local residents with injuries caused by D. rotundus bites and the occurrence of colonies of non-hematophagous bats from different species roosting inside human residences. This scenario raises concerns about the risks of new cases of human rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with bats in the region and highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and mitigation measures to prevent outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases.

Retrospective Study of Infections with Corynebacterium diphtheriae Species Complex, French Guiana, 2016-2021.

Human infections with Corynebacterium diphtheriae species complex (CdSC) bacteria were rare in French Guiana until 2016, when the number of cases diagnosed increased. We conducted an epidemiologic, multicenter, retrospective study of all human CdSC infections diagnosed in French Guiana during January 1, 2016-December 31, 2021. A total of 64 infectious episodes were observed in 60 patients; 61 infections were caused by C. diphtheriae and 3 by C. ulcerans. Estimated incidence increased from 0.7 cases/100,000 population in 2016 to 7.7 cases/100,000 population in 2021. The mean patient age was 30.4 (+23.7) years, and male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1 (38/22). Of the 61 C. diphtheriae isolates, 5 tested positive for the diphtheria toxin gene, and all results were negative by Elek test; 95% (61/64) of cases were cutaneous, including the C. ulcerans cases. The increase in reported human infections underscores the need to raise awareness among frontline healthcare practitioners to improve prevention.

The Risk of Virus Emergence in South America: A Subtle Balance Between Increasingly Favorable Conditions and a Protective Environment.

South American ecosystems host astonishing biodiversity, with potentially great richness in viruses. However, these ecosystems have not yet been the source of any widespread, epidemic viruses. Here we explore a set of putative causes that may explain this apparent paradox. We discuss that human presence in South America is recent, beginning around 14,000 years ago; that few domestications of native species have occurred; and that successive immigration events associated with Old World virus introductions reduced the likelihood of spillovers and adaptation of local viruses into humans. Also, the diversity and ecological characteristics of vertebrate hosts might serve as protective factors. Moreover, although forest areas remained well preserved until recently, current brutal, sudden, and large-scale clear cuts through the forest have resulted in nearly no ecotones, which are essential for creating an adaptive gradient of microbes, hosts, and vectors. This may be temporarily preventing virus emergence. Nevertheless, the mid-term effect of such drastic changes in habitats and landscapes, coupled with explosive urbanization and climate changes, must not be overlooked by health authorities.

Characterization and Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Populations in Dairy Cattle Production Systems of Northwestern Colombian Amazon.

Cattle ticks are a significant health concern in tropical livestock production due to their hematophagous behavior and potential as vectors for human and animal pathogens. In this study, we investigated the tick population present in dairy cattle production, calves, and grazing areas of livestock systems in the northwestern Colombian Amazon. Identification was based on taxonomic keys and molecular markers. Phylogenetic relationships were established using mitochondrial COX1 and 16S genes. Population structure analysis was performed considering age, racial type (B. indicus vs. B. taurus), and the influence of environmental factors and the geomorphological landscape on tick population dynamics. Our findings revealed the presence of a single tick species, with a unique haplotype identified for each mitochondrial gene assessed. Phylogenetic analysis classified the found species within Clade A of the Rhipicephalus microplus complex. Ticks were more prevalent during periods of low rainfall and high temperature, and B. taurus cows exhibited the highest tick abundance. Thus, these results provide insights into the population characteristics and distribution of the tick species present in dairy cattle production systems in the northwestern part of the Colombian Amazon. This information is fundamental for developing targeted strategies based on seasonal variation and host characteristics to mitigate tick infestation severity in the region.

Urbanization and scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis in the Brazilian Amazon.

This study analyzed a total of 260 confirmed scorpion stings reported in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon, from 1990 to 2020. Cases were mapped according to the GPS location of their occurrence and plotted on a satellite image of the city. The stings generally occurred close to green areas, and the hotspots of stings moved north as city grew into that direction over time. Spatial analysis shows that scorpion stings mostly occur in poor, recently urbanized areas. The rapid and unplanned urbanization of originally forested areas, without offering adequate infrastructure and services, creates favorable conditions for infestation by scorpions and increases the risk of scorpion stings.

Levels and health risk assessment of twenty-one current-use pesticides in urban and riverside waters of the Brazilian Amazon Basin.

In Brazil, the favorable weather conditions and abundant land contribute to the thriving agricultural production. Brazilian crops extensively employ pesticides due to their high efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and permissive regulatory framework. However, pesticide use also endangers water resources, animal organisms, and human health. Due to the lack of data on pesticide use in the Amazonas forest-based Brazil, the present study aimed to assess the levels of twenty-one current-use pesticides (CUPs) from five different classes in river waters collected from urban and riverside areas in this region. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with water consumption were also characterized. Thirteen CUPs were detected in concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD) in at least one of the water samples, and most pesticides were detected in riverside areas. In contrast, only 18% of the analyzed samples were considered "clean," with only one compound detected. Fenitrothion showed the highest concentration, with a mean value of 4.86 ng/mL (0.30-14.3 ng/mL). Up to 33% of the samples showed levels of fipronil above the LOD, an issue of environmental and human health concern, mainly because of the adverse effects observed in honeybees. Despite this, the human health risk assessment showed a target hazard quotient below one (HQ < 1) in adults for all substances, suggesting that pesticide exposure through water consumption should not mean risk for the riverside populations. Taking into account the large extension of Brazil, as well as its different agricultural practices throughout the country, it would be of great importance to conduct extensive research in other areas. It would help to gain knowledge in this field and to promote eco-friendly alternatives to mitigate pesticide use and, consequently, to reduce their potential adverse effects on human health and the ecosystems.

Analyzing the COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics in Acre, Brazil: An Ecological Study.

The north region of Brazil is characterized by significant vulnerabilities, notably surpassing national poverty indicators. These disparities exacerbated the impact of respiratory illnesses on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, inadequate infrastructure, and barriers to healthcare access. The crisis was further influenced by multiple lineages that emerged as significant virus variants associated with increased transmissibility. Within this context, our ecological study focused on analyzing the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in the state of Acre. We constructed time-series trends in incidence, lethality, and mortality from March 2020 to December 2022 using the Prais-Winsten regression model. Our findings revealed that in 2020, there was an increasing trend in incidence, while mortality and lethality continued to decrease (p < 0.05). In the following year, both incidence and mortality decreased, while lethality increased at a rate of 1.02% per day. By the end of 2022, trends remained stationary across all rates. These results underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and adaptive public health measures to bolster the resilience of healthcare systems in remote and vulnerable regions. Indeed, continuous monitoring of the most predominant SARS-CoV-2 lineages and their dynamics is imperative. Such proactive actions are essential for addressing emerging challenges and ensuring effective responses to adverse situations.

Two decades of clear-cutting threats in the Brazilian Amazonian protected areas around the Jirau, Santo Antônio, and Belo Monte large dams.

Deforestation rates in the Amazon have markedly increased in the last few years, affecting non-protected and protected areas (PAs). Brazil is a hotspot of Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) events, with most events associated with infrastructure projects. Despite the threats dams impose on PAs, there is a knowledge gap in assessing deforestation in PAs around large dams in the Amazon. This study investigates how deforestation affects Biodiversity Protection Areas (BioPAs) and Indigenous Lands around the Jirau and Santo Antônio (JSA) dams (Madeira River, Rondônia) and Belo Monte dam (Xingu River, Pará) in the Brazilian Amazon. We compared clear-cutting between PAs and control areas and the annual rates of forest change between pre-dam and post-dam periods. We discussed deforestation-related factors (e.g., PADDD events and the presence of management plans or councils). Our results show an increase in deforestation after the operation of the dams when environmental control from licensing agencies decreases and other political and economic factors are in practice. Indigenous Lands experienced a significant increase in deforestation around the Belo Monte dam, which is associated with the demarcation process and land conflicts. Surrounding the JSA dams, sustainable use BioPAs showed high deforestation rates, and 27 PADDD events were reported, four directly related to dams. In addition to dams, deforestation was associated with the crisis of Brazilian democracy and the weakening of environmental policies. In conclusion, the weak environmental control from environmental licensing agencies during dam operation and PADDD events have contributed to increased deforestation rates and additional stresses in the Amazon.

Investigating the Yanomami malaria outbreak puzzle: surge in mining during Bolsonaro's government triggered peak in malaria burden.

The Yanomami, an Indigenous people from the Amazon, confront multifaceted challenges endangering their health and cultural integrity. Of immediate concern is the surge in malaria cases in their territory during Bolsonaro's government. We investigated the impact of land use on malaria incidence among the Yanomami leveraging satellite imagery and ran difference-in-differences analyses to ask whether the Yanomami suffered disproportionately from malaria when illegal mining was rising in the region (2016-2022). We show a remarkable ~300% rise in malaria from 2016 to 2022 and point to mining as the primary driver of malaria among the Yanomami; when mining increases by 1%, malaria increases by 31%. After mining unfolded, the burden of malaria among the Yanomami was disproportionately higher, up to 15%, than in non-indigenous communities. Our findings underscore the impact of illegal mining on the high malaria burden suffered by the Yanomami and the importance of rainforest conservation and land sovereignty for Indigenous health.

The role of environmental gradients and microclimates in structuring communities and functional groups of lizards in a rainforest-savanna transition area.

Environmental heterogeneity poses a significant influence on the functional characteristics of species and communities at local scales. Environmental transition zones, such as at the savanna-forest borders, can act as regions of ecological tension when subjected to sharp variations in the microclimate. For ectothermic organisms, such as lizards, environmental temperatures directly influence physiological capabilities, and some species use different thermoregulation strategies that produce varied responses to local climatic conditions, which in turn affect species occurrence and community dynamics. In the context of global warming, these various strategies confer different types of vulnerability as well as risks of extinction. To assess the vulnerability of a species and understand the relationships between environmental variations, thermal tolerance of a species and community structure, lizard communities in forest-savanna transition areas of two national parks in the southwestern Amazon were sampled and their thermal functional traits were characterized. Then, we investigated how community structure and functional thermal variation were shaped by two environmental predictors (i.e., microclimates estimated locally and vegetation structure estimated from remote sensing). It was found that the community structure was more strongly predicted by the canopy surface reflectance values obtained via remote sensing than by microclimate variables. Environmental temperatures were not the most important factor affecting the occurrence of species, and the variations in ecothermal traits demonstrated a pattern within the taxonomic hierarchy at the family level. This pattern may indicate a tendency for evolutionary history to indirectly influence these functional features. Considering the estimates of the thermal tolerance range and warming tolerance, thermoconformer lizards are likely to be more vulnerable and at greater risk of extinction due to global warming than thermoregulators. The latter, more associated with open environments, seem to take advantage of their lower vulnerability and occur in both habitat types across the transition, potentially out-competing and further increasing the risk of extinction and vulnerability of forest-adapted thermoconformer lizards in these transitional areas.

Update of the geographic range of Humboldt's squirrel monkeys (Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis Lesson, 1840) using a model-based approach.

Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis (Cebidae) is a primate subspecies with a wide distribution in the Amazonian region of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. However, the boundaries of its geographic range remain poorly defined. This study presents new occurrence localities for this subspecies and updates its distribution using a compiled data set of 140 occurrence records based on literature, specimens vouchered in scientific collections, and new field data to produce model-based range maps. After cleaning our data set, we updated the subspecies' extent of occurrence, which was used in model calibration. We then modeled the subspecies' range using a maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). The final model was adjusted using a fixed threshold, and we revised this polygon based on known geographic barriers and parapatric congeneric ranges. Our findings indicate that this subspecies is strongly associated with lowland areas, with consistently high daily temperatures. We propose modifications to all range boundaries and estimate that 3% of the area of occupancy (AOO, as defined by IUCN) has already been lost due to deforestation, resulting in a current range of 224,469 km2. We also found that 54% of their AOO is currently covered by protected areas (PAs). Based on these results, we consider that this subspecies is currently properly classified as Least Concern, because it occupies an extensive range, which is relatively well covered by PAs, and is currently experiencing low rates of deforestation.

Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis (Cebidae) é uma subespécie de primata com ampla distribuição na região amazônica do Brasil, Colômbia e Venezuela. No entanto, os limites de sua distribuição geográfica permanecem mal definidos. Este estudo apresenta novas localidades de ocorrência para essa subespécie e atualiza sua distribuição usando 140 registros de ocorrência compilados com base na literatura, espécimes depositados em coleções científicas e novos registros de campo para produzir mapas de distribuição baseados em modelos. Após a limpeza do nosso banco de dados, atualizamos a extensão de ocorrência da subespécie, que foi usada na calibração do modelo. Em seguida, modelamos a área de distribuição da subespécie usando um algoritmo de entropia máxima (MaxEnt). O modelo final foi ajustado usando um limiar fixo e revisamos esse polígono com base em barreiras geográficas conhecidas e na distribuição de congêneres parapátricas. Nosso modelo sugere que a espécie é fortemente associada a áreas planas, com temperaturas diárias consistentemente altas. Propomos modificações em todos os limites da área de distribuição e estimamos que 3% da área de ocupação (AOO, conforme definida pela IUCN) da subespécie já foi perdida devido ao desmatamento, resultando em uma área de distribuição atual de 224,469 km2. Também estimamos que 54% de sua AOO encontra­se atualmente coberta por áreas protegidas. Com base nesses resultados, consideramos que a subespécie está apropriadamente classificada como Pouco Preocupante, pois ocupa uma área extensa, que é relativamente bem coberta por áreas protegidas e atualmente apresenta baixas taxas de desmatamento.