Resumo
The current study aimed to evaluate the diet of Monodelphis glirina (Wagner, 1842) in forest fragments of Alta Floresta, located in the south of the Amazon, state of Mato Grosso. The diet was determined by the analysis of the stomach contents from 57 subjects sampled between May and September 2009. Nine food categories were present: Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diplopoda, Nematoda, seeds, miscellaneous, hair and bait leftovers (banana and peanut butter). Coleoptera was the category eaten most frequently, rating 50% of abundance and 91.22% of occurrence. "Seeds" were the least abundant (0.11%) and rated 1.75% in occurrence, probably because seeds are easy to digest. The size of the fragments negatively and significantly influenced the amount of Coleoptera in the diet. The rainy season seemed to have significant influence over the abundance of arthropods in the diet. The items in the diet suggest that M. glirina is opportunistic and has a generalist diet, tending to be insectivore when living in the forest and exploring the food resources according to their availability.
Resumo
The current study aimed to evaluate the diet of Monodelphis glirina (Wagner, 1842) in forest fragments of Alta Floresta, located in the south of the Amazon, state of Mato Grosso. The diet was determined by the analysis of the stomach contents from 57 subjects sampled between May and September 2009. Nine food categories were present: Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diplopoda, Nematoda, seeds, miscellaneous, hair and bait leftovers (banana and peanut butter). Coleoptera was the category eaten most frequently, rating 50% of abundance and 91.22% of occurrence. "Seeds" were the least abundant (0.11%) and rated 1.75% in occurrence, probably because seeds are easy to digest. The size of the fragments negatively and significantly influenced the amount of Coleoptera in the diet. The rainy season seemed to have significant influence over the abundance of arthropods in the diet. The items in the diet suggest that M. glirina is opportunistic and has a generalist diet, tending to be insectivore when living in the forest and exploring the food resources according to their availability.
Resumo
The current study aimed to evaluate the diet of Monodelphis glirina (Wagner, 1842) in forest fragments of Alta Floresta, located in the south of the Amazon, state of Mato Grosso. The diet was determined by the analysis of the stomach contents from 57 subjects sampled between May and September 2009. Nine food categories were present: Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diplopoda, Nematoda, seeds, miscellaneous, hair and bait leftovers (banana and peanut butter). Coleoptera was the category eaten most frequently, rating 50% of abundance and 91.22% of occurrence. "Seeds" were the least abundant (0.11%) and rated 1.75% in occurrence, probably because seeds are easy to digest. The size of the fragments negatively and significantly influenced the amount of Coleoptera in the diet. The rainy season seemed to have significant influence over the abundance of arthropods in the diet. The items in the diet suggest that M. glirina is opportunistic and has a generalist diet, tending to be insectivore when living in the forest and exploring the food resources according to their availability.
Resumo
An habitat use study of mammals was carried out in three habitats of the Cerrado at Serra das Araras Ecological Station, Mato Grosso: stream gallery forest, babaçu (Orbigyna marciana) palm forest, and cerrado scrub savanna. Sampling was accomplished using baited photographic camera traps triggered by infrared sensor and/or trip cord. Camera traps were armed at each sampling locality for ten consecutive days for totalling 560 camera-nights. Seventeen species of mammals were registered, including threatened or endangered species such as the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), puma (Puma concolor), and ocelote (Leopardus pardalis). Puma (Puma concolor), paca (Agouti paca), agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris), were photographed frequently, suggesting high population densities of these species at Serra das Araras. Puma appeared to be the most generalist of the large mammals, using all three habitat types. The majority of species were photographed only in forest habitats. In cerrado (sensu stricto), only three species were recorded: puma, giant anteater, and giant armadillo. The results suggest that conservation of the cerrado and associated habitats is of fundamental importance for the preservation of several threatened and endangered species.
Resumo
An habitat use study of mammals was carried out in three habitats of the Cerrado at Serra das Araras Ecological Station, Mato Grosso: stream gallery forest, babaçu (Orbigyna marciana) palm forest, and cerrado scrub savanna. Sampling was accomplished using baited photographic camera traps triggered by infrared sensor and/or trip cord. Camera traps were armed at each sampling locality for ten consecutive days for totalling 560 camera-nights. Seventeen species of mammals were registered, including threatened or endangered species such as the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), puma (Puma concolor), and ocelote (Leopardus pardalis). Puma (Puma concolor), paca (Agouti paca), agouti (Dasyprocta punctata), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris), were photographed frequently, suggesting high population densities of these species at Serra das Araras. Puma appeared to be the most generalist of the large mammals, using all three habitat types. The majority of species were photographed only in forest habitats. In cerrado (sensu stricto), only three species were recorded: puma, giant anteater, and giant armadillo. The results suggest that conservation of the cerrado and associated habitats is of fundamental importance for the preservation of several threatened and endangered species.