Bat flies aggregation on Artibeus planirostris hosts in the Pantanal floodplain and surrounding plateaus.

For parasites in natural systems, the most common pattern of spatial distribution is aggregation among hosts. The main causes of such aggregation are variable exposure of hosts to parasites and heterogeneity in host susceptibility. The objective of this study was to determine if there are differences in the aggregation pattern of two species of ectoparasitic flies between the Pantanal and Cerrado regions of Brazil on the bat Artibeus planirostris. We collected the ectoparasites from bats captured between 2002 and 2017 with mist nets in 21 sites in the Pantanal and 15 sites in the surrounding plateaus. The results showed that the aggregation of ectoparasitic flies in Pantanal was more pronounced than in Cerrado. The discrepancy aggregation index (D) of the bat fly Megistopoda aranea was 0.877 in Pantanal and 0.724 in Cerrado. The D values of Aspidoptera phyllostomatis was even higher, with 0.916 and 0.848 in the Pantanal and Cerrado, respectively. Differences in the shelters used may be the main factor shaping variation in aggregation, since the Pantanal does not have rock formations, with only foliage, crowns and hollow tree trunks. These differences likely affect host exposure to the parasites, leading to an increase in parasite aggregation.

Polluting macrophytes Colombian lake Fúquene used as substrate by edible fungus Pleurotus ostreatus.

Invasive aquatic plants from Lake Fúquene (Cundinamarca, Colombia), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes C. Mart.) and Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa Planch.) have been removed mechanically from the lake and can be used for edible mushrooms production. The growth of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on these aquatic macrophytes was investigated in order to evaluate the possible use of fruiting bodies and spent biomass in food production for human and animal nutrition, respectively. Treatments included: water hyacinth, Brazilian elodea, sawdust, rice hulls and their combinations, inoculated with P. ostreatus at 3%. Water hyacinth mixed with sawdust stimulated significantly fruiting bodies production (P = 3.3 × 10(-7)) with 71% biological efficacy, followed by water hyacinth with rice husk (55%) and elodea with rice husk (48%), all of these have protein contents between 26 and 47%. Loss of lignin (0.9-21.6%), cellulose (3.7-58.3%) and hemicellulose (1.9-53.8%) and increment in vitro digestibility (16.7-139.3%) and reducing sugars (73.4-838.4%) were observed in most treatments. Treatments spent biomass presented Relative Forage Values (RFV) from 46.1 to 232.4%. The results demonstrated the fungus degrading ability and its potential use in aquatic macrophytes conversion biomass into digestible ruminant feed as added value to the fruiting bodies production for human nutrition.

Bat fauna of Mato Grosso do Sul, southwestern Brazil / Fauna de morcegos de Mato Grosso do Sul, sudoeste do Brasil

Bats have been increasingly studied in the last 15 years in Mato Grosso do Sul, and several records were not yet considered in reviews of South American bat distributions. Here, we present the bat species and their distributions in Mato Grosso do Sul based mainly on data compilation from literature, but also on complementary information from zoological collections, and our and colleagues’ unpublished records. We found 74 species of bats within 42 genera and seven families already reported in Mato Grosso do Sul. Bat species in this state represent 44% of the Brazilian’s bat species (≅ 169) and 7% of the world’s bat richness (≅ 1120). Phyllostomidae (42) and Molossidae (17) were the richest families. Four species formerly cited for Mato Grosso do Sul are not supported by our compilation, and other 15 species recorded in the vicinity are listed as potential occurrences in this state. We additionally found controversial traits for specimens of Platyrrhinus helleri, and report Eumops dabbenei for the first time in Brazil. Most species were recorded in the regions of Cerrado (60) or Pantanal (57) in Mato Grosso do Sul, but only 16 in the Atlantic Forest. Records of Phyllostomidae species were mostly found in Cerrado and those of Molossidae, in Pantanal. Records in Mato Grosso do Sul determine edges of distribution for at least 22 species of South American bats. The overall known chiropteran fauna of Mato Grosso do Sul is highly diverse and new findings are expected through additional surveys.

Morcegos têm sido estudados intensivamente em Mato Grosso do Sul nos últimos 15 anos, e vários registros ainda não foram considerados em revisões sobre a distribuição de morcegos sul-americanos. Apresentamos aqui as espécies de morcegos e suas distribuições em Mato Grosso do Sul principalmente com base em dados compilados da literatura, mas também com base em dados complementares de coleção zoológica, e de registros inéditos nossos e de colegas. Encontramos 74 espécies de morcegos pertencentes a 42 gêneros e sete famílias em Mato Grosso do Sul. A riqueza de morcegos nesse estado representa 44% das espécies brasileiras de morcegos (≅ 169) e 7% da riqueza mundial de morcegos (≅ 1120). Phyllostomidae (42) e Molossidae (17) foram as famílias mais ricas. Quatro espécies reportadas anteriormente para Mato Grosso do Sul não são sustentadas com base em nossa compilação, e outras 15 espécies registradas na vizinhança são listadas como ocorrências potenciais no estado. Adicionalmente, encontramos características controversas em espécimes de Platyrrhinus helleri, e reportamos Eumops dabbenei pela primeira vez no Brasil. A maioria das espécies foi registrada nas regiões de Cerrado (60) ou Pantanal (57) em Mato Grosso do Sul, e apenas 16 em Mata Atlântica. Registros de Phyllostomidae foram encontrados principalmente em Cerrado e de Molossidae, no Pantanal. Sítios em Mato Grosso do Sul determinam limites de distribuição para pelo menos 22 espécies de morcegos sul americanos. A fauna de morcegos conhecida em Mato Grosso do Sul é bastante diversa, e novos registros são esperados por meio de inventários adicionais.

Ocorrência de Vampyressa pusilla (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no Pantanal sul / Occurrence of Vampyressa pusilla (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in Southern Pantanal

Espécies de Vampyressa Thomas, 1900, são localmente raras e amplamente distribuídas nos Neotrópicos. Ocorrem desde o sul do México até o sul da bacia Amazônica e do sudeste da América do Sul até o Paraguai. Vampyressa pusilla (Wagner, 1843) e V. thyone Thomas, 1909 - anteriormente consideradas uma espécie - apresentam distribuição disjunta, a primeira é considerada endêmica da Mata Atlântica e a segunda ocorre do noroeste da América do Sul ao sul do México. Adicionalmente, V. pusilla tem sido registrada em Cerrado e florestas secas (Chaco). Reportamos aqui a ocorrência de V. pusilla na planície inundável do Pantanal, oeste do Brasil. Provavelmente este é o primeiro registro do gênero Vampyressa neste ecossistema, ampliando a distribuição geográfica de V. pusilla para o oeste brasileiro, em direção aos limites de distribuição de V. thyone.

Species of Vampyressa Thomas, 1900 are locally uncommon and widespread in the Neotropics. They are known to occur from southern Mexico to southern Amazon basin and from southeastern South America to Paraguay. Vampyressa pusilla (Wagner, 1843) and V. thyone Thomas, 1909 - previously considered one species - show a disjointed distribution. The former is considered endemic to the Atlantic forest and the other occurs from northwestern South America to southern Mexico. In addition, V. pusilla has been registered in savanna (Cerrado) and dry forests (Chaco). We report here the occurrence of V. pusilla in the Pantanal wetlands, western Brazil. It is probably the first record of the genus Vampyressa in such an ecosystem, increasing the geographical range of V. pusilla to western Brazil, towards the V. thyone distribution limits.

Primeiro registro do morcego Mimon crenulatum (Phyllostomidae) no Pantanal, sudoeste do Brasil / x

Espécies do gênero Mimon Gray, 1847, ocorrem desde o México até a Bolívia central e sudeste do Brasil, entre as latitudes 22° N e 25° S. Aproximadamente entre 14e 25° S de latitude, a ocorrência conhecida de Mimon é restrita ao leste brasileiro, na Mata Atlântica. Apenas em latitudes menores que 14° S as espécies de Mimon adicionalmente ocorrem na região central e oeste da América do Sul, na Amazônia, Cerrado e Caatinga. Mimon crenulatum (E. Geoffroy, 1810) é localmente rara porém ocorre amplamente dentro dos limites de distribuição do gênero. Reportamos aqui a ocorrência de Mimon crenulatum a ca. 20° de latitude sul na planície inundável do Pantanal, oeste do Brasil. Provavelmente este é o primeiro registro do gênero Mimon neste ecossistema, ampliando a distribuição geográfica de M. crenulatum para o oeste brasileiro em latitudes maiores que 14° S.

Species of Mimon Gray, 1847, are known to occur from Mexico to central Bolivia and southeastern Brazil, ranging from 22° N to 25° S of latitude. In latitudes between 14and 25° S, approximately, the known occurrence of Mimon is restricted to east Brazil, in the Atlantic rainforest. Only in latitudes lower than 14° S the species of Mimon additionally occurs in central and western South America, in the Amazon, Cerrado and Caatinga. Mimon crenulatum (E. Geoffroy, 1810) is locally uncommon but widespread over the range of the genus distribution. We report here the occurrence of M. crenulatum at ca. 20° S of latitude in the Pantanal wetlands, western Brazil. It is probably the first record of the genus Mimon in this ecosystem, and it increases the geographic range of M. crenulatum distribution to western Brazil in latitudes greater than 14° S.