Testing the ectomycorrhizal-dominance hypothesis for ecosystem multifunctionality in a subtropical mountain forest.

Mycorrhizal associations are key mutualisms that shape the structure of forest communities and multiple ecosystem functions. However, we lack a framework for predicting the varying dominance of distinct mycorrhizal associations in an integrated proxy of multifunctionality across ecosystems. Here, we used the datasets containing diversity of mycorrhizal associations and 18 ecosystem processes related to supporting, provisioning, and regulating services to examine how the dominance of ectomycorrhiza (EcM) associations affects ecosystem multifunctionality in subtropical mountain forests in Southwest China. Meanwhile, we synthesized the prevalence of EcM-dominant effects on ecosystem functioning in forest biomes. Our results demonstrated that elevation significantly modified the distributions of EcM trees and fungal dominance, which in turn influenced multiple functions simultaneously. Multifunctionality increased with increasing proportion of EcM associations, supporting the ectomycorrhizal-dominance hypothesis. Meanwhile, we observed that the impacts of EcM dominance on individual ecosystem functions exhibited different relationships among forest biomes. Our findings highlight the importance of ectomycorrhizal dominance in regulating multifunctionality in subtropical forests. However, this ectomycorrhizal feedback in shaping ecosystem functions cannot necessarily be generalized across forests. Therefore, we argue that the predictions for ecosystem multifunctionality in response to the shifts of mycorrhizal composition could vary across space and time.

Meta-analysis shows forest soil CO2 effluxes are dependent on the disturbance regime and biome type.

Forest soil CO2 efflux (FCO2 ) is a crucial process in global carbon cycling; however, how FCO2 responds to disturbance regimes in different forest biomes is poorly understood. We quantified the effects of disturbance regimes on FCO2 across boreal, temperate, tropical and Mediterranean forests based on 1240 observations from 380 studies. Globally, climatic perturbations such as elevated CO2 concentration, warming and increased precipitation increase FCO2 by 13% to 25%. FCO2 is increased by forest conversion to grassland and elevated carbon input by forest management practices but reduced by decreased carbon input, fire and acid rain. Disturbance also changes soil temperature and water content, which in turn affect the direction and magnitude of disturbance influences on FCO2 . FCO2 is disturbance- and biome-type dependent and such effects should be incorporated into earth system models to improve the projection of the feedback between the terrestrial C cycle and climate change.

Half a century of multiple anthropogenic stressors has altered northern forest understory plant communities.

Boreal forests form the largest and least disturbed forest biome in the northern hemisphere. However, anthropogenic pressure from intensified forest management, eutrophication, and climate change may alter the ecosystem functions of understory vegetation and services boreal forests provide. Swedish forests span long gradients of climate, nitrogen deposition, and management intensity. This makes them ideal to study how the species composition and functions of other, more pristine, boreal forests might change under increased anthropogenic pressure. Moreover, the National Forest Inventory (NFI) has collected systematic data on Swedish forest vegetation since the mid-20th century. We use this data to quantify changes in vegetation types between two periods, 1953-1962 and 2003-2012. The results show changes in forest understory vegetation since the 1950s at scales not previously documented in the boreal biome. The spatial extent of most vegetation types changed significantly. Shade-adapted and nutrient-demanding species (those with high specific leaf area) have become more common at the expense of light-demanding and nutrient-conservative (low specific leaf area) species. The cover of ericaceous dwarf shrubs decreased dramatically. These effects were strongest where anthropogenic impacts were greatest, suggesting links to drivers such as nitrogen deposition and land-use change. These changes may impact ecosystem functions and services via effects on higher trophic levels and faster plant litter decomposition in the expanding vegetation types. This, in turn, may influence nutrient dynamics, and consequently ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration.

ATLANTIC AMPHIBIANS: a data set of amphibian communities from the Atlantic Forests of South America.

Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrates in the world and this is also true for those inhabiting the Atlantic Forest hotspot, living in ecosystems that are highly degraded and threatened by anthropogenic activities. We present a data set containing information about amphibian communities sampled throughout the Atlantic Forest Biome in South America. The data were extracted from 389 bibliographic references (articles, books, theses, and dissertations) representing inventories of amphibian communities from 1940 to 2017. The data set includes 17,619 records of 528 species with taxonomic certainty, from 1,163 study sites. Of all the records, 14,450 (82%) were classified using the criterion of endemism; of those, 7,787 (44%) were considered endemic and 6,663 (38%) were not. Historically, multiple sampling methods were used to survey amphibians, the most representative methods being active surveys (82.1%), surveys at breeding sites (20%), pitfall traps (15.3%), and occasional encounters (14.5%). Species richness averaged 15.2 ± 11.3 (mean ± SD), ranging from 1 to 80 species per site. We found a low dominance in the communities, with 10 species occurring in about 26% of communities: Physalaemus cuvieri (4.1%), Dendropsophus minutus (3.8%), Boana faber (3.1%), Scinax fuscovarius (2.8%), Leptodactylus latrans (2.7%), Leptodactylus fuscus (2.6%), Boana albopunctata (2.3%), Dendropsophus nanus (1.6%), Rhinella ornata (1.6%), and Leptodactylus mystacinus (1.6%). This data set represents a major effort to compile inventories of amphibian communities for the Neotropical region, filling a large gap in the data on the Atlantic Forest hotspot. We hope this data set can be used as a credible tool in the proposal of new studies on amphibian sampling and even in the development of conservation planning for these taxa. This information also has great relevance for macroecological studies, being foundational for both conservation and restoration strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set. Please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications or teaching events.

Topography-driven microclimate gradients shape forest structure, diversity, and composition in a temperate refugial forest.

Macroclimate drives vegetation distributions, but fine-scale topographic variation can generate microclimate refugia for plant persistence in unsuitable areas. However, we lack quantitative descriptions of topography-driven microclimatic variation and how it shapes forest structure, diversity, and composition. We hypothesized that topographic variation and the presence of the forest overstory cause spatiotemporal microclimate variation affecting tree performance, causing forest structure, diversity, and composition to vary with topography and microclimate, and topography and the overstory to buffer microclimate. In a 20.2-ha inventory plot in the North American Great Plains, we censused woody stems ≥1 cm in diameter and collected detailed topographic and microclimatic data. Across 59-m of elevation, microclimate covaried with topography to create a sharp desiccation gradient, and topography and the overstory buffered understory microclimate. The magnitude of microclimatic variation mirrored that of regional-scale variation: with increasing elevation, there was a decrease in soil moisture corresponding to the difference across ~2.1° of longitude along the east-to-west aridity gradient and an increase in air temperature corresponding to the difference across ~2.7° of latitude along the north-to-south gradient. More complex forest structure and higher diversity occurred in moister, less-exposed habitats, and species occupied distinct topographic niches. Our study demonstrates how topographic and microclimatic gradients structure forests in putative climate-change refugia, by revealing ecological processes enabling populations to be maintained during periods of unfavorable macroclimate.

Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analyses of the Winter-Blooming Eastern Asian Endemic Genus Chimonanthus (Calycanthaceae) With Implications For Its Phylogeny and Diversification.

Chimonanthus of Calycanthaceae is a small endemic genus in China, with unusual winter-blooming sweet flowers widely cultivated for ornamentals and medicinal uses. The evolution of Chimonanthus plastomes and its phylogenetic relationships remain unresolved due to limited availability of genetic resources. Here, we report fully assembled and annotated chloroplast genomes of five Chimonanthus species. The chloroplast genomes of the genus (size range 153,010 - 153,299 bp) reveal high similarities in gene content, gene order, GC content, codon usage, amino acid frequency, simple sequence repeats, oligonucleotide repeats, synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions, and transition and transversion substitutions. Signatures of positive selection are detected in atpF and rpoB genes in C. campanulatus. The correlations among substitutions, InDels, and oligonucleotide repeats reveal weak to strong correlations in distantly related species at the intergeneric levels, and very weak to weak correlations among closely related Chimonanthus species. Chloroplast genomes are used to reconstruct a well-resolved phylogenetic tree, which supports the monophyly of Chimonanthus. Within Chimonanthus, C. praecox and C. campanulatus form one clade, while C. grammatus, C. salicifolius, C. zhejiangensis, and C. nitens constitute another clade. Chimonanthus nitens appears paraphyletic and is closely related to C. salicifolius and C. zhejiangensis, suggesting the need to reevaluate the species delimitation of C. nitens. Chimonanthus and Calycanthus diverged in mid-Oligocene; the radiation of extant Chimonanthus species was dated to the mid-Miocene, while C. grammatus diverged from other Chimonanthus species in the late Miocene. C. salicifolius, C. nitens (a), and C. zhejiangensis are inferred to have diverged in the Pleistocene of the Quaternary period, suggesting recent speciation of a relict lineage in the subtropical forest regions in eastern China. This study provides important insights into the chloroplast genome features and evolutionary history of Chimonanthus and family Calycanthaceae.

Soil aeration rather than methanotrophic community drives methane uptake under drought in a subtropical forest.

Little information is available about the effects of drought on soil methane (CH4) uptake and the underlying feedback of the soil microbial community in forest biomes. More importantly, a meta-analysis of the current literature on this topic revealed that there are virtually no data available in subtropical forests. To fill the abovementioned knowledge gap, we carried out a 3-year investigation of in situ CH4 efflux under drought in a subtropical forest, and found that drought significantly increased soil CH4 uptake (P < 0.001). However, drought did not change oxidation potentials and abundances of methanotrophs, and similar methanotrophic communities were observed between the drought and ambient control sites based on metagenomic sequencing analysis. Active methanotrophic communities were dominated by the genus Methylosinus based on DNA stable-isotope probing analysis. Structural equation model analysis indicated that direct drought-derived pathway, i.e., increasing soil aerations, outweighs the indirect pathway, i.e., altering methanotrophic communities and activities, and plays a predominant role in driving soil CH4 uptake in forest ecosystems. To our knowledge, our work is the first study to investigate the effects of drought on in situ CH4 efflux and the underlying microbial mechanisms in subtropical forests.

Spotted fever group rickettsial infection in dogs and their ticks from domestic-wildlife interface areas in southeastern Brazil / Infecção por rickettsias do Grupo da Febre Maculosa em cães e carrapatos de áreas de interface doméstico-silvestre no sudeste Brasileiro

Abstract Rickettsia rickettsii is the causative agent of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), for which humans and dogs are both susceptible. Dogs are sentinels in serological surveys, however, canine disease is rarely reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate natural infection by spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. in dogs and ticks collected from domiciles close to forest fragments, featuring domestic-wildlife interface areas. Samples from 115 dogs and 135 ixodids were assessed by polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting the gltA gene for Rickettsia spp. and the ompA gene for the SFG rickettsial species. One dog (0.87%; 1/115) was positive for R. rickettsii. This dog presented nonspecific laboratory and clinical abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, hyperproteinemia, lymph node enlargement, emaciation, anorexia, and lethargy). Rickettsia parkeri was identified in 2.96% (4/135) of the ticks (Amblyomma sculptum, A. aureolatum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus). This study confirmed the presence of SFG bacteria in non-endemic and preserved locations, where domestic and wild populations interact. We reinforce the fact that the dog is susceptible to natural R. rickettsii infection. Although this is a rare finding, preventive measures should be taken against BSF in the studied areas. Finally, R. parkeri infection is possibly being demonstrated in A. sculptum for the first time.

Resumo Rickettsia rickettsii é o agente causador da Febre Maculosa Brasileira (FMB), doença na qual humanos e cães são susceptíveis. Os cães são sentinelas nos inquéritos sorológicos, contudo, a doença canina é raramente descrita. Assim sendo, objetivou-se avaliar a infecção natural por Rickettsia spp. do Grupo da Febre Maculosa (GFM) em cães e carrapatos obtidos de domicílios próximos a fragmentos de mata, caracterizando áreas de interface doméstico-silvestre. Amostras de 115 cães e 135 ixodídeos foram avaliadas pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) tendo como alvo o gene gltA de Rickettsia spp. e o gene ompA das espécies do GFM. Um cão (0,87%; 1/115) foi positivo para R. rickettsii. Este animal apresentou alterações clínicas e laboratoriais inespecíficas (trombocitopenia, hiperproteinemia, linfonodos edemaciados, emagrecimento, anorexia e letargia). Rickettsia parkeri foi identificada em 2,96% (4/135) dos carrapatos (Amblyomma sculptum, A. aureolatum e Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Este estudo confirmou a presença de bactérias do GFM em locais preservados e não endêmicos, onde populações domésticas e silvestres interagem. Reforçamos o fato do cão ser susceptível à infecção natural por R. rickettsii. Embora este seja um achado raro, medidas preventivas devem ser tomadas contra a FMB nas áreas estudadas. Em última análise, a infecção por R. parkeri possivelmente está sendo demonstrada pela primeira vez em A. sculptum.

New systematic position of Itatingamyia Albuquerque (Diptera, Muscidae) based on molecular evidence, and description of the female of I. couriae

ABSTRACT ItatingamyiaAlbuquerque, 1979 is rare in collections, with only nine specimens preserved in museums. Two species are known, and their placement within Muscidae was never tested using molecular data. Here, we estimate the position of Itatingamyia within Muscidae with mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (AATS, CAD, and EF1-α) markers using Maximum likelihood and Bayesian posterior probabilities as optimality criteria. According to our results, we propose to classify Itatingamyia as a Cyrtoneurininae. We also describe the previously unknown female and egg of Itatingamyia couriaeHaseyama and de Carvalho, 2011 and expand the known distribution of this species to the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, through the discovery of 13 new specimens there. We also argue that Itatingamyia distribution is restricted to Atlantic Forest areas.

Faunistic analyses of fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in orchards surrounded by Atlantic Forest fragments in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Paraná state, Brazil / Análise faunística de moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) em pomares rodeados por fragmentos da Mata Atlântica na região metropolitana de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

Abstract The objective of this trial was to characterize the assemblage structure of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) by determining the diversity and faunal indices. Fruit flies were collected for ten years between 2003 and 2015 in six municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Paraná. The orchards were divided into three crop protection strategies: organic, conventional, and integrated pest management. The characteristic of each community was determined using the Shannon-Wiener, Margalef, and Pielou's indexes. The frequency, constancy, and dominance indexes were also determined. Biological material was analyzed using the explanatory variables: site, crop, plant protection strategy, and susceptibility period. A total of 8,089 fruit flies were collected, of which 4,681 were females. The species Anastrepha daciformis Bezzi, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene and A. pickeli Lima were recorded for the first time in Paraná State, the occurrence of three other species was recorded for the first time in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (A. montei Lima, A. obliqua Macquart, and A. sororcula Zucchi), in addition A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. grandis (Macquart) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). A. fraterculus accounted for 98.5% of the collected species. Only A. fraterculus and A. sororcula were found in fruits. Fruit flies occurred predominantly in peach trees cultivated under organic conditions. The Shannon index indicated that the municipality of Cerro Azul had the highest diversity and richness whereas apple orchards had the lowest diversity. Crops cultivated under organic conditions exhibited the highest diversity whereas those cultivated under conventional conditions had the highest evenness index. The largest specimens number was collected during the period of crop susceptibility.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar agrupamento de espécies de moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) pela determinação da diversidade e dos índices faunísticos. As moscas-das-frutas foram coletadas por dez anos entre 2003 e 2015 em seis municípios da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, no Paraná. Os pomares foram divididos em três estratégias de proteção de culturas: orgânica, convencional e integrada. A característica de cada comunidade foi determinada usando os índices de Shannon-Wiener, Margalef e Pielou. Os índices de freqüência, constância e dominância também foram determinados. O material biológico foi analisado utilizando as variáveis explicativas: local, cultura, estratégia de proteção e período de susceptibilidade. Foram coletadas 8.089 moscas-das-frutas, sendo 4.681 fêmeas. As espécies Anastrepha daciformis Bezzi, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene e A. pickeli Lima foram registradas pela primeira vez no Estado do Paraná, e pela primeira vez, na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, as espécies A. montei Lima, A. obliqua Macquart e A. sororcula Zucchi), além de A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. grandis (Macquart) e Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). A. fraterculus foi responsável por 98,5% das espécies coletadas. Apenas A. fraterculus e A. sororcula foram encontrados em frutos. As moscas-das-frutas ocorreram predominantemente em pessegueiros cultivados sob condições orgânicas. O índice de Shannon indicou que o município de Cerro Azul teve a maior diversidade e riqueza, enquanto que a cultura macieira teve a menor diversidade. As culturas sob condição orgânica exibiram a maior diversidade, enquanto as cultivadas em condições convencionais apresentaram o maior índice de uniformidade. O maior número de espécimes foi coletado durante o período de suscetibilidade à cultura.

Entomogen galls in a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest area in Sorocaba, Southeast of São Paulo State, Brazil / Galhas entomógenas em uma área de Mata Estacional Semidecidual em Sorocaba, Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract: In this paper we studied the occurrence of insect galls and gall makers in a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest area in Sorocaba Municipality, Southeast of São Paulo State, Brazil. One hundred and thirteen morphotypes of galls on 54 species of host plants of 24 different families were found. The families of host plants richer in gall morphotypes were Fabaceae (N = 26) and Malpighiaceae (N = 19); the super host plants species were Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Fabaceae) (N = 16), Stigmaphyllon lalandianum (Aubl.) Marchand (Malpighiaceae) (N = 11), Protium heptaphyllum A. Juss. (Burseraceae) (N = 10), Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil. (Sapindaceae) (N = 5). Most of the galls were found empty, but insects of the family Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) were responsible for the induction of 92% (N = 11) of the galls and Hymenoptera (N = 1) for 8%. We registered insects of the order Hymenoptera (N = 11) as parasitoids and as successors Hemiptera (N = 8), Acari (N = 7), Psocoptera (N = 4), Hymenoptera (Formicidae, N = 2), Collembola and Thysanoptera (N = 1 each). Two species of Cecidomyiidae with inquiline habit were also obtained, Neolasioptera sp. and Trotteria sp. Five plant species were registered as hosts for cecidomyiids for the first time: Aloysia virgata (Ruiz & Pav.) Juss., Calliandra foliolosa Benth., Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC., Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil., and Tapirira guianiensis Aubl. This is the first study of gall characterization, gall makers and associated fauna of the Southeast of the State of São Paulo.

Resumo: Neste trabalho, estudamos a ocorrência de galhas entomógenas e insetos galhadores em uma área de Mata Estacional Semidecidual em Sorocaba, Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Cento e treze morfotipos de galhas em 54 espécies de plantas hospedeiras de 24 famílias distintas foram encontradas. As famílias de plantas hospedeiras mais ricas em morfotipos de galhas foram Fabaceae (N=26) e Malpighiaceae (N=19) e as espécies de plantas super hospedeiras foram Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Fabaceae) (N = 16), Stigmaphyllon lalandianum (Aubl.) Marchand (Malpighiaceae) (N = 11), Protium heptaphyllum A. Juss. (Burseraceae) (N = 10), Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil. (Sapindaceae) (N = 5). A maioria das galhas foi encontrada vazia, mas insetos da família Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) foram responsáveis pela indução de 92% (N=11) das galhas e Hymenoptera (N = 1) por 8%. Nós registramos insetos da Ordem Hymenoptera (N = 11) como parasitoides e Hemiptera (N = 8), Acari (N = 7), Psocoptera (N = 4), Hymenoptera (Formicidae, N = 2), Collembola e Thysanoptera (N = 1 cada) como successores. Duas espécies de Cecidomyiidae com hábito inquilino também foram obtidas, Neolasioptera sp. e Trotteria sp. Cinco espécies de plantas foram registradas como hospedeiras para cecidomiídeos pela primeira vez: Aloysia virgata (Ruiz & Pav.) Juss., Calliandra foliolosa Benth., Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC., Serjania lethalis A.St.-Hil. e Tapirira guianiensis Aubl. Este é o primeiro estudo de caracterização de galhas entomógenas, galhadores e fauna do Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo.

Litomosoides silvai (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitizing Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the southern region of Brazil

Abstract In the present study, Litomosoides silvai parasitizing Akodon montensis in the southern region of Brazil is reported for the first time. New morphological information is provided for some structures of this nematode species, such as a flattened cephalic extremity, presence of two dorsal cephalic papillae, female tail with a constriction at its tip, s shaped vagina, spicules characteristic of the carinii species group and microfilaria tail constricted at the tip. This nematode was found parasitizing the thoracic cavity with a prevalence of 10% (2/20), mean intensity of 4 (6/2), mean abundance of 0.4 (8/20) and range of infection of 2-6 specimens per host, in southern Brazil. This occurrence of L. silvai in A. montensis is a new geographical record for southern Brazil, in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion of the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, which is part of the Atlantic Forest biome.

Resumo No presente estudo é relatado pela primeira vez Litomosoides silvai parasitando Akodon montensis coletados na região Sul do Brasil. Foram fornecidas novas informações morfológicas para algumas estruturas desta espécie de nematódeo, tais como extremidade cefálica achatada, a presença de duas papilas cefálicas dorsais, cauda das fêmeas com uma constrição na ponta da cauda, vagina em forma de s, espículas de característica do grupo de espécies de carinii e cauda da microfilária com constrição na ponta. Este nematódeo parasitava a cavidade torácica com uma prevalência de 10% (2/20), intensidade média de 4 (8/2) e abundância média de 0,4 (8/20), e intervalo de infecção de 2-6 espécimes por hospedeiro no Sul do Brasil. A ocorrência de L. silvai em A. montensis é um novo registro geográfico, no sul do Brasil, a noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, na ecorregião da Mata Atlântica do Alto Paraná, parte do bioma da Mata Atlântica.

Faunistic analyses of fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in orchards surrounded by Atlantic Forest fragments in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Paraná state, Brazil

Abstract The objective of this trial was to characterize the assemblage structure of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) by determining the diversity and faunal indices. Fruit flies were collected for ten years between 2003 and 2015 in six municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Paraná. The orchards were divided into three crop protection strategies: organic, conventional, and integrated pest management. The characteristic of each community was determined using the Shannon-Wiener, Margalef, and Pielous indexes. The frequency, constancy, and dominance indexes were also determined. Biological material was analyzed using the explanatory variables: site, crop, plant protection strategy, and susceptibility period. A total of 8,089 fruit flies were collected, of which 4,681 were females. The species Anastrepha daciformis Bezzi, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene and A. pickeli Lima were recorded for the first time in Paraná State, the occurrence of three other species was recorded for the first time in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (A. montei Lima, A. obliqua Macquart, and A. sororcula Zucchi), in addition A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. grandis (Macquart) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). A. fraterculus accounted for 98.5% of the collected species. Only A. fraterculus and A. sororcula were found in fruits. Fruit flies occurred predominantly in peach trees cultivated under organic conditions. The Shannon index indicated that the municipality of Cerro Azul had the highest diversity and richness whereas apple orchards had the lowest diversity. Crops cultivated under organic conditions exhibited the highest diversity whereas those cultivated under conventional conditions had the highest evenness index. The largest specimens number was collected during the period of crop susceptibility.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar agrupamento de espécies de moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) pela determinação da diversidade e dos índices faunísticos. As moscas-das-frutas foram coletadas por dez anos entre 2003 e 2015 em seis municípios da Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, no Paraná. Os pomares foram divididos em três estratégias de proteção de culturas: orgânica, convencional e integrada. A característica de cada comunidade foi determinada usando os índices de Shannon-Wiener, Margalef e Pielou. Os índices de freqüência, constância e dominância também foram determinados. O material biológico foi analisado utilizando as variáveis explicativas: local, cultura, estratégia de proteção e período de susceptibilidade. Foram coletadas 8.089 moscas-das-frutas, sendo 4.681 fêmeas. As espécies Anastrepha daciformis Bezzi, A. dissimilis Stone, A. distincta Greene e A. pickeli Lima foram registradas pela primeira vez no Estado do Paraná, e pela primeira vez, na Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, as espécies A. montei Lima, A. obliqua Macquart e A. sororcula Zucchi), além de A. fraterculus (Wiedemann), A. grandis (Macquart) e Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). A. fraterculus foi responsável por 98,5% das espécies coletadas. Apenas A. fraterculus e A. sororcula foram encontrados em frutos. As moscas-das-frutas ocorreram predominantemente em pessegueiros cultivados sob condições orgânicas. O índice de Shannon indicou que o município de Cerro Azul teve a maior diversidade e riqueza, enquanto que a cultura macieira teve a menor diversidade. As culturas sob condição orgânica exibiram a maior diversidade, enquanto as cultivadas em condições convencionais apresentaram o maior índice de uniformidade. O maior número de espécimes foi coletado durante o período de suscetibilidade à cultura.

Litomosoides silvai (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitizing Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the southern region of Brazil / Litomosoides silvai (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitando Akodon montensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) na região Sul do Brasil

Abstract In the present study, Litomosoides silvai parasitizing Akodon montensis in the southern region of Brazil is reported for the first time. New morphological information is provided for some structures of this nematode species, such as a flattened cephalic extremity, presence of two dorsal cephalic papillae, female tail with a constriction at its tip, "s" shaped vagina, spicules characteristic of the carinii species group and microfilaria tail constricted at the tip. This nematode was found parasitizing the thoracic cavity with a prevalence of 10% (2/20), mean intensity of 4 (6/2), mean abundance of 0.4 (8/20) and range of infection of 2-6 specimens per host, in southern Brazil. This occurrence of L. silvai in A. montensis is a new geographical record for southern Brazil, in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion of the northwestern region of Rio Grande do Sul, which is part of the Atlantic Forest biome.

Resumo No presente estudo é relatado pela primeira vez Litomosoides silvai parasitando Akodon montensis coletados na região Sul do Brasil. Foram fornecidas novas informações morfológicas para algumas estruturas desta espécie de nematódeo, tais como extremidade cefálica achatada, a presença de duas papilas cefálicas dorsais, cauda das fêmeas com uma constrição na ponta da cauda, vagina em forma de "s", espículas de característica do grupo de espécies de carinii e cauda da microfilária com constrição na ponta. Este nematódeo parasitava a cavidade torácica com uma prevalência de 10% (2/20), intensidade média de 4 (8/2) e abundância média de 0,4 (8/20), e intervalo de infecção de 2-6 espécimes por hospedeiro no Sul do Brasil. A ocorrência de L. silvai em A. montensis é um novo registro geográfico, no sul do Brasil, a noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, na ecorregião da Mata Atlântica do Alto Paraná, parte do bioma da Mata Atlântica.

Land use changes after the period commodities rising price in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil / Mudanças no uso da terra depois do período de aumento de preço das commodities no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

ABSTRACT: At the end of the 20th and early 21st century, agricultural systems incorporated definitively a new mission: to generate goods for a world population that continues to grow and whose way of life demand food with low environmental impact. Soybean is the main raw material for the production of biodiesel in Brazil, accountably responsible for 82.4% of the total produced between 2006 and 2013. The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), which is formed by the Pampa and the Atlantic forest biomes, was responsible for 35.7% of the country's biodiesel production in the referred period. The aim of this paper was to verify the impact of the increased area of soybean cultivation in land use in Rio Grande do Sul State, in the period between 1990 and 2015, considering separately its two biomes (Pampa and Atlantic Forest) original areas, using both census dataset and satellite images. We used the period from 1990 to 2000 as before commodity rising price (BCRP) and the period from 2000 to 2013 as commodity rising price (CRP). The 505,162 ha from Atlantic Forest biome and 1,192,115ha from Pampa biome were added to soybean production in the CRP period. In the Atlantic Forest, this enlargement occurred in the border of the main production area, while in Pampa biome conversion of natural grassland to crop land was the main reason for the large increment in the cultivated area.

RESUMO: No final do século XX e início do século XXI, os sistemas agrícolas incorporaram definitivamente uma nova missão: gerar energia para uma população mundial que continua a crescer e que demanda por seu modo de vida, não só alimentos, mas também, cada vez mais energia, principalmente, energia com baixo impacto ambiental. A soja permaneceu a principal matéria-prima para a produção de biodiesel no Brasil, no período de 2006 a 2013, em que foi responsável por 82,4%, sendo o estado do RS responsável por 35,7% do total da produção brasileira de biodiesel. O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar o impacto do aumento da área de cultivo de soja no uso da terra no Rio Grande do Sul, no período entre 1990 e 2015. Considera-se, separadamente, as áreas originais de seus dois biomas (Pampa e Mata Atlântica), usando o conjunto de dados do IBGE e imagens de satélite. Utilizou-se o período de 1990 a 2000 como o período anterior ao da suba de preços de commodities (BCRP) e, o período de 2000 a 2013 como período de aumento do preço das commodities (CRP). Um total de 505.162ha do bioma Mata Atlântica e de 1.192.115ha do bioma Pampa foram incorporados à produção de soja no período CRP. No bioma Mata Atlântica, o aumento ocorreu nos limites da área cultivada, enquanto que no bioma Pampa através da conversão da área com pastagem nativa.