Abundance of the bat Sturnira lilium (Phyllostomidae) in relation Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae) diaspores in an Atlantic Forest fragment of southern Brazil.

Frugivore bats are important seed dispersers in forests and their abundance are associated with the presence of zoochoric plants. In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the association of the frugivore bat S. lilium with the diaspores of the zoochoric plant S. mauritianum, a common arboreal species present in forest fragments of southern Brazil. We also investigated the diet of the species based on seed content present in feces of individuals. Bats were mist-netted from November 2017 to April 2018 in a fragment of Atlantic Forest. The proportion of immature and mature diaspores of S. mauritianum was estimated in the same area where bats were sampled, and feces were sampled from captured individuals. In total, 61 individuals of S. lilium were captured, and 795 seeds were sampled from their feces. The abundance of S. lilium was significantly associated with the proportion of immature diaspores of S. mauritianum. We identified seeds of two botanical families: Solanaceae (89%) and Moraceae (11%) in the fecal samples. Our findings support the view that S. lilium is a legitimate disperser of S. mauritianum, and that its ecological function is probably a result of co-adaptation.

Contrasting environmental conditions precluded lower availability of Antarctic krill affecting breeding chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Dramatic decreases of chinstrap penguin populations across the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are thought to be influenced by climate-driven changes affecting its main prey, the Antarctic krill, however, empirical evidence supporting such hypotheses are scarce. By coupling data on breeding chinstrap penguins, environmental remote sensing and estimates of krill acoustic density, we were able to demonstrate that penguins substantially increased their foraging effort in a year of low krill availability, with consequent reduction in breeding success. A winter of low sea ice cover followed by a summer/spring with stronger wind and lower marine productivity explained the lower and deeper krill availability. Our results highlight the importance of environmental variability on penguin populations, as variability is expected to increase under climate change, affecting foraging behaviour responses.

Anthropogenic debris in an Antarctic Specially Protected Area in the maritime Antarctic.

Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) provide the strongest environmental protection in Antarctica. However, they are not immune from anthropogenic pollution of marine or terrestrial origin. We document anthropogenic debris within ASPA No. 133 Harmony Point, Nelson Island, recovering 1544 items between November 2019 and January 2020. The majority (82.6 %) were found close to a national operator-constructed refuge and were smaller than 5 cm. Larger items (up to 300 cm) were present on beaches and plateaus. Charcoal and rubber were the most abundant items around the refuge and plastic and metal were the most abundant items on beaches and plateaus. Debris items likely arriving in the area by marine transportation (e.g. plastic) are of concern due to both risk of ingestion and their degradation leading to the release of hazardous chemicals. Such pollution contravenes the terms of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and other regionally applicable regulations.

Oxidative state of the frugivorous bat Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in agricultural and urban areas of southern Brazil.

Exposure to contaminants is one of the main threats to all living organisms. In this context, bats have been used to indicate environmental contaminants in urban and agricultural environments, since they are extremely sensitive to changes in the ecosystem and easily accumulate waste in their body tissues. Among bats, Sturnira lilium, is a frugivorous species widely distributed and abundant in Brazil that uses an extensive variety of habitats and shelters. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative state of S. lilium individuals in agricultural and urban areas in southern Brazil. Individuals were sampled in agricultural and urban areas from November 2017 to March 2018 through the mist-net method. Parameters of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, non-protein thiols (NPSH), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were determined based on liver tissue. A total of 46 individuals were captured, 29 of them in urban areas and 17 in agricultural areas. We found that S. lilium individuals from agricultural areas showed a significant increase in TBARS, NPSH, and SOD activity, compared to individuals from urban areas. The activity of the antioxidant enzyme CAT did not differ. The present findings suggest that the species S. lilium, which are widely distributed and abundant in Brazil in urban and agricultural areas, can usefully be employed in biomonitoring programs. Further studies are to be encouraged to refine our knowledge on the potential DNA damage caused by environmental contamination, as well as identify potential contaminants to bats.