MelastomaTRAITs 1.0: A database of functional traits in Melastomataceae, a large pantropical angiosperm family.

The recent availability of open-access repositories of functional traits has revolutionized trait-based approaches in ecology and evolution. Nevertheless, the underrepresentation of tropical regions and lineages remains a pervasive bias in plant functional trait databases, which constrains large-scale assessments of plant ecology, evolution, and biogeography. Here, we present MelastomaTRAITs 1.0, a comprehensive and updatable database of functional traits for the pantropical Melastomataceae, the ninth-largest angiosperm family with 177 genera and more than 5800 species. Melastomataceae encompass species with a wide diversity of growth forms (herbs, shrubs, trees, epiphytes, and woody climbers), habitats (including tropical forests, savannas, grasslands, and wetlands from sea level to montane areas above the treeline), ecological strategies (from pioneer, edge-adapted and invasive species to shade-tolerant understory species), geographic distribution (from microendemic to continental-wide distribution), reproductive, pollination, and seed dispersal systems. MelastomaTRAITs builds on 581 references, such as taxonomic monographs, ecological research, and unpublished data, and includes four whole-plant traits, six leaf traits, 11 flower traits, 18 fruit traits, and 27 seed traits for 2520 species distributed in 144 genera across all 21 tribes. Most data come from the Neotropics where the family is most species-rich. Miconieae (the largest tribe) contains the highest number of trait records (49.6%) and species (41.1%) records. The trait types with the most information in the database were whole-plant traits, flowers, and leaf traits. With the breadth of functional traits recorded, our database helps to fill a gap in information for tropical plants and will significantly improve our capacity for large-scale trait-based syntheses across levels of organization, plant-animal interactions, regeneration ecology, and thereby support conservation and restoration programs. There are no copyright restrictions on the dataset; please cite this data paper when reusing the data.

Loss of species and functions in a deforested megadiverse tropical forest.

Tropical species richness is threatened by habitat degradation associated with land-use conversion, yet the consequences for functional diversity remain little understood. Progress has been hindered by difficulties in obtaining comprehensive species-level trait information to characterize entire assemblages and insufficient appreciation that increasing land-cover heterogeneity potentially compensates for species loss. We examined the impacts of tropical deforestation associated with land-use heterogeneity on bird species richness, functional redundancy, functional diversity, and associated components (i.e., alpha diversity, species dissimilarity, and interaction strength of the relationship between abundance and functional dissimilarity). We analyzed over 200 georeferenced bird assemblages in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We characterized the functional role of the species of each assemblage and modeled biodiversity metrics as a function of forest cover and land-cover heterogeneity. Replacement of native Atlantic Forest with a mosaic of land uses (e.g., agriculture, pastures, and urbanization) reduced bird species richness in a nonrandom way. Core forest species, or species considered sensitive to edges, tended to be absent in communities in heterogenous environments. Overall, functional diversity and functional redundancy of bird species were not affected by forest loss. However, birds in highly heterogenous habitats were functionally distinct from birds in forest, suggesting a shift in community composition toward mosaic-exclusive species led by land-cover heterogeneity. Threatened species of the Atlantic Forest did not seem to tolerate degraded and heterogeneous environments; they remained primarily in areas with large forest tracts. Our results shed light on the complex effects of native forest transformation to mosaics of anthropogenic landscapes and emphasize the importance of considering the effects of deforestation and land-use heterogeneity when assessing deforestation effects on Neotropical biodiversity.

Pérdida de especies y funciones en un bosque tropical megadiverso deforestado Resumen La riqueza de especies tropicales está amenazada por la degradación asociada con la conversión del uso de suelo, y aun así entendemos muy poco de las consecuencias que esto tiene para la diversidad funcional. El progreso está obstaculizado por las dificultades para obtener información completa de los rasgos a nivel de especie para caracterizar ensamblajes completos y la apreciación insuficiente de que la heterogeneidad creciente de la cobertura del suelo tiene el potencial para compensar la pérdida de especies. Analizamos el impacto que tiene la deforestación tropical asociada con la heterogeneidad del uso de suelo sobre la riqueza de especies de aves, la redundancia funcional, la diversidad funcional y sus componentes asociados (es decir, diversidad alfa, disimilitud de especies y fuerza de interacción de la relación entre la abundancia y la disimilitud funcional). Analizamos más de 200 ensamblajes georreferenciados de aves en el Bosque Atlántico de Brasil. Caracterizamos el papel funcional de las especies de cada ensamblaje y modelamos las medidas de biodiversidad como función de la cobertura forestal y de la heterogeneidad del uso de suelo. La sustitución del Bosque Atlántico nativo con un mosaico de usos de suelo (p. ej.: agricultura, pastura y urbanización) redujo la riqueza de especies de una manera no aleatoria. Las especies nucleares del bosque, o las especies consideradas como sensibles a los bordes, tendieron a estar ausentes en las comunidades de los ambientes heterogéneas. En general, la diversidad y la redundancia funcionales de las especies de aves no se vieron afectadas por la pérdida del bosque. Sin embargo, las aves en los hábitats con alta heterogeneidad eran funcionalmente distintas a las aves de los bosques, lo que sugiere un cambio en la composición x de la comunidad hacia especies exclusivas de mosaicos llevadas por la heterogeneidad de la cobertura del suelo. Las especies amenazadas del Bosque Atlántico no parecieron tolerar el ambiente degradado y heterogéneo pues permanecieron principalmente en las áreas con grandes extensiones de bosque. Nuestros resultados arrojan luz sobre los efectos complejos de la transformación de los bosques nativos en mosaicos de paisajes antropogénicos y recalcan la importancia de considerar los efectos de la deforestación y la heterogeneidad del uso de suelo cuando se evalúan los efectos de la deforestación sobre la biodiversidad neotropical.

Linking howler monkey ranging and defecation patterns to primary and secondary seed dispersal.

To define the chances of a dispersed seed to produce a new recruit, it is essential to consider all stages of the dispersal process. Howler monkeys are recognized to have positive impacts on forest regeneration, acting as primary dispersers. Furthermore, dung beetles attracted to their feces protect the seeds against predators, and provide a better microenvironment for germination due to the removal of fecal matter, to seed burial, and/or by reducing the spatial aggregation of seeds in fecal clumps. Despite the recognized positive effects of primary seed dispersal through defecation by howler monkeys for plant recruitment, there are some important aspects of their behavior, such as the habit of defecating in latrines, that remain to be explored. Here, we investigated the fate of Campomanesia xanthocarpa seeds defecated by brown howlers, Alouatta guariba clamitans, and the secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles, considering how this process is affected by the monkey's defecation patterns. We found that brown howler monkeys dispersed seeds from several species away from fruit-feeding trees, partly because defecation under the canopy of such trees was not very frequent. Instead, most defecations were associated with latrines under overnight sleeping trees. Despite a very similar dung beetle community attracted to howler feces in latrines and fruit-feeding sites, seeds were more likely to be buried when deposited in latrines. In addition, C. xanthocarpa seeds showed higher germination and establishment success in latrines, but this positive effect was not due to the presence of fecal matter surrounding seeds. Our results highlight that A. guariba clamitans acts as a legitimate seed disperser of C. xanthocarpa seeds in a preserved context of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and that defecations in latrines increase the dispersal effectiveness.

Phylogenetic congruence between Neotropical primates and plants is driven by frugivory.

Seed dispersal benefits plants and frugivores, and potentially drives co-evolution, with consequences to diversification evidenced for, e.g., primates. Evidence for macro-coevolutionary patterns in multi-specific, plant-animal mutualisms is scarce, and the mechanisms driving them remain unexplored. We tested for phylogenetic congruences in primate-plant interactions and showed strong co-phylogenetic signals across Neotropical forests, suggesting that both primates and plants share evolutionary history. Phylogenetic congruence between Platyrrhini and Angiosperms was driven by the most generalist primates, modulated by their functional traits, interacting with a wide-range of Angiosperms. Consistently similar eco-evolutionary dynamics seem to be operating irrespective of local assemblages, since co-phylogenetic signal emerged independently across three Neotropical regions. Our analysis supports the idea that macroevolutionary, coevolved patterns among interacting mutualistic partners are driven by super-generalist taxa. Trait convergence among multiple partners within multi-specific assemblages appears as a mechanism favouring these likely coevolved outcomes.

A meta-analysis of anthropogenic impacts on physiological stress in wild primates.

As humanity continues to alter the environment extensively, comprehending the effect of anthropogenic disturbances on the health, survival, and fitness of wildlife is a crucial question for conservation science. Many primate populations occupy suboptimal habitats prone to diverse anthropogenic disturbances that may be sources of acute and chronic stress. Quantification of glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations has repeatedly been used to explore the impact of disturbances on physiological stress. Although it is still debated, prolonged elevation of GC levels may impair reproduction, growth, and immune system activity of individuals. We quantified the effect of anthropogenic disturbances on physiological stress in primates with a global meta-analysis based on data from 26 articles, covering 24 distinct species in 13 different countries. Anthropogenic disturbances were classified into 6 distinct categories: habitat loss, habitat degradation, ongoing logging, hunting, tourism, and other human activities. We calculated effect sizes (Hedges' g) with the standardized mean difference in GC concentrations between primates affected by human activity and their undisturbed conspecifics. We ran random-effects models and subgroup analyses to estimate the overall effect as well as a cumulative effect size for each disturbance category. Overall, primates inhabiting sites subject to anthropogenic disturbances exhibited significantly higher GC levels (g = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.28-0.93). Habitat loss and hunting were overall associated with increased GC concentrations, whereas the cumulative effects of the other disturbances were not statistically significant. Biologically, high GC levels may increase fitness by enabling individuals to overcome the challenges linked to anthropogenic disturbances. However, primates in disturbed environments may have sustained elevated GC levels. To strengthen future research, it is necessary to control confounding factors systematically (e.g., diet, reproductive status, predatory pressure, and resource availability) and improve understanding of the link between GC levels and the health, fitness, and survival of animals.

Metaanálisis de los Impactos Antropogénicos sobre el Estrés Fisiológico de los Primates Salvajes Resumen Conforme la humanidad continúa alterando extensivamente el ambiente, comprender el efecto de las perturbaciones antropogénicas sobre la salud, supervivencia y la aptitud de la fauna silvestre es una cuestión muy importante para las ciencias de la conservación. Muchas poblaciones de primates ocupan hábitats subóptimos propensos a varias perturbaciones antropogénicas que pueden ser la fuente de estrés agudo y crónico. La cuantificación de las concentraciones de glucocorticoides se ha usado repetidamente para explorar el impacto de las perturbaciones sobre el estrés fisiológico. Aunque todavía es tema de debate, la elevación prolongada de los niveles de glucocorticoides puede afectar a la reproducción, el crecimiento y la actividad del sistema inmune de los individuos. Cuantificamos el efecto de las perturbaciones antropogénicas sobre el estrés fisiológico de los primates mediante un metaanálisis global basado en los datos tomados de 26 artículos, abarcando así a 24 especies distintas en 13 países diferentes. Las perturbaciones antropogénicas fueron clasificadas en seis categorías distintas: pérdida de hábitat, degradación del hábitat, explotación forestal en curso, cacería, turismo y otras actividades humanas. Calculamos los tamaños del efecto (la g de Hedges) con una diferencia media estandarizada en las concentraciones de glucocorticoides entre los primates afectados por la actividad humana y sus coespecíficos sin perturbaciones. Corrimos modelos de efectos al azar y análisis de subgrupos para estimar el efecto generalizado, así como un tamaño acumulativo de efecto para cada categoría de perturbación. En general, los primates que habitan sitios sujetos a alguna perturbación antropogénica exhibieron niveles de glucocorticoides significativamente más altos (g = 0.60, 95% CI 0.28 a 0.93). La pérdida de hábitat y la cacería fueron asociadas casi siempre con las concentraciones elevadas de glucocorticoides, mientras que los efectos acumulativos de las otras perturbaciones no fueron significativos estadísticamente. Biológicamente, los niveles altos de glucocorticoides pueden incrementar la aptitud al permitir que el individuo supere los retos relaciones con las perturbaciones antropogénicas. Sin embargo, los primates en los ambientes perturbados pueden tener niveles elevados sostenidos de glucocorticoides. Para fortalecer a las futuras investigaciones es necesario controlar sistemáticamente los factores desconcertantes (p. ej.: la dieta, el estado reproductivo, la presión por depredadores, la disponibilidad de recursos) y mejorar el entendimiento de la conexión entre los niveles de glucocorticoides y la salud, aptitud y supervivencia de los animales.

Frugivory and seed dispersal in a hyperdiverse plant clade and its role as a keystone resource for the Neotropical fauna.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Much of our understanding of the ecology and evolution of seed dispersal in the Neotropics is founded on studies involving the animal-dispersed, hyperdiverse plant clade Miconia (Melastomataceae). Nonetheless, no formal attempt has been made to establish its relevance as a model system or indeed provide evidence of the role of frugivores as Miconia seed dispersers. METHODS: We built three Miconia databases (fruit phenology/diaspore traits, fruit-frugivore interactions and effects on seed germination after gut passage) to determine how Miconia fruiting phenology and fruit traits for >350 species interact with and shape patterns of frugivore selection. In addition, we conducted a meta-analysis evaluating the effects of animal gut passage/seed handling on Miconia germination. KEY RESULTS: Miconia produce numerous small berries that enclose numerous tiny seeds within water- and sugar-rich pulps. In addition, coexisting species provide sequential, year long availability of fruits within communities, with many species producing fruits in periods of resource scarcity. From 2396 pairwise interactions, we identified 646 animal frugivore species in five classes, 22 orders and 60 families, including birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and ants that consume Miconia fruits. Endozoochory is the main dispersal mechanism, but gut passage effects on germination were specific to animal clades; birds, monkeys and ants reduced seed germination percentages, while opossums increased it. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential fruiting phenologies and wide taxonomic and functional diversity of animal vectors associated with Miconia fruits underscore the likely keystone role that this plant clade plays in the Neotropics. By producing fruits morphologically and chemically accessible to a variety of animals, Miconia species ensure short- and long-distance seed dispersal and constitute reliable resources that sustain entire frugivore assemblages.

ATLANTIC-PRIMATES: a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America.

Primates play an important role in ecosystem functioning and offer critical insights into human evolution, biology, behavior, and emerging infectious diseases. There are 26 primate species in the Atlantic Forests of South America, 19 of them endemic. We compiled a dataset of 5,472 georeferenced locations of 26 native and 1 introduced primate species, as hybrids in the genera Callithrix and Alouatta. The dataset includes 700 primate communities, 8,121 single species occurrences and 714 estimates of primate population sizes, covering most natural forest types of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and some other biomes. On average, primate communities of the Atlantic Forest harbor 2 ± 1 species (range = 1-6). However, about 40% of primate communities contain only one species. Alouatta guariba (N = 2,188 records) and Sapajus nigritus (N = 1,127) were the species with the most records. Callicebus barbarabrownae (N = 35), Leontopithecus caissara (N = 38), and Sapajus libidinosus (N = 41) were the species with the least records. Recorded primate densities varied from 0.004 individuals/km2 (Alouatta guariba at Fragmento do Bugre, Paraná, Brazil) to 400 individuals/km2 (Alouatta caraya in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Our dataset reflects disparity between the numerous primate census conducted in the Atlantic Forest, in contrast to the scarcity of estimates of population sizes and densities. With these data, researchers can develop different macroecological and regional level studies, focusing on communities, populations, species co-occurrence and distribution patterns. Moreover, the data can also be used to assess the consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and disease outbreaks on different ecological processes, such as trophic cascades, species invasion or extinction, and community dynamics. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this Data Paper when the data are used in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using the data.

Handling by avian frugivores affects diaspore secondary removal.

The balance between the costs and benefits of fleshy fruit production depends on the feeding behavior of their seed dispersers, which might effectively disperse seeds to farther areas or drop beneath parent plants some diaspores they handle during frugivory bouts. Nevertheless, the consequences of variation in fruit handling by primary seed dispersers on the secondary removal of diaspores remains poorly understood. We conducted a field study to determine how variation in fruit handling by avian frugivores affects short-term secondary removal of Miconia irwinii (Melastomataceae) diaspores by the ground-dwelling fauna in campo rupestre vegetation, southeastern Brazil. We conducted factorial experiments manipulating: (1) different outcomes of primary fruit/seed removal by birds, (2) distances of diaspore deposition from conspecifics, and (3) the access of ants and vertebrates to diaspores. We showed that secondary removal of diaspores was highly variable at the population scale, with an overall low removal rate by the ground-dwelling fauna (13% seeds, 19% fruits). However, we found that gut-passed seeds embedded in bird feces were less removed than seeds expelled from fruits. Gut-passed seeds were more likely to be removed by ant species acting as secondary dispersers, whereas pulp-free seeds dropped by birds were likely to interact with potential seed predators, including ants and rodents. We found no clear effect of dispersal from parent plant vicinity on seed removal, but fruit removal was significantly higher near parent plants. Partially defleshed fruits were more removed than intact fruits. The removal of fruits by ant and vertebrate rescuers, including lizards and birds, might reduce the costs of interactions with less effective dispersers that drop partially defleshed fruits under parent plants. Our study highlights that variation in fruit handling by primary avian seed dispersers mediate subsequent interactions among discarded diaspores and ground-dwelling animals, potentially affecting final seed fates. Moreover, we argue that escape-related benefits of dispersal can be contingent on how primary dispersers handle and discard seeds.

How far do Neotropical primates disperse seeds?

Seed dispersal distance (SDD) is a vital component of vertebrate-mediated seed dispersal process: the average distance at which seeds are deposited away from the parent plant represents the starting template of plant regeneration. We present a simple model to explain and predict observed measures of average dispersal distance and we hypothesize that it is a consequence of how long seeds are retained in the disperser's gut, how rapidly the disperser moves per unit time and how twisted the animal travel path is relative to the straight-line distance moved away from the seed source. We retrieved data on dispersal distances from 26 published studies including nine primate species dispersing up to 112 plant species per study. We used gut transit time (TT) as a proxy for residence time inside the gut, the disperser's travel path per hour as proxy for movement rate, and the daily path length relative to the home range area as a correlate of path twisting (PT). We illustrate this model with comparative data on Neotropical primates. These three variables explained 90% of the variation in the average SDD. Path analysis indicates that additional variables exerted only indirect effects. Our model can be applied to primate populations for which detailed seed dispersal data are missing, and help evaluate conservation priorities for primate species according to the potential service they provide in terms of forest regeneration.

Natural and Anthropogenic Hybridization in Two Species of Eastern Brazilian Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus and C. penicillata).

Animal hybridization is well documented, but evolutionary outcomes and conservation priorities often differ for natural and anthropogenic hybrids. Among primates, an order with many endangered species, the two contexts can be hard to disentangle from one another, which carries important conservation implications. Callithrix marmosets give us a unique glimpse of genetic hybridization effects under distinct natural and human-induced contexts. Here, we use a 44 autosomal microsatellite marker panel to examine genome-wide admixture levels and introgression at a natural C. jacchus and C. penicillata species border along the São Francisco River in NE Brazil and in an area of Rio de Janeiro state where humans introduced these species exotically. Additionally, we describe for the first time autosomal genetic diversity in wild C. penicillata and expand previous C. jacchus genetic data. We characterize admixture within the natural zone as bimodal where hybrid ancestry is biased toward one parental species or the other. We also show evidence that São Francisco River islands are gateways for bidirectional gene flow across the species border. In the anthropogenic zone, marmosets essentially form a hybrid swarm with intermediate levels of admixture, likely from the absence of strong physical barriers to interspecific breeding. Our data show that while hybridization can occur naturally, the presence of physical, even if leaky, barriers to hybridization is important for maintaining species genetic integrity. Thus, we suggest further study of hybridization under different contexts to set well informed conservation guidelines for hybrid populations that often fit somewhere between "natural" and "man-made."

Hybridization effects and genetic diversity of the common and black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix penicillata) mitochondrial control region.

Hybridization is continually documented in primates, but effects of natural and anthropogenic hybridization on biodiversity are still unclear and differentiating between these contexts remains challenging in regards to primate evolution and conservation. Here, we examine hybridization effects on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of Callithrix marmosets, which provide a unique glimpse into interspecific mating under distinct anthropogenic and natural conditions. DNA was sampled from 40 marmosets along a 50-km transect from a previously uncharacterized hybrid zone in NE Brazil between the ranges of Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix penicillata. DNA was also collected from 46 marmosets along a 30-km transect in a hybrid zone in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, where exotic marmosets appeared in the 1980s. Combining Callithrix DNA sampled inside and outside of these hybrid zones, phylogenetic and network analyses show C. jacchus and C. penicillata being parental species to sampled hybrids. We expand limited Callithrix population genetics work by describing mtDNA diversity and demographic history of these parental species. We show ancient population expansion in C. jacchus and historically constant population size in C. penicillata, with the latter being more genetically diverse than the former. The natural hybrid zone contained higher genetic diversity relative to the anthropogenic zone. While our data suggest hybrid swarm formation within the anthropogenic zone due to removed physical reproductive barriers, this pattern is not seen in the natural hybrid zone. These results suggest different genetic dynamics within natural and anthropogenic hybridization contexts that carry important implications for primate evolution and conservation.

Hematology and blood biochemistry in wild hybrid marmosets from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil / Hematologia e bioquímica sanguínea de saguis selvagens híbridos da Mata Atlântica, Brasil

This paper aims to describe the hematological and biochemical values of wild hybrid marmoset (Callithrix penicillata and C. geoffroyi) found in a forest zone of Southeastern Brazil. The marmosets were anaesthetized using ketamine and xylazine hydrochloride. Blood samples (0.5-1mL) were collected through the venipuncture of the femoral vein. Hematological and biochemical analyses were performed using automated counters and biochemical kits. The comparison for sex (adult males vs. adult females) and age class (juvenile vs. adult) physiological data and weight were analyzed through Student's t-test for independent samples. Significant differences between sex were observed in erythrocytes (P<0.01) and hemoglobin (P<0.05). The present study provides essential baseline information on the normal blood values of wild hybrid marmosets, the data of which are not readily accessible from the existing body of scientific literature on nonhuman primates.

Este artigo objetiva descrever os valores hematológicos e bioquímicos de saguis híbridos selvagens (Callithrix penicillata e C. geoffroyi) encontrados em uma zona florestal do Sudeste do Brasil. Os saguis foram anestesiados usando cetamina e hidrocloridrato de xilazina. As amostras de sangue (0,5-1mL) foram coletadas por punção da veia femoral. As análises hematológicas e bioquímicas foram realizadas por meio de contadores automáticos e kits bioquímicos. A comparação dos dados fisiológicos e pesos para o gênero (machos vs. fêmeas) e a classe de idade (juvenil vs. adulto) foram analisados através do teste t de Student para amostras independentes. Observaram-se diferenças significativas de gênero para eritrócitos (P<0,01) e hemoglobina (P<0,05). O presente estudo fornece informação básica essencial sobre os valores hematológicos normais de saguis híbridos selvagens, dados que não são prontamente disponíveis na literatura científica atual sobre primatas não humanos.

Helminths of wild hybrid marmosets (Callithrix sp.) living in an environment with high human activity.

The objective of this study was to identify the helminth fauna in hybrid, non-native marmosets, through analysis of fecal samples. The study involved 51 marmosets (genus Callithrix) from five groups living in places with levels of human impact in Viçosa-MG. The marmosets were caught using a multiple-entrance trap and were anaesthetized. Feces were collected, refrigerated and analyzed by means of the sedimentation technique (Hoffmann-Pons-Janner). Eggs and parasites were identified, but not counted. Most of the marmosets (86%) were parasitized by at least one genus of helminths. Among the infected marmosets, 37% presented co-infection. The intestinal helminths comprised four different taxa: Primasubulura jacchi, Ancylostomatidae, Prosthenorchis sp. and Dilepididae. P. jacchi and Ancylostomatidae had higher prevalences (> 80% and > 40%, respectively) and were found in all marmoset groups. Dilepididae species were found in almost all the groups, but only accounted for around 30% of the marmosets. Prosthenorchis sp. showed a relatively low prevalence (< 10%) and was only found in one group. Although two parasites are commonly found in marmosets and other primates (P. jacchi and Prosthenorchis sp.), our study is the first record for Ancylostomatidae and Dilepididae. Factors like marmosets' feeding behavior and their contact with humans and other species of nonhuman primates seem to be determinants of infection among marmosets.

Helminths of wild hybrid marmosets (Callithrix sp.) living in an environment with high human activity / Helmintos de saguis (Callithrix sp.) híbridos de vida livre vivendo em ambientes com alta atividade humana

The objective of this study was to identify the helminth fauna in hybrid, non-native marmosets, through analysis of fecal samples. The study involved 51 marmosets (genus Callithrix) from five groups living in places with levels of human impact in Viçosa-MG. The marmosets were caught using a multiple-entrance trap and were anaesthetized. Feces were collected, refrigerated and analyzed by means of the sedimentation technique (Hoffmann-Pons-Janner). Eggs and parasites were identified, but not counted. Most of the marmosets (86%) were parasitized by at least one genus of helminths. Among the infected marmosets, 37% presented co-infection. The intestinal helminths comprised four different taxa: Primasubulura jacchi, Ancylostomatidae, Prosthenorchis sp. and Dilepididae.P. jacchi and Ancylostomatidae had higher prevalences (> 80% and > 40%, respectively) and were found in all marmoset groups. Dilepididae species were found in almost all the groups, but only accounted for around 30% of the marmosets. Prosthenorchis sp. showed a relatively low prevalence (< 10%) and was only found in one group. Although two parasites are commonly found in marmosets and other primates (P. jacchi and Prosthenorchis sp.), our study is the first record for Ancylostomatidae and Dilepididae. Factors like marmosets' feeding behavior and their contact with humans and other species of nonhuman primates seem to be determinants of infection among marmosets.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi a identificação da helmintofauna em saguis híbridos e introduzidos, por meio de análises de amostras fecais. O estudo envolveu 51 saguis do gênero Callithrix, de cinco grupos que ocupam áreas com diferentes impactos humanos. Os saguis foram capturados com armadilha de múltiplas entradas e anestesiados. Fezes foram colhidas, refrigeradas e analisadas pela técnica de sedimentação (Hoffmann-Pons-Janner). Ovos e parasitas foram identificados, mas não contados. A maior parte dos saguis (86%) estava parasitado por, pelo menos, uma espécie de helminto. Do grupo infectado, 37% apresentou coinfecção. A diversidade helmíntica intestinal incluiu quatro táxons diferentes: Primasubulura jacchi, Ancylostomatidae, Prosthenorchis sp. e Dilepididae. P. jacchi e Ancylostomatidae apresentaram as maiores prevalências (> 80% e > 40%, respectivamente) e foram encontrados em todos os grupos. As espécies de Dilepididae apresentaram aproximadamente 30% da prevalência e foram encontrados em quase todos os grupos. A espécie Prosthenorchis sp. apresentou prevalência relativamente baixa (< 10%) e foi encontrado somente em um grupo. Considerando que duas das espécies são parasitas comumente descritos para saguis e primatas (P. jacchi e Prosthenorchis sp.), este estudo consiste no primeiro registro para Ancylostomatidae e Dilepididae. Fatores como o comportamento alimentar e o contato com o homem e outras espécies de primatas não humanos, parecem ser determinantes na contaminação dos saguis.