Ticks (Ixodida) associated with bats (Chiroptera): an updated list with new records for Brazil.

Bats harbor diverse groups of ectoparasites, such as insects and mites like ticks (Ixodida). Some species of ticks with records for bats and humans have already been reported with the occurrence of pathogens. This research article aims to document new geographical and host records of ticks infesting bats in Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil, and provides a list of tick species associated with bats in Brazil. We counted 12 argasid ticks and five ixodid ticks associated with six individuals of bats. Larvae of Amblyomma sp., Ixodes sp., Ornithodoros sp., and Ornithodoros hasei and one nymph of Amblyomma sculptum parasitizing Artibeus obscurus, Phyllostomus hastatus, Micronycteris sp., Molossus fluminensis, and Carollia perspicillata in different localities of Rio de Janeiro state were studied. We carried out a systematic review with the descriptors: tick bat Brazil. We considered data from 42 articles in the systematic review. We compiled eleven records of Ixodidae, and 160 records of Argasidae. Ornithodoros cavernicolous were the most recorded tick species. Overall, we registered 171 tick-bat or roost-bat associations with 85 records of these infesting bats. The review also shows the occurrence of tick species associated with bats, and we present new records on ticks parasitizing bats in Brazil.

Uniparental genetic markers to investigate hybridization in wild-born marmosets with a mixed phenotype among Callithrix aurita and invasive species.

The native marmoset of the Southeastern Atlantic Forest in Brazil is among the 25 most endangered primates of the world. Hybridization with alien species is one of its main threats registered since the early 2000s based on phenotype, so far, without genetic confirmation. Using uniparental molecular markers, we analyzed 18 putative hybrids, captured from 2004 to 2013 in different localities of the Atlantic Forest. A nine base pair deletion in the SRY gene of C. aurita was used to investigate paternal ancestry. Maternal ancestry was assessed by DNA sequencing of ca. 455 bp from the COX2 gene. Hybridization was confirmed for 16 out of the 18 marmosets since they inherited COX2 haplotypes of the alien C. penicillata or C. jacchus and the SRY deletion specific to C. aurita. Two individuals inherited both parental lineages of C. aurita, which is probably related to backcrossing or hybrid interbreeding. The direction of hybridization of females with the matrilineal lineage of invasive species with males descending from the native lineage was predominant in our sampling. This is the first time that hybridization between C. aurita and invasive species has been confirmed through genetic analysis.

A New Species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Myotis riparius Handley, 1960 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, with a Checklist of Eimeria spp. Reported from Bats.

INTRODUCTION: A new coccidian species of the genus Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), is reported from the bat host Myotis riparius Handley from Ilha Grande, a large island off the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. METHODS: Bats were captured in 13 mist nets (10 × 3 m), which were set within the experimental plots, and through active searches of the daytime roosts of Molossus molossus Pallas found in Vila Dois Rios. Containment was made in bags for the collection of feces and identification of coccidia. A survey was conducted on the coccidia species described so far (Table 2). RESULTS: The oöcysts of Eimeria riparii n. sp. are ellipsoidal to cylindroidal with an extremely thin, bi-layered wall, slightly rough. Two polar granules are present, micropyle and oöcyst residuum are both absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal, the sporocyst residuum is formed by sparse, rounded granules of varying sizes; the Stieda body is trapezoidal and a sub-Stieda body is absent. Sporozoites are banana shaped. With the new species described here, a total of 40 Eimeria spp. have been described infecting bat hosts, belonging to 30 species of 18 genera and 5 families. CONCLUSION: The subsequent increase in the known diversity of bats has been derived from the ongoing expansion of research in a number of different areas of taxonomy and ecology although the number of studies of the associated coccidian parasites of the family Eimeriidae has increased more slowly.

Differencial efficiency of two sampling methods in capturing non-volant small mammals in an area in eastern Amazonia / Diferenças na eficiência entre dois métodos de amostragem para capturar pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em uma área na Amazônia oriental

ABSTRACT This study was the first to evaluate the efficiency of trapping methods in the study of small mammals in the Carajás National Forest, southeastern Brazilian Amazon. It is an area with a unique vegetation type (metalofilic savannah or Canga). The aims of this study were to compare the efficiency of two trapping methods (i.e. live-traps and pitfalls), the bait types used, and evaluate if trapping success varied seasonally. We used four sampling grids, each with six parallel transects. The trap effort for live-traps and pitfalls was 51,840 trap*nights and 10,800 bucket*nights, respectively. We used three types of bait: a paste of peanut butter and sardines, bacon, and bananas. We placed one type of bait in each trap, alternating between points. We recorded 26 species of small mammals, 11 from the order Didelphimorphia and 15 from the order Rodentia. Pitfalls captured a higher number of species compared with live-traps. The capture rate, the mortality rate and the quantity of juveniles and adults did not differ significantly between methods. Capture rate for pitfalls differed significantly between seasons. The majority of species were captured by a single method. Species were equally attracted to the traps regardless of the type of bait used. Some of our results differed significantly from other studies in Amazonia and such variation should be taken into account when designing survey methods for Amazonian small mammals.

RESUMO Este estudo foi o primeiro a avaliar a eficiência de métodos de captura de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores na Floresta Nacional de Carajás, sudeste da Amazônia brasileira. É uma área que apresenta características fitofisionômicas exclusivas (savana metalófila ou Canga) e sofre pressão da atividade mineradora. Os objetivos desse estudo foram comparar a eficiência de dois métodos de captura e de três tipos de iscas, bem como se a eficiência dos métodos variou sazonalmente. Nós usamos quatro grades de amostragem, cada uma com seis trilhas paralelas. Capturas com armadilhas de gaiola (live-traps) e armadilhas de caída (pitfall traps) foram realizadas durante três estações secas e três úmidas. O esforço total de captura foi de 51.840 armadilhas*noite e 10.800 baldes*noite para live-traps e pitfalls, respectivamente. Três tipos de isca (pasta de amendoim com sardinha, bacon e banana) foram usadas de forma alternada em todas as armadilhas. Nós registramos 26 espécies de pequenos mamíferos, 11 da ordem Didelphimorphia e 15 da ordem Rodentia. Pitfalls capturaram mais espécies que live-traps. As taxas de captura e de mortalidade e a proporção de jovens e adultos não diferiram entre os métodos. O sucesso de captura diferiu sazonalmente apenas para pitfalls. A maioria das espécies foi capturada preferencialmente ou exclusivamente por um dos dois métodos. As espécies foram igualmente atraídas por todos os tipos de iscas. Nossos resultados diferiram de outros obtidos na Amazônia, o que deve ser levado em consideração em desenhos amostrais para pequenos mamíferos na região.

Diversity and Impacts of Mining on the Non-Volant Small Mammal Communities of Two Vegetation Types in the Brazilian Amazon.

The Carajás National Forest contains some of the largest iron ore deposits in the world. The majority of the minerals are found below a plant community known as Savana Metalófila, or "Canga", which represents only 3% of the landscape within the Carajás National Forest (CNF). The aim of our study was to understand the diversity of community of non-volant small mammals in the two predominant vegetation types: Ombrophilous Forest and Canga, and to examine how mining impacts these communities. Sampling was conducted from January 2010 to August 2011 in 11 sampling sites divided by the total area of Canga and 12 sampling sites in the forest, totalizing 23 sites. Of these, 12 sites (Canga and Forest) were considered impacted areas located close to the mine (<< 900 meters) and 11 sites (Canga and Forest), serving as controls, which were at least 7,000 meters from the mine. We recorded 28 species, 11 from the Order Didelphimorphia and 17 from the Order Rodentia. The two forest types shared 68.42% of the species found in the CNF. A gradient analysis (Non-metric multidimensional scaling) revealed that the first axis clearly separated the non-flying small mammal communities by vegetation type. Occupancy models showed that the detectability of species was affected by the distance from the mining activities. Of all the small mammals analyzed, 10 species were positively affected by the distance from mining in areas impacted (e.g. more likely to be detected farther from mining areas) and detectability was lower in impacted areas. However, three species were negatively affected by the distance from mining, with higher detectability in the impacted areas, and seven species showed no effect of their proximity to mining operations. To date, there are no studies in Brazil about the impact of mining on mammals or other vertebrates. This study reveals that the effect of mining may go beyond the forest destruction caused by the opening of the mining pits, but also may negatively affect sensitive wildlife species.

Richness, abundance, and mass in snake assemblages from two Atlantic Rainforest sites (Ilha do Cardoso, São Paulo) with differences in environmental productivity / Riqueza, abundância e biomassa em duas comunidades de serpentes na Floresta Atlantica em sítios com diferenças na produtividade

We analyzed richness, composition and mass of snakes in two sites in the Atlantic forest of Ilha do Cardoso (25º 03' S and 47º 53' W), an island (22,500 ha), Cananéia municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil. A monthly index of arthropod availability (in mm³) was estimated in each site through capture rates in pit-fall traps. Fallen fruits were collected along trails in the study sites (mass of fruit gave an index of fruit availability) and small mammals were sampled in grids with 120 traps which covered the lowland (5.2 ha) and in the slope forests (3.6ha). The abundance and mass of small mammals were standardized for the size of each sampled area (in g.ha-1). To sample snakes we established 20 pit-fall traps in each area and performed monthly transects in four consecutive days (totaling 1000 m long) along trails in the study sites. Snakes found were measured, weighted marked and released. Abundance and total mass of snakes were standardized by the size of each area. The areas differed consistently in in the productivity of arthropods, fruits and small mammals, and also in richness, composition and total mass of snakes. We found 36 individuals (total mass = 9884 g) of 12 snake species belonging to three Families (Colubridae, Elapidae and Viperidae) in the lowland forest, whereas in the slope forest we sampled only 9 individuals of 2 species (total mass = 1820 g). Our results suggest that the area of lowland forest, showing higher productivity of arthropods, fruits and small mammals, maintains a snake community with a higher richness, diversity and biomass than its slope forest counterpart.

Nós analisamos a riqueza, a composição e a massa de serpentes em dois ambientes na Mata Atlântica da Ilha do Cardoso (25º 03' S e 47º 53' W), uma ilha (22.500 ha), localizada no município de Cananéia, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Estimamos um índice de disponibilidade de artrópodos (em mm³) em cada ambiente através da taxa de captura em armadilhas de queda estabelecidas no chão da floresta. Coletamos frutos caídos ao longo de trilhas nos ambientes estudados (a massa de frutos forneceu um índice da disponibilidade de frutos) e pequenos mamíferos foram amostrados em grades com 120 armadilhas as quais cobriram um ambiente na mata de planície (5,2 ha) e um na floresta de encosta (3,6 ha). A abundância e massa de pequenos mamíferos foi padronizada para o tamanho de cada área amostrada (em g.ha-1). Para amostrar as serpentes estabelecemos 20 armadilhas de queda em cada ambiente e mensalmente realizamos transectos durante quatro dias consecutivos (totalizando 1000 m de extensão em cada área) ao longo de trilhas nos ambientes estudados. As serpentes foram medidas, pesadas, marcadas e soltas. A abundância e massa total de serpentes foram padronizadas para o tamanho de cada área amostrada. As áreas diferiram consistentemente na produtividade de artrópodos, de frutos e de pequenos mamíferos, e também na riqueza, composição e massa total de serpentes. Encontramos um total de 36 indivíduos (massa total = 9884 g) de 12 espécies de serpentes pertencentes a três famílias (Colubridae, Elapidae and Viperidae) na mata de planície, enquanto na mata de encostaamostramos apenas 9 indivíduos de 2 espécies (massa total=1820g). Nossos resultados sugerem que a mata de planície, que teve maior produtividade de of artrópodos, de frutos e de pequenos mamíferos, mantém uma comunidade de serpentes com maior riqueza, diversidade e biomassa do que a mata de encosta.

A new species of laelapine mite (Acari: Parasitiformes: Laelapidae) associated with Proechimys dimidiatus in the Atlantic forests of Brazil.

Tur megistoproctus, a new species of Laelapinae, is described from the pelage of the echimyid rodent Proechimys dimidiatus from the Atlantic forests of Ilha Grande, south of Rio de Janeiro. Measurements and illustrations are included for females and males. Another laelapine mite species, Tur turki Fonseca, co-occurred with T. megistoproctus in our studies and was recorded from the same host individuals and localities. These 2 laelapine mite species appear to be exclusively associated with a complex of echimyid rodent species (subgenus Trinomys) in the Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil.

Bigger ant colonies reduce herbivory and herbivore residence time on leaves of an ant-plant: Azteca muelleri vs. Coelomera ruficornis on Cecropia pachystachya.

The effect of defence force size in colonies of the ant Azteca muelleri on the time spent to localize, attack and expel the specialized herbivorous beetle Coelomera ruficornis from Cecropia pachystachya bushes was studied in an area of Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil. Our results show that Azteca muelleri expel Coelomera ruficornis from Cecropia pachystachya and that the number of ants leaving a colony (defence force size) is negatively correlated with the residence time of an adult beetle on the plant. Colonies with larger defence forces recruited larger numbers of ants, resulting in faster herbivore discovery (r 2=0.80; n=17; P<0.001) and reduced herbivore residence time on a leaf (r 2=0.79 n=23; P<0.001) before being driven off by the ants. We also found a negative and significant relationship between herbivore damage on leaves and ant colony size (r 2=0.28; n=17; P<0.05). We conclude that larger colonies have more individuals available to patrol a plant and recruit defenders toward herbivores. This reduces the time spent to locate and expel susceptible herbivores from the plant. Since the plant probably benefits from reduced herbivory and the plant provides food for the ants, the association between Azteca muelleri and Cecropia pachystachya appears mutualistic.