Neotropical Biology and Conservation 

Abstract: EnglishThe repelling or attracting plants substances are mainly from terpenic nature and they appear as molecules with less molecular weight and volatile. Usually, these substances are known as aromatic or essential oils, which amass themselves at all herbal organs. In the herbs, essential oils develop functions related to volatility, acting to attract the pollinating, to protect against pathogens predators, in the missing of water, to rise the temperature and also making ecological functions, especially as a germination inhibitor. These features make the plants which produce these aromatics a powerful source of biocidal agents, being steadily studied in agroecosystems, principally because of the bactericidal, fungicidal, and insecticidal activities. The main components are the monoterpenes, followed by sesquiterpenes, besides aromatic compounds with low molecular weight. The specific function that essential oils turns out on the plant is still unknown; however, it is supposed that the higher plants synthesize terpenoids which are essential to their growth. These substances of secondary metabolism can act as germination inhibitors, protection against predators, pollinator attractors, among others. However, the evaluation of these compounds with general purposes is recent, for example, using it as natural insecticide or herbicide, or to control pathogenic microorganisms of cultured plants, since there are few research papers developed and published in this area. This review tells about the interactions of essential oils of medicinal, wild, and cultured plants with microorganisms and insects. portuguesAs substâncias repelentes ou atraentes das plantas sao, principalmente, de natureza terpenica e se apresentam como moleculas de baixo peso molecular e volatil. Essas substâncias, normalmente, sao conhecidas como aromaticas e se denominam oleos essenciais, os quais se acumulam em todos os orgaos vegetais. Nos vegetais, os oleos essenciais desenvolvem funcoes relacionadas com sua volatilidade, agindo na atracao de polinizadores, na protecao contra predadores, nos patogenos, na perda de agua, no aumento de temperatura e tambem desempenhando funcoes ecologicas, especialmente como inibidoras de germinacao. Essas caracteristicas tornam as plantas que os produzem poderosas fontes de agentes biocidas, o que e largamente estudado nos agroecossistemas, principalmente no que concerne as acoes bactericida, fungicida e inseticida. Os oleos essenciais tem como principais constituintes os monoterpenos, seguidos pelos sesquiterpenos, alem de compostos aromaticos de baixo peso molecular. Sua funcao especifica na planta ainda e desconhecida, porem se acredita que, durante o seu desenvolvimento, as plantas superiores sintetizam terpenoides essenciais para o proprio crescimento. Essas substâncias do metabolismo secundario podem agir como inibidores de germinacao, protecao contra predadores, atracao de polinizadores, entre outras. Entretanto, a avaliacao desses compostos com finalidades diversas, como, por exemplo, no controle de microrganismos patogenicos de plantas cultivadas ou, ainda, como inseticida ou herbicida natural, e recente, visto que sao poucos os trabalhos de pesquisa desenvolvidos e publicados nessa area. Esta revisao em artigo trata das interacoes dos oleos essenciais de plantas medicinais, silvestres e cultivadas com microrganismos e insetos.

Abstract: The introduction of species is a major threat to the conservation of biodiversity, being the main precursor of a prominent global biotic homogenization. In the case of perception, control or eradication, aquatic species are among the most problematic. In this sense, fi sh introductions become serious threats because these organisms are very widespread, mobile and of diffi cult perception and/or detection by the society. In the early stages of introduction, they may be considered “invisible” (e.g. less exposed than the majority of the introduced organisms, especially terrestrial organisms). Thus, it is common fact that introductions of this group of organisms are perceived only when they are already in advanced stages of the invasion process and the damage is irreversible. A species of fi sh can be considered non-native, even at the level of basins or sub-basins. This makes the perception or detection of introduced fi sh even more complex in Brazil, due to its continental dimensions and rich continental aquatic environments. Often, the cultural aspects and time of release contribute to the “invisibility” of the problem. Even fi sh coming from other continents, such as carp, tilapia and trout are incorporated in the country for so long that they are considered “native”. Even in the scientifi c fi eld the theme is under-explored in Brazil, but information about problems that may arise from biological invasions is building up. Indeed, not all introductions have catastrophic consequences, but many do. However, we can understand older impacts and detect new ones in the near future if we want to do so. In view of the exposed, and given the magnitude of the problem, and disproportion in the search for answers and impacts, a review of the theme with suggestions for actions is presented

Abstract: EnglishIn this study we analyse the diet composition of small mammals of western Parana state, southern Brazil. Species studied were mostly unknown on feeding habits. Animals were sampled during the faunal survey carried out in October 1998 when implementing the Salto Caxias dam. The diet composition, based on gut contents, seems to be mostly opportunistic and generalist for the three marsupials, Micoureus paraguayanus, Caluromys lanatus, and Monodelphis sorex, and for the rodent, Akodon paranaensis, studied. Caeca of the four small mammal species had in general a small quantity of insects when compared with other digestive tract portions. However, when volume consumed was evaluated, Arthropoda was the most important item for three species of them. Inversely, fruits were important for C. lanatus. The estimated amount of plant material (seeds and other plant structures) had a higher importance for C. lanatus, mainly for caecum samples, however these items were also found in the other mammal species samples but in lower proportions. The high proportion of intact seeds on both, digestive tract and caecum, when compared with predated seeds, is noticeable, suggesting that the species are seed dispersal. Monodelphis sorex seems to have a more insectivorous diet, as it is a small cursorial mammal, although there was also evidence for frugivory or carnivory. Akodon paranaensis was insectivorous-omnivorous, although fruits and vertebrate prey were also consumed, indicating also and opportunistic diet. Caluromys lanatus is classifi ed as a more frugivorous species, besides the consumption of vertebrate prey. Insectivorous habit seems to be frequent in neotropical small mammals, with consumption of vertebrates or fruits being only opportunistic. The insectivory (except for C. lanatus) and opportunistic habit appear to dominate among the small mammal species studied. portuguesA composicao da dieta de quatro especies de pequenos mamiferos foi estudada no oeste do Parana, sul do Brasil. Os animais foram amostrados durante o resgate de fauna ocorrido em outubro de 1998, durante a implementacao da usina hidreletrica de Salto Caxias. Os animais foram sacrificados logo apos suas capturas. As analises foram baseadas nos tratos digestorios das especies. As especies Caluromys lanatus, Micoureus paraguayanus, Monodelphis sorex (Marsupialia) e Akodon paranaensis (Rodentia) se mostraram heterogeneas quanto a composicao da dieta, tanto para itens animais quanto vegetais. Os cecos das quatro especies tinham em geral uma menor proporcao de insetos quando comparados as demais partes do trato digestorio. No entanto, quando avaliado o volume consumido de cada item alimentar, os artropodes foram mais importantes na dieta de tres especies de pequenos mamiferos do que frutos. Estes foram mais importantes para C. lanatus. A quantidade estimada de vegetais (sementes e estruturas vegetativas) foi muito mais importante para C. lanatus, principalmente no material retirado do ceco. Ressalta-se ainda a grande proporcao de sementes inteiras tanto no trato digestorio como nos cecos em todas as especies estudadas, em comparacao com a proporcao de sementes predadas, evidenciando estas especies como dispersoras de sementes. Monodelphis sorex parece ter uma dieta mais insetivora, por ser um pequeno mamifero cursorial, contudo ha a evidencia de frugivoria ou carnivoria para a especie. Akodon paranaensis mostrou-se como insetivoro-onivoro, contudo frutos e presas vertebradas tambem foram consumidos, indicando tambem uma dieta oportunista. Caluromys lanatus foi classificado como a especie mais frugivora, embora tenha consumido vertebrados. O habito em geral insetivoro observado e frequente em pequenos mamiferos neotropicais, com o consumo de vertebrados ou frutos de forma oportunista. A insetivoria, exceto para C. lanatus, e habito alimentar oportunista parecem dominar entre os pequenos mamiferos estudados.

Abstract: Reproduction is a fundamental biological process to animal life histories and includes risks which affect the survival of breeding adults. Considering that information about Elaenia cristata reproduction biology is lacking, we aimed in this study to describe some aspects related to its reproduction. We carried out this study from 2002 to 2007 at “Estacao Ecologica de Aguas Emendadas” (ESEC-AE) and its surroundings, within the Cerrado biome, Distrito Federal, Brazil. We monitored 89 nests every 2-4 days. The breeding season started in September, had a peak in October and lasted until early December, with an average length of 99 days. Elaenia cristata builds its open cup nests on a fork. Clutch size was mostly of two eggs (n = 50). Its eggs are white with or without small brownish dots around the obtuse end. Egg length and width (n = 7) averaged 20.2 ± 0.1 mm and 15.1 ± 0.1 mm, respectively. Nest height above the ground (n = 87) averaged 1.5 ± 0.8 m, most of them on Davilla elliptica. Cerrado sensu strictu was the habitat most used (61%) for nest building. The incubation period averaged 15.2 ± 0.5 days (n = 9), while the nestling period averaged 16.4 ± 0.4 days (n = 17). Egg success was 31.4% and mean hatching rate was 0.95 ± 0.1. Overall productivity was 0.5 ± 0.5 fl edgling per nest, and fecundity rate was 0.9 ± 0.6 fl edgling per female. Nineteen nests were successful (27%) and 51 were depredated (73%). Predation rate during the incubation phase (71%) was higher than during the nestling phase (29%), contrary to the pattern found in most birds. However, the other reproductive aspects are similar to those described for its congeners, other flycatchers or most Neotropical passerines