Mutualistic interactions repeatedly preserved across fragmented landscapes can scale-up to form a spatial metanetwork describing the distribution of interactions across patches. We explored the structure of a bird seed-dispersal (BSD) metanetwork in 16 Neotropical forest fragments to test whether a distinct subset of BSD-interactions may mediate landscape functional connectivity. The metanetwork is interaction-rich, modular and poorly connected, showing high beta-diversity and turnover of species and interactions. Interactions involving large-sized species were lost in fragments< 10 000 ha, indicating a strong filtering by habitat fragmentation on the functional diversity of BSD-interactions. Persistent interactions were performed by small-seeded, fast growing plant species and by generalist, small-bodied bird species able to cross the fragmented landscape. This reduced subset of interactions forms the metanetwork components persisting to defaunation and fragmentation, and may generate long-term deficits of carbon storage while delaying forest regeneration at the landscape level.
Aim Biogeographical comparisons of interaction networks help to elucidate differences in ecological communities and ecosystem functioning at large scales. Neotropical ecosystems have higher diversity and a different composition of frugivores and fleshy‐fruited plants compared with Afrotropical systems, but a lack of intercontinental comparisons limits understanding of (a) whether plant–frugivore networks are structured in a similar manner, and (b) whether the same species traits define the roles of animals across continents. Location Afrotropics and Neotropics. Time period 1977–2015. Taxa Fleshy‐fruited plants and frugivorous vertebrates. Methods We compiled a dataset comprising 17 Afrotropical and 48 Neotropical weighted seed‐dispersal networks quantifying frugivory interactions between 1,091 fleshy‐fruited plant and 665 animal species, comprising in total 8,251 interaction links between plants and animals. In addition, we compiled information on the body mass of animals and their degree of frugivory. We compared four standard network‐level metrics related to interaction diversity and specialization, accounting for differences related to sampling effort and network location. Furthermore, we tested whether animal traits (body mass, degree of frugivory) differed between continents, whether these traits were related to the network roles of species and whether these relationships varied between continents. Results We found significant structural differences in networks between continents. Overall, Neotropical networks were less nested and more specialized than Afrotropical networks. At the species level, a higher body mass and degree of frugivory were associated with an increasing diversity of plant partners. Specialization of frugivores increased with the degree of frugivory, but only in the Neotropics. Main conclusions Our findings show that Afrotropical networks have a greater overlap in plant partners among vertebrate frugivores than the more diverse networks in the Neotropics that are characterized by a greater niche partitioning. Hence, the loss of frugivore species could have stronger impacts on ecosystem functioning in the more specialized Neotropical communities compared with the more generalized Afrotropical communities.
Scientists have long been trying to understand why the Neotropical region holds the highest diversity of birds on Earth. Recently, there has been increased interest in morphological variation between and within species, and in how climate, topography, and anthropogenic pressures may explain and affect phenotypic variation. Because morphological data are not always available for many species at the local or regional scale, we are limited in our understanding of intra‐ and interspecies spatial morphological variation. Here, we present the ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS, a data set that includes measurements of up to 44 morphological traits in 67,197 bird records from 2,790 populations distributed throughout the Atlantic forests of South America. This data set comprises information, compiled over two centuries (1820–2018), for 711 bird species, which represent 80% of all known bird diversity in the Atlantic Forest. Among the most commonly reported traits are sex (n = 65,717), age (n = 63,852), body mass (n = 58,768), flight molt presence (n = 44,941), molt presence (n = 44,847), body molt presence (n = 44,606), tail length (n = 43,005), reproductive stage (n = 42,588), bill length (n = 37,409), body length (n = 28,394), right wing length (n = 21,950), tarsus length (n = 20,342), and wing length (n = 18,071). The most frequently recorded species are Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 1,837), Turdus albicollis (n = 1,658), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 1,468), Turdus leucomelas (n = 1,436), and Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 1,384). The species recorded in the greatest number of sampling localities are Basileuterus culicivorus (n = 243), Trichothraupis melanops (n = 242), Chiroxiphia caudata (n = 210), Platyrinchus mystaceus (n = 208), and Turdus rufiventris (n = 191). ATLANTIC BIRD TRAITS (ABT) is the most comprehensive data set on measurements of bird morphological traits found in a biodiversity hotspot; it provides data for basic and applied research at multiple scales, from individual to community, and from the local to the macroecological perspectives. 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 and educational activities.
Aiming to evaluate the potential of Passerine birds as bioindicators of forest fragmentation, we studied the avifauna in the mountain region of the state of Rio de Janeiro by mist-netting between 2001 and 2005. We sampled six sites, including four small fragments (from 4 to 64 ha) in an agricultural area (Teresópolis), one second-growth forest (440 haMiguel Pereira) and a continuous forest (10,600 ha, Serra dos Órgãos National Park -SONP). Indicator Species analysis and a Monte Carlo test were run to detect associations between species and sites, considering at least 30% of perfect indication and a significant value for the statistical test, only considering species with at least 10 captures. A total of 30 Passerine birds were sampled, and due to their association to the largest area (SONP), we considered Sclerurus scansor, Mionectes rufiventris, Chiroxiphia caudata and Habia rubica as the best indicators for this area. Five species were more captured not by chance in the 440 ha second-growth: Conopophaga melanops, Myiobius barbatus, Myrmeciza loricata, Philydor atricapillus and Schiffornis virescens and no species were related to any small fragment. This analysis has identified specialized Passerine species in many aspects (foraging substract, needs for nesting, rarity status), and it can be a valuable tool for detecting possible bioindicators.Keywords: Atlantic forest, bioindicators, birds, Brazil, indicator species analysis. Busca por bioindicadores de fragmentação florestal: aves Passeriformes na Floresta Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil ResumoPara avaliar o potencial de Passeriformes como bioindicadores de fragmentação florestal na Mata Atlântica, estudamos a avifauna da região serrana do Rio de Janeiro, utilizando capturas com redes de neblina entre 2001 e 2005. Foram amostradas seis áreas, sendo quatro pequenos fragmentos (de 4 a 64 ha) em áreas agrícolas (Teresópolis), uma mata secundária com cerca de 40 anos (440 ha -Miguel Pereira) e uma área de mata contínua de 10600 hectares (Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos -PARNASO). A análise de espécies indicadoras e o teste de Monte Carlo foram empregados para que se verificassem as espécies mais associadas a cada local amostrado, considerando-se um mínimo de 30% de indicação e valor significativo para o teste mencionado, utilizando-se somente espécies com 10 ou mais capturas. Foi amostrado um total de 30 espécies e, pela sua associação com a maior área (PARNASO), consideramos Sclerurus scansor, Mionectes rufiventris, Chiroxiphia caudata e Habia rubica como as melhores indicadoras. Cinco espécies foram mais capturadas não ao acaso na área de 440 ha: Conopophaga melanops, Myiobius barbatus, Myrmeciza loricata, Philydor atricapillus e Schiffornis virescens. Nenhuma espécie foi associada aos pequenos fragmentos. Como esta análise identificou espécies de Passeriformes especialistas em diversos aspectos (substrato de forrageio, locais de nidificação, status de raridade), ela pode ser uma ferramenta útil na detecção de possíveis bioindicadores. -chave: anális...
Rev. Brasil. Biol., 58(4) ABSTRACT Pollination biology of Jacaratia spinosa (AUBL) ADC. (CARICACEAE) in a residual forest in southwest BrazilThe pollination biology of Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl) ADC. (Caricaceae) was studied in Mata de Santa Genebra, Campinas municipality, São Paulo state, Brazil (20º54'S; 47º05'W). Data from floral anthesis, nectar volume and sugar concentration, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, location of scent glands, reproduction systems and main visitors/potential pollinators were obtained. The species is dioicious and the masculine plants flourish for a larger period (52 days) than the feminine ones (22 days). Most of the flowers has night anthesis, lasting the masculine ones about 24 hours and the feminine ones, 48 hours. The masculine ones produce on the average, 112,5 ml of nectar and sugar concentration of 13,9%. The feminine ones didn't produce nectar, having been identified mimetism of the masculine ones by the feminine ones. The pollen viability didn't vary along the day (average 97,20%). There was production of fruits for agamospermy and for crossed fecundation. The main observed pollinators was moths, what corroborates with its characteristics of phalenophily syndrome; other insects meantime, as butterflies, also can contribute to its reproduction.Key words: Caricaceae, dioicism, Jacaratia, pollination. RESUMOA biologia da polinização de Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl) ADC. (Caricaceae) foi estudada na Mata de Santa Genebra, Campinas (20º54'S; 47º05'W), estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram obtidos dados de antese floral, volume e concentração de açúcar no néctar, viabilidade do pólen, receptividade do estigma, localização de glândulas de odor, sistemas de reprodução e principais visitantes/potenciais polinizadores. A espécie é dióica e as plantas masculinas florescem por um período maior (52 dias) que as femininas (22 dias). A maioria das flores tem antese noturna, durando as masculinas cerca de 24 horas e as femininas, 48 horas. As masculinas produzem, em média, 112,5 ml de néctar e concentração de açúcar de 13,9%. As femininas não produzem néctar, tendo sido identificado mimetismo das masculinas pelas femininas. A viabilidade do pólen não variou ao longo do dia (média 97,20%). Houve produção de frutos por agamospermia e por fecundação cruzada. Os principais polinizadores observados foram mariposas, o que corrobora com suas características de síndrome de falenofilia, havendo, entretanto, outros insetos, como borboletas, que podem contribuir para sua reprodução.Palavras-chave: Caricaceae, dioicismo, Jacaratia, polinização.
Bird-window collisions are a major cause of bird mortality in the world; up to one billion birds die each year from collisions with glass panes in North America alone.However, relatively little attention had been given to this issue in the broad scientifi c literature, despite a recent increase in the number of papers. In this paper, the indexed literature on bird-window collisions was reviewed, specifi cally addressing the causal factors. The search retrieved 53 papers, mostly from North America. The factors linked to higher collision rates were large areas of continuous glass, the presence of nearby vegetation and feeders, bird migration, abundance, and behavior. Several factors were site-specifi c, preventing the global extrapolation of these fi ndings. There is a lack of scientifi c knowledge regarding bird-window collisions in tropical countries. One of the challenges to mitigating this problem is the small amount of information andfrequently -the extrapolation of fi ndings described for temperate regions to other areas.There is a need for a greater and urgent effort to fi ll this gap.LGB and AJP conceived the idea designed the studies; LGB, DJM and AJP collected and analyzed data; all the authors wrote the manuscript and approved the final version.
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