JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. American Society of Mammalogists is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Mammalogy.Seasonal reproduction of small mammals in the tropics usually is related to annual cycles of rainfall. We examined effects of weather and food availability on reproduction and population ecology of Nectomys squamipes, Oryzomys intermedius, Akodon cursor and Trinomys iheringi. Each species was studied monthly from February 1993 to January 1995 using mark-recapture methods at Ilha do Cardoso, Sio Paulo State, Brazil. Average capture rate for each month was used as an index of population size, and survival rate was estimated by the Jolly-Seber method. Direct effects of food availability and rainfall were related to female reproductive activity and survival rate. Path analyses were used to describe quantitatively the hypothesized causal relations among the variables. N. squamipes reproduced seasonally, and 0. intermnedius, T. iheringi, and A. cursor reproduced all year with peaks during the rainy season. Species responded differently to the environmental factors; however, food availability seems to be the main factor determining reproduction. Abundance of rains appears to diminish survival rate of 0. intermnedius. Survival rate of N. squamipes increases with increases in fruit availability. Small mammals of the Neotropical forest can reproduce throughout the year or have distinct breeding periods (Lacher, 1992). For those species that breed seasonally, many studies have shown the relationships between reproduction and weather (Bergal-Journal of Mammalogy, 80(2):472-486, 1999 472

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Species lists are sources of information for studies of both conservation and macroecology. It is, however, important to differentiate between relatively complete lists and extremely incomplete ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate how sampling effort typically used in inventories affects the number of bat species captured in areas of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. We also evaluated if the number of sampled sites, size of the sampled area, and sampling effort (net hours) affect species richness. We used previously reported data from studies in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais States, and our own data collected during 1989 and 2001. Nonlinear models fit well the data for Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais States and all states together, but not for São Paulo State. Genera richness showed a similar pattern to that of species richness. The model used to explain the relationship between species richness and size of the study area, number of sites, and sampling effort sampled was significant. The number of sites sampled explained a significant part of the variation observed; however, other variables contributed nothing to the model, suggesting that capturing beta diversity is the most important aspect of biodiversity surveys for bats, and that increasing net hours at a given location is much more inefficient than distributing net hours across locations. We suggest 1000 captures as the minimum necessary when sampling with mist nets to capture the majority of phyllostomid species for a given site (alpha diversity). In addition, we suggest that shifting the position of the mist nets between nights will increase the probability of capturing more species. RESUMO As listas de espécies são fontes de informações para estudos, tanto de conservação quanto de macroecologia. Entretanto, é importante diferenciar entre listas relativamente completas daquelas seriamente incompletas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como o esforco amostral mínimo tipicamente usado em inventários afeta o número de especies de morcegos capturados em áreas de Mata Atlãntica do sudeste do Brasil. Nós também avaliamos se o número de pontos amostrados, o tamanho da área amostrada e o esforço de captura (hora‐rede) afetam a riqueza de espécies. Nós usamos dados disponíveis de estudos desenvolvidos nos estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo e Minas Gerais, e os nossos próprios dados coletados de 1989 a 2001. Modelos não‐lineares se ajustaram para os estados do Rio de Janeiro e Minas Gerais e todos os estados juntos, mas não para o Estado de São Paulo. A riqueza de gȩneros mostrou o mesmo padrão da riqueza de espécies. O modelo usado para expliçãr a relacao entre riqueza de espécies e tamanho da área de estudo, número de pontos amostrados e esforço amostral foi significative. O número de pontos amostrados explicou uma parte significante da variação observada. Contudo, as outras variáveis não contribuiram para o modelo, sugerindo que capturar a diversidade Beta é o aspecto mais importante de inventários de biodiversidade para m...

Biodiversity corridors comprise a mosaic of land uses connecting fragments of natural forest across a landscape. Two such corridors have been established along the eastern coast of Brazil: the Serra do Mar and the Central da Mata Atlântica corridors, along which most of the coastal plains are restinga areas. In this study, we analyze the present status of the endemic and endangered terrestrial vertebrates of both corridors. We sampled 10 restingas in both corridors, recording species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some restingas harbor a relatively large number of endemic species,and two main regions of endemism can be identified along the restingas of both corridors: the coastal restingas from northern Espirito Santo State to southern Bahia State (between Linhares, ES, and Tarancoso, BA), and the coastal region between the restingas of Maricá and Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro State. Six species of terrestrial vertebrates considered threatened with extinction are found in the restingas of Serra do Mar and Central da Mata Atlântica biodiversity corridors (Liolaemus lutzae, Formicivora littoralis, Mimus gilvus, Schistochlamys melanopis, and Trinomys eliasi). The region located between the restinga of Maricá and that of Jurubatiba is of special relevance for the conservation of vertebrate species of the restingas of the corridors because a considerable number of threatened species of terrestrial vertebrates are found there. We strongly recommend efforts to develop checklists of threatened faunas for the States of Espirito Santo and Bahia.

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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 =0.80; n=17; P<0.001) and reduced herbivore residence time on a leaf (r =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 =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.

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In this study we review the records regarding occurrence of Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau De Jonnès, 1818 in Brazil, looking for records of the species in natural habitats, in order to assess the present status of this gecko as an exotic or invasive alien species in the country. We surveyed the available records of H. mabouia living in natural conditions, considering secondary data obtained from the literature, supplemented with original field records obtained by the authors during fieldwork. We found a total of 36 records in the literature and/or field records reporting the occurrence of H. mabouia in natural habitats in 36 different localities in 13 Brazilian states. The states presenting a higher number of records were Rio de Janeiro (seven), Bahia, São Paulo (six), and Espírito Santo (five different areas). We show that the invasion of Brazilian natural habitats by H. mabouia has taken place for some decades. Presently we have consistent records that it has invaded natural habitats in 13 Brazilian states. This suggests thatit is important to start monitoring H. mabouia in order to measure the rate and effectiveness of its establishment in natural habitats in Brazil and also to evaluate the potential negative effects of this invasion on sympatric species