Mountains provide an interesting context in which to study the many facets of biodiversity in response to macroclimate, since environmental conditions change rapidly due to elevation. Although the decrease in biodiversity with increasing elevation is generally accepted, our understanding of the variation of functional diversity along altitudinal gradients is still poorly known. The partitioning of diversity into spatial components can help to understand the processes that influence the distribution of species, and these studies are urgently needed in face of the increasing threats to mountain environments throughout the world. We describe the distribution of dung beetle diversity along an altitudinal gradient on a tropical mountain in southeastern Brazil, including the spatial partitioning of taxonomic and functional diversities. The altitudinal gradient ranged from 800 up to 1400 m a.s.l. and we collected dung beetles at every 100 m of altitude. We used the Rao Index to calculate γ, α and β diversity for taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles. Climatic, soil and vegetation variables were used to explain variation in community attributes along the altitudinal gradient. Dung beetle richness declined with altitude and was related to climatic and vegetation variables, but functional diversity did not follow the same pattern. Over 50% of γ taxonomic diversity was caused by among altitudes diversity (β), while almost 100% of functional diversity was due to the α component. Contrasting β taxonomic with β functional diversity, we suggest that there is ecological redundancy among communities and that the environment is filtering species in terms of the Grinnellian niche, rather than the Eltonian niche. β taxonomic diversity is caused mainly by the turnover component, reinforcing the hypothesis of environmental filtering. Global warming may have strong effects on mountain communities due to upslope range shifts and extinctions, and these events will lead to an even larger than previously expected loss of diversity as dung beetles γ taxonomic diversity is caused mainly by the β component.

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Ungulates, large primates and caviomorfs are cited by Amazonian hunters as preferred species. In this research, paca (Cuniculus paca) hunting was investigated in relation to water levels and the lunar cycle. In eight years of monitoring in the Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve, the killing of 625 pacas was registered in five monitored communities. Paca hunting took place mainly at night and the most commonly used method is "spotlighting". A positive correlation between the number of pacas killed and water level (r s =0.890; p<0.0001) was found. At least 37% of the pacas were hunted when moon illumination level was less than 10%, before moonrise or after moonset. In the Boa Esperança community, capture of paca tended to decrease on nights with high moon illumination (r s = -0.663; p=0.067). At the same time, an expressive catch-per-unity-effort decrease was also observed in this community (r 2 = -0.881; p<0.001), allowing us to predict unsustainable hunting levels for the next decade. The stock of animals in these areas could be continuously replaced if surrounding areas consisted of continuous forests. However, continuous hunting and deforestation force local hunters to travel longer distances to kill prey such as pacas. The confirmation of the relation between paca habits and lunar illumination and water level, a pattern described by local hunters, demonstrates the potential value of participatory research and the possibility of integrating traditional knowledge into scientific knowledge.Keywords: abundance, catch-per-unity-effort, Cuniculus paca, hunting, Amazon. Caça de subsistência de Cuniculus paca no Médio Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil ResumoUngulados, primatas de grande porte e caviomorfos são citados por caçadores amazônicos como espécies preferenciais. Neste trabalho, a caça de paca (Cuniculus paca) foi investigada em relação ao nível d'água e ao ciclo lunar. O abate de 625 pacas foi registrado em oito anos de monitoramento em cinco comunidades da Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Amanã. A caça de paca ocorre principalmente à noite e o método mais utilizado é a "focagem". Encontrou-se uma correlação positiva entre o número de pacas abatidas e o nível d'água (r s =0.890; p<0.0001). Pelo menos 37% dos indivíduos foram abatidos quando o nível de iluminação lunar era menor do que 10%, antes do nascer da lua ou após seu ocaso. Na comunidade da Boa Esperança, a captura de paca tendeu ao decrescimento em noites com altos níveis de iluminação lunar (r s =-0.663; p=0.067). Ao mesmo tempo, uma expressiva redução da captura por unidade de esforço foi observada nessa comunidade (r 2 =-0.881; p<0.001), permitindo-nos prever níveis de caça insustentáveis para a próxima década. Frente a extensas áreas contínuas de floresta, o estoque de animais nas áreas de caça poderia ser continuamente substituído, mas os efeitos combinados de caça constante e desmatamento forçam caçadores locais a se locomoverem por longas distâncias para abater presas como as pacas. A confirmação dos padrões descritos por moradores l...

Seasonal timing of pseudoviviparous reproduction can be a vital component of the successful establishment of plantlets in L. spiralis, considering that in this species the plantlets are formed only after the flower head touches the ground. In contrast, in L. vivipara, the plantlets are formed early, without touching the ground. Moreover, L. spiralis is a splitter ramet species, while L. vivipara is a canopy-forming species. The pseudoviviparous canopy-forming strategy appears to be more advantageous than the splitter ramet strategy, because even under similar soil moisture conditions, the survival of L. vivipara plantlets was greater than that of L. spiralis.

Analysis of a three-year bird survey in the pantanal of Poconé revealed that most of the resident and seasonal birds are habitat generalists, using two or more habitats. In this study, previously sampled habitats were ranked in relation to species richness and stability (as measured by the ratio of seasonal to resident species). In all, nine habitats were grouped into three categories; results are as follows: 1) forests: more species-rich and more stable; 2) cerrado: intermediate levels; and 3) aquatic: less species-rich and less stable. The number of seasonal species remained relatively constant in forests throughout the year, while increasing in the other habitats during the dry season. The abundance of resident species seems to be related to species use of multiple habitats. Although many species were found to be habitat generalists, we discuss possible consequences of habitat loss and other human impacts on efforts to conserve this important bird community.

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