Although bioacoustics is increasingly used to study species and environments for their monitoring and conservation, detecting calls produced by species of interest is prohibitively time consuming when done manually. Here we compared four methods for detecting and identifying roar-barks of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) within long sound recordings: (1) a manual method, (2) an automated detector method using Raven Pro 1.4, (3) an automated detector method using XBAT and (4) a mixed method using XBAT's detector followed by manual verification. Recordings were done using a song meter installed at the Serra da Canastra National Park (Minas Gerais, Brazil). For each method we evaluated the following variables in a 24-h recording: (1) total time required analysing files, (2) number of false positives identified and (3) number of true positives identified compared to total number of target sounds. Automated methods required less time to analyse the recordings (77 -93 min) when compared to manual method (189 min), but consistently presented more false positives and were less efficient in identifying true positives (manual ¼ 91.89%, Raven ¼ 32.43% and XBAT ¼ 84.86%). Adding a manual verification after XBAT detection dramatically increased efficiency in identifying target sounds (XBAT þ manual ¼ 100% true positives). Manual verification of XBAT detections seems to be the best way out of the proposed methods to collect target sound data for studies where large amounts of audio data need to be analysed in a reasonable time (111 min, 58.73% of the time required to find calls manually).

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), which permits reproduction, adaptation, and distribution provided the original author and source are credited. AbstractThere have been few studies about the pollinators of bromeliads of the genus Encholirium. Considering this lack of information, this study comes to fill a gap in the literature on the floral visitors and potential pollinators of E. spectabile. In order to perform this study, we observed the inflorescence of this species between 2011 and 2014 (four years of observation), in the semiarid region of Santa Maria municipality (Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil). Floral visitors were observed through focal method. The observations were made during the day, starting at 06h a.m. until 06h p.m., and at night from 07h until 11h59 p.m. In about 1,800 hours of observations, 24 species were recorded visiting E. spectabile flowers, including 4 species of moths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae and Geometridae), 3 species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), 4 species of hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae) and 2 species of bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), among others. Based on these results, we propose that the macambira bromeliads (E. spectabile) should be considered as key elements in the conservation of various taxonomic groups in the semiarid region, through the umbrella species theory as already proposed for other species of Bromeliaceae. Keywords: associated fauna, caatinga biome, macambiras, Encholirium spectabile, biodiversity. ResumoExistem poucos estudos a respeito dos polinizadores de bromélias do gênero Encholirium. Dessa forma, este estudo vem preencher a lacuna na literatura sobre os visitantes florais e potenciais polinizadores de E. spectabile. Para sua realização, observamos a inflorescência dessa espécie no período de 2011 a 2014 (quatro anos de observações), na região semiárida, no município de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Os visitantes florais foram registrados por meio do método focal. As observações foram conduzidas durante o dia, começando às 06h da manhã e seguindo até às 18h e, à noite, das 19h às 23h59min. Em cerca de 1.800 horas de observação, 24 espécies foram registradas visitando a inflorescência de E. spectabile, incluindo 4 espécies de mariposas (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae e Geometridae), 3 espécies de abelhas (Hymenoptera: Apidae), 4 espécies de beija-flores (Aves: Trochilidae) e 2 espécies de morcegos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae), entre outros. Com base nesses resultados, e subsidiados pela teoria das espécies guarda-chuva, sugerimos que as bromélias macambiras (E. spectabile) sejam consideradas como elementos chave na conservação de vários grupos taxonômicos de região semiárida.Palavras-chave: fauna associada, bioma caatinga, macambiras, Encholirium spectabile, biodiversidade.

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Maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) are monogamous and display biparental care for their young, although adults rarely spend time in close proximity. To better understand vocal interactions of maned wolves over long-distances, we passively recorded >10 months of audio data in the species’ natural habitat and analyzed manual recordings of captive animals, covering the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons. In the natural habitat recordings, we found that maned wolves engage in vocal exchanges (termed interactive sequences) more often during the mating season, suggesting the existence of a partner attraction/reunion/guarding function, and also during the initial parental care period, suggesting communication among caregivers. We analyzed 21 interactive sequences, which were the only instances in which we could distinguish individuals, and found that the individuals interacting differed significantly in their roar-bark parameters, including duration, which also differed between males and females in captivity (male vocalizations were, on average, 0.124 s longer). We also found that interactive sequences in captive animals, involving two or more participants, almost always involved both sexes. These results suggest that acoustic interacting maned wolves are most likely male–female dyads.

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The Brazilian Cerrado is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Our objective was to characterize its nocturnal soundscape. 12 autonomous recorders (SongMeter2 + , Wildlife Acoustics) were deployed in Canastra National Park (MG/Brazil) and recorded five consecutive nights during the rainy season. Using Arbimon II soundscape builder we identified four frequency bands with higher activity levels. The lower band (0.3-1.3 kHz) is acoustically occupied throughout the night. The second band (2.8-3.2 kHz) is highly active around sunset and almost disappears after 10 PM. The third band (3.8-6.6 kHz) splits into two near 9 PM, with the upper limit disappearing after 3 AM. The highest frequency band (9-16 kHz) is the broadest and occupied in all recordings, being comprised by unidentified background noise. Insects (mainly crickets and cicadas) are present in the three superior bands, anura in the two lower bands, and birds in the second and third near dusk and dawn. Characterizing such protected soundscapes is vital for future monitoring and identification of changes in this important Brazilian preserve.