Tropical forest mammal assemblages are widely affected by the twin effects of habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. We evaluated the effects of forest patch metrics, habitat structure, age of patch isolation, and landscape metrics on the species richness, abundance and composition of small mammals at 23 forest fragments (ranging in size from 43 to 7,035 ha) in a highly deforested 3,609-km2 landscape of southwestern Brazilian Amazonia. Using pitfall traps and both terrestrial and arboreal traplines of Sherman, Tomahawk and snap traps, we captured a total of 844 individuals over 34,900 trap-nights representing 26 species and 20 genera of small-mammals, including 13 rodent and 13 marsupial species. We also consider the effects of distance from forest edges on species occupancy and abundance. Overall small mammal abundance, species richness and species composition were primarily affected by the quality of the open-habitat matrix of cattle pastures, rather than by patch metrics such as fragment size. Ultimately, small mammal community structure was determined by a combination of both landscape- and patch-scale variables. Knowledge of the anthropogenic factors that govern small mammal community structure is of critical importance for managing the persistence of forest vertebrates in increasingly fragmented neotropical forest landscapes

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data.

Non-volant small mammals are organisms capable of yielding precise information on richness, abundance and species composition variations related to the use of habitats. The aim of this research was to compare these variations in Cerrado sensu stricto, Palm Forest, Gallery Forest and Rocky Field. From May 1999 to February 2000, we surveyed non-volant small mammals (hence small mammals) in Serra das Araras Ecological Station. We captured 218 individuals and recaptured 62 individuals, belonging to 21 taxa, 13 rodents and eight marsupials, in a total of 13200 trap-nights. Capture success was 1.7%. We observed higher richness of small mammals in forested areas (Gallery Forest and Palm Forest) than in open areas (Rocky Field and Cerrado sensu stricto). The Palm Forest had the highest richness of marsupials, possibly due to the quality of a specific niche. The Rocky Field had the smallest richness, but with very high abundance of few species, mainly Thrichomys pachyurus and Monodelphis domestica. Forest habitats had similar species composition. The open habitats, Cerrado sensu stricto and Rocky Field, had a distinct species composition between them, and also when compared to forested areas. Different species are exclusive or showed preference for specific habitats. The protection of horizontally heterogeneous biomes, such as Cerrado, has a fundamental importance to the maintenance of the regional diversity of the small mammal community of Central Brazil.Keywords: Cerrado, Ecological Station, Serra das Araras, ecology of mammals. Uso de habtats por pequenos mamíferos não-voadores no Cerrado do Brasil Central ResumoPequenos mamíferos não voadores são organismos que permitem observações precisas sobre diferenças nos aspectos de riqueza, abundância, composição e uso de habitats. Com a finalidade de investigar a existência dessas diferenças entre Cerrado sensu stricto, Mata de Palmeiras Babaçu, Mata de Galeria e Campo Rupestre, realizaram-se, no período de maio de 1999 a fevereiro de 2000, levantamentos de pequenos mamíferos não voadores na Estação Ecológica Serra das Araras. Houve a captura de 218 indivíduos e 62 recapturas, pertencentes a 21 táxons, sendo 13 roedores e 8 marsupiais, em um total de 13.200 armadilhas × noite. O sucesso total de captura foi de 1,7%. A riqueza total de pequenos mamíferos foi maior nas áreas de matas (Mata de Galeria e Mata de Palmeiras Babaçu) do que nas áreas abertas (Campo Rupestre e Cerrado sensu stricto). A Mata de Palmeiras Babaçu foi a que apresentou a maior riqueza de marsupiais, possivelmente em virtude da qualidade de nicho específico. O Campo Rupestre apresentou menor riqueza, porém com abundância relativa muito alta de algumas espécies, principalmente Thrichomys pachyurus e Monodelphis domestica. Habitats florestados apresentaram similaridade em composição de espécies de pequenos mamíferos. Os habitats abertos Cerrado sensu stricto e Campo Rupestre foram distintos quanto à composição de espécies quando comparados entre si e com áreas florestadas. Diferentes espécies são e...

A community of small mammals was studied in seasonal semideciduous submontane forest in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This study evaluated the use of edge and matrix pasture, by different small mammal species. Overall, 31 areas were studied, with a total sampling effort of 33,800 trap x nights. Only seven of the 25 species captured in the study sites were able to use the pasture matrix; we classified these species as generalists. Fourteen species were found to be intermediate in habits, being able to use forest edges. We found only four species habitat specialists, occurring only on transect lines in the interior of the fragment, at least 150 m from the edge. Transects located in the pasture matrix and 50 m from the edge had significantly lower species richness and abundance than transects located in the fragment edge or in the interior of the fragment. All transects located within the fragment had similar species richness and abundance, but transects located 50 m from the edge had slightly lower, but non-significant, species richness than transects located 100 m apart from edges. Rarefaction curves demonstrated that only medium-sized fragments (100-300 ha) reached an asymptote of species accumulation. The other areas require further sampling, or more sampling transect, before species accumulation curves stabilize, due to a continued increase in species number.Keywords: edge effects, matrix of pasture, small mammals, forest fragments, Mato Grosso.Efeitos de borda e uso da matriz por uma comunidade de pequenos mamíferos em fragmentos de floresta semidecidual submontana no Mato Grosso, Brasil ResumoUma comunidade de pequenos mamíferos foi estudada em fragmentos de floresta estacional semidecidual submontana no Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Nesse estudo, buscou-se avaliar o uso da borda e da matriz de pastagem pelas diferentes espécies. No total, 31 áreas foram estudadas, com um esforço total de 33.800 armadilhas x noite. Apenas sete das 25 espécies capturadas foram capazes de utilizar a matriz de pastagem, sendo estas consideradas generalistas. Quatorze foram consideradas intermediárias no uso do habitat, sendo capazes de utilizar habitats de borda. Encontramos apenas quatro especialistas, ocorrendo somente nas transecções do interior do fragmento, a aproximadamente 150 m da borda. Dentre todas as transecções utilizadas para amostragem, a disposta na matriz de pastagem, a 50 m da borda, demonstrou ser significativamente menos rica e abundante que as dispostas na borda e no interior dos fragmentos. Todas as transecções localizadas dentro do fragmento tiveram riqueza e abundância de espécies similares, porém a transecção localizada a 50 m da borda teve uma tendência a ser menos rica que a transecção a 100 m. Através de ajustes das curvas de rarefação, somente uma das áreas considerada de médio porte, entre 100 a 300 ha., atingiu uma assíntota. As outras áreas necessitam de um maior número de transecções, a fim de se obter uma estabilização das curvas, pois continuaram a acrescentar espécies.Palavras-cha...

Agricultural frontier expansion into the Amazon over the last four decades has created million hectares of fragmented forests. While many species undergo local extinctions within remaining forest patches, this may be compensated by native species from neighbouring open-habitat areas potentially invading these patches, particularly as forest habitats become increasingly degraded. Here, we examine the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation on small mammal assemblages in a southern Amazonian deforestation frontier, while accounting for species-specific degree of forest-dependency. We surveyed small mammals at three continuous forest sites and 19 forest patches of different sizes and degrees of isolation. We further sampled matrix habitats adjacent to forest patches, which allowed us to classify each species according to forest-dependency and generate a community-averaged forest-dependency index for each site. Based on 21,568 trap-nights, we recorded 970 small mammals representing 20 species: 12 forest-dependents, 5 matrix-tolerants and 3 open-habitat specialists. Across the gradient of forest patch size, small mammal assemblages failed to show the typical species-area relationship, but this relationship held true when either species abundance or composition was considered. Species composition was further mediated by community-averaged forest-dependency, so that smaller forest patches were occupied by a lower proportion of forest-dependent rodents and marsupials. Both species richness and abundance increased in less isolated fragments surrounded by structurally simplified matrix habitats (e.g. active or abandoned cattle pastures). While shorter distances between forest patches may favour small mammal abundances, forest area and matrix complexity dictated which species could persist within forest fragments according to their degree of forest-dependency. Small mammal local extinctions in small forest patches within Amazonian deforestation frontiers are therefore likely offset by the incursion of open-habitat species. To preclude the dominance of those species, and consequent losses of native species and associated ecosystem functions, management actions should

Roadkill impact is still underestimated due to the lack of knowledge of its intensity and effect on animal populations. To assess differences between animal roadkills on roads in distinct landscapes, this study recorded meso-and megavertebrate roadkills along 50 km during a year in two highways in the transitional area of Amazonia/Cerrado in Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso: MT-358 and MT-235, the latter crossing the Paresi Indigenous Land. We assessed roadkill rates and points with higher rates of roadkills, recording the most impacted species, seasonal effects, biomass loss, activity period of species, and traffic volume. We recorded 178 roadkills in 4,950 km travelled, a rate of 0.035 animal/km-travelled. Mammals were the most impacted with 135 roadkills (75.8%), followed by reptiles (6.2%), amphibians (5.6%) and birds (5.1%). Among mammals 51.1% were Carnivora, and the most impacted species was Cerdocyon thous (n = 42). On highway MT-358 (human-modified landscape), we recorded 155 roadkilled mammals, and the most impacted were C. thous (23.9%) and Euphractus sexcinctus (13.5%). Whilst on highway MT-235 (Paresi Indigenous Land), we recorded 23 roadkilled mammals, and the most impacted were Myrmecophaga tridactyla (26.1%) and C. thous (21.7%). The low roadkill rate in the Paresi Indigenous Land might be related to the presence of fauna pathways along the highway and the availability of a forested landscape.Keywords: road ecology, mammal, roadkill, tropical forest, savanna. Efeitos das rodovias MT 235 e 358 sob a diversidade de vertebrados no sudoeste de Mato GrossoResumo O impacto de atropelamentos por veículos sobre populações animais ainda é subestimado devido ao pouco conhecimento existente sobre sua intensidade e seus efeitos. Para avaliar diferenças entre atropelamentos de animais em rodovias inseridas em paisagens distintas, este trabalho registrou atropelamentos de meso e mega vertebrados em trechos de 50 km durante um ano em duas rodovias na região de transição Amazônia/Cerrado em Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso: MT-358 e MT-235, sendo que a segunda cruza a Terra Indígena Paresi. Avaliamos as taxas de atropelamento e os locais de maior intensidade, registrando as espécies mais impactadas. Avaliamos efeitos de sazonalidade, perda de biomassa, horário de atividade das espécies e horário de maior fluxo de veículos. Foram 178 animais atropelados em 4.950 km percorridos, com 33 espécies (15 ordens), totalizando 0,035 animais/km-percorrido. Os mamíferos foram os mais atingidos com 135 atropelamentos (75,8%), seguidos por répteis (6,2%), anfíbios (5,6%) e aves (5,1%). Entre os mamíferos atropelados 51,1% pertencem à ordem carnívora, e a espécie mais atropelada foi Cerdocyon thous (n = 42). Na rodovia foram registrados 155 atropelamentos de mamíferos, sendo que C. thous (23,9%) e Euphractus sexcinctus (13,5%) foram os mais atropelados. Enquanto na rodovia MT-235 foram registrados 23 atropelamentos sendo Myrmecophaga tridactyla (26.1%) e C. thous (21,7%) as espécies mais afetadas. Observamos menor taxa de a...

The effectiveness of ecological researches on small mammals strongly depends on trapping techniques to survey communities and populations accurately. The main goal of this study was to assess the efficiency of three types of traps (Sherman, Tomahawk and Pitfall) to capture non-volant small mammals. We installed traps in 22 forest fragments in the southern Brazilian Amazonia. We captured 873 individuals belonging to 21 species; most of the individuals (N = 369) and species (N = 19) were trapped using Pitfalls, followed by Shermans (N = 271 individuals; N = 15 species) and Tomahawks (N = 233 individuals; N = 15 species). Pitfalls trapped a richer community subset of small mammals than the two other types of traps, and a more abundant community subset than Tomahawks. Proechimys sp. was the most abundant species trapped (N = 125) and Tomahawk was the most efficient type of trap to capture this species (N = 97 individuals). Neacomys spinosus and Marmosops bishopi were more trapped in Pitfalls (N = 92 and 100 individuals, respectively) than Shermans and Tomahawks. Monodelphis glirina was more trapped in Shermans and Pitfalls than Tomahawks. Species composition trapped using the three types of traps were distinct. Pitfalls captured a more distinct subset of the small mammal community than the two other live traps. We recommend the association of the three types of traps to reach a more comprehensive sampling of the community of small mammals. Thus, as stated by previous studies, we also recommend the complementary use of Shermans, Tomahawks and Pitfalls to account for a thorough sampling of the whole small mammal community in researches conducted in the tropical forests of Amazonia. KEYWORDS: Fragments, sampling techniques, abundance, community ecology Avaliação da eficiência de armadilhas para pequenos mamíferos no sul da Amazônia RESUMO A eficácia das pesquisas ecológicas de comunidade de pequenos mamíferos depende fortemente do uso de técnicas adequadas nas capturas durante as amostragens. O principal objetivos deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiências de três tipos de armadilhas (Sherman, Tomahawk e Pitfall) para capturas de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores. Nós instalamos armadilhas em 22 fragmentos de floresta no sul da Amazonia Brasileira. Nós capturamos 873 indivíduos de 21 espécies, a maior parte dos indivíduos (N=369) e espécies (N=19) foram capturados usando pitfalls, seguidos de Shermans (N=271 indivíduos, N=15 espécies) e Tomahawks (N=233 indivíduos, N= 15 espécies). Pitfalls capturou a maior riqueza da comunidade de pequenos mamíferos quando comparada aos outros dois tipos de armadilhas, e uma maior abundancia que Tomahawk. Proechimys sp. foi a espécies mais abundante capturada (N=125) e Tomahawk foi o tipo de armadilha mais eficiente para a captura desta espécie (N=97 indivíduos).Neacomys spinosus e Marmosops bishopi foram mais capturados em Pitfalls (N = 92 e 100 indivíduos, respectivamente) que Shermans e Tomahawks. Monodelphis glirina foram mais capturados em Shermans e Pitfalls que Tomahawks. A c...

RESUMO Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequência de consumo, predação e dispersão de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinação, em área de