Besides its extreme climate conditions, the Caatinga (a type of tropical seasonal forest) hosts an impressive faunal and floristic biodiversity. In the last 50 years there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies in the area. Here we aimed to present a review of these studies, focusing on four main fields: vertebrate ecology, plant ecology, human ecology, and ethnobiology. Furthermore, we identify directions for future research. We hope that the present paper will help defining actions and strategies for the conservation of the biological diversity of the Caatinga.

BackgroundThe present study examined the exploitation of bird species by the residents of a rural community in the Brazilian semi-arid zone, and their preferences for species with different characteristics.MethodsThe 24 informants were identified using the “snowball” approach, and were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and check-sheets for the collection of data on their relationship with the bird species that occur in the region. The characteristics that most attract the attention of the interviewees were the song and the coloration of the plumage of a bird, as well as its body size, which determines its potential as a game species, given that hunting is an important activity in the region.ResultsA total of 98 species representing 32 families (50.7% of the species known to occur in the region) were reported during interviews, being used for meat, pets, and medicinal purposes. Three species were used as zootherapeutics – White-naped Jay was eaten whole as a cure for speech problems, the feathers of Yellow-legged Tinamou were used for snakebite, Smooth-billed Ani was eaten for “chronic cough” and Small-billed Tinamou and Tataupa Tinamou used for locomotion problems. The preference of the informants for characteristics such as birdsong and colorful plumage was a significant determinant of their preference for the species exploited. Birds with cynegetic potential and high use values were also among the most preferred species. Despite the highly significant preferences for certain species, some birds, such as those of the families Trochilidae, Thamnophilidae, and Tyrannidae are hunted randomly, independently of their attributes.ConclusionThe evidence collected on the criteria applied by local specialists for the exploitation of the bird fauna permitted the identification of the species that suffer hunting pressure, providing guidelines for the development of conservation and management strategies that will guarantee the long-term survival of the populations of these bird species in the region.

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As observações ocorreram no período de dois anos, monitorando grupos marcados de sagüis durante oito horas por dia. Foram registrados seis tipos de eventos: predação de sagüis; predação de aves, disputa de área de forrageio e recurso alimentar; compartilhamento de área de forrageio e recurso alimentar; perseguição branda e utilização de ninho de ave como local de pernoite dos sagüis. Os eventos agrupados obtiveram diferenças significativas entre as estações do ano e os estratos ocupados.

O estudo da estrutura trófica da avifauna da Reserva Estadual de Gurjaú (8º14'S, 35º03'W) envolveu 225 espécies de aves identificadas, das quais, 220 registradas por meio de observações in situ e capturas, quatro por meio de entrevistas com moradores da área do entorno e uma através de consulta à Coleção Ornitológica da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. As famílias que se destacaram com o maior número de espécies foram Tyrannidae (N = 43) e Emberizidae (N = 36). Dentre as guildas, os insetívoros (N = 99) e onívoros (N = 59) englobaram a maioria das espécies.

Farmers’ perceptions of birds’ interactions with agricultural production systems are fundamental to species conservation efforts. In the present study, we evaluated the perceptions of birds held by farmers who engage in conventional and non-conventional agricultural production processes and the implications of potential differences in these perceptions on species conservation. To accomplish this, data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and other complementary sources of information gathered from 191 farmers in northeastern Brazil. Although some similarities were identified among the farmers in their perceptions and local ecological knowledge (LEK) of birds, differences existed between the conventional and non-conventional farmers in their attitudes toward, conflicts with, and usage of bird species. Compared to the conventional farmers, the non-conventional farmers could identify more bird species, possessed more favorable attitudes toward birds, and engaged in practices more beneficial to the conservation of avifauna. The perceptions that were identified were related to the type of agriculture practiced, and such perceptions may affect the conservation of bird species. Therefore, the adoption of certain agricultural practices has important implications for conservation. Our results indicate the need for investment in public policies, programs and actions that account for farmers’ knowledge and perceptions. Such investments will contribute to the development and adoption of practices supporting wild bird conservation in agricultural areas.

Few data are available on the predation of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals by the fringe-lipped bat Trachops cirrhosus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae: Phyllostominae), in particular in Brazil, where ecological studies of this species are still incipient. This study presents an overview of the data available in the literature on the composition of the diet of T. cirrhosus, including data from a semiarid region. The first records of the predation of the anurans Corythomanthis greeningi (Hylidae), Pleurodema diplolister (Leiuperidae), Proceratophrys cristiceps (Cycloramphidae), Dermatonotus muelleri (Microhylidae), Pipa carvalhoi (Pipidae), Leptodactylus sp. (Leptodactylidae), the lizards Vanzosaura rubricauda (Gymnophytalmidae), Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekknonidae), and a rodent of the family Cricetidae are reported. Insects (33%) constitute the principal component of the diet of T. cirrhosus, while anuran amphibians contributed 23% of the items recorded, followed by birds (14%), mammals (10%), lizards (8%), and invertebrates (8%). This diversity of prey is typical of a generalist predator, which is relatively unaffected by seasonal fluctuations in the availability of prey. This is especially important in the semi-arid Caatinga biome, which is subject to prolonged periods of drought that result in a shortage of feeding resources.

Foram estudados alguns aspectos da biologia da avifauna do Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, fragmento de 60 ha de Mata Atlântica, no município de Igarassu, Pernambuco. Objetivando obter informações acerca das espécies desse bioma, foram realizadas observações entre agosto de 1996 e julho de 1997 e capturas mensais utilizando redes de neblina, entre julho de 2003 e junho de 2004. Entre observações, capturas, recapturas e recuperações, foram registradas 151 espécies (31 famílias) para a área, onde 456 aves (53 espécies/25 famílias) foram capturadas com redes ornitológicas. Foram recuperadas 10 espécies (tempo de anilha de seis a oito anos). O número de capturas foi maior nos meses mais quentes. A maioria das espécies capturadas (52,8%) teve freqüência de ocorrência menor que 25%, sendo Manacus manacus (Linnaeus, 1766), Arremon taciturnus (Hermann, 1783), Neopelma pallescens (Lafresnaye, 1853) e Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818 as mais freqüentes. Houve correlação significativa entre as análises dos valores médios entre massa corpórea e sexo, dados biométricos (medidas da asa, tarso e diâmetro do tarso) e sexo e entre mudas e estação do ano. O maior período com muda associada à placa de incubação foi de março a maio (pico em maio). Os resultados fortaleceram a imprevisibilidade dos efeitos das alterações ambientais na estrutura da comunidade de aves em longo prazo. Reforçam ainda que os desequilíbrios populacionais possam vir a aumentar as chances de extinção, sendo necessárias novas alternativas para a proteção da biodiversidade, sobretudo em fragmentos florestais.